Brooksville is celebrating 160 years with a week's worth of festivities.
- Brooksville is hosting their Founders Week October 8-15
- The city was originally known as Melendez, settled in 1845
- Brooksville was named in 1856 to honor Preston Brooks of South Carolina
The original plan for Founders' Week was to celebrate this past weekend, but activities were postponed because of Hurricane Matthew.
Brooksville has been the county seat in Hernando for more than 100 years. It was originally known as Melendez and settled in 1845.
“Brooksville is known today actually for the rock mines, the cattle,” said local historian Jan Knowles. “During the Civil War we were a major port between Cuba and the north for sugar, cattle, citrus, lumber."
The Brooksville we know today was actually established in 1856. The town was named after a South Carolina Representative and southern sympathizer, Preston Brooks. He was well known for beating an abolitionist with a cane.
“When he came to Brooksville he ended up to be a big hero to everybody,” said Knowles.
The city was settled by four pioneer families. It now has a population of about 8,000.
Brooksville's downtown is decorated with historic murals, museums, canopied tree’s and historic homes.
“The reason we have over 200 historic homes here in Hernando County is really the battles never touched all but 30 miles from the coast into Hernando county," said Knowles.
The city celebrates its heritage with Founders' Week and its Civil War reenactment. The Brooksville Raid is held each year and was once of the largest reenactments in the state.
Many of those soldiers who lay in the Brooksville Cemetery. A resting place for over 5,000 souls dating back to the early 1800’s.
“This is the heart of Hernando county, this is the downtown of Hernando county, which is Brooksville," said Knowles.
A growing city that continues to preserve its southern charm.