PLACE

DEFINITION: In geography, a place is referring to both the physical and human characteristics of a global location.

Historical/Cultural Geography: Throughout its history, the Everglades has been affected culturally through Native Americans and White American industry. For Native Americans, the Everglades was home to the Calusa Indians. As early as the 1500's, these tribes lived and worked alongside the land that is now the everglades. Many artifacts from this tribe can be found left behind in the Everglades today. Their numbers eventually dwindled from being forced off of the land by white settlers as well as increase of mortality due to disease. Despite their presence on this land, they did not affect it quite as much as white Americans and their industry eventually would. According to later land developers, the Everglades was deemed a swampy wasteland and had little to no value. As a result, the land was changed through drainage of the swamps and the digging of canals. Fortunately, the swamplands were able to recover.

The Everglades has also been known for its history of conservation. During the industrial revolution, resources and wildlife were hindered, injured, and altered through industry, hunting, and development. When President Roosevelt came into office, his passion for wildlife and its preservation helped to shape many national parks into what they are today. He endowed 230,000,000 acres of wildlife into what are known as protected lands. The goal was to preserve wildlife and nature in its natural unaltered state. Thus, the National Wildlife Foundation was enacted and helped to preserve and safe the Everglades from the destruction of Industry.

Economic Geography: The Everglades is a significant drinking water source for over 8,000,000 Floridians. The Everglades also provides for the Floridian economy by providing tourist events and activities, boat rides, and means of fishing. The Everglades provides various jobs as well which help contribute to the job economy.