Florida

Some of the key events about Florida

• 1513

  The first European exploration of Florida occurred
• 1816

  Spain ceded Florida to the United States, ending centuries of Spanish rule
• 1835

  The Second Seminole War began, resulting in significant loss of life and forced relocation of Native Americans
• 1845

  Florida was admitted as the 27th U.S. state
• 1861

  Florida seceded from the Union and joined the Confederate States during the American Civil War
• 1905

  The Overseas Railroad connecting Key West to the mainland was completed
• 1920

  The Ocoee massacre occurred, resulting in the deaths of numerous African Americans and destruction of their community
• 1928

  The Okeechobee hurricane struck Florida, causing over 2,500 deaths and massive destruction
• 1935

  The Labor Day Hurricane devastated the Florida Keys, killing over 400 people
• 1947

  Everglades National Park was established
• 1950

  Cape Canaveral became the site of U.S. space launches
• 1962

  The Cuban Missile Crisis brought Florida to the brink of nuclear war
• 1971

  Walt Disney World Resort opened near Orlando
• 1980

  The Mariel boatlift led to a sudden influx of Cuban refugees, straining local resources
• 1981

  NASA's Space Shuttle program began with the launch of Columbia from Kennedy Space Center
• 1992

  The Florida Aquarium in Tampa opened to the public
• 1992

  Hurricane Andrew caused catastrophic damage in South Florida, resulting in $25 billion in damages
• 2000

  The International Space Station began continuous human occupation
• 2000

  The controversial presidential election recount in Florida delayed the outcome of the national election
• 2009

  The Wizarding World of Harry Potter opened at Universal Orlando Resort

Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.