Florida State History – Exploration, Spanish Colonization, Geography of Florida

Native Americans

People have lived on the land of Florida for thousands of years. When Europeans first arrived, Native American tribes lived throughout the country. These tribes included the Apalachee of the Florida Panhandle, the Calusa of the South, the Mayaimi, who lived around Lake Okeechobee, and the Tocobaga, who lived in the central part of the state. Many of these original tribes were wiped out by diseases brought by Europeans.

Information about Florida State:

Flag of Florida State:

Europeans Arrived

The first European to visit Florida was the Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon, who arrived there in 1513. He was looking for the legendary Fountain of Youth. He returned again in 1521 with about 200 settlers wishing to establish a colony. However, he was attacked by locals and died from wounds on his leg. Other Spanish explorers also followed him, including Panfilo de Narváez in 1528 and his Hernando de Soto in 1539 in hopes of discovering gold in the area.

Early Settlers

The first European settlement in Florida was founded by French Protestants in 1564. Led by French explorer Rene de Laudonniere, they built Fort Caroline near present-day Jacksonville. A year later, in 1565, the Spaniards built a fort at St. Augustine. St. Augustine is the oldest permanent settlement in the United States. From there, Catholic priests began establishing missions throughout Florida.

Florida State Symbols

• Florida State Nickname: Sunshine State
  
• Florida State Slogan: Visit Florida; MyFlorida.com
• Florida State Motto: In God we trust (1868)
  
• Florida State flower: Orange blossom
• Florida State bird: Mockingbird
• Florida State fish: Largemouth bass (fresh water), Atlantic Sailfish (salt water)
• Florida State tree: Sabal Palm
• Florida State mammal: Florida panther, Manatee, Bottle-nosed dolphin
• Florida State foods: Orange Juice, Key Lime Pie, Oranges

Britain and Spain

The Spaniards ruled Florida until 1763. After being defeated by Britain in the Seven Years’ War, Spain renounced control of Florida. Britain ruled the country for the next twenty years until the end of the American Revolutionary War in 1783, at which point Spain regained control of Florida through the Treaty of Paris.

Seminole Wars

In the 19th century, the Seminole Her Indians of Florida fought several wars with the American army. The First Seminole War occurred in his 1817, when Andrew Jackson led an invasion of the Seminoles in Florida. The invasion was part of a response to the Seminoles’ efforts to help free runaway slaves from their owners. After this invasion, the United States took control of parts of Florida.

The Second Seminole War was fought from 1835 to 1842, and the Third Seminole War from 1855 to 1858. These wars were waged because the Seminoles did not want to relinquish their land and move into Indian territory.

The Geography of Florida State:

• Total Size of Florida: 53,927 sq. miles (source: 2003 Census)
  
• Geographical Low Point of Florida: Atlantic Ocean at Sea Level (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
  
• Geographical High Point of Florida: Britton Hill at 345 feet, located in the county/subdivision of Walton (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
  
• Central Point of Florida: Located in Hernando County approx. 12 miles north-northwest of Brooksville (source: U.S. Geological Survey)
  
• Counties of Florida: 67  (source: National Association of Counties)
  
• Bodies of Water of Florida: Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Tampa Bay, Lake Okeechobee, St. Johns River, Suwannee River, Caloosahatchee River, Lake Tohopekaliga, Lake George

Becoming a State

As part of the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819, the United States took control of Florida from Spain. Florida Territory was established in 1821 and Andrew Jackson became the first Governor of Florida. Florida’s population grew over the next few years and soon became large enough to form a state. However, slavery was legal in Florida, and many northern states did not want another slave state to join the Union. At the same time, Iowa was recognized as a free state as part of the Compromise, and Florida became her 27th state on March 3, 1845.

Civil War

When Abraham Lincoln became president in 1861, Florida seceded from the Union and joined the Confederacy. During the Civil War, Florida served as a supply route for the Confederate Army. Although there were few major battles in Florida, there were many smaller skirmishes as Union forces sought to blockade the state to block supplies to the South. The only major battle was the Battle of Orsti in 1864. After its defeat in the Civil War, Florida rejoined the Union in her 1868.

Famous People of Delaware State:

Interesting Facts of Florida State:

You can watch the space shuttle launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Ponce de Leon hoped to find the Fountain of Youth while exploring Florida.

Founded in 1565, St. He Augustine, Florida is the oldest permanent city in the United States.

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is the number one tourist destination in the world.

Florida is sometimes called the “Alligator State” because of its abundance of alligators. Also, the mascot of the University of Florida is the Gator. This is where Gatorade was first invented.

Clearwater, Florida has the highest lightning strike rate in the United States.

You might think Florida is the southernmost state in the United States, but Hawaii is actually further south.

Key West has the hottest average temperature in the United States.

Timeline Overview:

1513 – Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon becomes the first European to visit Florida. 1539 – Hernando de Soto explores the area in search of gold.
1565- St. He founded the city of Augustine as the oldest permanent settlement in the United States.
1763 – Britain gains control of Florida as a result of the Seven Years’ War.
1783 – The Spaniards recapture Florida as part of the Peace of Paris.
1817 – First Seminole War begins. 1819 – The Adams-Onnis Treaty gives the United States control of Florida.
1821 – Florida Territory is established.
1835 – Second Seminole War begins.
1845 – Florida becomes the 27th state.
1861 – Florida leaves the Union and joins the Confederate States of America. 1864 – Battle of Orstee takes place.
1868 – Florida rejoins the Union.
1961 – NASA’s first manned space flight takes off from Cape Canaveral.
1971 – Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park opens in Orlando.
1986 – The Space Shuttle Challenger explodes shortly after launch. 1992 – Hurricane Andrew devastated much of South Florida.