Gold Coast

The Sunshine Strip

  • Motto: Golden Coast (Litoral de Oro)

  • Flora: Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)

  • Fauna: Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja)

  • Food: Stone Crab

⭐ Palm Beach, GC

  • Population: 3,436,566

  • Elevation: 10’

  • Former State: Florida

  • Counties: Broward, Palm Beach

Gold Coast, located along the southeastern coast of Florida, encompasses the former counties of Palm Beach and Broward. The new state includes major municipalities like Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and Hollywood, forming a densely populated urban corridor along the Atlantic coast. With a population of over 3.4 million, Gold Coast is larger than 20 current U.S. states, including Vermont, Alaska, South Dakota, and Wyoming combined.

The state’s economy thrives on finance, tourism, healthcare, and technology, anchored by economic hubs like Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale. Port Everglades, located in Fort Lauderdale, is one of the busiest cruise and cargo ports globally, handling over $32 billion in trade annually and broader metropolitan area has a GDP exceeding $200 billion. The region also boasts luxury shopping districts such as Worth Avenue in Palm Beach, which attract visitors from around the world.

Gold Coast’s natural attractions include miles of pristine beaches and access to Everglades National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its unique ecosystems and wildlife. The state features preserved areas like John U. Lloyd Beach State Park and the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, providing opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking, kayaking, and wildlife observation.

Gold Coast is a center for the arts, with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale hosting Broadway shows, ballets, and concerts. The region is home to prestigious international events such as Art Basel Miami Beach, drawing artists and visitors worldwide. In addition, the Florida Panthers (NHL) play at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, bringing professional sports into the heart of Gold Coast's vibrant cultural scene.

30

If Gold Coast was admitted as a state today, it would be the 30th largest by population, between Connecticut and Uah.