Florida has a lot of history. The first people to live there were the Native American tribes of Timucua, Apalachee, Calusa, and Creek. From 1565 to 1763 Spain had possession of Florida. Great Britain then took rule over Florida for twenty years, but Spain quickly got it back. Then U.S. settlers were coming to Florida, in 1819 Spain finally gave Florida to the U.S. but for that Spain got Texas. Florida became the 27th state on March 3, 1845. When the U.S. got Florida it had the name that Spain gave it 'La Florida' which meant place of flowers, Florida's name was quickly changed to Florida when the U.S. got it. A large number of Cubans migrated into Florida for many years. Cubans who didn't want to be under rule of Spain came here to work in factories. Florida had a strong Latin-American culture because of the many Cubans who came there long ago. Florida has a long history of having then losing then taking back.