Alternative History
Alternative History
South Florida
Timeline: 1983: Doomsday

OTL equivalent: South Florida, Southwest Florida, Florida Keys
Flag Coat of Arms
Flag Coat of Arms
Motto
In God We Trust
Capital Naples
Largest city Cape Coral-Fort Myers
Other cities West Palm Beach, Sarasota, Weston, Belle Glade, Marathon, Key Largo
Language English, Spanish
Area 80,500 km²
Population approx. 950,500 (2020 WCRB census)
Independence October 29, 1996
Currency Caribbean Dollar

South Florida is one of the three founding provinces of the Republic of Florida. It is currently comprised of the Floridian Peninsula south of the shores of Lake Okeechobee, including West Palm Beach, Naples, Cape Coral, Big Cypress, the Everglades and the southern half of Lake Okeechobee, although its core is along the southwest coast of the Peninsula.

History[]

Pre-Doomsday[]

Although the Spanish discovered and exploited Florida beginning in the early sixteenth century, the southwest region was unused after disease and war with the Spanish decimating the indigenous tribes, taking many of them to Cuba to serve as slaves. The Calusa and Tequesta would hold on until the eighteenth century, when wars with British-allied Seminoles pushing them further south in conjunction with disease saw the last few surviving tribes of the south flee to Cuba, where they fall off the historical record. Those that escaped ended up fleeing north to the panhandle, where they would go on to form the Seminole and Miccosukee tribes. The Seminoles were eventually forced to split into two bands, one being forced back to southern Florida in an attempt by the US military to subjugate them. This band of Seminoles never surrendered and were eventually recognized as a sovereign nation.

Over time, the coasts of southern Florida became active ports for commerce from all over the world. During the late 19th century, the Tampa Bay port became one of the largest in the Union, and was instrumental in the Spanish-American War. Miami would be a hotspot of Naval activity during World War II. However, the coastal cities on the southwest gulf were mostly shielded by barrier islands, making them less accessible to larger cargo ships. Nevertheless, the fine white sands of the gulf coast made the area a key tourist destination. By the late 1900's the coastal towns of Cape Coral and Fort Myers had begun to grow into cities of respectable size.

File:800px-Everglades Sawgrass Prairie Moni3.jpg

The watery grasslands of the Everglades, South Florida's largest ecosystem

From the late 19th century to the mid-to-late 20th century investors and real estate developers drastically changed the natural landscape of the Everglades, through a series of dams, levees, and control pumps drying up millions of acres in what is considered South Florida. At one point the US Corps of Engineers declared a "War on Water" to combat the natural ecosystem. By the 1970s, however, the process to restore what remained was well underway.

Much of the landmass of South Florida is primarily made up of two National Parks: Big Cypress and the Everglades National Parks. The presence of the Seminole Indians within these parks had made them quite popular tourist attractions as well. However, few people other than the Seminoles lived in them full-time.

Post-Doomsday[]

On Doomsday, the primary targets of Southern Florida were Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Key West AFB and Miami. Tampa was destroyed, although the larger city of St. Petersburg was not. Nevertheless Tampa Bay expanded to consume the crater left by the missile. In Miami proper, a strike over the Port of Miami would obliterate Downtown, Brickell, and much of Miami Beach, while sparing the western fringes of the city. Homestead AFB, to the south of Miami, was deemed a more important target and was leveled, taking out nearby Turkey Point Nuclear Power Station in the ensuing fireball (perhaps the best long-term outcome for the destruction of the plant in the post-Doomsday world). The Miami Metropolitan area was either too large to take out without several dozen missiles or the Soviets were unaware of how large the area actually was so two airbursts were detonated over Doral and Fort Lauderdale, which did not spread radiation but destroyed the suburbs with strong blasts, scattering trees, rubble and cars for dozens of miles. Only places such as Coral Gables, which were firmly rooted to the coral at the bedrock of the city and thus managed to remain partially intact, but the destruction of the blasts isolated the awkward patches of areas spared within the city proper, it did not take more than a year for starvation, flooding, and electric catastrophes to reduce the population into the hundreds. The Vice President's son Jeb Bush would also be counted among those lost to the devastation following the bombs.

A much bigger problem than the nuclear blasts themselves was the breakdown of order that resulted, namely leading to the maintenance of the various canals keeping parts of South Florida from flooding going unmanned. Within three days of the detonations the few survivors throughout South Florida would be rooted out — literally. The canals clogged and levies broke, leading to hundreds of millions of gallons of water to come rushing out of the carefully-timed openings of the canals, as well as to the north in Lake Okeechobee destroying suburbs and carrying thousands of people with them. As time went on, the bombs succeeded where environmentalists pre-Doomsday had failed: the Everglades had returned to its original flow pattern.

Sarasota, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Naples, the largest untouched metropolitan statistical areas on the west side of the state, dodged any direct hits on Doomsday and soon became a mecca for refugees fleeing Tampa and Miami. Being spared the radioactive fallout from Tampa and the east coast, the area was nevertheless faced with a shortage of food for the refugees, with grocery stores soon becoming exhausted. On September 29, South Florida was flooded in a matter of minutes, and adding hundreds of sq mi back into the wetlands where they originally were. The result was the transformation of Miami into a marsh, leaving several areas above sea-level, such as Coconut Grove, the bombed out ruins of Homestead, and Pompano to become islands.As a result of the catastrophes that claimed the area, the population suffered from riots and violence for years. In addition, tropical diseases, borne by mosquitoes, killed tens of thousands.

Calls to Order[]

Naples and Fort Myers, however, were on high ground, giving them a good chance at surviving. To the north of the Miami strikes, West Palm Beach would be the largest city surviving in the southern half of the state, recieving nearly 100 thousand refugees before years end. Without the problem of winter to contend with (although the black rain and darkened skies still killed thousands), food remained the primary concern. Throughout the early days the two areas were visited frequently by each others travelers, families and traders, with the United States Atlantic Remnant remaining active in the area throughout the first decade, evacuating what personnel and civilians they could, as well as accompagning the flotilla of civilian vessels in the myriad of exoduses to what would become the Caribbean Federation. By 1987 though, relative peace had come as local city governments had banded together under the civilian militias as well as the sporadic presence of the Remnant, which had shifted its efforts to regrouping in the Caribbean around the US Virgin Islands and Jamaica. As thousands would evacuate with the Remnant to the Caribbean on a monthly basis, the alleviating effect removed the most pressure from the communities. Under the auspices of the two largest cities, the sheriffs and the ranking officers of the Palm Beach branch of the Remnant, they would form the "Provisional State of South Florida" in 1990 as a rudimentary governing polity in the region in conjunction with the Remnant and surviving National Guard, with hopes that when the federal or state government returned in South Florida they would return to the United States. However, that day never came, and the brief return to "normal" for the "U.S. State would be dashed with the shut-down of the last functioning nuclear power plant south of the Mason-Dixon in 1990, and the devastation to come in 1992.

The population of the fledgeling polity, having stabilized at around 150,000 people, was on the upswing, when a disaster with more force than the bombs that took out Tampa and Miami came roaring through the area. Authorities in the Caribbean would call it Hurricane Andrew, but to the Floridians it was just "the Great Hurricane of 1992." The devastation was catastrophic, destroying much of the crops and many of the structures all over the republic. Hundreds died in the storm, some never accounted for due to isolation and lack of information services at the time. The residents had come to lose hope of any outside help and just began to rebuild on their own. With the Remnant only able to spare two relief vessels stocked with rice, baby formula and ibuprofen (despite controlling Palm Beach International Airport for its own needs), and zero relief from the American Provisional Administration, it became clear that the federal government would not be coming. Soon after the Hurricane, the Palm Beach County town of Belle Glade would fall to brigands before being conquered by the former inhabitants of the Belle Glade Prison.

On October 29, 1996, the leadership called on the people of South Florida to decide whether to secede from the United States. When the votes were tallied a narrow majority passed a referendum to become an independent republic. The following summer a Constitutional convention was held in Naples to build the framework for a new government. What became of this convention was a constitution very similar to that of the United States with a few modifications to make it more suitable for the citizens of a smaller area.

Though the Cape Coral – Fort Myers Area and Sarasora had stabilized in the aftermath of Doomsday, small communities in and around the Lake Okeechobee region of Belle Glade on the south and the town of Okeechobee on the north side of the lake suffered from frequent gang raids. When the authorities in Naples Upon conducted a fact finding mission into Belle Glade, they found a fascist dictatorship led by the former prisoners in place. According to the locals who had fled from the city, many of the city-state's citizens wanted a regime change but simply feared the gangs too much to even speak out against it.

Finally, a local militia overthrew the dictatorship in Belle Glade, at cost of most of the town, which was eventually annexed by South Florida as a militia outpost, becoming its mouth on the Lake Okeechobee. This would restore access to the beleaguered city of West Palm Beach, although numbering in the low thousands now, many feared this act was too late.

New Contacts and Remodernization[]

After the 2009 WCRB report on the southern United States, the "Everglades Territory" stretching along the former Tamiami Trail an area that was in South Florida's grasp, but not acquired due to it having no true importance, was eventually ceded to South Florida. The 13,000 inhabitants of this stetch and the former Park station at Everglades, Florida -- mostly refugees from the East Coast of Florida, were eventually resettled in more permanent lodging, save for those of the Tamiami Trail which had built along the Miccosukee stretch.

In late 2008, several scientists, mainly supplied by the Cuba, the CF, the Atlantic Remnant and Mexico, had sent expeditions throughout the areas that formerly were home to the major cities of Tampa and Miami. After several weeks of analization the results determined that the remnants of the city of Tampa could still give way to major health hazards. After negotiations with the citizens of the surprisingly high population of 6,000 people within the areas of the city, the area was evacuated, and the small village of "New Tampa" comprised of remaining residents remaining independent.

The Palm Beach County fared far better of than Miami or Tampa did, however. For one, the area was home to a functioning civilization. The city would begin re-integration talks with the rest of South Florida in late 2009, as the Remnant government warmed up to re-constituting the South Florida area as a separate member-state of the Caribbean Federation.

In late night September 28, 2010, Hurricane Nicole, Category 2, touched down in South Florida. Substantial damage was reported in Key Biscayne, Key Largo, and Marathon. Over 32 deaths have been reported, and the Miami-Dade Territory has reported more than 20 more missing. By September 29th, the Hurricane headed up north, and South Florida has contacted Delmarvan and Outer Bank officials so they can prepare for the storm.

Unification[]

On December 31, 2010, South Florida, North Florida, and East Florida formally united as the Republic of Florida. While the move was largely ceremonial as most control remains on the regional levels, the creation of a united government and switching over to a single currency has both strengthened the economy in the area and ushered in the twilight over the remaining lawless areas sandwiched between northern and southern Florida. The military operation dubbed Operation Spearhead would spend nearly a decade "pacifying" the remainder of the Floridian peninsula. South Florida is perhaps the safest part of Florida now, owing to its isolation from all other areas of Terra nullius on the American continent.

Economy[]

The economy of the South Florida has had a stable economy for the last 15 years of its history, owing to its year-long harvests, sufficient lumber supply and access to regional fuel markets. It's mineral and oil pools are decent compared to many other nations, with the area around Immolakee and Ave Maria having dozens of active wells. It depends mainly on fishing and local farming to feed the masses. Oranges, grains, cattle and polutry form significant part of South Florida's diet, with sugar being in above-average quantities for a post-Doomsday North American state. Locally, trade was historically carried out through barter or via the newly-created Floridian Conch, a locally minted currency that replaced the American Dollar. However, as time went on it had the most access to foreign markets than any other North American survivor state, which has allowed Florida's economy to boom. Today, the Caribbean Dollar is the primary currency of use here.

In the past year, the Republic has started trading massive amounts of fish, citrus, and soy beans to the Caribbean Federation, receiving international support as well as naval equipment. The Republic has signed a trade agreement known as the "Free Caribbean Sea Compact," which allows open borders and free trade. In order to facilitate this trade, the ECF worked with South Florida to develop the Florida Conch, a formerly bogus currency created in the former city of Key West as a publicity stunt. The Conch was designed as a replacement to coined currencies, being printed in all values of currency from one cent to twenty dollars. It is printed using minerals and other materials provided by the East Caribbean Federation. It's value is tied to the East Caribbean dollar and is backed by the "full faith and credit" of the government of South Florida. In 2011, the currency was renamed tothe Floridian Dollar and became the national currency of the nascent Republic of Florida.

Along with the ECF, South Florida trades with Cuba, mainly agricultural, mineral, and technological goods. The sale of limestone, phosphate, and other minerals make up a good portion of the economy. Another source of income are the small surpluses of oil that are permitted to be sold to Neonotia, Selma and others to the north.

It also operates one of the last functioning airports in the Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi area, the Southwest Florida International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport. The Southwest Airway was completed only months before Doomsday, on May 1983. While it was abandoned, its slow restoration after the post-2009 investments mean flights now go continental, and after the leadership's 2010 summer tour of the American continents, the first flight to South America, a flight landing in Medellin, Colombia, marked the beginning of whole new opportunities for the Floridian people. The Page Field Aviation Airport is the southwest region's secondary airport, mainly used for government or imported goods from smaller civilian owned craft.

Swflorida

Southwest Florida Airport

Foreign Relations[]

South Florida, and the Republic of Florida in general has full diplomatic relations with the Caribbean Fedeartion, and is a member of the League of Nations. Lingering animosities with older Floridians keep full relations with Cuba on hold, though trade, by necessity, has been re-established.

In the summer of 2010 Vice President Buchanan toured other nations in the Southern region of the former United States including the Mississippi cities states of Hattiesburg and Natchez, West Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, Piedmont Republic, and Blue Ridge. If time permits he also hopes to visit at least the capital city of the new United States. The tour began on May 27th, as the CF Naval vessel delivered him to the port city of Bay St. Louis where he was met by the mayors of both Hattiesburg and Natchez. From there, the entourage was flown by a Kentucky Air Force jet to Ft. Knox.

While in Natchez the delegation made contact with the provisional government of the State of Louisiana, which is soon to become a trade partner with South Florida. South Florida will soon merge with Gainesville and First Coast as a unified Florida.

Education[]

Education to former standards has been a difficult goal to achieve. After Doomsday, many families helped themselves to the supplies found in shut-down schools and began to teach their children at home. When South Florida became established as a nation, small government sanctioned schools began to open up in neighborhoods, usually in homes or in the now long-abandoned schools.

However, in the the outer areas, near Collier County (Florida Keys) and in the off-the-grid boat and roadside communities found in the Everglades, illiteracy is quite common in several these rudimentary encampments and villages. In those areas, completely literate people come in at around 20 percent of the population in the WCRB's 2009 expedition, with another 50 percent semi-literate able to read street signs and sign their names. Today, this has dropped down to roughly 15 percent illiteracy in the area, although local officials expect this will still take another generation to fully correct as those born 1975-1990 are likely "set in their ways" at this point.

Until recently the only university in the country was Naples Elementary University of Florida. Today, Florida Atlantic University in Palm Beach is now once again active as well. In efforts to promote education, FAU awards scholarships to those from other communities across the southern United States region, most notably Selma, Lake Arthur, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont. The public school system has benefited the areas which have many people who are either unemployed or fit into the working-class.

The Universities are as follows:

Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton. Reopened in 2013, in coordination with the United States Atlantic Remnant - 7,140 students

Florida Keys University - Rebuilt from the undamaged sections of the Florida Keys Community College. - 900 students

Naples University - University built within the heart of Naples - 3,000 students

Government[]

The government of South Florida was once a provincial republic, but since the foundation of the Republic of Florida it is a state within that entity. It is divided into 8 counties (which were formerly called provinces) and one territory. Each county calls one representative to the National Congress in Gainesville and two at the Local Congress in Naples. Since the reunification, counties have become more centralized as most of their power was moved to the state capital at Naples.


County County Capital Pop. Date Joined Notes
Everglades Flamingo 4,000 1996 Split from Monroe County
Keys Key Largo 42,000 1996 Split from Monroe County
Collier Naples 250,000 1996 Founding
Coral Fort Myers 500,000 1996 Formerly Lee County
Charlotte Punta Gorda 101,000 1996 Founding
Glades Moore Haven 4,000 1996 Founding
Hardee La Belle 19,000 2010 Reclaimed
DeSoto Arcadia 19,000 2007 Reclaimed
Sarasota Sarasota 190,000 TBA TBA
Manatee Bradenton 245,000 2010 Reclaimed

Territories[]

Eastern Territory[]

the area of former Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach controlled by the Republic of Florida is called the Eastern Territory. Its population currently sits at 35,000, but there have been talks of making it into a county, which would be based out of either Florida City or a re-occupied West Palm Beach.

Native Americans []

Miccosukee still inhabit what was once the Miccosukee Indian Reservation and after the late 2000's were absorbed into South Florida under special conditions. As of 2023, the "downtown" of the "New Miami" area of Dade County is the intersection of 8th Street/Tamiami Trail and the Miccosukee resort.

The Big Cypress Reservation did the same thing.

The Brighton Reservation is completely independent and only trades with the other two reservations as they think the "whites" were responsible for the nuclear holocaust that killed their fellow brothers and have adopted a semi-isolation policy.

Culture[]

The culture of South Florida is one of the most unique of post-Doomsday North America. With the missiles sending refugees into the Everglades, many found that they could better survive by living off the land. Alligator comprises the staple of tens of thousands of Floridians carnivorous intake. Uncounted thousands live out of tree house metropolises in cypress trees hunt alligator or catfish for a living, many having even adopted Native words or surnames for themselves and their new towns. "Calusa" is a popular post-Doomsday work song and nickname for the South Florida area.

The urban areas, in contrast, are more in line with their pre-Doomsday cultures.

Military[]

The South Floridian military was based around the remnants of the Florida National Guard and surviving Coast Guard personnel in the region. It consisted additional of a civilianmilitia, and a naval force.

The last commander of the military, and the head of the current Republic of Florida's land forces, was General La Tanya E. Simms. The flagship of the fleet, and its largest vessel, was the SFS Point Steele, formerly of the United States Coast Guard.

Energy[]

South Florida occupies the power station in Polk County. Prior to that, the nation was entirely dependent on a makeshift gasoline power plant and one wind turbine in the Keys. Experimentation with solar energy has largely failed, although there are makeshift "air conditioners" which ironically use heat panels to power propellers which provide cool air.

Media[]

South Florida has only recently developed more advanced forms of communication, thanks to help from the LoN and Cuba. In the city of Naples, telephones became operational after nearly two years of communication lines being developed.

Newspaper[]

South Florida has two newspapers, the Naples Daily News along with the Conch Republic Times. A yearly subscription costs $29.99 (In CF) due to the costs of printing and distributing.

Television[]

The station which was formed only 40 days before Doomsday, WGCU TV, became abandoned some months after Doomsday. In 2009, it was re-activated after nearly 100,000 dollars in repairs as the WFMU TV, Which stands for World Broadcasting of Fort Myers Universal Television. WFMU is owned by the South Floridian government, while WZVN is owned by ABC Television, which is now based in South Florida.

The TV Stations during 2010 were listed as such:

WFMU TV (Channel 3) - International Broadcasting and Local News, Weather, Sports, and Emergency News

WZVN TV (Channel 7) - Music, Entertainment, Cartoons and Pre and Post-Doomsday Movies

Radio[]

With help from the LoN the first radio station became operational in late 2009. A radio station called 97.3 "The Coast" was created for residents to listen to 60's, 70's and 80's music along with news, weather and sports. Another radio station has occasionally been used for the Keys, an unnamed station simply called 107.1 FM. This has been mainly used for emergency purposes, broadcasting breaking news. 97.3

The Stations are as follows:

97.3: The Coast - Music and Talk Shows

107.1 Unnamed Station - Emergency Purposes only