Editing Glades County, Florida (section)

==History==
[[Indigenous people]] lived in this area for thousands of years. Due to warfare and exposure to [[infectious diseases]] after [[Europe]]an contact, native tribes became depopulated. In the eighteenth century, when the area was under [[Spain|Spanish]] rule, [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] peoples of [[Creek people|Creek]] and other tribes migrated into present-day Florida from [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]. [[African diaspora|Africans]] and [[African Americans]] who escaped from [[slavery]] and shipwrecks also migrated to the area, where they created [[Maroon (people)|maroon]] communities. Some were given freedom by the Spanish in exchange for serving with their militias. Gradually the [[Seminole]] nation formed out of these multi-ethnic people. Some African-descended people set up communities near the Seminole and became known as [[Black Seminole]]. In the nineteenth century, most of the Seminole and many blacks were removed to [[Indian Territory]] after the [[Seminole Wars]], a result of pressure from increasing Anglo-American settlement.

Glades County was created, in 1921, from Desoto County. It was named for the [[Florida Everglades]], though most of the county is prairie and pinelands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/321106|title=Florida Memory: History of Glades County|date=1939|website=Florida Memory}}</ref>

It is one of five counties surrounding Lake Okeechobee and the [[Lake Okeechobee Scenic Trail]].

Glades County sponsors one of Florida's oldest recurring festivals.  ''[[Chalo Nitka]]'' Festival is a celebration of local history and culture, similar to a county fair. The festival also draws attention to the long and friendly relationship between the local [[Seminole]] groups and Glades County settlers. [[Brighton Seminole Indian Reservation]] is located in the county.