The history of Florida began at least 12,000 years ago, long before it became a U.S. state. A U.S. state is any one of the 50 states (four of them use the term commonwealth) which have membership in the federation known as the United States of America (USA or U.S.). The separate state governments and the U.S. federal government share sovereignty, in that an...

Pre-Columbian history

Archaeological evidences suggests that the first inhabitants of Florida arrived during the Pleistocene epoch. Over the next several thousand years, the inhabitants would create complex societies which built large burial mounds and traded with inhabitants to the southeast. State nickname: Everglade State, Sunshine State Other U.S. States Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Governor Jeb Bush Official languages English Area 170,451 km² (22nd)  - Land 137,374 km²  - Water 30,486 km² (17. ... The Pleistocene epoch is part of the geologic timescale, usually dated as 1. ... The word epoch can mean either an interval of time, or a particular point in time used as a reference point. ...

Spanish rule

Several tribes of Native Americans were living in Florida when Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León arrived in 1513, reportedly searching for the Fountain of Youth. He sighted Florida for the first time, mistaking it for an island, on March 27, and subsequently landed on the east coast of the newly discovered land on April 2. He named the land La Pascua Florida, or "the land of flowers," due to the abundant plant life in the area and to the fact that he arrived during the Spanish Easter feast, Pascua Florida. Native Americans (also Indians, Aboriginal Peoples, American Indians, First Nations, Alaskan Natives, Amerindians, or Indigenous Peoples of America) are the indigenous inhabitants of The Americas prior to the European colonization, and their modern descendants. ... Conquistador (meaning Conqueror in the Spanish language) is the term used to refer to the soldiers, explorers, and adventurers who brought much of the Americas under Spanish rule between the 15th and 17th centuries. ... Juan Ponce de León - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Events January 20 - Christian II becomes King of Denmark and Norway. ... The Fountain of Youth is a legendary fountain that will render anyone who drinks of its waters permanently young. ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in Leap years). ... April 2 is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 273 days remaining. ... The term flora has several meanings in English: Flora is a collective term for plant life; as distinct from Fauna (animals). ... Easter is the most important holiday of the Christian year, observed in March, April, or May each year to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead after his death by crucifixion (see Good Friday), which Christians believe happened at about this time of year around AD 30-33. ...

Ponce de León returned with equipment and settlers to start a colony in 1521, but they were driven off by repeated attacks from the native population. Hernando de Soto's expedition passed through Florida in 1539, and in 1559 Tristán de Luna y Arellano established another brief settlement in Pensacola that was abandoned in 1561. The French began taking an interest in the area, as well, leading the Spanish to accelerate their colonization plans. Jean Ribault led an expedition to Florida in 1562, and René Goulaine de Laudonnière founded Fort Caroline near what is now Jacksonville in 1564. San Agustín (St. Augustine in English), founded in 1565 by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, was the first permanent European settlement in the current territory of the United States. From this base of operations, the Spanish began building Catholic missions throughout what is today the southeastern United States. Events January 3 - Pope Leo X excommunicates Martin Luther. ... de Soto Hernando de Soto (1496 or 1500, Jerez de los Caballeros, Extremadura - 21 May 1542, probably on a branch of the Mississippi river near present-day Lake City, Arkansas. ... Events May 30 - In Florida, Hernando de Soto lands at Tampa Bay with 600 soldiers with the goal to find gold. ... Events January 15 - Elizabeth I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. ... This article is about the inland city of Pensacola, Florida. ... Events The Edict of Orleans suspends the persecution of the Huguenots. ... Jean Ribault (1520 - October 12, 1565) was a French naval officer, navigator, and a colonizer of what would become the southeastern United States. ... Events Earliest English slave-trading expedition under John Hawkins. ... Fort Caroline was the first permanent French colony in North America, located near present-day Jacksonville, Florida. ... The Jacksonville skyline and the Acosta Bridge. ... Events March 8 - Naples bans kissing in public under the penalty of death June 22 - Fort Caroline, the first French attempt at colonizing the New World September 10 - The Battle of Kawanakajima Ottoman Turks invade Malta Modern pencil becomes common in England Conquistadors crossed the Pacific Spanish found a colony... Five flags have flown over St. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Events March 1 - the city of Rio de Janeiro is founded April 27 - Cebu City is established becoming the first Spanish settlement in the Philippines. ... Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles Pedro Menendez de Aviles (born 1519 in Avilés, Spain, dead in Santander on September 17, 1574), was the first Spanish governor of Florida. ... World map showing location of Europe A satellite composite image of Europe Europe is geologically and geographically a peninsula, forming the westernmost part of Eurasia. ...

Menéndez de Avilés attacked Fort Caroline, killed all the French soldiers defending it (except Catholics), and renamed the fort San Mateo. Two years later, Dominique de Gourgues recaptured the fort from the Spanish and slaughtered all of the Spanish defenders. In 1586, English sea captain and sometimes pirate Sir Francis Drake plundered and burned St. Augustine. Events November 19 - Henry Barrow, English Puritan and Separatist is imprisoned. ... Sir Francis Drake, c. ...

Throughout the 17th century, English settlers in Virginia and the Carolinas gradually pushed the boundaries of Spanish territory south, while the French settlements along the Mississippi River encroached on the western borders of the Spanish claim. In 1702, English Colonel James Moore and the allied Creek Indians attacked and razed the town of St. Augustine, but they could not gain control of the fort. In 1704, Moore and his soldiers began burning Spanish missions in north Florida and executing Indians friendly with the Spanish. In 1719, the French captured the Spanish settlement at Pensacola. (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... State nickname: Old Dominion Other U.S. States Capital Richmond Largest city Virginia Beach Governor Mark R. Warner Official languages English Area 110,862 km² (35th)  - Land 102,642 km²  - Water 8,220 km² (7. ... The Carolinas is a collective term used in the United States to refer to the states of North and South Carolina together. ... Length 6,270 km Elevation of the source 450 m Average discharge Saint Louis¹: 5,500 m³/s Vicksburg²: 16,800 m³/s Baton Rouge³: 12,800 m³/s Area watershed 2,980,000 km² Origin Lake Itasca Mouth Gulf of Mexico Basin countries United States (98. ... Events March 8 - William III died; Princess Anne Stuart becomes Queen Anne of England, Scotland and Ireland. ... James Moore is the name of more than one person of note. ... The Creeks are a Native American people originally from the southeastern United States, also known by their original name Muscogee (or Muskogee), the name they use to identify themselves today. ... Events Building of the Students Monument in Aiud, Romania. ... Events January 23 - The Principality of Liechtenstein is created within the Holy Roman Empire April 25 - Daniel Defoe publishes Robinson Crusoe Prussia conducts Europes first systematic census Ongoing events Great Northern War (1700-1721) Births November 30 - Augusta of Saxe-Gotha, Princess of Wales (d. ... This article is about the inland city of Pensacola, Florida. ...

British rule

In 1763, Spain traded Florida (which, at the time, extended south only to around the area of present day Gainesville) to England for control of Havana, Cuba, which had been captured by the British during the Seven Years' War. Almost the entire Spanish population left along with almost all of the remaining indigenous population. The British divided the territory into East Florida and West Florida, and began aggressive recruitment programs designed to attract settlers to the area, offering free land and backing for export-oriented businesses. See West Florida controversy. 1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Gainesville is a city located in Alachua County, Florida, most known for the University of Florida, home to the Florida Gators football team. ... Havana (Spanish: San Cristóbal de La Habana) is the capital of Cuba and, with a population of 2. ... The Seven Years War (1754 and 1756–1763) pitted Great Britain, Prussia and Hanover against France, Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Saxony. ... East Florida was originally a part of the Spanish colony of Florida. ... West Florida was from 1682 until 1763 a part of the French colony of Louisiana. ...

During this time, there was a migration of Creek Indians into Florida forming the Seminole tribe. The Creeks are a Native American people originally from the southeastern United States, also known by their original name Muscogee (or Muskogee), the name they use to identify themselves today. ... The Seminole are a Native American Indian people, originally of Florida. ...

Britain retained control over Florida during the American Revolutionary War, but the Spanish, by that time allied with the French who were actively at war with Britain, took advantage of the distraction and recaptured portions of West Florida. In 1784, the treaty ending the Revolutionary War returned all of Florida to Spanish control. The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen of her North American colonies. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Second Spanish rule

Spain offered extremely lucrative free land packages in Florida as a means of attracting settlers, and colonists came in droves from Spain and from the United States. After settler attacks on Indian towns, Indians based in Florida began raiding Georgia settlements, purportedy at the behest of the Spanish. The United States Army led increasingly frequent incursions into Spanish territory, including the 1817 - 1818 campaign against the Seminole Indians by Andrew Jackson that became known as the First Seminole War. Following the war, the United States effectively controlled East Florida. The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... 1817 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1818 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Seminole are a Native American Indian people, originally of Florida. ... Order: 7th President Vice President: John C. Calhoun (1829-1832) Martin Van Buren (1833-1837) Term of office: March 4, 1829 – March 3, 1837 Preceded by: John Quincy Adams Succeeded by: Martin Van Buren Date of birth: March 15, 1767 Place of birth: Waxhaws area of North Carolina Date of... Osceola, Seminole leader, detail from an 1838 lithograph The Seminole Wars were three wars or conflicts in Florida between the Seminole Native American tribe and the United States. ...

The Adams-Onís Treaty was signed between the United States and Spain on February 22, 1819 and took effect on July 10, 1821. According to the terms of the treaty, the United States acquired Florida and, in exchange, renounced all claims to Texas. The Adams-Onís Treaty of 1819 (formally titled the Treaty of Amity, Settlement, and Limits Between the United States of America and His Catholic Majesty, and also known as the Transcontinental Treaty of 1819, and sometimes the Florida Treaty) was a historic agreement between the United States and Spain... February 22 is the 53rd day of every year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1819 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... July 10 is the 191st day (192nd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 174 days remaining. ... 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... State nickname: Lone Star State Other U.S. States Capital Austin Largest city Houston Governor Rick Perry Official languages None. ...

American rule

Florida Territory became an organized territory of the United States on March 30, 1822. The Florida Territory was a historic organized territory of the United States from 1822 to 1845. ... In the history of the United States, an organized territory is a territory for which the United States Congress has enacted an Organic Act. ... March 30 is the 89th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (90th in Leap years). ... 1822 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Americans merged East Florida and West Florida (although the majority of West Florida was annexed to Orleans Territory and Mississippi Territory), and established a new capital in Tallahassee, conveniently located halfway between the East Florida capital of St. Augustine and the West Florida capital of Pensacola. East Florida was originally a part of the Spanish colony of Florida. ... West Florida was from 1682 until 1763 a part of the French colony of Louisiana. ... Orleans Territory was a historic, organized territory of the United States formed out of the first subdivision of the Louisiana Purchase. ... Mississippi Territory was was a historic, organized territory of the United States from April 7, 1798, and expanded twice (in 1804 and 1812), until it extended from the Gulf of Mexico to the southern border of Tennessee. ... Tallahassee is the capital of Florida, a state of the United States of America. ...

As settlement increased, pressure grew on the United States government to remove the Indians from their lands in Florida. Many Indian tribes harbored runaway black slaves, and the settlers wanted access to Indian occupied lands. The word slave has at least two meanings: People who are owned by others, and live to serve them without pay. ...

In 1832, the United States government signed the Treaty of Payne's Landing with a few of the Seminole chiefs, promising them lands west of the Mississippi River if they agreed to leave Florida voluntarily. The remaining Seminole prepared for war. White settlers pressured the government to remove all of the Indians, by force if necessary. In 1835, the U.S. Army arrived to enforce the treaty. 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Seminole leader Osceola was involved in a vastly outnumbered resistance during the Second Seminole War. Approximately 4,000 Indian warriors effectively employed hit and run guerrilla tactics with devastating effect against over 200,000 United States Army troops for many years. Osceola was arrested at truce negotiations in 1837. He died in jail a less than a year later. Osceola, Seminole leader, detail from an 1838 lithograph The Seminole Wars were three wars or conflicts in Florida between the Seminole Native American tribe and the United States. ... 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ...

The war only ended after a full decade of fighting, in 1842. The US government is estimated to have spent about $20,000,000 on the war, at the time an astronomical sum. Many Indians were forcibly exiled to Creek lands west of the Mississippi; others retreated into the Everglades. 1842 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... An Anhinga perched on the boardwalk railing The Florida Everglades is a subtropical marshland located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, specifically in parts of Monroe, Collier, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties. ...

On March 3, 1845, Florida became the 27th state of the United States of America. Almost half of the state's population were black slaves working on plantations. March 3 is the 62nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (63rd in leap years). ... 1845 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

The Civil War and Reconstruction

Following Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, Florida joined other slaveholding states in seceding from the United States. Secession took place January 10, 1861 and Florida immediately joined the Confederate States of America. Florida was an important supply route for the Confederate Army, thus Union forces operated a blockade around the entire state. Union troops occupied major ports such as Cedar Key, Jacksonville, Key West, and Pensacola. Though numerous skirmishes occurred in Florida, the only major battle was the Battle of Olustee near Lake City. Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865), sometimes called Abe Lincoln and nicknamed Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, and the Great Emancipator, was the 16th (1861–1865) President of the United States, and the first president from the Republican Party. ... 1860 is the leap year starting on Sunday. ... Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or political entity. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... National Motto Deo Vindice (Latin: Under God our Vindicator) Official language English de facto nationwide Various European and Native American languages regionally Capital Montgomery, Alabama February 4, 1861–May 29, 1861 Richmond, Virginia May 29, 1861–April 9, 1865 Danville, Virginia April 3–April 10, 1865 Largest city New Orleans... This article is in need of attention. ... The Union was a name used by many to refer to the Northern states during the American Civil War. ... Dock Street, Cedar Key. ... The Jacksonville skyline and the Acosta Bridge. ... Map of Key West Key West is a city located in Monroe County, Florida. ... This article is about the inland city of Pensacola, Florida. ... Battle of Olustee Conflict American Civil War Date February 20, 1864 Place Baker County, Florida Result Confederate victory The Battle of Olustee was a battle in the American Civil War which took place near Lake City, Florida on February 20, 1864. ... Lake City is a city located in Columbia County, Florida. ...

After meeting the requirements of Reconstruction, including amendments to the US Constitution, Florida was readmitted to the United States on July 25, 1868. Page I of the Constitution of the United States of America Page II of the United States Constitution Page III of the United States Constitution Page IV of the United States Constitution The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America and is... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1868 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Tourism industry

During the late 19th century, Florida started to become a popular tourist destination as railroads expanded into the area. Railroad magnate Henry Plant built a luxury hotel in Tampa, which later became the campus for the University of Tampa. Henry Flagler built the Florida East Coast Railway from Jacksonville to Key West and built numerous luxury hotels along the route, including in the cities of St. Augustine, Ormond Beach, and West Palm Beach. This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... Tampas skyline For alternate meanings, see Tampa (disambiguation) Tampa is a city located in Hillsborough County on the west coast of Florida. ... The University of Tampa, or UT, is located across the Hillsborough River from downtown Tampa, Florida. ... Henry Morrison Flagler (January 2, 1830 – May 20, 1913) was a United States tycoon, real estate promoter, railroad developer and Rockefeller partner. ... The Florida East Coast Railway (AAR reporting mark FEC) is a Class II railroad operating in the US state of Florida; in the past, it has been a Class I railroad. ... Jacksonville redirects here. ... Map of Key West Key West is a city located in Monroe County, Florida. ... Five flags have flown over St. ... Ormond Beach is a city located in Volusia County, Florida. ... West Palm Beach is a city located in Palm Beach County, Florida. ...

The 1920s were a prosperous time for much of the nation. Florida's new railroads opened up large areas to development, spurring the Florida Land Boom. Investors of all kinds, mostly from outside Florida, raced to buy and sell rapidly appreciating land in newly platted communities such as Miami and Palm Beach. A majority of the people who bought land in Florida were able to do so without stepping foot in the state by hiring people to speculate and buy the land for them. By 1925 the market ran out of buyers to pay the high prices and soon the boom became a bust. A hurricane in 1926 hit Palm Beach and further depressed the real estate market. The Great Depression arrived in 1929, however by that time economic decay already consumed much of Florida from the land boom that collapsed four years earlier. The Miami skyline, as it is seen from the northeast. ... Palm Beach is a town located in Palm Beach County, Florida, 65 miles north of Miami. ... 1925 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1926 was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... --209. ... 1929 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Florida's first theme parks emerged in the 1930s and include Cypress Gardens (1936) near Winter Haven and Marineland (1938) near St. Augustine. Walt Disney chose Central Florida as the site of his planned Walt Disney World Resort in the 1960s and began purchasing land. In 1971 the first component of the resort, The Magic Kingdom, opened and began the dramatic transformation of the Orlando area into a resort destination with a wide variety of themed parks. Besides Disney, the Orlando area today features theme parks including Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, and Wet 'n Wild. Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented First atom was split with a particle accelerator Golden Age of radio begins in U.S. Science Nuclear fission discovered by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann Pluto, the ninth planet from the Sun, is discovered by Clyde Tombaugh British biologist Arthur... Cypress Gardens is a theme park in the USA. It was conceived and built by Dick and Julie Pope. ... Winter Haven is a city located in Polk County, Florida. ... Dolphin Show, Marineland of Florida, 1964. ... Walt Disney - Wikipedia /**/ @import /skins/monobook/IE50Fixes. ... Cinderella Castle, at the center of the Magic Kingdom, is Walt Disney World Resorts most recognizable icon. ... Events and trends The 1960s was a turbulent decade of change around the world. ... 1971 is a common year starting on Friday (click for link to calendar). ... Cinderella Castle is at the center of the Magic Kingdom. ... The Seal of the City of Orlando The city of Orlando is the county seat of Orange County, Florida. ... Taken in December 2004, this picture shows a walkway bridge (right) and the giant studio entrance (back) at Universal Studios Orlando. ... Categories: United States-related stubs | Amusement parks | Marine parks | San Diego | Texas landmarks | Orlando area attractions | Tourist attractions in California ...

Military and space industry

Starting in the early twentieth century and accelerating as World War II dawned, the state has proven itself to be a major hub for the United States Armed Forces. Naval Air Station Pensacola was originally established as a naval station in 1826 and became the first American naval aviation facility in 1917. The entire nation mobilized for World War II and many bases were established in Florida during this time, including Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport, Naval Air Station Cecil Field, and Homestead Air Force Base. Eglin Air Force Base and MacDill Air Force Base (now the home of U.S. Central Command) were also developed during this time. During the Cold War Florida's coastal access and proximity to Cuba continuted the development of these and other military facilities. Since the end of the Cold War Florida has seen some facilities close, including major bases at Homestead and Cecil Field, but the military presence is still significant. The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... Naval Air Station Pensacola, The Cradle of Naval Aviation, is a United States Navy base located in Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits. ... 1826 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1917 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... Naval Air Station Jacksonville, located in Jacksonville, Florida, is the third-largest naval installation in the United States. ... The USS departing NS Mayport, Florida Naval Station Mayport is a major U. S. Navy base near Jacksonville, Florida. ... Eglin Air Force Base is a base of the United States Air Force that belongs to the Air Force Materiel Command; the Air Armament Center is the host unit. ... MacDill Air Force Base (MacDill AFB) is a base of the United States Air Force located in Florida, 8 miles south of Tampa at the tip of the Interbay Peninsula. ... Emblem of the United States Central Command. ... A cold war is a state of conflict between nations that does not involve direct military action but is pursued primarily through economic and political actions, acts of espionage or conflict through surrogates. ...

Due to Florida's low latitude, it was chosen in 1949 as a test site for the country's nascent missile program. Patrick Air Force Base and the Cape Canaveral launch site began to take shape as the 1950s progressed. By the early 1960s, the Space Race was in full swing and generated a huge boom in the communities around Cape Canaveral. This area is now collectively known as the Space Coast and features the Kennedy Space Center. It is also a major center of the aerospace industry. To date, all manned orbital spaceflights launched by the United States, including the only men to visit the Moon, have been launched from Kennedy Space Center. 1949 is a common year starting on Saturday. ... Cape Canaveral is a city located in Brevard County, Florida. ... Millennia: 1st millennium - 2nd millennium - 3rd millennium Events and trends Technology United States tests the first fusion bomb. ... Events and trends The 1960s was a turbulent decade of change around the world. ... The July 15, 1975 rendezvous of the Apollo and Soyuz space modules marks the traditional end of the Space Race. ... The Space Coast is a region in the U.S. state of Florida around Kennedy Space Center, where NASA frequently launches rockets and shuttles into space. ... Merritt Island and Kennedy Space Center The John F. Kennedy Space Center (KSC) is the NASA space vehicle launch facility (spaceport) at Cape Canaveral on Merritt Island in Florida, United States. ... Aerospace engineering is the branch of engineering concerning aircraft, spacecraft and related topics. ... For other moons in the solar system see natural satellite. ...

Recent history

Florida's populations are continually changing. After World War II, Florida was transformed as air conditioning and the Interstate highway system encouraged migration from the north. In 1950, Florida was ranked 20th among the states in population - in 2003, Florida was ranked fourth. Due to low tax rates and warm climate, Florida became the destination for many retirees, including a large number of Quebecois. The Cuban Revolution of 1959 led to a large wave of Cuban immigration into South Florida. Immigration from Haiti and other Caribbean states continues to the present day. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Note: in the broadest sense, air conditioning can refer to any form of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning. ... A typical rural stretch of Interstate Highway, with two lanes in each direction separated by a large grassy median, and with cross-traffic limited to overpasses and underpasses. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January January 1 - Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. ... In Canadian English, a Québécois (IPA: ) is a native or resident of the province of Quebec, Canada, especially a French-speaking one. ... The Cuban Revolution was the overthrow of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista by the 26th of July Movement and the establishment of a new government led by Fidel Castro in the 1950s. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Caribbean or the West Indies is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. ...

Hurricanes and tropical storms are an increasing problem stemming from Florida's rapidly developing coastal areas. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 struck Homestead, just south of Miami, and was the most expensive natural disaster in US history. Besides excessive property damage, the hurricane nearly undermined the region's insurance industry. Hurricane Andrew approaching the Bahamas and Florida This article is about the 1992 hurricane; there was also a Tropical Storm Andrew during the 1986 Atlantic hurricane season. ... Homestead is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. ...

The western panhandle of the state was damaged heavily in 1995, with storms Allison, Erin, and Opal hitting the area within the span of a few months. The storms increased in strength as the season went on, culminating with Opal's landfall as a Category 3 in October. Florida also suffered heavily during the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season, when no less than four storms struck the state. Hurricane Charley made landfall in the Fort Myers area and cut northward through the peninsula, Hurricane Frances struck the Atlantic coast and drenched most of central Florida with heavy rains, Hurricane Ivan caused heavy damage in the western Panhandle, and Hurricane Jeanne caused damage to the same area as Frances, including compounded beach erosion. Damage from all four storms was estimated to be at least $22 billion, with some estimates going as high as $40 billion. The 1995 Atlantic Hurricane season was the second most active season on record, and the most active in sixty-two years. ... Hurricane Opal approaching Pensacola, Florida Hurricane Opal was a major hurricane that formed in the Gulf of Mexico in September 1995. ... October is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially started June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. ... This article is about the hurricane of 2004. ... For other storms named Hurricane Frances, see Hurricane Frances (disambiguation). ... For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Ivan (disambiguation). ... This article deals with the 2004 Hurricane Jeanne. ...

Florida became the battleground of the controversial 2000 US presidential election, when a count of the popular votes held on Election Day was extremely close and mired in accusations of fraud and manipulation. Subsequent recount efforts degenerated into arguments over mispunched ballots and controversial decisions by the Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris and the Florida Supreme Court. Ultimately the election was decided by a United States Supreme Court ruling that ended all recounts. Map The U.S. presidential election of 2000 took place on Election Day, Tuesday, November 7. ... Katherine Harris Katherine Harris (born April 5, 1957), American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 2003, representing the 13th District of Florida. ... The Florida Supreme Court is the highest court in the State of Florida. ... The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C. The Supreme Court Building, Washington, D.C., (large image) The Supreme Court of the United States, located in Washington, D.C., is the highest court (see supreme court) in the United States; that is, it has ultimate judicial authority within the United States...

Environmental issues include preserving the Everglades and how to respond to pressure to drill for oil in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. To date, large-scale drilling off of the coasts of Florida has been prevented. An Anhinga perched on the boardwalk railing The Florida Everglades is a subtropical marshland located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, specifically in parts of Monroe, Collier, Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, and Broward counties. ... Nodding donkey pumping an oil well near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 Petroleum (from Latin petrus – rock and oleum – oil), mineral oil, or crude oil, sometimes colloquially called black gold, is a thick, dark brown or greenish flammable liquid, which exists in the upper strata of some areas of the Earths... The Gulf of Mexico is a major body of water bordered and nearly landlocked by North America. ...

Sources and further reading

• Baptist, Edward E. Creating an Old South: Middle Florida's Plantation Frontier Before the Civil War.
• Barnes, Jay. Florida's Hurricane History. University of North Carolina Press: 1998. ISBN 0807847488.
• Brown, Robin C. Florida's First People: 12,000 Years of Human History. Pineapple Press: 1994. ISBN 1561640328.
• Burnett, Gene M. Florida's Past: People and Events That Shaped the State. Pineapple Press: 1998. ISBN 1561641154.
• Gannon, Michael. The New History of Florida. University Press of Florida: 1996. ISBN 0813014158.
• Henderson, Ann L., and Gary R. Mormino. Spanish Pathways in Florida: 1492-1992. Pineapple Press: 1991. ISBN 1561640042.
• Landers, Jane. Black Society in Spanish Florida. University of Illinois Press: 1999. ISBN 0252067533
• Taylor, Robert A., and Lewis N. Wynne. Florida in the Civil War. Arcadia Publishing: 2002. ISBN 0738514918.

External links

• Florida Memory Project (http://www.floridamemory.com/) over 300,000 photographs and documents from the State Archives of Florida