Alternative Text Description for USACE Principal Ports

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the locations of USACE Principal Ports within the state of Florida. Principal Ports are major maritime facilities identified by the United States Army Corps of Engineers based on total tonnage handled annually, representing the top 150 ports nationwide. The map shows the geographic distribution of these significant transportation and commerce hubs across Florida's extensive coastline.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, showing its distinctive peninsula extending southward between the Gulf of America to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Orlando in the central region, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west coast, Palm Coast on the east coast, Cape Coral in the southwest, and Miami at the southern tip. Additional cities shown include Dothan, Valdosta, and Tallahassee in the northern portion, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Lakeland in central Florida, Melbourne and Palm Bay on the east coast, Port St. Lucie on the southeast coast, West Palm Beach in the southeast, and Coral Springs near Miami. The map extends slightly beyond Florida's borders to show neighboring areas for geographic context.

KEY INSIGHTS

The Principal Ports are concentrated along Florida's coastal areas, with notable clustering in three regions. The Tampa Bay area on the west coast shows the highest concentration with three ports in close proximity. The southeast coast around Miami also displays multiple ports. The northeast coast near Jacksonville contains port facilities as well. The distribution reflects Florida's role as a major maritime state with extensive coastline access to both the Gulf of America and the Atlantic Ocean. No Principal Ports appear in Florida's interior, as these facilities require waterway access for maritime commerce.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

USACE Principal Ports

This layer represents the locations of Principal Ports as designated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers based on total tonnage handled in 2022.

Port Locations (anchor symbol)

Appearance:

Port locations are marked with black anchor symbols, a traditional nautical icon indicating maritime facilities.

Distribution:

Ports are distributed along Florida's coastline, with concentrations on the west coast near Tampa Bay, the southeast coast near Miami, and the northeast coast near Jacksonville. Additional ports appear scattered along other coastal areas.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

The ports follow Florida's coastline exclusively, with clustering in urbanized metropolitan areas. The distribution pattern emphasizes major population centers and historically significant maritime commerce locations. The Tampa Bay cluster represents the most densely concentrated port facilities, while other ports are more dispersed along the remaining coastline.

Overlapping Patterns

Port locations correspond with major metropolitan areas, indicating the relationship between urban development, population density, and maritime commerce infrastructure.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map focuses exclusively on Principal Ports and does not display all ports or maritime facilities in Florida. The Principal Port designation is based on total tonnage handled during the particular year (2022 in this dataset), and the list of top 150 ports can vary annually depending on shipping volumes. Ports are defined by port limits or Corps projects. The map provides a snapshot of Florida's major maritime commerce infrastructure but does not include smaller ports, marinas, or facilities that do not meet the tonnage threshold for Principal Port designation.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT)/Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) National Transportation Atlas Database (NTAD). The dataset is periodically updated by USACE and reflects port activity and commodity tonnage summaries including total tons, domestic, foreign, imports, and exports. The source layer name is PRINCIPAL_PORTS_JUL24.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied to this dataset. All Principal Ports located within Florida are displayed.

Scale Information:

The map displays the entire state of Florida at a regional scale appropriate for viewing all Principal Ports across the state simultaneously. This scale provides context for understanding the statewide distribution of major maritime facilities.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The data reflects port activity as of calendar year 2022, with the dataset updated in July 2024.

Limitations:

The map only includes ports that meet the Principal Port designation criteria based on tonnage thresholds. Smaller ports, recreational marinas, and maritime facilities that do not rank among the top 150 nationally by tonnage are not represented. The Principal Port list can change from year to year as shipping volumes fluctuate.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from its northern border with Georgia and Alabama to the southern tip at the Florida Keys. Adjacent areas including portions of Georgia, Alabama, and the Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean waters are shown to provide geographic context, but port locations are limited to Florida's boundaries.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.