Here in West Florida, the French influence from New Orleans, just down the beach a ways, is still being felt..................
True, but the French didn’t begin to settle what would be what we know as Louisiana until, IIRC, 1699. At the time of Jean Ribault the Spaniards were the clear masters of “jungle warfare,” and maintained control over the Florida as a result. The French pretty much had to go around the Spanish to find a place to settle in southern North America.