Against Florida's historical background, the archeological and historical sites as well as the recreational areas in the seven counties of Hillsborough, Manatee, DeSoto, Charlotte, Polk, Hardee, and Sarasota are discussed in the first chapter of this volume, which is part of the 7-volume areawide impact assessment of the phosphate industry in central Florida. Chapter 2 addresses the study area's demography, economics, and culture. Existing land ownership and use patterns are discussed in Chapter 3, along with land-use planning at the state, local, and regional levels and the administrative and regulatory controls over mining. Chapter 4 deals with future land use in the study area.