South Florida (1983: Doomsday)

The Republic of South Florida is an American survivor nation currently located near Big Cypress, the Everglades, and with territorial enclaves near Lake Okechobee. It is comprised of a federation of territories, towns, and cities along the west coast of the Peninsula. It also jointly operates the former US Military Base Guantanamo Bay in Cuba with the LoN. It also claims the former US Virgin Islands, which now belong to the East Carribean Federation.

Pre-Doomsday
The current area of the Republic of South Florida is primarily made up of two National Parks: Big Cypress and the Everglades National Parks.

Post-Doomsday
The Cape Coral – Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area dodged a direct hit on Doomsday and soon became a mecca for refugees fleeing Tampa and Miami. After several years with no contact with the state or federal government the "Provisional Republic of South Florida" was proclaimed as a placeholder for the United States. The hope was that when the Federal or State government arrived in South Florida they would return to the United States. However that day never came.

By the mid 1990's it became clear that the Federal government would not be coming. On October 29, 1996, the people of South Florida held a referendum and voted narrowly to secede from the United Sates. That summer a Constitutional convention was held in Naples to build the framework for a new government. What became of this convention was a constitution very similar to that of the United States with a few modifications to make it more suitable for the citizens of South Florida.

While the Cape Coral – Fort Myers Area managed to remain relatively stable in the aftermath of Doomsday, small communities in and around the Lake Okeechobee region like Belle Glade on the south and the town of Okeechobee on the north side of the lake suffered from frequent gang raids. Upon conducting a fact finding mission into Belle Glade a fascist dictatorship was found. According to the local resistance group many of the city-state's citizens wanted a regime change but simply feared the government too much to even speak out against it.

Eventually, a local militia overthrew the dictatorship in Belle Glade, which would eventually become known as the metropolis "Okeechobeeton".

Modern Times
In late 2009, several scientists, mainly supplied by the ECF and ANZC, had sent expeditions throughout the areas that formerly were home to the major cities of Tampa and Miami. After several weeks of analyzation the results determined that the remnants of the city of Tampa could be safely inhabited without any major health factors. After negotiations with the moderately-high population of 6,000 people within the areas of the city, it was declared a autonomous territory on January 3rd, and shall become a protectorate on July 4th. In contrast, the Miami-Metro area was not declared fully radiation-free (or at a tolerable level) until early 2011. However, almost 2,000 people have been noted to live in the city of "El Dorado" on the western outskirts of Miami Springs. However, the area is reported to be under the control of a pro-Communist dictatorship.

Economy
The economy of the Republic of South Florida has a very small, but stable, agricultural economy. It depends mainly on fishing and small urban farming to feed the masses. Within the country, trade is evenly done through barter and the newly-created Floridian Conch, since it is a more reliable form of currency than the American Dollar. In the past year, the Republic started trading massive amounts of fish, citrus, and soy beans to the East Carribean Federation, receiving international support as well as naval equipment in hopes to fully rebuild the heavily-damaged NAS Key West in a trade agreement known as the "Free Carribean Sea Compact", which allows open borders, free trade, and both countries legal tenders being accepted in the opposite country. Along with the EAF, South Florida trades with Cuba, mainly agricultural, mineral, and technological goods.The sale of limestone and other minerals makes up a good portion of the Another source of income is the small deposits of oil along the coastline, as well as jobs on the the highway in construction: The I-93 to connect Naples to Evergladesland, a town deep within the heart of the Everglades and a bridge going across to Okechobeeton, a residential area on an island in the north-west corner of the Lake. It is expected to be done by 2012.

Foreign Relations
South Florida has applied for membership in the League of Nations.

This summer Vice President Buchanan intends to tour other nations in the Southern region of the former United States including Hattiesburg, West Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, Piedmont Republic, and Blue Ridge along with the Provisional United States. The tour is to start on May 27th.

It also recently came into contact with the provisional government of the State of Louisiana, whom is becoming a trade partner for South Florida.

Education
Education at pre-Doomsday standards is a very rare thing. After Doomsday, many families helped themselves to the supplies foundn in abandoned schools and began to teach their children at home. When South Florida became established as a nation, small government sanctioned schools began to open up in neighboorhoods, usually in homes or in an abandoned buildings.

However, in the areas the outer areas ,near Collier County and the Everglades, illiteracy is quite common in several townships and villages. In those areas, with completely literate people come in at only 20 percent of the population, with another 50 percent semi-literate able to read street signs and sign their names. A full 30 percent, though, are completely illeterate.

The only university in the country is Naples Elementary University of Florida. In efforts to promote education, it awards scholarships to those from other communities across the southern United States riegon, most notably Lake Arthur, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont. The public school system has benefited the areas which have many people who are either unemployed or fit into the working-class.

Government
The government of the Republic of South Florida is a federal republic, and bears many similarities to the United States, such as having a House of Representatives and a simplified congress. It does bear similarities to a confederation, however. The Representative from each territory is essentially a leader in their community. Unlike in the United States, the Republic is divided into Territories rather than states. Each territory essentially acts as an semi-autonomous reigon within the Republic. As of 2010, there are 4 territories, 1 federal district, and one protectorate.

Conch Republic Territory
Establishment: (declared) April 23rd, 1982

Capital: Key West

Population: 31,000

Representative: George Mira

Everglades Territory
Establishment: June 2, 2007

Capital: Everglades Lodge

Population: 13,000

Representative: David Flores

Collier Territory
Establishment: October 29, 1996

Capital: Marco Island

Population: 56,000

Representative: Alexander William Moss

Naples Federal District
Establishment: October 29, 1996

Population: 26,000

Mayor: Mitch Butchman

South Tampa Protectorate
Establishment: March 11, 2010

Population: 6,000

Capital: Tampa

Governor: Ruled by territorial congress

Guantanamo Bay Territory
Establishment: 1898, Came under South Florida control in July 2008

Population: 2,969

Capital: Guantanamo Bay

Governor: Jointly operated by General Mich Calvanol and the League of Nations

Culture
The culture of South Florida is one of the most unique of post-Doomsday North America. With the missiles sending refugees crashing into the Everglades, many found that they could better survive by co-existing with the Native Americans. This led to several tribes of refugees and Native Americans being formed, causing a mix of culture and religion. The most notable tribe is Jorocalusa, named after the founders of the Johnson and Rodriguez families, and the native Calusa tribe. This not only led to many refugees adopting Native American religion and languages, but of the modernization of many of the Native Americans as well. This also has had a profound racial impact, with many "Mestizos" emerging as a noticable minority. The Keys, however, have managed to avoid any and all cultural change, with the exception of learning on how to live on less.

Media
South Florida has only recently developed more advanced forms of communication, thanks to help from the LoN and Cuba. In the city of Naples, telephones became operational after nearly two years of communication lines being developed.

Newspaper
South Florida has two newspapers, the Naples Daily News along with the Conch Republic Times. A subscription costs 99,99* (In Floridian Conchs) or $29.99 (In USD).

Television
The station which was formed only 40 days before Doomsday, WGCU TV, became abandoned some months after Doomsday. In 2009, it was re-activated after nearly 100,000 dollars in repairs as the WFMU TV, Which stands for World Broadcasting of Forth Myers Universal Television. WFMU is owned by the South Floridian government, while WZVN is owned by ABC Television, which is now based in South Florida.

The TV Stations are as follows:

WFMU TV (Channel 3) - International Broadcasting and Local News, Weather, Sports, and Emergency News

WZVN TV (Channel 7) - Music, Entertainment, Cartoons and Pre and Post-Doomsday Movies

Radio
With help from the LoN the first radio station became operational in late 2009. A radio station called 97.3 "The Coast" was created for residents to listen to 60's, 70's and 80's music along with news, weather and sports. Another radio station has occasionally been used for the Keys, an unnamed station simply called 107.1 FM. This has been mainly used for emergency purposes, broadcasting breaking news. 97.3

The Stations are as follows:

97.3: The Coast - Music and Talk Shows

107.1 Unnamed Station - Emergency Purposes only