1. Cuban Independence Day: May 9 is celebrated as Cuban Independence Day in Florida as it commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1902 which ended the Spanish-American War and granted Cuba independence.

2. Citrus Industry: May 9, 1911, was a significant date in Florida's citrus history. A severe freeze caused extensive damage to citrus crops and led to the development of the citrus industry's protective measures.

3. Amelia Earhart: On May 9, 1937, Florida's Amelia Earhart embarked on her journey to become the first woman to fly solo around the world. Unfortunately, her plane disappeared over the Pacific Ocean, and her fate remains a mystery.

4. First Major Hurricane of the Season: May 9 marks the start of hurricane preparedness week in Florida, as it is the official start of the hurricane season for the northern hemisphere. In 2020, the first named storm, Arthur, formed in May and marked the sixth consecutive year with a named storm before the June 1 start date.

5. Tampa's Pirate History: Tampa Bay is famous for its pirate history, and on May 9, 1947, the first Gasparilla Pirate Festival was held in Tampa. The festival began as a small event but has grown into a significant annual celebration, with over 300,000 visitors attending the festivities each year.