when the florida everglades were originally discovered were they vast and empty?

Question

can someone answer and please info on where your your information comes from.

thanx

Answer 1

Actually, it was surprisingly populated.

Since aboriginal, pre-columbian Floridans had no written language, The population can only be guessed at from the writings of early European explorers and colonists. Some have estimated at around 100,000 -200,000 at the time of Ponce de Leon; some, *ten times* that. Many of of them would have certainly lived in the everglades, considering the amount of fish and game to be found there. Archaeologically, the evidence is good that there were at least a moderate number of permanent settlements there.

As a side note, Ponce de Leon may have not been the first European to visit florida, evidently he encountered at least one native that spoke spanish.

Nearly all of the early written population estimates, were made *after* the conquest by de Soto, and the founding of St. Augustine (present day Jacksonville.) The Aboriginal Floridans had probably been in severe decline for years before that, due to European diseases like smallpox, influenza, bubonic plauge, typhus, measles; from famine, and from wars and feuding. Some scholars believe that European diseases would end up killing more than 95% of the native population of the Americas.

By the time English settlers began to arrive in southern Florida, around 1763, the aboriginal population had been either wiped out by disease and famine, been killed in fighting between the French and Spanish, or had been captured as slaves. The land was now largely occupied by non-native Creeks and Seminoles, originally from farther north and west.

Hope that helps,
~W.O.M.B.A.T.

Answer 2

Quoting from the reference site:
"Recent surveys in the Everglades and within the Big Cypress Swamp indicate the presence of at least several hundred archeological sites within the interior of south Florida. Some of these sites proved to be substantial, and suggest more than just marginal or short-term use. Based on current data, it also appears that the sawgrass plains region south of Lake Okeechobee, now the Everglades Agricultural Area, was a transitional area used for canoe travel and small encampments by many tribes. The exceptions are earthwork complexes, some of which are known to be located on the western edge of the Everglades. These sites show a strong affiliation with the Belle Glade Area on the shores of Lake Okeechobee. Pottery remains found in portions of the southwest section of the Everglades Agricultural Area indicate influence from regions as far away as Ten Thousand Islands/Florida Bay on the southernmost end of the state. The settlement of South Florida, which has occurred since 10,000 b.c., has been chronologically categorized up until a.d. 1930."

Answer 3

Yes, at one time the Everglades covered 11,000 square miles and were virtually uninhabited. Then in the early 1900s, they had the idea of draining them and it has pretty much gone downhill from there. Here's a link: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/evergladesforever/about/default.htm

Answer 4

its gotten worse, they are growing up fast, watch your pets and children. i got bit by a rattlesnake down there. i know live in VT. i will take the cold any day as opposed to those things.