9. Which of these settled in the Spanish borderlands? A farmers and ranchers
B. soldiers and missionaries
C. pirates and runaway slaves
D. miners and treasure seekers

Settling the Borderlands As conquistadors explored new territories, they claimed the areas for Spain. By 1600, the Spanish borderlands extended west from Florida across present-day Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The Spanish established colonies on the borderlands by building missions, presidios, and pueblos. Early in the 1500s, Spanish explorers reached Florida, but at first they did not build permanent settlements. Fearing that France might take over the area, Spain built a fort called St. Augustine in northern Florida.