Jacksonville, FL

A favorable climate, access to rivers and the ocean and an embarrassment of riches in natural resources have made the Jacksonville area popular over the centuries.

The Timucuan Indians were among the region’s earliest settlers. Historians believe that their culture arose sometime around 500 B.C.E., but a lack of written records makes this difficult to determine.

With the arrival of the first Europeans in the early 16th century, the region began to take its place on the map. French Huguenots established the first settlement, known as Fort Caroline, in 1562. However, the Spanish destroyed the fort in 1565, ending the French presence in the area.

The Spanish dominated the territory upon arrival, building Fort San Mateo on the ruins of Fort Caroline. For two centuries, Spanish settlers lived off the land. Then, the conclusion of the Seven Years War meant that Spain must cede the territory to the British.

Britain only controlled the region for a couple of decades before the resurgence of the Spanish. However, they would only keep Florida for a short time before the territory was given to the U.S. in 1821.

Jacksonville’s townsite was established in 1822. The city began a bustling export business in lumber, cotton, vegetables and oranges. With the Civil War came strife, and Jacksonville suffered for many years even after the conflict was ended. The city appeared to be on the decline, especially with a devastating fire in 1901.

However, Jacksonville rose from the ashes, becoming a center of commerce and culture over the ensuing century.