What was the colony of the Florida?

The colony of Florida was established by Spain in the 16th century and included a vast area that encompasses present-day Florida and parts of the southeastern United States. Founded by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de León in 1513, it was the first European settlement in what is now the U.S. Florida changed hands between Spain, Britain, and briefly returned to Spanish control before becoming a U.S. territory in 1821 and eventually a state in 1845. The colony was characterized by its diverse population, including Native Americans, Spanish settlers, and enslaved Africans.