1. In 1835, the Dade Massacre occurred in Bushnell, Florida. This battle between the Seminole Native Americans and the United States Army resulted in the death of almost all of the American troops. This event was a significant event in the Second Seminole War, which lasted from 1835 to 1842.

2. On January 7, 1870, the first regular steamship service between Tampa and New Orleans began. The steamship, named the H.K. Thurber, provided a faster and more reliable form of transportation for both goods and people between the two cities.

3. In 1929, the Miami News Tower opened in downtown Miami. At the time, it was the tallest building in the state of Florida, standing at 320 feet. The tower was home to the Miami News newspaper until it ceased publication in 1988.

4. On January 7, 1971, the first meeting of the newly-formed Orlando City Council was held. This marked the beginning of the city's transition from a small town to a growing metropolitan area with a population of over 2 million people today.

5. In 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida for its final mission. Tragically, the shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry on February 1, 2003, killing all 7 crew members on board. The launch on January 7th was the start of a mission that was meant to study the Earth's atmosphere and solar radiation.