Brooksville, Florida#Education

Image:May-Stringer House01.jpg

Image:William Sherman Jennings House Brooksville01.jpg]]

Image:Willis Russell House Brooksville01.jpg]]

{{More citations needed|section|date=February 2022}}

Fort DeSoto, established in 1840 to give protection to settlers from Native Americans, was located at the northeastern edge of present-day Brooksville on Croom Road about one-half mile east of U.S. Highway 41. The fort was also a trading post and a regular stop on the Concord stagecoach line which ran from Palatka to Tampa.

The fort was built on top of a heavy bed of limestone, which was unknown of at the time. This made it difficult to obtain water, causing the location to be abandoned.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

On September 12, 1842, Seminole Indians attacked the McDaniel party which was riding near the settlement known as "Chocochatti" or "Chocachatti", south of Brooksville, killing Mrs. Charlotte Crum ({{nee}} Winn/Wynn; 1792–1842).{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2003/05/03/161-years-later-grave-gets-a-marker/|title=161 years later, grave gets a marker|website=Tampa Bay Times}}

Brooksville was settled in 1845 by four families: the Howell family which settled the northern part of town; the Mays family which settled the eastern part of town; the Hale family on the west; and the Parsons family on the south. In the early 1840s the population shifted about {{convert|3|mi|0}} to the south, where a settlement formed by the Hope and Saxon families became known as Pierceville. About this time, another community about {{convert|2|mi|0}} northwest of Pierceville, named Melendez, was formed.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

In 1850 a post office was established at Melendez, which in 1855 was listed as the Capital of Benton County, now Hernando County.{{cite web |title=About |url=https://www.cityofbrooksville.us/about |website=City of Brooksville |publisher=City of Brooksville |access-date=12 April 2021 |archive-date=May 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508050124/https://www.cityofbrooksville.us/about |url-status=dead }} In 1854 it was replaced by a post office at Pierceville. Both towns were situated in the area that would become Brooksville.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

In 1856, the town of Brooksville was established by the merger of the towns of Melendez and Pierceville and served as the county seat of Hernando County. The name was chosen to honor Preston Brooks, a congressman who had caned abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner nearly to death in 1856 on the floor of the Senate after Sumner gave an anti-slavery speech and disparaged Brooks' uncle, Senator Andrew Butler.{{cite web|title=The Compromise of 1850, The Kansas/Nebraska Act, Dred Scott, and John Brown's Raid|url=http://bama.ua.edu/~ratli003/102/203sample.html|publisher=The University of Alabama|access-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927163237/http://bama.ua.edu/~ratli003/102/203sample.html|archive-date=27 September 2011|url-status=dead}}

The Pierceville post office was renamed Brooksville in 1871. The city of Brooksville was incorporated on October 13, 1880.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

A study of lynchings recorded in Hernando County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries revealed it had one of the highest per capita rates of violence against blacks in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/courts/hernandos-100-year-old-courthouse-part-of-long-slow-journey-to-justice/2145517/|title = Hernando's 100-year-old courthouse part of long, slow journey to justice| newspaper=Tampa Bay Times| first1=Dan| last1=DeWitt| date=October 4, 2013| access-date=April 26, 2017}} In Brooksville, the county seat, several African-Americans were killed in the 1870s and 1920s. Arthur St. Clair, a community leader, was murdered in 1877 after he presided over an interracial marriage. After the murder, the investigation was stymied by local actions to prevent bringing to justice the white men accused in his killing.

Around 1885, there was a brief uprising by blacks, three of whom were killed and many others wounded by whites.{{cite web| url=http://www.fivay.org/hernando5.html| title=Negroes Tried 'To Take' Brooksville 70 Years Ago| date=July 3, 1955| author=Judge E.C. May of Inverness according to accounts by John W. Davis of Lecanto| website=Fivay.org| access-date=April 26, 2017}}

===20th century===

The 1920s saw a resurgence of Ku Klux Klan activity and lynchings; as a result, many black residents left the area.{{cite web|url=http://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/138213|title=Ku Klux Klan march in downtown - Brooksville, Florida|website=Floridamemory.com|access-date=14 February 2022}} During the Great Depression, Brooksville suffered from a lack of currency. The school board paid teachers with chits, and Weeks Hardware "accepted chickens and sides of bacon" as payment.{{Cite news

| last = DeWitt

| first = Dan

| title = Hernando: A throwback that still thrives: Walking into Weeks Hardware, the oldest active business in town, is like going through a time warp to a business style that is rare today.

| work = St. Petersburg Times

| access-date = 2014-02-07

| date = 2003-12-24

| url = http://www.sptimes.com/2003/12/24/Hernando/A_throwback_that_stil.shtml

}}

In the 1920s, Brooksville was a major citrus production area and was known as the "Home of the Tangerine".{{cite web|url=http://exhibits.lib.usf.edu/items/show/78|title=Brooksville the home of the tangerine|website=University of South Florida|access-date=September 25, 2015}}

In 1948, Brooksville instituted a zoning law segregating neighborhoods. Schools remained segregated until the late 1960s.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fivay.org/hernando6t.html|title = History of Schools in Hernando County, Florida|website=Fivay.org}} An example of racism in the city was the creation of the "Lewis Plantation and Turpentine Still", which claimed to show life in African-American rural communities, but contained black residents dressing and acting in stereotypes to entertain white tourists.{{Cite news|url=https://www.floridamemory.com/items/show/295172|title=The Lewis Plantation|website=Floridamemory.com|access-date=2020-12-12|language=en-US}}

Brooksville is a residential-commercial community. There are several medical facilities in the area including Bayfront Health Brooksville, Oak Hill Community Hospital, and Bayfront Health Spring Hill. A campus of Pasco–Hernando State College is a mile north of the city limits. The business section includes eleven shopping centers, and Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport is {{convert|6|mi|0}} south of the city. There are three city parks with walking trails, sports, and picnicking facilities, including a nine-hole golf course.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Jerome Brown, defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles was a graduate of Brooksville's Hernando High School. In 1988, he received praise as he helped disperse a group of Ku Klux Klan protesters in Brooksville.{{cite news|last1=Scheiber|first1=Dave|title=Cool Under Fire|url=http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067684/index.htm|access-date=September 1, 2019|work=Sports Illustrated|issue=9|date=August 29, 1988|volume=69|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222001126/http://si.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1067684/index.htm|archive-date=February 22, 2014}} Brown, and his 12-year-old nephew Gus, died on June 25, 1992, after Brown lost control of his car and crashed into a tree; Brown was 27 years old. In 2000, the Jerome Brown Community Center was opened in Brooksville in memory of Brown.{{Cite web

| title = Jerome Brown

| work = City of Brooksville, Florida

| access-date = 2014-02-07

| url = http://www.cityofbrooksville.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=77&Itemid=73

| url-status = dead

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222053000/http://www.cityofbrooksville.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=77&Itemid=73

| archive-date = 2014-02-22

}}

A minor controversy arose in the summer of 2010 when local media and residents brought attention to the origin of the town's name, calling it "shameful".{{cite web

|title = Resident shines light on shameful old story behind Brooksville's name

|work = St. Petersburg Times

|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/resident-shines-light-on-shameful-old-story-behind-brooksvilles-name/1110819

|url-status = dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170423161030/http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/resident-shines-light-on-shameful-old-story-behind-brooksvilles-name/1110819

|archive-date = 2017-04-23

}} The suggestion was made that the town should change its name in order to distance itself from its pro-slavery history. The idea was opposed by locals and not entertained by the city council. However, the city's official website did remove a page which discussed the Brooks/Sumner encounter and had cast Brooks in a positive light.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

Brooksville is in east-central Hernando County, {{convert|45|mi}} north of Tampa and {{convert|51|mi}} southwest of Ocala. The geographic center of Florida is {{convert|12|mi}} north-northwest of Brooksville.

The city has a total area of {{convert|28.3|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|28.1|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.3|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 0.90%, are water.

The exact coordinates of Brooksville is located at {{coord|28|33|13|N|82|23|19|W|region:US-FL}}.

Brooksville is known for its rolling topography with elevations ranging from 100 ft to 180 ft. The highest elevation in the area is Chinsegut Hill, at 269 ft, over five and a half miles north of the city.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = Brooksville, Florida (Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present

|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 89

|Feb record high F = 92

|Mar record high F = 95

|Apr record high F = 98

|May record high F = 101

|Jun record high F = 104

|Jul record high F = 102

|Aug record high F = 101

|Sep record high F = 101

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 96

|Dec record high F = 89

|Jan avg record high F = 82.6

|Feb avg record high F = 84.2

|Mar avg record high F = 86.9

|Apr avg record high F = 90.4

|May avg record high F = 94.5

|Jun avg record high F = 95.3

|Jul avg record high F = 95.3

|Aug avg record high F = 95.1

|Sep avg record high F = 93.8

|Oct avg record high F = 91.1

|Nov avg record high F = 86.9

|Dec avg record high F = 83.3

|year avg record high F = 96.8

| Jan high F = 70.7

| Feb high F = 73.7

| Mar high F = 77.6

| Apr high F = 82.8

| May high F = 88.1

| Jun high F = 90.2

| Jul high F = 90.6

| Aug high F = 90.9

| Sep high F = 89.5

| Oct high F = 84.5

| Nov high F = 77.9

| Dec high F = 73.0

|year high F = 82.4

|Jan mean F = 57.5

|Feb mean F = 60.6

|Mar mean F = 64.2

|Apr mean F = 69.2

|May mean F = 75.3

|Jun mean F = 80.1

|Jul mean F = 81.3

|Aug mean F = 81.5

|Sep mean F = 79.8

|Oct mean F = 73.1

|Nov mean F = 65.1

|Dec mean F = 60.3

|year mean F = 70.7

| Jan low F = 44.3

| Feb low F = 47.5

| Mar low F = 50.8

| Apr low F = 55.7

| May low F = 62.6

| Jun low F = 69.9

| Jul low F = 72.0

| Aug low F = 72.1

| Sep low F = 70.1

| Oct low F = 61.7

| Nov low F = 52.3

| Dec low F = 47.6

|year low F = 58.9

|Jan avg record low F = 27.0

|Feb avg record low F = 29.3

|Mar avg record low F = 33.0

|Apr avg record low F = 42.0

|May avg record low F = 51.8

|Jun avg record low F = 64.4

|Jul avg record low F = 67.8

|Aug avg record low F = 68.9

|Sep avg record low F = 62.4

|Oct avg record low F = 45.6

|Nov avg record low F = 34.5

|Dec avg record low F = 30.5

|year avg record low F = 24.2

|Jan record low F = 13

|Feb record low F = 16

|Mar record low F = 20

|Apr record low F = 30

|May record low F = 41

|Jun record low F = 55

|Jul record low F = 60

|Aug record low F = 62

|Sep record low F = 51

|Oct record low F = 29

|Nov record low F = 22

|Dec record low F = 15

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.01

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.57

| Mar precipitation inch = 2.66

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.18

| May precipitation inch = 3.35

| Jun precipitation inch = 7.91

| Jul precipitation inch = 9.41

| Aug precipitation inch = 8.12

| Sep precipitation inch = 5.79

| Oct precipitation inch = 2.79

| Nov precipitation inch = 1.59

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.56

|year precipitation inch = 51.94

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 9.0

| Feb precipitation days = 7.6

| Mar precipitation days = 7.3

| Apr precipitation days = 7.0

| May precipitation days = 7.8

| Jun precipitation days = 15.4

| Jul precipitation days = 19.0

| Aug precipitation days = 17.9

| Sep precipitation days = 13.5

| Oct precipitation days = 7.8

| Nov precipitation days = 6.5

| Dec precipitation days = 6.9

| year precipitation days = 125.7

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|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=tbw

| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = May 24, 2021

}}{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00012818&format=pdf

| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = May 24, 2021

}} }}

{{US Census population

|1890= 512

|1900= 641

|1910= 979

|1920= 1011

|1930= 1405

|1940= 1607

|1950= 1818

|1960= 3301

|1970= 4060

|1980= 5582

|1990= 7440

|2000= 7264

|2010= 7719

|2020= 8890

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,890 people, 3,997 households, and 2,092 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Brooksville city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Brooksville+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,719 people, 3,606 households, and 1,867 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Brooksville city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Brooksville+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the census of 2000, there are 7,264 people, 3,220 households, and 1,832 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,469.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,920 occupied housing units at an average density of {{convert|793.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the city is 74.93% White, 21.31% African American, 0.36% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.09% from other races, and 1.09% from two or more races. 3.07% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

In 2000, there were 3,220 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.9% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.14 and the average family size was 2.82.

In 2000, in the city, 22.1% of people were under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 29.7% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,489, and the median income for a family was $31,060. Males had a median income of $29,837 versus $21,804 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,265. About 16.8% of families and 21.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

The city hosted an annual Blueberry Festival in downtown Brooksville until 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/amidst-controversy-florida-blueberry-festival-wont-return-to-brooksville/2327783/|title=Amidst controversy, Florida Blueberry Festival won't return to Brooksville|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|language=en-us|access-date=2017-07-27}} The Festival then moved to Plant City.{{Why|date=February 2022}}

The city has historic homes along brick streets. There is also a Native American outpost in a log cabin,{{cite web |title=Peace Tree Trading Post |website=Facebook|url=https://www.facebook.com/peacetreetradingpost/}} the Brooksville Railroad Depot Museum, and The Hernando Heritage Museum, located in the May-Stringer House. The Historic Brooksville Walking/Driving Tour features many historic homes; a guidebook is available at the [http://www.ci.brooksville.fl.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=25:brooksville-history&catid=30:the-community&Itemid=144 City of Brooksville website] and at the main library on Howell Avenue.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

The first annual "Get Healthy Brooksville Cycling Classic" was held in 2010 and attracted cyclists from all over the state.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

The Brooksville Business Alliance has sponsored the annual Brooksville Founders Week Celebration since 2006.{{Cite web |url=http://www.brooksvillebusiness.com/FOUNDERS%20WEEK%20-%20Day%201%20Saturday/slides/foundersweeklandingpage.html |title=Photo Slide Show of Founder's Day in Brooksville |access-date=2008-05-22 |archive-date=2013-12-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203053954/http://www.brooksvillebusiness.com/FOUNDERS%20WEEK%20-%20Day%201%20Saturday/slides/foundersweeklandingpage.html |url-status=dead }} There is a monthly live music performance, antique car show, and other events.

Brooksville is served by THE Bus's Purple and Green Routes.{{cite web |url=http://www.hernandobus.com/schedule.asp |title=Bus Schedules |access-date=2013-11-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131127151147/http://hernandobus.com/schedule.asp |archive-date=2013-11-27 }}

• WWJB (1450 AM), radio station based in Brooksville
• The Hernando Times, an issue of the Tampa Bay Times, is published each Friday and The Hernando Sun [https://www.hernandosun.com/ Home], established in 2015, a locally owned newspaper covering Hernando County.

There are two hospitals in Brooksville, TGH Brooksville and HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital.{{Cite web|url=https://www.healthcarefinancenews.com/news/community-health-systems-sells-three-hospitals-tampa-general-290m|title=Community Health Systems sells three hospitals to Tampa General for $290M|last=Lagasse|first=Jeff|date=July 26, 2023|website=Healthcare Finance News|access-date=August 21, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.tampabay.com/news/health/2022/06/07/nursing-shortage-risks-patient-safety-nurses-at-brooksville-hospital-warn/|title=Nursing shortage risks patient safety, nurses at Brooksville hospital warn|last=O'Donnell|first=Christopher|date=June 7, 2022|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=June 5, 2024}}

• Tammy Alexander, murder victim known as "Caledonia Jane Doe", disappeared from Brooksville in 1979
• Bronson Arroyo, MLB pitcher; pitched for Hernando High School and graduated in 1995{{Cite web |url=http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/blog/baseball-hernando-retire-bronson-arroyos-jersey/3790/ |title=Florida high school sports |access-date=2013-03-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701153915/http://www.tampabay.com/hometeam/blog/baseball-hernando-retire-bronson-arroyos-jersey/3790/ |archive-date=2014-07-01 |url-status=dead }}
• Jerome Brown, NFL defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles{{Cite web|author=Tom Perry|title=JEROME BROWN DIES IN CRASH EAGLES, UM STAR, NEPHEW SKID OFF RAINY HIGHWAY, HIT TREE|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-06-26-9202160584-story.html|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|language=en-US}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ci.brooksville.fl.us/index.php?option%3Dcom_content%26view%3Dcategory%26layout%3Dblog%26id%3D77%26Itemid%3D73 |title=Jerome Brown |access-date=2013-03-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405213416/http://www.ci.brooksville.fl.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=77&Itemid=73 |archive-date=2013-04-05 }}
• John Capel, sprinter and professional NFL player
• Paul Farmer, co-founder of international social justice and health organization Partners In Health
• Wayne Garrett, MLB infielder, member of the 1969 "Miracle Mets"
• Mike Hampton, MLB player for the Houston Astros; born in Brooksville
• DuJuan Harris, former Central High (Brooksville) standout and current NFL running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• William Sherman Jennings, governor of Florida 1901–1905
• George Lowe, television actor, grew up in Brooksville, worked for WWJB AM 1450, a local radio station
• Bill McCollum, U.S. congressman and Florida Attorney General; birthplace and childhood home
• Maulty Moore, former NFL defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Tori Murden, the first woman to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean, and to ski to the geographic South Pole
• Jon Oliva, Savatage frontman and Trans-Siberian Orchestra composer{{Cite web |url=http://www.savintage.com/jon/bio.htm |title=JON OLIVA: Mozart & Madman |date=2 August 2009 |website= |access-date=14 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802032924/http://www.savintage.com/jon/bio.htm |archive-date=2 August 2009 |url-status=dead}}
• Todd Rogers, retired professional videogame player
• Taylor Rotunda, current WWE wrestler, better known as Uncle Howdy
• Windham Rotunda, former WWE wrestler, better known as Bray Wyatt
• Donald Sanborn, a sedevacantist Catholic bishop; currently lives at Most Holy Trinity Seminary, in Brooksville
• Stephen M. Sparkman, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Florida; born on a farm in Hernando County just south of Brooksville on July 29, 1849
• Hughie Thomasson, guitarist, songwriter, lead vocalist and leader of the Outlaws; lived in Brooksville

• Bob Clark's 1974 horror film Deathdream (aka Dead of Night; The Night Andy Came Home) was filmed entirely in Brooksville.{{Cite web|url=http://www.imcdb.org/v230546.html|title=Ford Custom in "Dead of Night"|website=IMCDb.org}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.cityofbrooksville.us/ Official website]

{{Commons category|Brooksville, Florida}}

{{Hernando County, Florida}}

{{Tampa Bay Area}}

{{Florida county seats}}

{{authority control}}

Category:County seats in Florida

Category:Cities in Hernando County, Florida

Category:Cities in the Tampa Bay area

Category:Cities in Florida

Category:1856 establishments in Florida

Category:Populated places established in 1856