Florida joined the union as the 27th state in 1845. At the time of union half of the state’s population were enslaved African Americans. From 1885 to 1889, after regaining power, the white-dominated state legislature passed statutes to impose poll taxes and other barriers to voter registration and voting, in order to eliminate voting by blacks and poor whites. By 1900 the state’s African Americans numbered more than 200,000, roughly 44 percent of the total population. In 1900, the population of Florida was around 529,000 and majority of the population dependent on agriculture and farming.
These colored photochroms show towns, streets, beaches, landmarks and everyday life of Florida in the late 19th century and early 20th century.
