Did The Spaniards Colonise Florida?

Yes, the Spaniards did colonise Florida, arriving at the famous American peninsula in the 1500s. Although there are hot temperatures being so close to the equator, there was a cool reception for the Spaniards from Florida's Native American population, which at that time stood at around 100,000.

The Native Americans were by the time of the Spanish colonisers well established in Florida; the earliest inhabitants are thought to have trekked down the Florida coast some 20,000 years ago.

From the 16th Century, Florida was thereafter to remain a Spanish colony until 1820 when the territory became part of the USA.

Orlando, today one of the main cities in Florida, only came into being around 1840 and existed as a cow town until the railroad opened up the region enabling Orlando to grow into a commercial hub for the agriculture industry.

Since 1940, Orlando has been a military centre, with the USAF being a major part of the economy until Walt Disney's arrival.

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