Why Do Rockets Launch From Florida?

Allow me to present you with 2 interesting statistics:

1. Since 2000, 79 tropical storms have hit the state of Florida

2. Since 2000, 52 space missions have been launched from the state of Florida

With the danger of tropical storms o ever-present, why did NASA choose Cape Canaveral, Florida as the primary launch site for their rockets and shuttles? Was it a mistake?

Within the mainland United States, Florida is the state closest to the equator. Since the linear velocity of the Earth's rotation is strongest near the equator, rockets launched from Cape Canaveral get a boost to escape Earth’s atmosphere. This saves fuel and makes space missions more cost-effective.

Another important factor is the Cape Canaveral’s proximity to the ocean. In the worst-case scenario of a rocket malfunction, it would be safer to have the rocket land in a body of water than a crowded city. Modern rockets are composed of different stages that are detached once they serve their purpose. These sections fall back to Earth and are sometimes reused. 

The safest way to retrieve these reusable parts, like SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket, would be to have them land in the ocean.

While the Floridian weather annoys the men and women of NASA to a greater degree than others, Cape Canaveral's geographical position offers benefits that far outweigh the costs.

SOURCES:

https://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/why-does-nasa-launch-rockets-from-cape-canaveral-florida/70000391

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Florida_hurricanes

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Launch_Services_Program_launches#2000-2004

https://www.google.com/search?q=why+does+nasa+launch+from+florida&oq=why+does+nasa+launc+&aqs=chrome.2.69i57j69i60j0l4.8325j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/space-shuttle-weather-florida/

https://www.theverge.com/2017/3/30/15117096/spacex-launch-reusable-rocket-success-falcon-9-landing