20 Historic Images That Show How Florida Has Changed Over Time

Florida has a long and interesting history. Long before Europeans arrived, Native American people lived in Florida. They established communities, hunted for food, crafted implements and tended the land. Florida was home to different Native groups. They spoke different languages, had different traditions and lived differently. Before Florida was discovered by Europeans, there were already many residents living in the area.

How Florida Changed

In 1513, a Spanish explorer named Juan Ponce de León on Florida. He seized the land as Spain’s property. He named it Florida, for he landed in the Spring festival season in Spain. After his arrival, other Spanish explorers came to the area. Florida’s location near important sea routes was a reason for Spain to want to control Florida.

The Spanish built settlements and forts in Florida. In 1565, they founded St. Augustine. It was made one of the oldest European settlements in the United States. Leaders of Spain also constructed missions. They wanted to spread their religion and increase their control over the land. The life was often hard due to disease, fighting and lack of supplies.

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In 1763, Florida was eventually taken over by the British. Britain partitioned the land into two sections which are East Florida and West Florida. In 1783, Spain retook control. However, Spain found it hard to manage Florida. Its walls were thin, its population small and its resources sparse. The United States began to have an interest in the land.

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In 1821, Spain ceded Florida to the United States. Florida become a part of the United States. New laws and offices were being developed in the American government. Increased population of settlers. Roads, farms and towns were constructed. It was also a source of serious conflict with Native people, particularly the Seminole. Numerous native families were displaced.

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In 1845, Florida joined the United States as the 27th state. During the Civil War, Florida joined the southern states. The war hurt the economy and life in the state. Florida’s farms, towns, and government began to slowly regenerate after the war. Railroads made Florida flourish in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. They created easier routes of travel and linked small towns with larger cities. People settled in Florida due to its mild climate and extensive shoreline. The economy began to include farming, fishing, and tourism.

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The twentieth century brought many changes to Florida. New roads, houses, hotels and businesses were constructed. Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando boomed. The hot summer season was made easier to live in Florida with the help of the A/C. Tourism started to be one of the state’s biggest industries.

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Florida today has changed significantly from the area first visited by the Spanish explorers. It has big cities, a busy airport, modern highways, popular beaches, and numerous attractions for tourists. But there are also issues with hurricanes, rising seas, urbanized areas and damage to nature in Florida. It has been an interesting evolution in the history of the state from Native homelands to Spanish settlements to one of the largest and most visited states in the nation.

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