patrickbdevaney/mia9 · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 6.44k
Pre-1900 Conditions
Much of Florida was sparsely developed until the late 1800s, and settlers built many of the state’s
early towns along the coasts and rivers in areas with natural ports. In 1900, four cities in Florida
had populations greater than 10,000. These were Jacksonville, Pensacola, Key West, and Tampa
(U.S. Census 1910). Jacksonville was a well-established port town. Despite having two yellow
fever epidemics in the 1880s that drove away nearly half the population, Jacksonville still had a
population of more than 28,000 in 1900 (U.S. Census 1910). Pensacola, initially settled by the
Spanish in the 1600s, was a thriving town due to its lumber industry and harbor. Key West was
briefly settled in the 1500s and resettled in the 1800s. The town was a major source of salt during
the first half of the 1800s. Other important industries included salvage, fishing, and turtling.
Tampa rapidly grew to more than 15,000 people as the result of a development boom that began
in the 1880s with the arrival of Henry Plant’s railroad (U.S. Census 1910). The phosphate
industry, cigar industry, and the influx of Spanish, Cuban, and Italian immigrants contributed to
the growth of Tampa and neighboring Ybor City and West Tampa.
Orlando and Miami, which are now both major metropolitan areas and tourist destinations,
were relatively small in 1900. Orlando had a population of less than 2,500, which still ranked it
as one of the top 15 largest cities in Florida (U.S. Census 1910). Orlando had been the hub of the
citrus industry in the late 1800s, but the Great Freeze of 1895-1896 caused many citrus growers
to move further south. Miami was just beginning to boom at the turn of the century. It had been
a small frontier town with a population of about 400 when Henry Flagler’s railroad reached the
area in the 1896 (City of Miami 2016).
Forests, including longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests, covered much of North and Central
Florida prior to development. Longleaf pine forests are characterized by widely spaced trees, a
wiregrass understory (Aristida stricta), and a very high level of biodiversity (Myers and Ewel
1990). These forests were logged extensively and used for naval stores. Sawmills operated in
North Florida as early as the 1830s, and the industry was well-established by the 1850s although
old growth forests remained in North Florida until the 1920s.
In 1900, South Florida remained relatively natural. Native Americans and early settlers had
been in the area, but they had minimal impact as they lived primarily on subsistence farming and
small-scale extraction. The Everglades dominate this region, and it contains seven ecosystems:
cypress, freshwater marl prairie, freshwater slough, coastal lowlands, mangrove, pinelands, and
hardwood hammock (National Park Service 2016). Attempts to drain the Everglades began in
the 19th century, but these efforts had not yet made a significant impact.
54 • MICHAEL I. VOLK ET AL.
Florida was (and still is) a biologically diverse state, though loss and fragmentation of habitat,
introduction of non-native species, overexploitation of resources, pollution, and disease have
reduced biodiversity. Since development had been limited, few species were lost prior to 1900.
The four vertebrate species lost were the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), Carolina
Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), Red Wolf (Canis rufus), and Plains Bison (Bison bison
bison) (Endries et al. 2009). One major impact to the state’s biodiversity prior to 1900 was plume
hunting, which devastated bird populations during the last decades of the 1800s. During the
Victorian era, hats adorned with feathered plumes were fashionable and the high price of feathers
led to millions of bird deaths each year. In Florida, the decimation of bird populations occurred
first in the northern areas of the state and later in the Everglades. By the turn of the century, 95%
of the state’s shore birds had been killed (Burns 2009). This led to legislation in 1891 and 1901
to protect plume birds, and other bird and wildlife protection laws passed in the early 20th century
that greatly reduced the impact of market hunting on birds and other species (Palmer 1902).
Major Post-1900 Land Use Changes
Not much of Florida’s growth occurred during the last decades of the 19th century and the 20th
century (Mohl 1996). New transportation infrastructure, land development, and tourism
partnered to bring people to Florida. The major railroads and highways followed the Atlantic
Coast, traversed the Panhandle from east to west, and ran north-south through the center of the
state before curving to Tampa (Derr 1998). Early development typically followed transportation,
so it primarily occurred along the Atlantic Coast and in the Tampa Bay region. Later development
occurred in the Orlando region, the southern Gulf Coast, and along new transportation corridors.
Land booms during the early and mid-20th century resulted in the development of new
communities and the expansion of low-density suburbia across many parts of the state.
Automobiles, window screens, the yellow fever vaccine, ice factories and refrigerators
contributed to the first major boom in the 1920s (Derr 1998). The next major boom occurred in
the 1950s following World War II. Affordable financing options and new construction
techniques made homes more affordable for the middle class contributing to a nationwide
housing boom (Jackson 1995; Rome 2001). In Florida, the increasing use of air conditioning
provided more year-round comfort. Even though they were not extensively used in residential
homes until the late 1960s, the use of air conditioning in hotels, apartments, and commercial
buildings increased in the 1950s (Derr 1998).
Agricultural and extraction activities played a major role in shaping the state’s current
remaining natural land cover and resources. Major agricultural crops included tung oil, citrus
(Citrus spp.), and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in addition to row crops such as strawberries and
tomatoes. Drainage projects were used to dry up wetlands in an effort to create new agricultural
land. The cattle industry is also important in Florida and led to land clearing to create pastureland
as well as using (with some conversion to improved pasture) the natural prairies of South Central
FLORIDA LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE IN THE PAST 100 YEARS • 55
Florida for cattle production. The lumber industry removed most of the old growth forest,
including the longleaf pine forests and cypress (Taxodium spp.), though people replanted some
pineland areas with weaker species of slash (Pinus elliottii) and loblolly pines (Pinus taeda).
Cypress was logged out later because it was spread through much of the state and was harder to
reach (Harris 1999). Mining operations cleared large tracts of land and altered the terrain and soil
composition. In response to these changes, subsequent growth management policies have
attempted to more carefully guide and manage development and protect the state’s natural
resources, though persistent urban and suburban development continues to convert rural lands
across the state.
Transportation Development
Transportation networks helped drive the development and growth patterns in the state. Until the
late 1800s and early 1900s, inland transportation through the state was difficult and many areas
were accessible primarily by boat. However, shipping and travel by water could be unreliable
due to weather conditions. Just prior to the Civil War, David Yulee completed the first crossstate railroad from Fernandina (now Fernandina Beach) to Cedar Key, two of the state’s major
ports at the time. Yet, further railroad developments were delayed until after Reconstruction
(Turner 2003).
Beginning in the 1880s, two men developed extensive railroad lines throughout the state.
Henry Flagler constructed the East Coast Railroad along the Atlantic Coast with his line reaching
the Florida Keys in 1912 (Willing 1957). Henry Plant’s extensive railroad system primarily
connected northeast Florida to the state’s West Coast (Johnson 1966). Railroads improved
transportation for people, produce, and goods because it was faster and more reliable than
transportation by water (Derr 1998).
In the early 1900s, automobile travel was increasing, but roadways were limited. Trail
associations formed to select, improve, and promote interstate roadways, creating two major
trails in Florida. The Old Spanish Trail connected St. Augustine to San Diego. The Dixie
Highway, promoted heavily by Carl Fisher of Miami, ran north-south from Michigan to Miami.
These named trails posed challenges to travelers because some trails, like the Dixie Highway,
were a series of roads, all with the same name, that allowed travelers to take alternate routes

Pre-1900 Conditions

Much of Florida was sparsely developed until the late 1800s, and settlers built many of the state’s

early towns along the coasts and rivers in areas with natural ports. In 1900, four cities in Florida

had populations greater than 10,000. These were Jacksonville, Pensacola, Key West, and Tampa

(U.S. Census 1910). Jacksonville was a well-established port town. Despite having two yellow

fever epidemics in the 1880s that drove away nearly half the population, Jacksonville still had a

population of more than 28,000 in 1900 (U.S. Census 1910). Pensacola, initially settled by the

Spanish in the 1600s, was a thriving town due to its lumber industry and harbor. Key West was

briefly settled in the 1500s and resettled in the 1800s. The town was a major source of salt during

the first half of the 1800s. Other important industries included salvage, fishing, and turtling.

Tampa rapidly grew to more than 15,000 people as the result of a development boom that began

in the 1880s with the arrival of Henry Plant’s railroad (U.S. Census 1910). The phosphate

industry, cigar industry, and the influx of Spanish, Cuban, and Italian immigrants contributed to

the growth of Tampa and neighboring Ybor City and West Tampa.

Orlando and Miami, which are now both major metropolitan areas and tourist destinations,

were relatively small in 1900. Orlando had a population of less than 2,500, which still ranked it

as one of the top 15 largest cities in Florida (U.S. Census 1910). Orlando had been the hub of the

citrus industry in the late 1800s, but the Great Freeze of 1895-1896 caused many citrus growers

to move further south. Miami was just beginning to boom at the turn of the century. It had been

a small frontier town with a population of about 400 when Henry Flagler’s railroad reached the

area in the 1896 (City of Miami 2016).

Forests, including longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests, covered much of North and Central

Florida prior to development. Longleaf pine forests are characterized by widely spaced trees, a

wiregrass understory (Aristida stricta), and a very high level of biodiversity (Myers and Ewel

1990). These forests were logged extensively and used for naval stores. Sawmills operated in

North Florida as early as the 1830s, and the industry was well-established by the 1850s although

old growth forests remained in North Florida until the 1920s.

In 1900, South Florida remained relatively natural. Native Americans and early settlers had

been in the area, but they had minimal impact as they lived primarily on subsistence farming and

small-scale extraction. The Everglades dominate this region, and it contains seven ecosystems:

cypress, freshwater marl prairie, freshwater slough, coastal lowlands, mangrove, pinelands, and

hardwood hammock (National Park Service 2016). Attempts to drain the Everglades began in

the 19th century, but these efforts had not yet made a significant impact.

54 • MICHAEL I. VOLK ET AL.

Florida was (and still is) a biologically diverse state, though loss and fragmentation of habitat,

introduction of non-native species, overexploitation of resources, pollution, and disease have

reduced biodiversity. Since development had been limited, few species were lost prior to 1900.

The four vertebrate species lost were the Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius), Carolina

Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis), Red Wolf (Canis rufus), and Plains Bison (Bison bison

bison) (Endries et al. 2009). One major impact to the state’s biodiversity prior to 1900 was plume

hunting, which devastated bird populations during the last decades of the 1800s. During the

Victorian era, hats adorned with feathered plumes were fashionable and the high price of feathers

led to millions of bird deaths each year. In Florida, the decimation of bird populations occurred

first in the northern areas of the state and later in the Everglades. By the turn of the century, 95%

of the state’s shore birds had been killed (Burns 2009). This led to legislation in 1891 and 1901

to protect plume birds, and other bird and wildlife protection laws passed in the early 20th century

that greatly reduced the impact of market hunting on birds and other species (Palmer 1902).

Major Post-1900 Land Use Changes

Not much of Florida’s growth occurred during the last decades of the 19th century and the 20th

century (Mohl 1996). New transportation infrastructure, land development, and tourism

partnered to bring people to Florida. The major railroads and highways followed the Atlantic

Coast, traversed the Panhandle from east to west, and ran north-south through the center of the

state before curving to Tampa (Derr 1998). Early development typically followed transportation,

so it primarily occurred along the Atlantic Coast and in the Tampa Bay region. Later development

occurred in the Orlando region, the southern Gulf Coast, and along new transportation corridors.

Land booms during the early and mid-20th century resulted in the development of new

communities and the expansion of low-density suburbia across many parts of the state.

Automobiles, window screens, the yellow fever vaccine, ice factories and refrigerators

contributed to the first major boom in the 1920s (Derr 1998). The next major boom occurred in

the 1950s following World War II. Affordable financing options and new construction

techniques made homes more affordable for the middle class contributing to a nationwide

housing boom (Jackson 1995; Rome 2001). In Florida, the increasing use of air conditioning

provided more year-round comfort. Even though they were not extensively used in residential

homes until the late 1960s, the use of air conditioning in hotels, apartments, and commercial

buildings increased in the 1950s (Derr 1998).

Agricultural and extraction activities played a major role in shaping the state’s current

remaining natural land cover and resources. Major agricultural crops included tung oil, citrus

(Citrus spp.), and sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) in addition to row crops such as strawberries and

tomatoes. Drainage projects were used to dry up wetlands in an effort to create new agricultural

land. The cattle industry is also important in Florida and led to land clearing to create pastureland

as well as using (with some conversion to improved pasture) the natural prairies of South Central

FLORIDA LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE IN THE PAST 100 YEARS • 55

Florida for cattle production. The lumber industry removed most of the old growth forest,

including the longleaf pine forests and cypress (Taxodium spp.), though people replanted some

pineland areas with weaker species of slash (Pinus elliottii) and loblolly pines (Pinus taeda).

Cypress was logged out later because it was spread through much of the state and was harder to

reach (Harris 1999). Mining operations cleared large tracts of land and altered the terrain and soil

composition. In response to these changes, subsequent growth management policies have

attempted to more carefully guide and manage development and protect the state’s natural

resources, though persistent urban and suburban development continues to convert rural lands

across the state.

Transportation Development

Transportation networks helped drive the development and growth patterns in the state. Until the

late 1800s and early 1900s, inland transportation through the state was difficult and many areas

were accessible primarily by boat. However, shipping and travel by water could be unreliable

due to weather conditions. Just prior to the Civil War, David Yulee completed the first crossstate railroad from Fernandina (now Fernandina Beach) to Cedar Key, two of the state’s major

ports at the time. Yet, further railroad developments were delayed until after Reconstruction

(Turner 2003).

Beginning in the 1880s, two men developed extensive railroad lines throughout the state.

Henry Flagler constructed the East Coast Railroad along the Atlantic Coast with his line reaching

the Florida Keys in 1912 (Willing 1957). Henry Plant’s extensive railroad system primarily

connected northeast Florida to the state’s West Coast (Johnson 1966). Railroads improved

transportation for people, produce, and goods because it was faster and more reliable than

transportation by water (Derr 1998).

In the early 1900s, automobile travel was increasing, but roadways were limited. Trail

associations formed to select, improve, and promote interstate roadways, creating two major

trails in Florida. The Old Spanish Trail connected St. Augustine to San Diego. The Dixie

Highway, promoted heavily by Carl Fisher of Miami, ran north-south from Michigan to Miami.

These named trails posed challenges to travelers because some trails, like the Dixie Highway,

were a series of roads, all with the same name, that allowed travelers to take alternate routes