Migration and Health in Florida
Yellow Fever was one of the deadliest and most feared diseases, commonly known as "yellow jack". Between 1821 and 1845, the period of time known as Territorial Expansion, many ships brought in people and yellow fever, mainly from Cuba and the Carribean. The first recorded yellow fever outbreaks then occured in the costal cities, as can be seen on the Interactive map. The three most populous cities, Key West, Jacksonville and Pensacola, suffered the most.
The most deadly yellow fever outbreak occured in Jacksonville in 1888. The outbreak occured in the middle of the state wide electon campaign, and led many of the candidates to then agree to push for better health in Florida. The severity of this outbreak then led to the creation of the Florida Board of Health in 1889.
Fun Fact: Yellow Fever influenced Florida's citizens in a social way too, in that it created a migratory pattern for the upper class. Since the outbreaks were more common in summer, the upper class often migrated north during the hottest months and would return for the cooler winter months.
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Yellow Fever Outbreaks: Causes and Effects
Between 1867 and 1888, Key West suffered from nine seperate yellow fever outbreaks, all related to the incoming ships and people from Cuba and the Carribean.
The outbreak in Pensacola in 1905 represented the first time that disease control was centered on mosquito control, and was probably caused by the large number of troops from out of state stationed close by for the Spanish American War.
During the late 1800s, many Cubans and Spanish decided to move their buisness to Florida to escsape the Spanish American War. Then in 1899, there was an outbreak of yellow fever in Miami.
The 1877 outbreak in Fernandina was a precursor to the 1888 outbreak.
Sources
“Florida During the Spanish_American War of 1898”. Florida Memory Project. https://www.floridamemory.com/onlineclassroom/spanish-american-war/photos/
Patterson, Gordon. The Mosquito Wars: A History of Mosquito Control in Florida Gainesville, Fl: Gordon Patterson, 2004.
“The Dreaded Yellow Jack” Florida Memory Project. 1908. https://www.floridamemory.com/blog/2015/05/22/the-dreaded-yellow-jack/
US Census Bureau. Resident Population and Appointment of the U.S. House of Representatives. https://www.census.gov/dmd/www/resapport/states/florida.pdf.
A Nurse of Red Cross at work.” Florida Memory Project. 1888. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/298368
“Fires on Bay street to kill yellow fever germs-Jacksonville, Florida.” Florida Memory Project. 1888. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/26662.
“Yellow fever immunity identification card for Edward Fitzgerald Jr. issued by the Florida State Board of Health.” Florida Memory Project. 1899. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/29844.
“Robinson, Emily” Florida Memory Project. 1912. https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/280799