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Florida Hotel Reservations

What is the ORIGIN of the name "FLORIDA" and who named it?
FLORIDA came from "Pascua Florida, a term meaning "flowery Easter". When Ponce de Leon first saw the East Coast of Florida (near Cape Canaveral) in 1513, it was the time of the Spanish Easter holiday. WHile there were probably flowers in the coastal vegetation, Ponce de Leon's religious views were probably the reason for the name.

When did Florida become a state?
Florida entered the Union on March 3, 1845, the 27th state and the last state east of the Mississippi River.

How was Florida obtained by the United States?
Florida was obtained from Spain in the Onis-Adams Treaty (1819-1821). The USA agreed to pay up to five million dollars in war damage claims by American and Spanish civilians and to drop claim to Texas. The USA did not pay the Spanish government and actually paid out only about $200,000 in actual damage claims.

What was Florida's first town?
St. Augustine may be the oldest continuous city in the USA, but Fort Caroline, started in 1564 by French Huguenots was the first Florida town. The Spanish destroyed the town the next year.

What five flags were raised over Florida?
France (1564), Spain (1565-1763 and 1783-1821), England (1763-1783), the Confederacy (1861-1865), and the United States (1821-1861 and 1865-today). A Mexican pirate once flew the flag of Mexico over Fernandina, but that hardly counts.

What are the major industries or products of Florida?
Tourism, agriculture (citrus, winter vegetables and fruits, sugarcane), manufacturing, plants, forest products, phosphate.

What are Florida's main symbols?
CLICK the symbol link on the left side of the main index page for a visual tour of Florida symbols.

Name some famous female Floridians.
Our picks: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Mary Bethune, Julia Tuttle, Zora Huston, Marjorie Stoneman Douglas.

Name some famous male Floridians.
Pedro Menendez de Aviles, Henry Flagler, Henry Plant, James Weldon Johnson, richard Keith Call.

How many people live in Florida?
With about sixteen million people, Florida ranks 4th in the nation in population.