Coastal Mississippi Spanish West Florida

The southern coastal strip of present-day Mississippi was part of Spanish West Florida, a province of the Spanish Empire from 1783 until 1821. At its greatest extent, the colony included what are now the southernmost parts of Mississippi and Alabama. Much of its territory was gradually annexed by the United States in the West Florida Controversy, and present-day coastal Mississippi was annexed either before or during the War of 1812, prior to Mississippi statehood on December 10, 1817.

Pre-contact era

Indigenous peoples inhabited the region for thousands of years, with evidence found through archaeological excavations and earthwork mounds. Native American traditions were preserved through oral histories.

Colonial history

Territorial period

Whereas Southeastern Louisiana and present-day coastal Mississippi and Alabama were annexed either before or during the War of 1812, the land that makes up present-day Florida was not acquired until several years later. Much of the territory was gradually annexed by the United States in the West Florida Controversy.

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