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A Concise History of Florida
Join author and historian James C. Clark as he chronicles the history of the Sunshine State in this concise and captivating history.
In 1513, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first set foot on Florida's east coast. The land he discovered was a geographic anomaly so distinctive that astronaut Neil Armstrong said Florida was the first shape on earth he recognized on his return from a visit to the moon 456 years later. This unique state witnessed momentous events from the 1959 arrival of the first Cuban exiles under Fidel Castro to the 1981 launch of the "Columbia," the first space shuttle.
In 1513, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first set foot on Florida's east coast. The land he discovered was a geographic anomaly so distinctive that astronaut Neil Armstrong said Florida was the first shape on earth he recognized on his return from a visit to the moon 456 years later. This unique state witnessed momentous events from the 1959 arrival of the first Cuban exiles under Fidel Castro to the 1981 launch of the "Columbia," the first space shuttle.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 14, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
June 17, 2026
Definitely learned some things (i.e. Chief Osceola was not a Seminole)!
February 8, 2026
I listened to the audiobook and was not impressed. Several city names were mispronounced and as a lifelong resident of Tallahassee it hurts to hear these mispronunciations. The book also felt very chaotic, it moves from a chapter on governors, to a chapter on sports, to a chapter on immigrants. Lot of information.
December 1, 2024
As a new resident of Florida I wanted to learn more. The oldest city in the US, St Augustine. It’s more than Disney and theme parks. There are dark times but I’m hoping it will brighten.
March 15, 2020
Interesting Facts But Inch Deep
This book is an I retesting chronology and has some great factoids, but there are few through lines, zero analysis, and enough obvious factual errors to call much of the book into question.
This book is an I retesting chronology and has some great factoids, but there are few through lines, zero analysis, and enough obvious factual errors to call much of the book into question.
March 10, 2023
University of Central Florida lecturer James Clark has written a history of the "Sunshine State" that offers a useful introduction to the subject but lacks depth. The book moves from the arrival of the first Native American people in Florida nearly sixteen thousand years ago through the early twenty-first century in just 232 pages, meaning the author moves through many topics but does not offer a great deal of analysis. I wish he had dug deeper into the significance of all that he covers.
One of the lessons I learned from this book is that ironies abound in the state's past. The Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida from a European perspective in 1513, after which he gave the cape he rounded the name Cape Canaveral. This became the first European name for a point in North America and four centuries later the first astronauts to voyage to the Moon did so by launching from Cape Canaveral. The state passed under the control of several powers in an ironic way as well. The Spanish controlled it until 1763, then the British controlled it until 1783, but then the Spanish managed to regain control after the American Revolution. Finally the United States gained possession of the territory in 1821. The state joined the Confederacy for four years as well, only for Governor John Milton to commit suicide in 1865 when he realized that a Union victory was imminent and that "death would be preferable to reunion." Another irony was that Florida had only a modest population for several centuries before exploding in growth during the twentieth and twenty-first. The state was the least populated in the southern part of the United States prior to World War II, but by 2014 it had become the third-largest in the country. Clark credits several factors for this, such as the World War II soldiers who trained there in large numbers and saw the appeal of the location, the proliferation of highways that expanded access to the state, the proliferation of retirement communities, the proliferation of theme parks like Disney World, the ability to control insects, and the arrival of air conditioning. Florida is now a state with far more clout than previous generations could have imagined. I did learn from this book how all of this happened, but would still like to read a book that explores the history with more depth.
One of the lessons I learned from this book is that ironies abound in the state's past. The Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de Leon discovered Florida from a European perspective in 1513, after which he gave the cape he rounded the name Cape Canaveral. This became the first European name for a point in North America and four centuries later the first astronauts to voyage to the Moon did so by launching from Cape Canaveral. The state passed under the control of several powers in an ironic way as well. The Spanish controlled it until 1763, then the British controlled it until 1783, but then the Spanish managed to regain control after the American Revolution. Finally the United States gained possession of the territory in 1821. The state joined the Confederacy for four years as well, only for Governor John Milton to commit suicide in 1865 when he realized that a Union victory was imminent and that "death would be preferable to reunion." Another irony was that Florida had only a modest population for several centuries before exploding in growth during the twentieth and twenty-first. The state was the least populated in the southern part of the United States prior to World War II, but by 2014 it had become the third-largest in the country. Clark credits several factors for this, such as the World War II soldiers who trained there in large numbers and saw the appeal of the location, the proliferation of highways that expanded access to the state, the proliferation of retirement communities, the proliferation of theme parks like Disney World, the ability to control insects, and the arrival of air conditioning. Florida is now a state with far more clout than previous generations could have imagined. I did learn from this book how all of this happened, but would still like to read a book that explores the history with more depth.
January 9, 2024
very easy to read and chock full of facts
I throughly enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, unlike many history books. It is suitable for anyone in high school through old age. On the downside, the editing is a little careless. By that, I am not referring to grammar and spelling. Rather, there is a bit of redundancy which should have been excised. But that is of little import. I would recommend this book to anyone and I wish that I could find a book like this for my home state.
I throughly enjoyed this book. It was easy to read, unlike many history books. It is suitable for anyone in high school through old age. On the downside, the editing is a little careless. By that, I am not referring to grammar and spelling. Rather, there is a bit of redundancy which should have been excised. But that is of little import. I would recommend this book to anyone and I wish that I could find a book like this for my home state.
September 19, 2024
Interesting Florida overview
I grew up in Jacksonville, and was a bit surprised to read in the first few pages that some modern historians now think Fort Caroline belongs to Georgia instead of Jacksonville. And then, to see the highway running from Jacksonville to California relabeled to I-90 (instead of I-10) was another shock.
But besides those two bookends, I was reminded of a lot of things and think I also learned a bit.
I grew up in Jacksonville, and was a bit surprised to read in the first few pages that some modern historians now think Fort Caroline belongs to Georgia instead of Jacksonville. And then, to see the highway running from Jacksonville to California relabeled to I-90 (instead of I-10) was another shock.
But besides those two bookends, I was reminded of a lot of things and think I also learned a bit.
March 16, 2021
It is exactly what it says: a concise history of my home state. Perhaps too concise. As a native Floridian, I knew some of the details herein, but I learned a few things too, even concise as it is. Would recommend for a general overview of the state's history, but there are some areas of line you dig into more. This is definitely not the book for that.
November 29, 2023
A great overview of the history of Florida
This book gives a great overview of Florida history and includes mention of other books where a reader can find more information. Florida has been a state with a rich history and is important in understanding Civil Rights and Voter’s Rights. A good read!
This book gives a great overview of Florida history and includes mention of other books where a reader can find more information. Florida has been a state with a rich history and is important in understanding Civil Rights and Voter’s Rights. A good read!
September 12, 2019
Needs some editing
Interesting book that covers many topics and gives a lot of facts in compact form. The book suffers from a lack of good editing, both on wording and grammar, and some of the facts. Overall, it is an interesting overview of the state.
Interesting book that covers many topics and gives a lot of facts in compact form. The book suffers from a lack of good editing, both on wording and grammar, and some of the facts. Overall, it is an interesting overview of the state.
April 13, 2020
This is a VERY concise history, with each chapter/subject being about 3-6 pages. That being said it was a fun and quick read with loads of info and great quality photos. My only real complaint is that the editing could've been a bit tighter.
December 4, 2023
Pretty superficial history of the state and some topics (rise of tourism, land development, population growth, establishment of professional sports). Pretty light on civil rights and role of Cuban immigration in state.
June 9, 2025
Listened to the audio book, which sometimes has odd inflections, but overall great read! Highly recommend for people unfamiliar with the Sunshine State, or those who want foundational history before doing more research in what interests them!
April 9, 2019
Florida for new arrivals
Recently moved to the state and found this book to be informative with historical facts and interesting trivia about famous people and places.
Recently moved to the state and found this book to be informative with historical facts and interesting trivia about famous people and places.
July 28, 2019
Superlatives, hyperbole, typos, and questionable information.
May 12, 2020
Great Fl history!
I really enjoyed reading about all the interesting
History on how cities were formed and of all the things that occurred in Florida’s past.
I really enjoyed reading about all the interesting
History on how cities were formed and of all the things that occurred in Florida’s past.
February 21, 2023
Good read, informative
January 11, 2024
3 and 1/2 stars. An enjoyable primer.
March 21, 2025
Very true to its title, that it is concise. Just felt a little out of order- like why was the chapter on space put before the chapter about the 1920s and the Great Depression?
June 28, 2025
I really liked it and I recommend it.
Did Not Finish
May 15, 2026DNF. Come on audiobook reader, pronounce the city names correctly at the very least.
June 10, 2026
Easy read, some fun facts
February 28, 2016
It was an interesting read especially since we are going to be moving to Florida in the summer. I always find life more interesting if you know the history of where you are.
June 9, 2019
An excellent and CONCISE review of Florida's history. I found it extremely helpful with building an introduction into a case study I am working on for a class!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews