Demographic, Historic and Political Implications as St. Augustine Turns 445

While the great state of Florida celebrated its 165th birthday back in March, the nations oldest city marked its 445th anniversary on Tuesday. In an attempt to remove a French colonial settlement in present-day Jacksonville that threatened the treasure fleet routes, on Sept. 7, 1565, Spanish military leader Pedro Menendez de Aviles landed his forces and started erecting defenses to the south -- in present-day St. Augustine. The American colonial experience did not start with the Pilgrims or with Jamestown in 1607 -- it started here in Florida.

America in the 21st century is changing and how we see our past should as well. Certain censuses offer clear snapshots on where America is at a particular moment. The census of 1890 showed that the frontier was closed -- prompting the famous frontier thesis on American history by Frederick Jackson Turner. The census of 1920 revealed that more people lived in urban areas than rural ones.

The census of 2000 showed that, for the first time, there were more Hispanics in America than African-Americans -- a trend expected to continue in the 2010 census.

This demographic trend may change a great deal of how Americans understand history -- and Florida, which generally takes a back seat in most history books, could play a large role. Instead of talking about Massachusetts and Virginia, historians may focus on Florida, Texas and California.

As America grows increasingly Hispanic and Catholic, and more people head down I-95 and I-75 to move permanently to the Sunshine State, neglected areas like colonial Florida will demand more historic attention. Something to keep in mind as St. Augustine celebrates its 445th birthday.

And since Queen Elizabeth II graced Virginia when Jamestown celebrated its 400th birthday in 2007, let me suggest that King Juan Carlos of Spain should pay the First Coast a visit when St. Augustine turns 450 in 2015. And asthe first thing Menendez did upon landing was set up an altar to hold mass, perhaps a papal visit could be arranged -- or at least suggested -- to honor 450 years of Catholicism in what is now the United States.