Florida’s history of ranching is among the oldest cattle-ranching traditions in the United States, dating back to the 16th century when Spanish explorers introduced cattle to the state. The herds became known as Florida Cracker cattle—small, lean and resilient animals shaped by the state’s heat, wetlands and scrublands.

Throughout the 1800s, Cracker cattle roamed freely across Florida’s terrain, grazing on native scrub grasses. To move them through dense brush, ranchers would ride on horseback with long whips whose sharp cracking sounds likely gave way to the “Cracker” name.

Florida Cracker life could be isolating, and required reliance on small-scale agriculture, fishing and hunting within the state’s rugged terrain.

Today, Florida Cracker culture is preserved through historical sites, museums and an interest in upholding cattle ranching traditions, such as the Great Florida Cattle Drive, and foods like cornbread, salt pork, molasses and seasonal produce, which remain integral to the region’s cuisine. A peek at Cracker culture is a peek at Florida before development, defined not by beaches and resorts, but by adaptability to the land.