What parts of the United States belonged to Spain?

Parts of what is now the United States were once part of the Spanish Empire. These areas included large portions of what are today the states of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah and California. Some major territories that belonged to Spain were:

1. Florida was claimed by Spain in the 16th century and remained under Spanish control until it was ceded to the United States in 1819 by the Adams-Onís Treaty which took effect in 1821.

2. The vast region known as Louisiana (not to be confused solely with the present-day state) was also claimed by Spain after France ceded it following its defeat in the Seven Years' War though it was secretly given back to France shortly before the United States acquired it in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

3. The Viceroyalty of New Spain included territory that covers the modern day states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and portions of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas, and Oklahoma. This territory remained under Spanish control until Mexican independence in 1821, after which it became part of Mexico until various parts were annexed by the United States at different times through treaties, purchases, and as consequences of war.

4. Pacific Northwest: Spain also claimed parts of the Pacific Northwest but they eventually relinquished claims to this territory following negotiations with the United States in the 19th century.

Extra: The Spanish Empire's influence extended across much of the Americas the Caribbean parts of Asia, and even into Europe. In the United States, Spanish heritage is still evident in place names, architecture, cultural celebrations and the Spanish language itself, which is widely spoken.

In the history of the United States, the impact of Spanish colonialism is particularly noted in the architecture and city planning of towns in Florida and the Southwest. The Spanish established missions, forts (presidios), and towns (pueblos) with distinctive styles that continue to influence local architecture. Spanish law and customs also played a significant role in the development of the United States' territorial organization and land laws.

Spanish exploration and colonialism began in the 15th and 16th centuries, immediately following Christopher Columbus's first voyage to the Americas in 1492. Spain was interested in expansion, finding new trade routes, and spreading Christianity. Over time, Spain established a large empire that included vast territories in the New World, but as the Spanish Empire weakened, its territories in present-day United States gradually came under other powers, primarily the U.S., through diplomacy, purchase, and conflict. The decline of Spanish rule in North America was largely a result of independence movements, European conflicts, and the rise of other powers such as France, Great Britain, and later the United States itself