By the census of 1890, Florida’s population had reached 391,422, a dramatic increase from 1870’s 187,748. While still largely rural, urban growth was accelerating. Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tampa, and Key West stood out as centers of commerce and culture, each with a distinctive character.
Jacksonville, with a population exceeding 17,000, was the state’s largest city—a bustling river port and gateway to the interior. Known as the “Winter City in Summer Land,” it had begun attracting northern tourists and invalids seeking a warm climate. Elegant hotels lined Bay Street, while the city’s Black neighborhoods thrived with schools, churches, and social organizations.
Pensacola, on the Gulf coast, retained its maritime identity. It was home to a large naval presence and an international port that handled lumber, cotton, and naval stores. Its diverse population—Spanish, African American, Creole, and European—reflected centuries of cultural blending.
Key West, the southernmost city, remained a vital hub of the cigar industry, shipwreck salvaging, and Cuban exile politics. By 1890, its economy was booming, driven by immigration and trade with Havana.
Tampa, once a remote military post, was beginning its transformation into an industrial powerhouse. The arrival of Vicente Martinez Ybor and his cigar factories had turned the city into a bustling enclave of Cuban, Spanish, and Italian workers. By 1890, Ybor City’s brick factories and social clubs echoed with the rhythms of Latin life.
Florida’s urban centers in 1890 were microcosms of progress, migration, and multicultural exchange. They represented the new face of the state—a blend of old southern traditions and modern industrial ambition. shutdown123