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When was Brooksville in Hernando County established?

Brooksville was established in and incorporated in The homes featured in this walking tour are some of the homes of our early families that helped make Brooksville the community it is today. As a member of one of the earlier families that settled in Hernando County I am happy to be able to share this walking tour with you.

Where was the shooting in Brooksville on Monday?

Hernando County deputies responded to a shooting Monday morning at the BioSpine Institute, Mariner Boulevard in Brooksville. [ Hernando County Sheriff's Office ]

What was the cause of the fire in Brooksville?

Fireworks may have sparked a mobile home fire in Brooksville Saturday night, according to Hernando County Fire and Emergency Services. The head of the NAACP in Hernando County is pledging to start a movement to get Hernando County's monument to Confederate soldiers removed.

What kind of accidents happen in Hernando County FL?

Complete Hernando County, FL accident reports and news. show that traffic crashes remain a primary public safety issue. Car, truck, bicycle, pedestrian, and motorcycle accidents are all a common occurrence, despite improvements in vehicle safety features, road design, bicycle and pedestrian corridors, and traffic signs.

Underage Alcohol Sales and Compliance Checks – September

from Hernando County Sheriff's Office · 29 Sep

Media Release

From: Denise M. Moloney
Community/Media Relations Manager,

Re: Underage Alcohol Sales and Compliance Checks – September

Date: September 29,

On , undercover detectives with the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office conducted Compliance Checks and Alcohol Buys at various locations throughout Hernando County. A total of 12 locations were visited throughout the evening.

At the conclusion of the operation, 10 clerks did not permit the sale of alcoholic beverages to the underage customer, successfully following the law. Clerks at two businesses did allow the underage customer to purchase an alcoholic beverage, a violation of the Florida Beverage Law, F.S.S.

The offenders are mandated to complete Responsible Vendor Training (RVT), an online course which is administered by the Hernando County Community Anti-Drug Coalition, within 30 days of the violation. The course reinforces the importance of responsible alcohol and tobacco sales and service, reviews Florida beverage laws and demonstrates practices on how to prevent alcohol sales to underage persons.
Stores in VIOLATION (allowed the sale of alcohol to underage person) were as follows:
- Speedway – Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville, FL
- Exxon – Spring Hill Drive, Spring Hill, FL.

Stores in COMPLIANCE (did not allow the sale of alcohol to underage person) were as follows:

- Circle K/Kangaroo – N. Broad Street, Brooksville, FL
- Marathon – Commercial Way, Brooksville, FL
- ABC Fine Wine and Spirits – Commercial Way, Spring Hill, FL
- Hernando Beach Gas Station – Calienta Street, Hernando Beach, FL
- Speedway – Mariner Boulevard, Spring Hill, FL
- Beer Frog – Powell Road, Spring Hill, FL
- 7 Eleven – S. Broad Street, Brooksville, FL
- Marathon – E. Jefferson Street, Brooksville, FL
- Blanche’s – Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville, FL
- Chevron – Cortez Boulevard – Brooksville, FL.

More operations of this nature are planned for the future.

The Office of Sheriff:

The Office of the Sheriff is established by the Florida Constitution. As a constitutional officer, the Sheriff has the exclusive authority to administer his or her agency and is responsible for preserving the peace throughout the entire county, carrying out the laws of the state, the orders of Florida courts, and the ordinances of the Board of County Commissioners. The Sheriff is the chief law enforcement and correctional officer of the county.

Sheriff Al Nienhuis was initially appointed as the Sheriff of Hernando County by the Governor in January of He was then elected by the people of Hernando County in , ran unopposed in , and was re-elected in Sheriff Nienhuis remains accountable to the people of Hernando County.

29 Sep· Subscribers of Hernando County Sheriff's Office in Safety

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They began to gather around p.m. on Friday, June 5 at Hernando Park on Ft. Dade Ave, just east of the downtown library. Their purpose was to protest the death of George Floyd. The main theme was Black Lives Matter, but there was more to the demonstration. The people gathered there were concerned about the larger issue of inequality and injustice in the United States.  

Isaiah Haddon, a member of the Hernando Progressive Caucus, and one of the organizers stated, “This is a coalition of people of all colors and walks of life who will stand in solidarity of what needs to be done.” 

On Wednesday, June 3, religious and civic leaders attended a unity meeting to plan for the upcoming demonstration. Many of these leaders were also organizers  of the June 5 demonstration.  They reassured law enforcement that their intentions were to bring people together and promote peace.  “Love, peace and unity … that is our objective,” said Dell Barnes, Director of the Enrichment Centers.  

Speaking directly with regard to possible unlawful, violent protests, Sheriff Al Nienhuis said that as the top law enforcement officer of the county, his job is to “mitigate risk, and solve problems.”  Nienhuis praised the first amendment with caution, reminding anyone with plans for a counter-protest, or even a peaceful protest &#; that it could invite unwanted attention from a less-than-peaceful group, and may impede the Sheriff&#;s department from doing their job.

“Those people who want trouble regardless of where they stand on this issue&#; I&#;m concerned that we may be giving them a forum to carry out that call.  Although I think generally speaking,  you can overcome evil with love. I don&#;t know if that&#;s the case in every situation.”

While there were counter-protesters to the main rally on June 5, there were also people seeking to support police and protect property if necessary according to posts on social media.  With all the uncertainty surrounding who would be coming into the county with possibly ill intentions, the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office had a strong presence at the rally.

At pm the crowd had grown to approximately people. It was a diverse group. People aged thirty and under predominated, but there was also a representation of middle-aged, baby-boomers and the elderly. The ratio of black to white demonstrators was almost equal. 

At this time, Haddon and another organizer, Jason Sager, gave instructions to the group on how to conduct themselves at the actual rally on the steps of the old courthouse building. They told the people gathered to not engage counter demonstrators who might try to entice them to violence. The group was also told that the purpose of the protest was to promote peace, justice, unity and equality. 

The demonstrators then started walking from the park to the courthouse annex and around the block. They held signs and chanted slogans such as “Black Lives Matter,” and “No Justice, No Peace.” Roads all around the courthouse had been partitioned into a single lane for the safety of the walkers and Main Street in front of the courthouse was completely blocked off to traffic. As cars passed by, some of the drivers honked and shouted out their support. All this time, Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputies and Highway Patrol Officers were stationed all along the parade route, as well as in front of the courthouse. 

When the walkers arrived at the front of the courthouse, they were greeted by a group of approximately twenty counter protesters on the other side of the street. One of the counter protesters had a confederate flag draped over his body. They were yelling, but otherwise peaceful. Sheriff’s deputies did a good job of keeping the groups apart so as to avoid violence. 

A number of local leaders addressed the crowd and discussed the issues that were of concern to them all. Many of them spoke about the need for education, a living wage and health insurance and the importance of voting. 

Paul Douglas, head of the local NAACP and a veteran civil rights activist from the early days of the movement, emphasized the youth of the group and congratulated them for their involvement.    

Another speaker, in answer to the counter protesters’ shouts of “All Lives Matter” stated, “We’re not here to say white lives don’t matter. All ya’ll out there, [referring to the counter protesters] ain’t nobody here to protest against ya’ll. We’re just here to say, ‘Black lives matter, too.’” 

L’Oreal Davis, who is studying to be a lawyer spoke passionately about growing up in Hernando County and how much she loved the community. She remarked, “I wasn’t raised to see color, but I was raised to speak up when I see something that isn’t right.” 

Jason Sager, who ran for county commission in , now a high school government teacher was greeted with jeers and shouts of “Traitor!” by some counter protesters. He cited the Bible in talking about how all people are created in the image of God and quoted the phrase from the Declaration of Independence – “All men are created equal.” In concluding his address, Sager praised the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office for their reputation of fairness and their assistance in keeping the rally peaceful.  

Dana Cottrell, who is running for the U.S. Congress, stated, “We are all brothers and sisters. We all stand together regardless of the color of our skin. We get to reach out to those folks across the street, speak to them in peace and harmony and reach out to them and ask them to join us.”  

The last person to address the rally was Karen Dove, a motivational speaker, business consultant and community advocate. 

Ms. Dove remarked, “Today we stand together, but we do not divide when we make our statement. It is love and unity that we must respond with.”

At the conclusion of the speeches, the demonstrators placed flowers on the courthouse steps, along with the placards they had been carrying, as a memorial to George Floyd. The crowd then quietly dispersed.   

The Hernando County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) issued a statement after the rally that stated in part, “During the event, several individuals became passionate about their feelings; however, cooler heads prevailed. There were no incidents of physical violence or attempts to damage property.” 

However, according to the HCSO one arrest was made. The arrest report stated “As the crowd began to disperse, one individual….attempted to incite an altercation. …deputies witnessed the event and proceeded to attempt to make contact with him.

As deputies were still in the process of approaching the suspect, the suspect pulled a machete from his pants. The suspect fled from deputies while brandishing the machete. Deputies ordered the suspect to stop running and drop the machete, to which he failed to comply.

A deputy deployed his Taser in order to bring the situation under control. The suspect was taken into custody before anyone was injured.” 

The suspect was identified as David Allen Howell of Zolfo Springs, Florida, one of the counter protesters. He was charged with Resisting Arrest without Violence and Improper Exhibition of a Dangerous Weapon. 

One of the main takeaways from the rally was that the work for social justice does not begin and end with one afternoon. Leaders of the rally urged people to get involved in community organizations, sign petitions, as well as make calls and send texts in support of causes in order to keep the ideals of the rally moving forward.

City in Florida, United States

Brooksville, Florida
Hernando County Courthouse
Seal
Location in Hernando County and the state of Florida
Brooksville, Florida Location in the United States Show map of Florida Brooksville, Florida Brooksville, Florida (the United States) Show map of the United States Brooksville, Florida Brooksville, Florida (North America) Show map of North America
Coordinates: 28°33′13″N82°23′19″W / °N °W / ; Coordinates: 28°33′13″N82°23′19″W / °N °W / ;
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Hernando
&#;•&#;Total	&#;sq&#;mi (&#;km2)
&#;•&#;Land	&#;sq&#;mi (&#;km2)
&#;•&#;Water	&#;sq&#;mi (&#;km2)
Elevation	&#;ft (59&#;m)
&#;•&#;Total	7,
&#;•&#;Estimate&#; ()[4]	8,
&#;•&#;Density	/sq&#;mi (/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
&#;•&#;Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	,
Area code(s)
FIPS code	[5]
GNIS feature ID	[6]
Website	www.cityofbrooksville.us

Brooksville is a city in and the county seat of Hernando County, Florida, United States.^[7] As of the census it had a population of 7,,^[3] up from 7, at the census. Brooksville is home to historic buildings and residences, including the homes of former Florida Governor William Sherman Jennings and football player Jerome Brown. It is part of the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Brooksville, established in by the merger of the towns of Melendez and Pierceville, took its name to honor and show support for Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery congressman from South Carolina who caned and seriously injured Massachusetts Senator and abolitionist Charles Sumner.

Geography[edit]

Brooksville is located in east-central Hernando County, 45 miles (72&#;km) north of Tampa and 51 miles (82&#;km) southwest of Ocala. The geographic center of Florida is 12 miles (19&#;km) north-northwest of Brooksville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Brooksville has a total area of square miles (&#;km²), of which square miles (&#;km²) are land and square miles (&#;km²), or %, are water.^[3]

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

Climate[edit]

Demographics[edit]

As of Census ,^[5] there were 7, people, 3, households, and 1, families residing in the city. The population density was 1, people per square mile (/km²). There were 3, occupied housing units at an average density of per square mile (/km²). The racial makeup of the city was % White, % African American, 1% Native American, % Asian, % from other races, and % from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were % of the population, and Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander composed % of the population.

There were 3, households, out of which % had children under the age of 18 living with them, % were married couples living together, % had a female householder with no husband present, and % were non-families. % of all households were made up of individuals, and % had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was and the average family size was

In the city, % of people were under the age of 18, % from 18 to 24, % from 25 to 44, % from 45 to 64, and % were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every females, there were males. For every females age 18 and over, there were males.

Economy[edit]

Personal income[edit]

The median income for a household in the city was $25,, and the median income for a family was $31, Males had a median income of $29, versus $21, for females. The per capita income for the city was $16, About % of families and % of the population were below the poverty line, including % of those under age 18 and % of those age 65 or over.

Tourism[edit]

The city hosted an annual Blueberry Festival in downtown Brooksville until ^[11] with music performances that have included Easton Corbin. The Festival has moved to Plant City since.

The city has historic homes along brick streets. There is also a Native American outpost in a log cabin,^[12] 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 City of Brooksville website and at the main library on Howell Avenue.

The first annual GET HEALTHY Brooksville Cycling Classic was held in and attracted cyclists from all over the state. The Brooksville Business Alliance has sponsored the annual Brooksville Founders Week Celebration since ^[13] There is a monthly live music performance, antique car show, and other events.

History[edit]

19th Century[edit]

Fort DeSoto, established about 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 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, a fact which they were unaware of at the time. This made it exceedingly difficult to obtain water, thus causing the location to be abandoned.

On September 12, , Seminole Indians attacked the McDaniel party near the community of Chocachatti, south of Brooksville, killing Charlotte (Mrs. Richard) Crum.

Brooksville was settled in by four families: the Howell family which settled the northern part of town; the Jon L. 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 s the population shifted about 3 miles (5&#;km) to the south, where a settlement formed by the Hope and Saxon families became known as Pierceville. About this time, another community about 2 miles (3&#;km) northwest of Pierceville, named Melendez, was formed.

In a post office was established at Melendez, which in was listed as the Capital of Benton County, now Hernando County.^[14] In it was replaced by a post office at Pierceville. Both towns were situated in the area that would become Brooksville.

In 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.^[14] The name was chosen to honor Preston Brooks, a congressman who had caned abolitionist Senator Charles Sumner nearly to death in on the floor of the Senate after Sumner gave an anti-slavery speech and disparaged Brooks' uncle, Senator Andrew Butler.^[15]

The Pierceville post office was renamed Brooksville in The city of Brooksville was incorporated on October 13,

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.^[16] In Brooksville, the county seat, several African-Americans were killed in the s and s. Arthur St. Clair, a community leader, was murdered in 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.^[17] In , there was a brief uprising by blacks, three of whom were killed and many of whom were wounded by whites.^[18]

20th Century[edit]

The s saw a resurgence of Ku Klux Klan activity and lynchings; as a result, many black residents left the area.^[19] 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.^[20]

In the s, Brooksville was a major citrus production area and was known as the "Home of the Tangerine".^[21]

In Brooksville instituted a zoning law segregating neighborhoods.^[16] Schools remained segregated until the late s.^[22] One of the most notorious examples 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 in reality contained black residents dressing and acting in grotesque stereotypes as a means of entertaining white tourists.^[23]

21st Century[edit]

Brooksville is a residential-commercial community. There are several modern 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 6 miles (10&#;km) south of the city. There are three city parks with walking trails, sports, and picnicking facilities, including a nine-hole golf course and a library. The region also offers abundant hunting, fishing, biking, canoeing, kayaking and camping opportunities.

Jerome Brown, defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles was a graduate of Brooksville's Hernando High School. In June , he received praise for his calm demeanor as he helped disperse a group of Ku Klux Klan protesters in his hometown of Brooksville.^[24] Brown, and his year-old nephew Gus, died on June 25, after Brown lost control of his car and crashed into a tree; Brown was 27 years old. In , the Jerome Brown Community Center was opened in Brooksville in memory of Brown.^[25]

A minor controversy arose in the summer of when local media and residents brought attention to the origin of the town's name, calling it "shameful".^[26] 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.

Public transportation[edit]

Brooksville is served by THE Bus's Purple and Green Routes.^[27]

Media[edit]

• WWJB ( AM), radio station based in Brooksville
• The Hernando Times, an issue of the Tampa Bay Times, is published each Friday.

Notable people[edit]

• Tammy Alexander, murder victim known as "Caledonia Jane Doe", disappeared from Brooksville in
• Todd Rodgers, retired professional videogame player
• Bronson Arroyo, Major League Baseball pitcher; pitched for Hernando High School and graduated in ^[28]
• Jerome Brown, defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League^[29][30]
• John Capel, sprinter and professional football player
• Paul Farmer, co-founder of international social justice and health organization Partners In Health
• Wayne Garrett, Major League Baseball infielder, member of the "Miracle Mets"
• Mike Hampton, Major League Baseball player for the Houston Astros; born in Brooksville
• DuJuan Harris, former Central High (Brooksville) standout and current running back for the Jacksonville Jaguars
• William Sherman Jennings, governor of Florida
• George Lowe, television actor, grew up in Brooksville, worked for WWJB AM , 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^[31]
• Taylor Rotunda, former WWE wrestler, better known as Bo Dallas
• Windham Rotunda, former WWE wrestler, better known as Bray Wyatt
• 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,
• Hughie Thomasson, guitarist, songwriter, lead vocalist and leader of the Outlaws; lived in Brooksville
• Donald Sanborn, a sedevacantist Catholic Bishop; currently lives at Most Holy Trinity Seminary, in Brooksville.

Cultural[edit]

• Canadian director Bob Clark's horror film Deathdream (aka Dead of Night; The Night Andy Came Home) was filmed entirely in Brooksville.^[32]

References[edit]

External links[edit]