This week in history: Florida admitted to the Union as 27th state

By Michelle Quigley

On March 3, 1845, Florida became a state. William D. Moseley was the first governor, and the population was about 66,000, almost half of whom were African-American slaves on cotton and sugar plantations.

Map of Florida in 1845, showing the state’s geographical boundary lines and internal divisions that had been established at that time. (United States Geological Survey map)

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