Brooksville, Florida

Brooksville, Florida
City [1]
City of Brooksville
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 / 28.55361°N 82.38861°W / 28.55361; -82.38861
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Hernando
Settled (Melendez and Pierceville Settlements)	1840-1845
Incorporated (Town of Brooksville)	1856
Incorporated (City of Brooksville)	October 13, 1880
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
•  Mayor	Blake Bell
•  Vice Mayor	David Bailey
•  Council Members	Thomas Bronson, Casey Thieryung, and Christa Tanner
•  City Manager	Charlene F. Kuhn
•  City Clerk	Jennifer J. Battista
Area [2]
• Total	11.28 sq mi (29.22 km2)
• Land	11.18 sq mi (28.97 km2)
• Water	0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)
Elevation	194 ft (59 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,890
• Density	794.89/sq mi (306.91/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	34601-34605, 34613-34614
Area code	352
FIPS code	12-08800 [3]
GNIS feature ID	0279446 [4]
Website	www.cityofbrooksville.us

Brooksville is a city and the county seat of Hernando County, Florida, in the United States. ^[5] At the 2010 census it had a population of 7,719, ^[6] up from 7,264 at the 2000 census. Brooksville is home to historic buildings and residences, including the homes of former Florida governor William Sherman Jennings and football player Jerome Brown.

Brooksville, established in 1856 by the merger of the towns of Melendez and Pierceville, took its name to honor Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery congressman from South Carolina, who caned and seriously injured Charles Sumner, an abolitionist and United States senator from Massachusetts.

History

May Stringer House

William Sherman Jennings House

Judge Willis Russell House

19th century

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 ]}

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 ( née Winn/Wynn; 1792–1842). ^[7]

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 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

In 1850 a post office was established at Melendez, which in 1855 was listed as the Capital of Benton County, now Hernando County. ^[8] In 1854 it was replaced by a post office at Pierceville. Both towns were situated in the area that would become Brooksville.^{[ citation needed ]}

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. ^[8] 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. ^[9]

The Pierceville post office was renamed Brooksville in 1871. The city of Brooksville was incorporated on October 13, 1880.^{[ citation needed ]}

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. ^[10] 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. ^[10]

Around 1885, there was a brief uprising by blacks, three of whom were killed and many others wounded by whites. ^[11]

20th century

The 1920s saw a resurgence of Ku Klux Klan activity and lynchings; as a result, many black residents left the area. ^[12] 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. ^[13]

In the 1920s, Brooksville was a major citrus production area and was known as the "Home of the Tangerine". ^[14]

In 1948, Brooksville instituted a zoning law segregating neighborhoods. ^[10] Schools remained segregated until the late 1960s. ^[15] 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. ^[16]

21st century

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 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

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. ^[17] 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. ^[18]

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". ^[19] 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 ]}

Geography

Brooksville is 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.

The city has a total area of 10.9 square miles (28.3 km²), of which 10.8 square miles (28.1 km²) are land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km²), or 0.90%, are water.

The exact coordinates of Brooksville is located at 28°33′13″N82°23′19″W / 28.55361°N 82.38861°W / 28.55361; -82.38861 .

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.

Climate

Climate data for Brooksville, Florida (Brooksville–Tampa Bay Regional Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1892–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	89 (32)	92 (33)	95 (35)	98 (37)	101 (38)	104 (40)	102 (39)	101 (38)	101 (38)	98 (37)	96 (36)	89 (32)	104 (40)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	82.6 (28.1)	84.2 (29.0)	86.9 (30.5)	90.4 (32.4)	94.5 (34.7)	95.3 (35.2)	95.3 (35.2)	95.1 (35.1)	93.8 (34.3)	91.1 (32.8)	86.9 (30.5)	83.3 (28.5)	96.8 (36.0)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	70.7 (21.5)	73.7 (23.2)	77.6 (25.3)	82.8 (28.2)	88.1 (31.2)	90.2 (32.3)	90.6 (32.6)	90.9 (32.7)	89.5 (31.9)	84.5 (29.2)	77.9 (25.5)	73.0 (22.8)	82.4 (28.0)
Daily mean °F (°C)	57.5 (14.2)	60.6 (15.9)	64.2 (17.9)	69.2 (20.7)	75.3 (24.1)	80.1 (26.7)	81.3 (27.4)	81.5 (27.5)	79.8 (26.6)	73.1 (22.8)	65.1 (18.4)	60.3 (15.7)	70.7 (21.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	44.3 (6.8)	47.5 (8.6)	50.8 (10.4)	55.7 (13.2)	62.6 (17.0)	69.9 (21.1)	72.0 (22.2)	72.1 (22.3)	70.1 (21.2)	61.7 (16.5)	52.3 (11.3)	47.6 (8.7)	58.9 (14.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	27.0 (−2.8)	29.3 (−1.5)	33.0 (0.6)	42.0 (5.6)	51.8 (11.0)	64.4 (18.0)	67.8 (19.9)	68.9 (20.5)	62.4 (16.9)	45.6 (7.6)	34.5 (1.4)	30.5 (−0.8)	24.2 (−4.3)
Record low °F (°C)	13 (−11)	16 (−9)	20 (−7)	30 (−1)	41 (5)	55 (13)	60 (16)	62 (17)	51 (11)	29 (−2)	22 (−6)	15 (−9)	13 (−11)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	3.01 (76)	2.57 (65)	2.66 (68)	2.18 (55)	3.35 (85)	7.91 (201)	9.41 (239)	8.12 (206)	5.79 (147)	2.79 (71)	1.59 (40)	2.56 (65)	51.94 (1,319)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	9.0	7.6	7.3	7.0	7.8	15.4	19.0	17.9	13.5	7.8	6.5	6.9	125.7
Source: NOAA [20] [21]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	512		—
1900	641		25.2%
1910	979		52.7%
1920	1,011		3.3%
1930	1,405		39.0%
1940	1,607		14.4%
1950	1,818		13.1%
1960	3,301		81.6%
1970	4,060		23.0%
1980	5,582		37.5%
1990	7,440		33.3%
2000	7,264		−2.4%
2010	7,719		6.3%
2020	8,890		15.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [22]

2010 and 2020 census

Brooksville racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Pop 2010 [23]	Pop 2020 [24]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	5,609	6,238	72.66%	70.17%
Black or African American (NH)	1,374	1,232	17.80%	13.86%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	28	37	0.36%	0.41%
Asian (NH)	71	67	0.92%	0.75%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	5	0	0.06%	0.00%
Some other race (NH)	10	22	0.13%	0.25%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	113	354	1.46%	3.98%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	509	940	6.59%	10.57%
Total	7,719	8,890

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 8,890 people, 3,997 households, and 2,092 families residing in the city. ^[25]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,719 people, 3,606 households, and 1,867 families residing in the city. ^[26]

2000 census

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 1,469.5 inhabitants per square mile (567.4/km²). There were 3,920 occupied housing units at an average density of 793.0 units per square mile (306.2 units/km²). 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.

Tourism

The city hosted an annual Blueberry Festival in downtown Brooksville until 2017. ^[27] The Festival then moved to Plant City.^{[ why? ]}

The city has historic homes along brick streets. There is also a Native American outpost in a log cabin, ^[28] 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.^{[ citation needed ]}

The first annual "Get Healthy Brooksville Cycling Classic" was held in 2010 and attracted cyclists from all over the state.^{[ citation needed ]}

The Brooksville Business Alliance has sponsored the annual Brooksville Founders Week Celebration since 2006. ^[29] There is a monthly live music performance, antique car show, and other events.

Public transportation

Brooksville is served by THE Bus's Purple and Green Routes. ^[30]

Media

• 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 Home, established in 2015, a locally owned newspaper covering Hernando County.

Healthcare

There are two hospitals in Brooksville they are TGH Brooksville and HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital. ^{[31] [32]}

Notable people

• 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 ^[33]
• Jerome Brown, NFL defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles ^{[34] [35]}
• 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 ^[36]
• 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

Cultural

• Bob Clark's 1974 horror film Deathdream (aka Dead of Night; The Night Andy Came Home) was filmed entirely in Brooksville. ^[37]

References

1. "City County List - Division of Library and Information Services - Florida Department of State".
2. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved October 31, 2021.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. "Explore Census Data". Data.census.gov. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
7. "161 years later, grave gets a marker". Tampa Bay Times.
8. "About". City of Brooksville. City of Brooksville. Archived from the original on May 8, 2020. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
9. "The Compromise of 1850, The Kansas/Nebraska Act, Dred Scott, and John Brown's Raid". The University of Alabama. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
10. DeWitt, Dan (October 4, 2013). "Hernando's 100-year-old courthouse part of long, slow journey to justice". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved April 26, 2017.
11. Judge E.C. May of Inverness according to accounts by John W. Davis of Lecanto (July 3, 1955). "Negroes Tried 'To Take' Brooksville 70 Years Ago". Fivay.org. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
12. "Ku Klux Klan march in downtown - Brooksville, Florida". Floridamemory.com. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
13. DeWitt, Dan (December 24, 2003). "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". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
14. "Brooksville the home of the tangerine". University of South Florida . Retrieved September 25, 2015.
15. "History of Schools in Hernando County, Florida". Fivay.org.
16. "The Lewis Plantation". Floridamemory.com. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
17. Scheiber, Dave (August 29, 1988). "Cool Under Fire". Sports Illustrated. Vol. 69, no. 9. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
18. "Jerome Brown". City of Brooksville, Florida. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved February 7, 2014.
19. "Resident shines light on shameful old story behind Brooksville's name". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on April 23, 2017.
20. "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
21. "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
22. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
23. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Brooksville city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
24. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Brooksville city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
25. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Brooksville city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
26. "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Brooksville city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
27. "Amidst controversy, Florida Blueberry Festival won't return to Brooksville". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved July 27, 2017.
28. "Peace Tree Trading Post". Facebook .
29. "Photo Slide Show of Founder's Day in Brooksville". Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2008.
30. "Bus Schedules". Archived from the original on November 27, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
31. Lagasse, Jeff (July 26, 2023). "Community Health Systems sells three hospitals to Tampa General for $290M". Healthcare Finance News. Retrieved August 21, 2023.
32. O'Donnell, Christopher (June 7, 2022). "Nursing shortage risks patient safety, nurses at Brooksville hospital warn". Tampa Bay Times . Retrieved June 5, 2024.
33. "Florida high school sports". Archived from the original on July 1, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
34. Tom Perry. "JEROME BROWN DIES IN CRASH EAGLES, UM STAR, NEPHEW SKID OFF RAINY HIGHWAY, HIT TREE". Sun-Sentinel.com. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
35. "Jerome Brown". Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
36. "JON OLIVA: Mozart & Madman". August 2, 2009. Archived from the original on August 2, 2009. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
37. "Ford Custom in "Dead of Night"". IMCDb.org.