In the year 1493, Columbus brought citrus with him on his second voyage to the New World, and the very first plantation ever started in the Western Hemispheres was in Haiti. Seventy two years later, in 1565 the first citrus trees were brought to the US and planted around Saint Augustine, Florida, most likely by the early Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon, 444 years ago.

Millet (1286-)

Then there were commercial orchards in Florida,Georgia and South Carolina by 1577.

1707 -- first trees in Arizona
1767 -- first trees in California
1809 -- Count Don Phillipe brought grapefruit to Florida, and the first commercial planting of that crop in the world was established at Safety Harbor, just east of Clearwater.
1825 -- first record of mandarins in Florida
1880 -- first plantings in Louisiana and Alabama
1884 -- first commercial orchard in California
1910 -- first plantings in Texas

That is very interesting. Thank you, gentlemen!

There is a town just north of Mobile, AL named Satsuma for the satsuma orchards that used to be there. These were eventually wiped out by cold snaps that killed the trees and citrus canker in the 1920's.

There is also a small town In Louisiana named Satsuma.

And one in Florida.

Along with the town of Tangerine.

.....Alan.

Satsuma, Texas as well, though the town was abandoned and swallowed in the Houston suburbs

1882 - First recorded citrus planting in Texas (though it failed)

John, What is the source of the 1882 date, please? I'd like to add that information to my citrus history lecture, but I don't have that information. thanks.

Texas citrus history by Dr. J. Sauls

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/citrus/l2286.htm