The Seminoles clashed with American settlers over land and over escaped slaves who found refuge among them. They were of varied ancestry, but Europeans called them all 'Creeks.' In Florida, they were known as the Seminole and Miccosukee Indians. Other native peoples from Alabama and Georgia moved into Florida in the early 18th century.

By 1763, by the time the English gained control of Florida, the native peoples had been all but wiped out through war, enslavement, or European diseases. When the Spanish arrived, there were around 20,000 Native Americans in south Florida.

Europeans found a thriving native population, which they categorized into separate tribes: the Mayaimi in the Lake Okeechobee Basin and the Jaega and Ais people in the East Okeechobee area and o the east coast north of the Tequesta. The beginning of the historic period in south Florida is marked by Juan Ponce de León's first contact with native people in 1513. Main article: History of West Palm Beach, Florida Old city hall and jail West Palm Beach in the 1880s West Palm Beach in the 1960s West Palm Beach skyline in 2010 Aerial view Wide panorama of skyline Panoramic view of West Palm Beach, North Palm Beach and Lake Worth, 1915

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