By Matthew Fortuna
The History of Panama City, Florida
Panama City, Florida, is one of the top
beach vacation spots in the
United States. It has served as a top spring break spot for college students since the 1990s. It is a top fishing and boating destination on the Gulf of
Mexico. Though it has a population of under 40,000, it is the largest city between Pensacola and Tallahassee in Florida and is served by the Panama City-Bay County International Airport.
Early History
Panama City and the surroundings areas were first settled and explored by Europeans when the Spanish arrived in Florida and the Caribbean in the 1500s.
Native Americans
Moving Native Americans off of the land, these settlers built fishing and trading posts along the Gulf of Mexico to enhance their settlements on the continent.
American Land
The United States purchased the land finally in 1819, until which time it was again populated with mostly Native Americans.
Mid-1800s
Andrew Jackson marched an army through the area in 1818, and the territory was first opened for settlement in 1821. Soon the area, known as St. Andrew's Bay, was incorporated into the newly formed Florida Territory and then state in 1845.
Flourishing
The city flourished as a fishing town through the end of the 1800s and officially became the City of Panama City in 1905. The Gulf Coast Highway 98 was completed in the 1930s and brings more economy and population to the city.
Mid-1900s
Tourist attractions began to pop up in the 1930s, and the city became a military town during World War II. After the war, the city again focused on developing its infrastructure and economy.
Vacation Spot
In the late 1900s, many of the sand dunes lining the beaches were replaced with hotels and condominiums as the city became a hot spot for vacationers and spring breakers for four months a year.
About the Author:
Matthew Fortuna is a full-time freelance writer with a journalism degree from Wayne State University, living in the Detroit metropolitan area. He has written about a wide range of topics across varying publications, including Demand Studios, wiseGEEK.com and Suite101.com, among others. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from Wayne State University.
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