Seminole history began with bands of Creek Indians from Georgia and Alabama who migrated to Florida in the 1700s.The Seminole tribe started about 12,000 years ago according to researchers. The reason why they lived in Florida and today is because at that period of time this was ruled by the Spanish. The Seminoles enjoyed songs, dancing and ball games. Originally, the Seminoles were hunted deer, turkey and other game and who fished. They gathered fruits, nuts and berries. Later on however they, the settled down and became excellent farmers .They grew corn, sugarcane, guava and bananas. The 1770s is when Florida Indians collectively became known as Seminole, a name meaning "wild people" or "runaway."

Most of the people lived in log houses or cabins of one or two rooms. Fishing, parties, picnics, dances, ball play, horse races, fox hunts and house raising bees were things that they always did. The Seminoles simply had to wear clothes that wear made in there home and eat food that they found they depended on nobody to help them but themselves. The Seminole didn't have money but traded.The Indians traded lots of hides honey, beads, cloth and lots more stuff. The Seminoles live in what today is called reservations; its a land set aside for Native American people.

April 3, 1856. Newspaper 'Florida Peninsula' announced Captain Casey- agent for Indian affairs in Florida authorized payment of the following rates for capture of Seminoles.

Each warrior- $250-$500.

Each woman- $150-$200.

Each boy over age 10- $100-$200.

In the early days of the Seminole tribe the government was against them they were one of 5 Native American groups that were treated unfairly by the government.Andrew Jackson commanded nearly 3,000 American troops to attack and burn their lands, starting the first Seminole War.


There are eight Seminole clans - Panther, Bear, Deer, Wind, Big town, Bird, Snake, and Otter. There are over 2,000 Seminole reservations.The Seminole Tribe of Florida and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida entered into agreements with the US government in 1957 and 1962 claiming there land. Since then, the tribes have developed economies based chiefly on sales of heritage and resort tourism, and gambling. On December 7 ,2006 they purchased the Hard Rock Cafe and a chain of restaurants.