On this day in history, March 3, 1845, Florida officially joined the United States as the 27th state. This historic milestone came after years as a territory following its acquisition from Spain through the Adams-Onís Treaty in 1821.
President John Tyler signed the legislation making Florida a state just one day before leaving office. Florida’s admission was paired with Iowa’s approval for future statehood to maintain the balance between slave and free states in Congress.
William D. Moseley would soon be elected as Florida’s first state governor, and David Levy Yulee became one of its first U.S. senators – notably the first Jewish-American to serve in the U.S. Senate.
Thirty years after Florida achieved statehood, our own town of Perry was established in 1875 as a small railroad settlement. Originally named Rosehead, it was renamed Perry in 1888 to honor Florida Governor Edward A. Perry. The town later became the county seat of Taylor County and was officially incorporated as a city in 1903.
Perry’s economy was built on the region’s abundant pine forests, with turpentine production and logging operations driving early development. From these humble beginnings following Florida’s statehood, Perry has grown into the vibrant community we know and love today.
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