| South Florida is generally considered
to be that sub-tropical portion of the Florida peninsula south of Lake
Okeechobee.
Florida was the first place on the North American mainland settled by Europeans. The Spanish founded St. Augustine in 1565, but Florida's lack of resources and tremendous distance from the developed areas to the north limited its growth. South Florida remained a sparsly inhabited frontier during the next three centuries. At the beginning of the twentieth century the railroad allowed people to pour in and we have developed an interesting history since then. Our unique geography and explosive development have all received the attention of numerous authors. |