ORLANDO - KISSIMMEE
|
|
The Orlando-Kissimmee area is probably best know today as the home of the world famous Walt Disney World Resort. Orlando itself is the second fastest growing city in the United States. As well as being a major tourist center it is also an important distribution hub for citrus and other fruits in the Florida area. The development of the Kennedy Space Center on the nearby northeastern coast has also given the city’s economy a boost.
|
|
HISTORY
|
The first inhabitants of Florida were the Paleo Indians, hunter-gatherers who arrived there approximately 10,000 years ago from either Siberia or Central America. Between 5,000 and 1,000 years ago their lifestyle changed when permanent settlements gradually came into being. Separate societies started developing, and around 200AD the inhabitants of Florida could be classified into four main groups, the Apalachee, the Calusa, the Tequesta and the Timucua.
|
|
Although the Cabot brothers, John and Sebastian, were the first Europeans to sight Florida in 1498, the official honour for the discovery of Florida goes to Juan Ponce de León. Previously the governor of Puerto Rico, he made his first landing at Florida in 1513 while searching for the Isle of Bimini. This landing took place during Pascua Florida, the Spanish Festival of Flowers, and accordingly Ponce de León named the new land La Florida (the Land of Flowers). In 1521 Ponce de León returned to colonise the region, but was killed by Caluza Indians near what is known today as Tampa Bay. Several other prominent Spanish discoverers tried to follow in De León’s footsteps, among them Hernando de Soto, and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. Their efforts were spurred by the rumours that incredible riches were to be found in Florida, and when this turned out to be false, Spanish interest in the area waned considerably. In 1652 French Huguenots, under the leadership of Jean Ribault, landed in Florida with the intention of colonising the area. This forced Spain to act, and Pedro Menéndez de Avilés was sent to destroy the French settlement. De Avilés named his first base St Augustine, now the oldest city in Florida. The Spanish occupation during this period was relatively insecure, enforced only by the Jesuit missions which were scattered throughout the area. In 1763 the British capture of Havana, one of Spain’s most important colonies, led to the Treaty of Paris which stated that Spain was to relinquish its control over Florida in exchange for Havana.
|
|
Under British control Florida was divided into a Western and Eastern section, a social infrastructure was developed, and pieces of land were sold to British citizens for the development of farms. All this changed with the start of the American War of Independence in the 1770s. The second Treaty of Paris in 1783 recognised the independence of America and Florida, Louisiana and New Orleans were returned to Spain. Due to the severe problems it was experiencing in its Central American provinces and the Seminole uprisings in central Florida, Spain was unable to capitalise on this and started to sell property to American citizens. At this stage (1814) the British landed troops at Florida to prevent the loss of their remaining influence in the area. American troops led by general Andrew Jackson illegally crossed the border under the pretence that they were there to control Indian uprisings, and forced the British troops to leave.
|
|
The Semiole War in 1814 gave the American government the excuse to send large numbers of troops into Florida, and to force Spain to officially hand over Florida to the United States. Andrew Jackson became the first American governor of Florida. Up to this stage the Semiole Indians had lived in the fertile central Florida area, but from 1821 onwards the American government tried its best to forcibly move them to the more arid west. This led to the Second Semiole War, which nearly destroyed the economy of Florida and resulted in the confinement of the Semiole Indians in the Everglades region.
|
On 3 March 1845, Florida became a state. With the outbreak of the American Civil War, Florida seceded from the Union on 10 January 1861 and sided with the Confederate States. Florida, unlike most of the southern states, saw very little conflict within its borders, and primarily contributed to the Confederate cause by providing food and soldiers, and by blockading Union troop movements.
|
|
In the years following the war a conservative Democratic government was elected, and very little changed as far as the position of the former slaves was concerned.
|
Florida now became known as a tourist destination and Miami and Palm Beach were developed with this in mind. This was to be the beginning of a prosperous economic era for Florida that lasted until the Great Depression and World War II. Property in Florida was now the most sought-after in the United States, and the real-estate market boomed. The Wall Street Crash, together with a hurricane that hit Miami, almost destroyed the economy of Florida in 1929. Ironically it was the Second World War that saved it. Large numbers of troops were sent to guard the coastline against German attack, and this influx of people revived Florida’s stagnant economy. Throughout the 1950s and 60s Civil Rights became one of the major issues in Florida, one which is still relevant today. The conservative Democratic Government tried to preserve the status quo by furtively blocking de-segregation. During the 1970s two developments changed the public image and economy of Florida. NASA built its space missile base at Cape Canaveral, and Walt Disney opened the gates of one of the world’s largest theme parks, Walt Disney World in Orlando. In recent years Florida has received a lot of international attention because of the burgeoning crime rate in the state, with drug trafficking and money laundering being the main culprits. Racial tension between Anglo-Americans, Cubans and Blacks has also led to a number of violent confrontations. In 1993 the Task Force on Tourist Safety was created to counteract crime against tourists. Although this has improved the situation, it is still advisable for travellers to follow the guidelines set by the Florida police.
|
|
|
THE ECONOMY
|
The tourism and service industry, citrus fruit and vegetable growing, cattle farming, tobacco, food processing, chemicals, electrical and transportation equipment and space technology are the most important economic fields in Florida.
|
|
|
POPULATION
|
Florida has a population of just over 13 million people, consisting mainly of Anglo-Americans, African-Americans and Cubans. Because of the state’s close proximity to Cuba, there are a large number of Cuban refugees living in the coastal areas, especially Miami.
|
|
|
GOVERNMENT
|
Florida has been a Democratic Party stronghold ever since the first election was held there in 1875. Language The official language is English. Because of the large number of Cuban refugees living in Florida, Spanish has become the unofficial second language.
|
|
|
RELIGION
|
The main religious denominations in Florida are Catholic, Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Methodist. Synagogues can be found in most towns. There are also a number of southern Baptist and fundamentalist denominations.
|
