1. On December 31, 1838, the U.S. Army captured the last known remaining Seminole Indian in Florida, signaling the end of the Second Seminole War.

2. In 1876, Key West celebrated the arrival of the first train to reach the island, marking a significant milestone in the city's development as a major commercial center.

3. December 31, 1898, marked the official end of the Spanish-American War and the transfer of control of Cuba, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines to the United States.

4. On December 31, 1924, the Tamiami Trail, a road connecting Tampa to Miami, was completed, providing a major transportation route through the Everglades and opening up new opportunities for tourism and agriculture in south Florida.

5. In 1983, the Miami Hurricanes football team won their first national championship, defeating Nebraska in the Orange Bowl on December 31, capping off a historic season for the program.