FUN WITH MAPS ISSUE 2026-033

By Steve Kovacs (Introduction by Chuck Gibson)

LOVELAND, OH (March 3, 2026) – This issue of Fun with Maps celebrates the welcoming of Florida to the U.S.A.!

THE SUNSHINE STATE

On March 3, 1845 Florida became the 27th state.  Its request for statehood was delayed until Iowa was able to be admitted too, keeping the balance of free and slave states equal.

Florida was the first area in the United States to be reached by European explorers (1513) and the city of St. Augustine was the site of the first permanent settlement (1565). 

The name Florida comes from explorer Ponce de Leon who paid a tribute to Spain’s springtime and the feast of flowers, Pascua Florida.

Settled as a Spanish colony, Florida has been part of five nations – Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America and The United States of America.

Florida has the longest coastline in the continental US and produces 75% of the country’s oranges.  It is a great place for beach bums – no place in Florida is more than 60 miles from the coast.

Johnson’s map of Florida is presented here from 1863.

Steve Kovacs and his wife Theresa reside in Loveland, Ohio where they raised their two children. He is a passionate collector of antique maps.

Visit his antique map boutique world-on-paper online. Watch for his daily feature Steve Kovacs: Fun with Maps here on Loveland Beacon.