Full History Of Florida In Timeline From 1900

1900: Florida's Population in 1900

In 1900, Florida's population was only 528,542, with nearly 44% being African American.

1902: Jacksonville skyscrapers

Many of the state's earliest skyscrapers were constructed in Jacksonville, dating as far back as 1902.

1905: The State University System of Florida was founded

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

1909: State flower chosen

The state flower was chosen in 1909.

1910: Great Migration Begins

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

1925: Seaboard Air Line Extends Service

In 1925, the Seaboard Air Line extended its freight and passenger service to West Palm Beach.

1926: Devastating Hurricane in 1926

In 1926, a devastating hurricane brought the Florida land boom period to a halt.

1927: State bird chosen

The state bird was chosen in 1927.

1928: Devastating Hurricane in 1928

In 1928, a devastating hurricane brought the Florida land boom period to a halt.

June 29, 1931: Hottest Temperature Recorded in Florida

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

1939: Florida Described As Empty State

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

1940: Continuation of the Great Migration

The Great Migration continued from Florida to northern cities in 1940, driven by the same factors as the initial wave.

1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt Carries State

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 Increases Florida's Population

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

1950: Majority of symbols chosen after 1950

The majority of Florida state symbols were chosen after 1950.

1952: Swing State

Florida has been listed as a swing state in presidential elections since 1952, voting for the losing candidate only twice in that period of time.

1952: Voter Registration

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: First Republican Elected to Congress

In 1954, William C. Cramer was elected as the first post-Reconstruction era Republican to Congress from Florida, representing Pinellas County.

1956: Federal Aid Highway Act

Before the construction of routes under the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, Florida began construction of Florida's Turnpike.

1956: Tallahassee Bus Boycott

In 1956, students at Florida A&M University organized a bus boycott in Tallahassee to mimic the Montgomery bus boycott.

1957: Tallahassee Bus Boycott Success

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

1957: First Section of Florida's Turnpike Complete

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

1960: Decline in African American Population

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

1960: Sit-ins in Protest of Segregation

In 1960, students held sit-ins in protest of segregated seating at local lunch counters.

1960: Center of Population Location

Since the 1960 census, the center of population of Florida has been located in Polk County.

1964: Presidential Election Exception

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 Pool Incident

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

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

1965: Civil Rights Movement Gains Federal Legislation

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

1966: First Post-Reconstruction Republican Governor

In 1966, Claude R. Kirk Jr. was elected as the first post-Reconstruction Republican governor of Florida.

1966: Miami Dolphins founded

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

1968: First Republican US Senator

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

1970: Democrats Take Governorship and Senate Seat

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

1970: Non-Hispanic Whites

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

1972: Mandatory personal injury protection auto insurance

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

1972: Water Resources Controlled by State Government

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

1973: First Recorded Bleaching Incident

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

1974: Florida's Turnpike Completed

In 1974, Florida's Turnpike was completed, after construction of a second section north through Orlando to Wildwood and a southward extension around Miami to Homestead.

1974: Jacksonville skyscraper height record

Jacksonville last held a state height record from 1974 to 1981.

1976: Democratic Nominee Exception

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 Seminole and Miccosukee tribal areas).

1980: Center of Population Shift

Between 1980 and 2010, the center of population of Florida has 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 English or mostly English American ancestry.

May 8, 1981: Winter Park Sinkhole Appeared

On May 8, 1981, Winter Park Sinkhole appeared in central Florida.

1981: Mangrove Acreage in Florida

In 1981, Florida mangrove plant communities covered an estimated 430,000 to 540,000 acres in Florida.

1981: Jacksonville skyscraper height record

Jacksonville last held a state height record from 1974 to 1981.

1984: Florida approved its lottery

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

1986: Casinos Disapproved

In 1986, Florida disapproved casinos (outside of sovereign Seminole and Miccosukee tribal areas).

1988: Federal Corruption Convictions

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

1988: Official Language

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

1991: Florida subsidies for professional sports franchises

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

1992: Hurricane Andrew

In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused more than $25 billion in damages when it struck during August.

1994: Casinos Disapproved

In 1994, Florida disapproved casinos (outside of sovereign Seminole and Miccosukee tribal areas).

1995: Felons serve 85% of their sentence

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

1996: Bellwether State

Florida is considered a bellwether state because every candidate who won the state from 1996 until 2016 won the election.

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 Exception

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: Voter Demographics

In 1998, Democratic voters dominated areas with racial minorities and transplanted white liberals, while Republicans, mostly white conservatives, dominated throughout much of the rest of Florida.

2000: Florida Urbanization

In 2000, 89 percent of Florida's population lived in urban areas.

2000: U.S. Presidential Election

In 2000, George W. Bush won the U.S. presidential election by a margin of 271–266 in the Electoral College, with 25 electoral votes from Florida. The results were contested and settled in the Supreme Court decision, Bush v. Gore.

2000: Pivotal Role in Election

In the closely contested 2000 election, Florida played a pivotal role, with around 500 votes separating Bush and Gore.

2001: September 11 Attacks

In June 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando. It is the deadliest terrorist attack in the U.S. since the September 11 attacks in 2001.

2002: Felony Disenfranchisement Study

A 2002 study in the American Sociological Review concluded that Democratic candidate Al Gore would have won Florida—and the presidency—by more than 80,000 votes if disenfranchised felons had voted.

2004: Slot machines approved in Broward and Miami-Dade County

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.

2005: Hurricane Katrina Surpasses Andrew

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

2006: Hurricane Strikes

From 1851 to 2006, Florida was struck by 114 hurricanes.

2006: Sinkhole Damage Claims

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, there were 800 federal corruption convictions in Florida, more than any other state.

2008: Renewable Energy in Florida

As of 2008, it is estimated that approximately 4% of energy in Florida is 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 when the conventions met in August due to violation of both parties' national rules.

2008: Military Retirees

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

2008: Barack Obama Carries State

In the 2008 presidential election, Barack Obama carried Florida as a northern Democrat, attracting high voter turnout among young, independent, and minority voters.

2009: Florida Panther Deaths

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

2009: Medicaid patients in Florida

In 2009, there were 2.7 million Medicaid patients in Florida; also in 2009, Medicaid paid for 60% of all births in the state.

2010: Florida Census in 2010

According to the 2010 census, Florida had a population of 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

As of 2010, people of African ancestry accounted for 16.0% of Florida's population, including African Americans, with 4.0% being West Indian or Afro-Caribbean American.

2010: Asian Ancestry

As of 2010, those of Asian ancestry accounted for 2.4% of Florida's population.

2010: European Ancestry

As of 2010, those of non-Hispanic white European ancestry accounted for 57.9% of Florida's population, with German, Irish, English, and Italian being the largest groups.

2010: Sinkhole Damage Claims

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) identified as having only American ancestry, regardless of race or ethnicity.

2010: Car crashes by age

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

2010: Fair District Amendments Approved

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

2010: Symbols not listed in Florida Statutes

In 2010, only the two oldest symbols—the state flower and the state bird—are not listed in the Florida Statutes.

2010: Hispanic or Latino Ancestry

In 2010, people of Hispanic or Latino ancestry accounted for 22.5% (4,223,806) of Florida's population, with Cuban and Puerto Rican being the largest groups.

2010: Cost of caring for 2.3 million clients

In 2010, the cost of caring for 2.3 million Medicaid clients in Florida was $18.8 billion, nearly 30% of the state's budget.

2010: Common Languages Spoken

In 2010, the text indicates that it will be providing a list of the most common languages spoken in Florida as a first language.

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, undocumented immigrants constituted an estimated 5.7% of Florida's population.

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: Reapportionment

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

2010: Florida Census in 2010

The population of Florida in the 2010 census was 18,801,310.

2011: Percentage of People Over 65

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

2011: Auto insurance fraud highest in the U.S.

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

2011: Gas consumption in Florida

In 2011, Floridians consumed 21 million gallons of gasoline daily, ranking it third in national use behind California and Texas.

2011: Additional patients in 2011

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

July 1, 2012: Florida Population Growth

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

2012: Revised Congressional Districts

As a result of the 2010 United States Census, Florida gained two House of Representative seats in 2012, and the legislature issued revised congressional districts that were immediately challenged in court.

2012: Coastal Population in 2012

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

2012: Killing of Trayvon Martin

In 2012, the killing of Trayvon Martin drew national attention to Florida's stand-your-ground laws, and sparked African American activism, including the Black Lives Matter movement.

2012: Redistricting

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

2012: Barack Obama Carries State

In the 2012 presidential elections, Barack Obama carried Florida as a northern Democrat.

2012: Republican Control

The political make-up of congressional and legislative districts enabled Republicans to control the governorship and most statewide elective offices, and 17 of the state's 27 seats in the 2012 House of Representatives.

2013: Florida refused to participate in providing coverage under the Affordable Care Act

In 2013, Florida refused to participate in providing coverage for the uninsured under the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and refused to accept additional Federal funding for Medicaid, leading to a high percentage of uninsured citizens.

December 2014: Florida Surpasses New York in Population

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

2014: Felony disenfranchisement

In 2014, The Sentencing Project reported that Florida's felony disenfranchisement law resulted in over one in ten Floridians, and nearly one in four African-American Floridians, being barred from voting due to felony convictions, despite completing their sentences and parole/probation requirements.

2014: Religious Makeup

In 2014, the Pew Research Center survey gave the religious makeup of Florida.

December 2, 2015: Court accepts new congressional district map

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

December 2015: Florida Supreme Court Ruling

In December 2015, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the congressional districts had to be redrawn due to the legislature's violation of the Fair District Amendments, accepting a new map.

June 2016: Orlando Nightclub Shooting

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

2016: Bellwether State

Florida is considered a bellwether state because every candidate who won the state from 1996 until 2016 won the election.

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

In 2016, Florida charged the second lowest tuition in the U.S. for four-year programs, at $26,000 for in-state students and $86,000 for out-of-state students.

2016: West Indian Population

In 2016, Florida had the highest percentage of West Indians in the United States at 4.5%, with significant populations from Haitian, Jamaican, and Bahamian ancestry.

2016: Florida education spending

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

2016: Florida Switched Back to the GOP

In 2016, Florida switched back to the GOP during the presidential election, marking a shift in the state's political alignment.

2016: Enrollment exceeded 813,000 students

In 2016, enrollment in Florida's public community and state colleges exceeded 813,000 students.

September 2017: Influx of Puerto Ricans to Florida

In September 2017, after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, a large population of Puerto Ricans began moving to Florida to escape the widespread destruction.

2017: Las Vegas Shooting

In June 2016, a gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando. It 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, 17 people were killed in a school shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, leading to new gun control regulations.

2018: Top Countries of Origin for Florida's Immigrants

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

2018: Close Elections in Florida

In the 2018 elections, the ratio of Republican to Democratic representation in Florida fell. The U.S. Senate election and the gubernatorial race were both very close.

July 1, 2019: Florida Population Estimate

On July 1, 2019, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that the population of Florida was 21,477,737.

2019: Florida Receives Largest Number of Movers

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

2019: Number of students attending state universities

During the 2019 academic year, 346,604 students attended one of Florida's twelve state universities.

2020: Florida Ranks Third-Most Populous

As of 2020, Florida is the third-most populous state in the United States and ranks eighth in population density.

2020: Florida universities among largest by enrollment

As of 2020, three Florida universities were among the top 10 largest universities by enrollment in the United States: The University of Central Florida in Orlando (2nd), the University of Florida in Gainesville (4th), and Florida International University in Miami (8th).

2020: Florida's Population

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

2020: Inter Miami began play

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

2020: Florida voted for Trump in Presidential Election

In 2020, Florida voted for Donald Trump in the presidential election, who headed the Republican Party's ticket. 2020 marked the first time Florida sided with the eventual loser of the presidential election since 1992.

2020: Florida ranked third best state in the U.S. for K-12 education

In 2020, Florida was ranked the third best state in the U.S. for K-12 education, and Florida's higher education was ranked first.

2020: Hispanic and Latino Population

In 2020, Hispanic and Latinos of any race(s) made up 26.5% of Broward County's population, while Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders made up 0.1%.

2020: Voting Hardship Ranking

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

2020: Number of students served by private educational institutions

In the fall of 2020, private, educational institutions in Florida served more than 158,000 students.

2020: Bellwether Streak Broken

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

June 24, 2021: Surfside Condominium Collapse

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

November 2021: Republican voters outnumbered registered 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: 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

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

2022: Largest hospital network in Florida

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

2022: DeSantis won reelection by a landslide

In 2022, incumbent Governor DeSantis won reelection by a landslide against Democrat Charlie Crist, causing many to believe that Florida is now a red state.

August 2023: Restrictions on Teaching Shakespeare

In August 2023, Florida teachers faced restrictions on teaching Shakespearean plays and literature to comply with state law.

2023: Florida Universities in the 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: Florida approved a public school curriculum produced by PragerU

In 2023, the state of Florida approved a public school curriculum including videos produced by conservative advocacy group PragerU, which included content questioning climate change.

2024: High car insurance rate

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

2024: Florida's GSP

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.

History of Florida in Timeline

1900: Florida's Population in 1900

1902: Jacksonville skyscrapers

1905: The State University System of Florida was founded

1909: State flower chosen

1910: Great Migration Begins

1925: Seaboard Air Line Extends Service

1926: Devastating Hurricane in 1926

1927: State bird chosen

1928: Devastating Hurricane in 1928

June 29, 1931: Hottest Temperature Recorded in Florida

1939: Florida Described As Empty State

1940: Continuation of the Great Migration

1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt Carries State

1945: Migration Increases Florida's Population

1950: Majority of symbols chosen after 1950

1952: Swing State

1952: Voter Registration

1954: First Republican Elected to Congress

1956: Federal Aid Highway Act

1956: Tallahassee Bus Boycott

1957: Tallahassee Bus Boycott Success

1957: First Section of Florida's Turnpike Complete

1960: Decline in African American Population

1960: Sit-ins in Protest of Segregation

1960: Center of Population Location

1964: Presidential Election Exception

1964: St. Augustine Motel Pool Incident

1965: Voting Rights Act

1965: Civil Rights Movement Gains Federal Legislation

1966: First Post-Reconstruction Republican Governor

1966: Miami Dolphins founded

1968: First Republican US Senator

1970: Democrats Take Governorship and Senate Seat

1970: Non-Hispanic Whites

1972: Mandatory personal injury protection auto insurance

1972: Water Resources Controlled by State Government

1973: First Recorded Bleaching Incident

1974: Florida's Turnpike Completed

1974: Jacksonville skyscraper height record

1976: Democratic Nominee Exception

1978: Casinos Disapproved

1980: Center of Population Shift

1980: English Ancestry

May 8, 1981: Winter Park Sinkhole Appeared

1981: Mangrove Acreage in Florida

1981: Jacksonville skyscraper height record

1984: Florida approved its lottery

1986: Casinos Disapproved

1988: Federal Corruption Convictions

1988: Official Language

1991: Florida subsidies for professional sports franchises

1992: Hurricane Andrew

1994: Casinos Disapproved

1995: Felons serve 85% of their sentence

1996: Bellwether State

1996: Additional teams in Division I FBS

1996: Democratic Nominee Exception

1998: Voter Demographics

2000: Florida Urbanization

2000: U.S. Presidential Election

2000: Pivotal Role in Election

2001: September 11 Attacks

2002: Felony Disenfranchisement Study

2004: Slot machines approved in Broward and Miami-Dade County

2004: Republican Support

2005: Hurricane Katrina Surpasses Andrew

2006: Hurricane Strikes

2006: Sinkhole Damage Claims

2007: Federal Corruption Convictions

2008: Renewable Energy in Florida

2008: Delegates Stripped of Votes

2008: Military Retirees

2008: Barack Obama Carries State

2009: Florida Panther Deaths

2009: Medicaid patients in Florida

2010: Florida Census in 2010

2010: African Ancestry

2010: Asian Ancestry

2010: European Ancestry