Trivia: At the turn-of-the-century, the end of the 1800s, what was the most populated city in all of Florida?

Trivia: At the turn-of-the-century, the end of the 1800s, what was the most populated city in all of Florida?

Up until 1900, Key West was Florida’s largest city. Key West remained in the top five until 1930.

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Florida’s second largest city for most of the 1800s was St. Augustine. As late as 1910, St. Augustine was one of Florida’s five largest cities.

Jacksonville didn’t make the top-five list until 1880. It became the largest city after 1900.

St. Petersburg made the top five in 1920. It has been the fourth largest city in every census since 1930.

Tampa joined the top five in 1870.

Tallahassee was in the top five until 1900.

In 1890, Orlando had a population of 3,000 -the same as Tallahassee, sixth place. As late as 1910, Orlando and Sanford were tied in population.

It was not until the 1920s that railroads brought tourists south. Miami, St. Petersburg and Clearwater exploded in population. Clearwater’s population increased 400 percent between 1920 and 1930.

Miami had a population of 1,681 in 1900, 5,000 in 1910 and 110,000 in 1930.

Daytona Beach had 1,000 residents in 1920 and 17,000 by 1930.

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