Florida

Spanish for nearly three centuries before the US acquired it in 1821, Florida was a sparsely settled plantation and cattle frontier that seceded in 1861. Air conditioning, railroads and tourism transformed it in the 20th century into one of the fastest-growing states, drawing retirees from the North and large Cuban and Latin American communities. It is now a populous, politically pivotal mix of Deep South interior and cosmopolitan coasts.

• Existed: 1565 CE – present
• Type: Entity
• Government: U.S. State
• Capital: Tallahassee