Alex Sommers

Date of Award

2019

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Goff, Brendan

Area of Concentration

Social Sciences

Abstract

The purpose of this thesis is to identify the main reasons for Florida’s population growth by looking at the most populous cities, Miami, Tampa, and Orlando from 1920 to 1975. Focusing on each city is similar to a case study. The main reasons for the growth are World War II & the New Deal, advertising & tourism, and transportation networks. The lesser reasons are DDT, universities, and Cuban refugees. The New Deal initiated work programs that stabilized the economy and social security helped people retire. World War II brought the economy back from the Great Depression and partially built the infrastructure for transportation via airports. Advertising was done by newspapers and Chambers of Commerce, encouraging people to visit and stay in Florida. Types of tourism include sports tourism, Walt Disney World, Busch Gardens, and beaches. Without the extensive and interconnected transportation system, travel to Florida would not have been as easy and efficient. Highways, trains, airplanes, and passenger ships played crucial roles in enabling travel from all around the U.S. and the world.

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