The Differences Between a Criminal Case and a Civil Case. The American legal system is comprised of two very different types of cases, civil and criminal. Crimes are generally offenses against the state, and are accordingly prosecuted by the state.
Researchers at the University of West Florida say theyâve proved Spanish Explorer, Tristan de Luna established his Spanish colony of Pensacola in August of 1559. Thatâs six years before St. Augustine, which claims itâs the oldest because itâs been continuously occupied.
(Florida ranks 2nd in the nation by this measure and only Alaska ranks higher.) More Florida water information: Florida History. Juan Ponce de Leon discovers Florida in 1513 when he lands in NE Florida, possibly near present-day St. Augustine, to claim Florida for Spain. This is when written records about life in Florida began. First permanent European settlement is established in 1565 in St. Augustine by Spain.