Full History Of Florida In Timeline From 1900

1900: Florida's Population in 1900

In 1900, Florida had a population of only 528,542, with nearly 44% being African American.

1902: Construction of Early Skyscrapers

In 1902, Jacksonville began construction of many of the state's earliest skyscrapers.

1905: State University System Founded

In 1905, the State University System of Florida was founded.

1909: State Flower Chosen

In 1909, the state flower was chosen as a state symbol.

1910: Great Migration Begins

Beginning in 1910, many African Americans migrated from Florida to northern cities in the Great Migration, in response to segregation, disfranchisement, and agricultural depression.

1925: Seaboard Air Line extends service to West Palm Beach in 1925

In 1925, the Seaboard Air Line extended its freight and passenger service to West Palm Beach, breaking the FEC's southeast Florida monopoly.

1926: Devastating Hurricane in 1926

In 1926, a devastating hurricane brought a halt to the economic prosperity and land boom in Florida.

1927: State Bird Chosen

In 1927, the state bird was chosen as a state symbol.

1928: Devastating Hurricane in 1928

In 1928, another devastating hurricane brought a halt to the economic prosperity and land boom in Florida.

June 29, 1931: Hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida on June 29, 1931

On June 29, 1931, the hottest temperature ever recorded in Florida was 109 °F (43 °C), which was set in Monticello.

1939: Florida described as "still very largely an empty State" in 1939

In 1939, Florida was described as "still very largely an empty State."

1940: Continuation of Great Migration

By 1940, African Americans continued to migrate from Florida to northern cities in the Great Migration due to segregation, disfranchisement, and agricultural depression.

1944: Roosevelt Carries Florida

2008 marked the first time since 1944, when Franklin D. Roosevelt carried the state for the fourth time, that Florida was carried by a Northern Democrat for president.

1945: Migration to Florida sharply increased after 1945

After 1945, migration from the Rust Belt and the Northeast sharply increased Florida's population.

1950: Symbols Chosen After 1950

The majority of Florida's state symbols were chosen after 1950.

1952: Swing State Status

Florida has been listed as a swing state in presidential elections since 1952.

1952: Shift to Republican Presidential Candidates

From 1952 to 1964, most voters were registered Democrats, but the state voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election except for 1964.

1954: Cramer Elected to Congress

The first post-Reconstruction era Republican elected to Congress from Florida was William C. Cramer in 1954 from Pinellas County.

1956: Florida Turnpike Construction Began

Before the construction of routes under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, Florida began construction of a long cross-state toll road, Florida's Turnpike.

1956: Tallahassee Bus Boycott Begins in 1956

In 1956, students at Florida A&M University began organizing a bus boycott in Tallahassee.

1957: Tallahassee Bus Boycott Success in 1957

In 1957, the bus boycott in Tallahassee succeeded in integrating the city's buses.

1957: First Section of Turnpike Completed

In 1957, the first section of Florida's Turnpike, from Fort Pierce south to the Golden Glades Interchange, was completed.

1960: Decline of African Americans in Florida

By 1960, the proportion of African Americans in the state had declined to 18% due to the Great Migration.

1960: Sit-ins protesting segregated seating in 1960

In 1960, students held sit-ins protesting segregated seating at local lunch counters.

1960: Center of Population Location in 1960

The center of population has been located in Polk County since the 1960 census.

1964: Shift to Republican Presidential Candidates

From 1952 to 1964, most voters were registered Democrats, but the state voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election except for 1964.

1964: St. Augustine motel incident in 1964 influences Civil Rights Act

In 1964, an incident at a St. Augustine motel pool, in which the owner poured acid into the water during a demonstration, influenced the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act.

1965: Voting Rights Act of 1965

In 1965, Congress passed and President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, providing for oversight of state practices and enforcement of constitutional voting rights for African Americans and other minorities.

1965: Civil Rights Movement Gains Federal Legislation in 1965

In 1965, the Civil Rights Movement gained federal legislation to enforce protection of African Americans' constitutional suffrage.

1966: Miami Dolphins Added to American Football League

Florida gained its first permanent major-league professional sports team in 1966 when the American Football League added the Miami Dolphins.

1966: Kirk Elected Governor

In 1966, Claude R. Kirk Jr. was elected as the first post-Reconstruction Republican governor, in an upset election.

1968: Gurney Elected Senator

In 1968, Edward J. Gurney was elected as the state's first post-reconstruction Republican US senator.

1970: Democrats regain power

In 1970, Democrats took the governorship and the open US Senate seat and maintained dominance for years.

1970: Non-Hispanic Whites in Florida

In 1970, non-Hispanic whites constituted nearly 80% of Florida's population.

1972: Mandatory Personal Injury Protection Auto Insurance

In 1972, Florida made personal injury protection auto insurance mandatory for drivers, becoming the second in the U.S. to enact a no-fault insurance law.

1972: State Control of Potable Water Resources Since 1972

Since 1972, all potable water resources have been controlled by the state government through five regional water authorities.

1973: First Recorded Bleaching Incident on the Florida Reef in 1973

The first recorded bleaching incident on the Florida Reef was in 1973.

1974: Jacksonville's Height Record

From 1974 to 1981, Jacksonville held a state height record for its skyscrapers.

1974: Turnpike Finished

In 1974, Florida's Turnpike was finished after a southward extension around Miami to Homestead.

1976: Democratic Nominee from the South

Though the majority of registered voters in Florida were Democrats, it continued to support Republican presidential candidates through 2004, except in 1976 and 1996, when the Democratic nominee was from the South.

1978: Casinos Disapproved

In 1978, Florida disapproved casinos outside of sovereign tribal areas.

1980: Center of Population Location in 1980

Between 1980 and 2010, the center of population of Florida moved less than 5 miles (8 km) to the east and approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) to the north.

1980: English Ancestry

In the 1980 United States census, the largest ancestry group reported in Florida was English with 2,232,514 Floridians claiming they were of English or mostly English American ancestry.

May 8, 1981: Winter Park Sinkhole Appears on May 8, 1981

On May 8, 1981, the Winter Park Sinkhole appeared in central Florida, measuring approximately 350 feet wide and 75 feet deep.

1981: Florida mangrove plant communities in 1981

In 1981, Florida mangrove plant communities covered an estimated 430,000 to 540,000 acres (1,700 to 2,200 km) in Florida.

1981: End of Jacksonville's Height Record

In 1981, Jacksonville's height record for its skyscrapers ended.

1984: Lottery Approved

In 1984, Florida approved its lottery by amending the constitution.

1986: Casinos Disapproved

In 1986, Florida disapproved casinos outside of sovereign tribal areas.

1988: Federal Corruption Convictions

From 1988 to 2007, Florida had 800 federal corruption convictions, more than any other state.

1988: English as Official Language

In 1988, English was affirmed as the state's official language in the Florida Constitution.

1991: Professional Sports Subsidies

Florida has given professional sports franchises some subsidies in the form of tax breaks since 1991.

1992: Florida Sides With Presidential Loser

In 1992, Florida sided with the eventual loser of the presidential election.

1992: Hurricane Andrew in 1992

In August 1992, Hurricane Andrew struck Florida, causing more than $25 billion in damages and becoming the costliest weather disaster in U.S. history at the time.

1994: Casinos Disapproved

In 1994, Florida disapproved casinos outside of sovereign tribal areas.

1995: Legislature Modifies Chapter 921

In 1995, the Florida legislature modified Chapter 921 to provide that felons should serve at least 85% of their sentence.

1996: Bellwether Streak Begins

Florida began a streak of voting for the winning presidential candidate, starting in 1996.

1996: Additional Teams in Division I FBS

Since 1996, Florida has added four additional teams to the ranks of Division I FBS: UCF Knights, South Florida Bulls, Florida Atlantic Owls and FIU Panthers.

1996: Democratic Nominee from the South

Though the majority of registered voters in Florida were Democrats, it continued to support Republican presidential candidates through 2004, except in 1976 and 1996, when the Democratic nominee was from the South.

1998: Dominance of Democratic Voters

In 1998, Democratic voters dominated areas of Florida with a high percentage of racial minorities and transplanted white liberals from the northeastern United States.

2000: Urban Population in 2000

In 2000, 89 percent of Florida's population lived in urban areas, compared to 79 percent across the U.S.

2000: Bush Wins Presidential Election

In 2000, George W. Bush won the U.S. presidential election with 25 electoral votes cast by electors from Florida, results were contested and a recount was ordered by the court.

2000: Closely Contested Election

In the closely contested 2000 election, around 500 votes separated the two candidates in Florida, resulting in a decisive win for Bush.

2001: Deadliest terrorist attack in the U.S. since the September 11 attacks in 2001

In June 2016, the Orlando Nightclub Shooting was the deadliest terrorist attack in the U.S. since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

2002: Study on Felony Disenfranchisement

A 2002 study concluded that if Florida's disenfranchised felons had voted at the same rate as other Floridians, Democratic candidate Al Gore would have won Florida—and the presidency—by more than 80,000 votes.

2004: Slot Machines Approved

In 2004, Florida approved slot machines in Broward and Miami-Dade County.

2004: Republican Support

Though the majority of registered voters in Florida were Democrats, it continued to support Republican presidential candidates through 2004, except in 1976 and 1996, when the Democratic nominee was from the South.

2005: Hurricane Katrina Surpasses Andrew in 2005

In 2005, Hurricane Katrina surpassed Hurricane Andrew as the costliest weather disaster in U.S. history.

2006: Hurricanes in Florida Until 2006

From 1851 to 2006, Florida was struck by 114 hurricanes, 37 of them major—category 3 and above.

2006: Sinkhole damage claims start being tracked in 2006

From 2006 through 2010, sinkhole damage claims on property in the state exceeded a total of $2 billion.

2007: Federal Corruption Convictions

From 1988 to 2007, Florida had 800 federal corruption convictions, more than any other state.

2008: Florida's energy generation in 2008

As of 2008, it was estimated that approximately 4% of energy in the state of Florida was generated through renewable resources.

2008: Delegates Stripped of Votes

In 2008, delegates of both the Republican and Democratic Florida primary elections were stripped of half of their votes due to violation of national party rules.

2008: Military Retirees

In 2008, there were 186,102 military retirees living in Florida.

2008: Obama Carries Florida

In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama carried the state as a northern Democrat, attracting high voter turnout.

2009: Florida Panther Deaths in 2009

In 2009, a record 23 Florida panthers were killed, mainly by automobile collisions, leaving about 100 individuals in the wild.

2009: Medicaid Statistics

In 2009, there were 2.7 million Medicaid patients in Florida and Medicaid paid for 60% of all births in Florida.

2010: Florida population in 2010 census

According to the 2010 census, Florida's population was more than 18 million, making it the most populous state in the southeastern United States and the third-most populous in the United States.

2010: African Ancestry in Florida

As of 2010, those of African ancestry accounted for 16.0% of Florida's population.

2010: Hispanic or Latino Ancestry in Florida

As of 2010, those of Hispanic or Latino ancestry accounted for 22.5% (4,223,806) of Florida's population.

2010: Sinkhole damage claims end tracking in 2010

From 2006 through 2010, sinkhole damage claims on property in the state exceeded a total of $2 billion.

2010: American Ancestry

In 2010, 6.9% of Florida's population (1,269,765) considered themselves to be of only American ancestry, regardless of race or ethnicity.

2010: Car Crash Statistics

In 2010, drivers between 15 and 19 years of age averaged 364 car crashes a year per ten thousand licensed Florida drivers. Drivers 70 and older averaged 95 per 10,000 during the same time frame.

2010: Fair District Amendments Approved

In 2010, more than 63% of state voters approved the initiated Amendments 5 and 6 to the state constitution, to ensure more fairness in districting. These have become known as the Fair District Amendments.

2010: Most Common Languages Spoken

In 2010, the text mentions that most common languages were spoken in Florida as a first language, but does not list specific details.

2010: Largest Denominations

In 2010, the three largest denominations in Florida were the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention, and the United Methodist Church.

2010: Undocumented Immigrant Population in 2010

In 2010, undocumented immigrants constituted an estimated 5.7% of Florida's population, with approximately 675,000 illegal immigrants in the state.

2010: Republican Dominance Solidified

In the 2010 elections, Republicans solidified their dominance statewide, winning the governor's mansion and maintaining firm majorities in both houses of the state legislature.

2010: Symbols Not Listed

Only the two oldest symbols, the state flower (chosen in 1909) and the state bird (chosen in 1927) are not listed in the 2010 Florida Statutes.

2010: Reapportionment

Reapportionment following the 2010 United States census gave Florida two more seats in the House of Representatives.

2011: Elderly Population

As of 2011, Florida contained the highest percentage of people over 65 (17.3%) in the U.S.

2011: Highest Auto Insurance Fraud

In 2011, auto insurance fraud in Florida was the highest in the U.S., estimated at close to $1 billion, particularly centered in the Miami-Dade and Tampa areas.

2011: Governor Proposes Additional Medicaid Funds

In 2011, the governor proposed adding $2.6 billion to care for the expected 300,000 additional Medicaid patients.

2011: Retail Gas Stations and Gasoline Consumption

In 2011, there were about 9,000 retail gas stations in the state, and Floridians consumed 21 million gallons of gasoline daily, ranking it third in national use.

July 1, 2012: Florida growth rate until July 1, 2012

Florida was the seventh fastest-growing state in the U.S. in the 12-month period ending July 1, 2012.

2012: House of Representative seats increase

As a result of the 2010 United States Census, Florida gained two House of Representative seats in 2012. The legislature issued revised congressional districts in 2012, which were immediately challenged in court by supporters of the above amendments.

2012: Population Near Coastline in 2012

In 2012, 75% of Florida's population lived within 10 miles (16 km) of the coastline.

2012: Republican Control

In 2012, Republicans controlled the governorship, most statewide elective offices, and 17 of the state's 27 seats in the House of Representatives.

2012: Redistricting Challenge

In 2012, The legislature's redistricting was challenged in court, on the grounds that it had unfairly benefited Republican interests.

2012: Killing of Trayvon Martin in 2012

In 2012, the killing of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman drew national attention to Florida's stand-your-ground laws and sparked African American activism.

2012: Obama Carries Florida

In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama carried the state as a northern Democrat, attracting high voter turnout.

2013: Refusal to Participate in Affordable Care Act

In 2013, Florida refused to participate in providing coverage for the uninsured under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and also refused additional Federal funding for Medicaid.

December 2014: Florida passes New York in Population in December 2014

By December 2014, Florida's population exceeded 19.7 million, surpassing the population of the state of New York for the first time, making Florida the third most populous state.

2014: Felony Disenfranchisement

According to The Sentencing Project, in 2014, the effect of Florida's felony disenfranchisement law was such that more than one in ten Floridians, and nearly one in four African-American Floridians, were shut out of the polls because of felony convictions, even after completing sentences and parole/probation.

2014: Court Orders Redrawing of Districts

In 2014, the court ruled that at least two districts had to be redrawn because of gerrymandering.

2014: Pew Research Center Survey

The Pew Research Center survey in 2014 gave the following religious makeup of Florida, although specific details were not provided.

July 2015: Florida Supreme Court Rules Districts Redrawn

In July 2015, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that lawmakers had followed an illegal and unconstitutional process, overly influenced by party operatives, and ruled that at least eight districts had to be redrawn.

December 2, 2015: Court Accepts New Congressional Map

On December 2, 2015, the Florida Supreme Court accepted a new map of congressional districts in a 5-2 majority, some of which was drawn by challengers. The ruling affirmed the map previously approved by Leon County Judge Terry Lewis and made changes particularly in South Florida.

December 2015: New Congressional Districts

In early December 2015, The Florida Supreme Court accepted a new map of congressional districts after ruling that the previous ones had unfairly benefited Republican interests.

June 2016: Orlando Nightclub Shooting in June 2016

In June 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando.

2016: Bellwether Streak Continues

Florida continued a streak of voting for the winning presidential candidate, until 2016.

2016: Second Lowest Tuition in the U.S.

In 2016, Florida charged the second lowest tuition in the U.S. for four-year programs.

2016: West Indian Population

In 2016, Florida had the highest percentage of West Indians in the United States at 4.5%.

2016: Education Spending Per Student

In 2016, Florida spent $8,920 for each student, ranking 43rd in the U.S. in expenditures per student.

2016: GOP Presidential Election Victory

In 2016, Florida switched back to the GOP in the presidential election.

2016: Florida College System Enrollment

In 2016, the Florida College System, comprising 28 public community and state colleges, had an enrollment exceeding 813,000 students.

September 2017: Puerto Ricans move to Florida after Hurricane Maria in September 2017

After Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in September 2017, a large population of Puerto Ricans began moving to Florida.

2017: Deadliest Mass Shooting By A Single Gunman Before 2017 Las Vegas Shooting

In June 2016, the Orlando Nightclub Shooting was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history until the 2017 Las Vegas shooting.

February 2018: Stoneman Douglas High School Shooting in February 2018

In February 2018, 17 people were killed in a school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, leading to new gun control regulations.

2018: Close Elections

In 2018, the ratio of Republican to Democratic representation fell, and the U.S. Senate election between Bill Nelson and Rick Scott was close. Republicans also held onto the governorship with Ron DeSantis winning in a close race.

2018: Top countries of origin for Florida's immigrants in 2018

In 2018, the top countries of origin for Florida's immigrants were Cuba, Haiti, Colombia, Mexico, and Jamaica.

July 1, 2019: Florida Population Estimate on July 1, 2019

On July 1, 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the population of Florida was 21,477,737, a 14.24% increase since the 2010 United States census.

2019: Florida Recipient of Largest Number of Out-of-State Movers in 2019

As of 2019, Florida was the recipient of the largest number of out-of-state movers in the country.

2019: University System Enrollment

During the 2019 academic year, 346,604 students attended one of the twelve universities in the State University System of Florida.

2020: Florida Universities Among Largest by Enrollment

As of 2020, three Florida universities are among the top 10 largest universities by enrollment in the United States: University of Central Florida, University of Florida, and Florida International University.

2020: Population of Florida in 2020

By the 2020 census, Florida's population increased to 21,538,187.

2020: Inter Miami Joins MLS

Florida's most recent major-league team, Inter Miami, began play in MLS in 2020.

2020: Florida Sides with Loser of Election Since 1992

In 2020, Donald Trump headed the party's ticket, marking the first time since 1992 that Florida sided with the eventual loser of the presidential election.

2020: Ranked Third Best for K-12 Education

In 2020, Florida was ranked the third best state in the U.S. for K-12 education. The state's higher education was ranked first and pre-K-12 was ranked 27th best nationwide by U.S. News & World Report.

2020: Florida Population in 2020

In 2020, Florida's population reached over 23 million, making it the third-most populous state in the United States.

2020: Hispanic and Latino Population in Broward County

In 2020, Hispanic and Latinos of any race(s) made up 26.5% of the population in Broward County.

2020: Voting Difficulty Ranking

In a 2020 study, Florida was ranked as the 11th hardest state for citizens to vote in.

2020: Bellwether Streak Ends

The 2020 election broke Florida's bellwether streak when Donald Trump won Florida but lost the election.

2020: Independent Colleges and Universities Enrollment

The Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida reported that their member institutions served more than 158,000 students in the fall of 2020.

June 24, 2021: Surfside Condominium Collapse on June 24, 2021

On June 24, 2021, a condominium in Surfside, Florida, near Miami collapsed, killing at least 97 people.

November 2021: Republican Voters Exceed Democrats

In November 2021, for the first time in Florida's history, the total number of registered Republican voters exceeded the number of registered Democrats.

April 2022: New Election Law

In April 2022, the legislature passed and the governor signed a new election law prohibiting Floridians from using ranked-choice voting in all federal, state and municipal elections.

2022: Homeless population in Florida in 2022

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 25,959 homeless people in Florida.

2022: DeSantis Re-elected in Landslide Victory

In 2022, incumbent Governor DeSantis won reelection by a landslide against Charlie Crist, leading pundits to question Florida's status as a swing state.

2022: Largest Hospital Networks in Florida

In 2022, the largest hospital network in Florida is HCA Healthcare and the second largest is AdventHealth.

August 2023: Restrictions on Teaching Shakespeare

In August 2023, restrictions were placed on the teaching of Shakespearean plays and literature by Florida teachers in order to comply with state law.

2023: Universities in Association of American Universities

As of 2023, three universities in Florida are members of the Association of American Universities: University of Florida, University of Miami and University of South Florida.

2023: Largest Hospitals in Florida

In 2023, the largest hospitals in Florida were Jackson Memorial Hospital, AdventHealth Orlando, Tampa General Hospital, UF Health Shands Hospital and Baptist Hospital of Miami.

2023: Approval of PragerU Videos in Public School Curriculum

In 2023, the state of Florida approved a public school curriculum including videos produced by conservative advocacy group PragerU, likening climate change skeptics to those who fought Communism and Nazism.

2024: High Rates of Car Insurance

As of 2024, motorists in Florida have one of the highest rates of car insurance in the U.S., with 24% being uninsured.

2024: Fourth-Largest State Economy

As of 2024, the economy of the state of Florida is the fourth-largest in the United States, with a $1.647 trillion gross state product (GSP). If Florida were a sovereign nation in 2024, it would rank as the world's 15th-largest economy.