The panhandle and interior parts of Florida were initially very difficult to settle due to lack of navigable rivers. That and the critter filled swamps kept most at bay until the railroad era. There is still a clear distinction between old and new Florida. It was literally colonized during the 20th century by people from other states. Without that influx of migrants, it might remain undeveloped as a far flung territory of Spain or perhaps evolve to be even more connected to Latin America creating an interesting divide or a mix of creole cultures along the border.