Tallahassee is the capital of Florida and the county seat of Leon County, the only incorporated municipality in that county. Located in the state's Panhandle within the Big Bend region, it sits roughly 20 miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico and is the largest city between Pensacola and Jacksonville. Chosen as the capital of the Florida Territory in 1824, it has grown into a government and education center rather than the tourism-driven destination that characterizes much of southern Florida. Physically, Tallahassee departs from the flat, tropical image of the state. The city occupies a hilly, live-oak-shaded landscape that experiences four distinct seasons, a reflection of its location near the southern Appalachian foothills. This setting, combined with a mature tree canopy, gives many of its neighborhoods a distinctly Southern, park-like character. The economy is anchored by state government and higher education. Florida State University, Florida A&M University (a historically Black university founded in 1887), and Tallahassee State College employ thousands and draw students from across the region and beyond. Government offices, lobbying firms, and a growing professional-services sector round out the employment base, lending the city a steady, institutional rhythm that contrasts with boom-and-bust resort markets. Residents tend to be a mix of longtime locals, state employees, and a sizable student population, with faculty and professionals gravitating toward the historic neighborhoods around Midtown and Myers Park. The city is well suited to those who want the cultural and educational amenities of a capital city, generous green space, and a cost of living below that of Florida's larger coastal metros.