Angola, Florida facts for kids

Angola was a thriving community of up to 750 maroons (people who had escaped slavery). It existed in Florida from 1812 until 1821. Its location was along the Manatee River in Bradenton, Florida, near Manatee Mineral Springs Park.

The exact area of Angola was quite large. It stretched from where the Braden River meets the Manatee River down to Sarasota Bay. Today, archaeologists are focusing their research on the Manatee Mineral Spring. This spring was an important source of fresh water for the community. In 2019, the National Park Service added the excavated site at Manatee Mineral Springs Park to the Network to Freedom. This network highlights places connected to the Underground Railroad.

Some old Spanish land records also mention Angola. These records describe it as being on the north side of the Oyster River, several miles from Tampa Bay. Historians believe this "Oyster River" might have been what we now call Whitaker Bayou or Hudson Bayou.

Why Angola Was Important

During colonial times, and in the early years of the United States, Spanish Florida was a safe place for people who had escaped slavery and for Native Americans who had lost their lands. The Underground Railroad actually ran south during this period, helping people find freedom in Florida.

Three main Black communities developed in Spanish Florida.

• Fort Mose was the first. It was a smaller community near St. Augustine.
• The second community was at Prospect Bluff on the Apalachicola River. This community was unfortunately destroyed in 1816.
• Angola was the last of these settlements to survive. It was also the farthest from the border with Georgia.

Angola was special because of its size. Most maroon settlements were small to avoid being noticed. But Angola had between 600 and 750 people! This shows how strong and capable the people there were. Historians call Angola "one of the most significant historical sites in Florida and perhaps the U.S."

These communities didn't start all at once. Instead, people seeking freedom gradually joined them over many years. Some people who escaped a disaster at the Negro Fort came to Angola. Also, in 1815, about 80 Black veterans from the War of 1812 were brought to Angola by British officials.

How Angola Was Destroyed

When Andrew Jackson became the leader of the Florida Territory in 1821, he decided that Angola needed to be destroyed. He wanted the people living there, who had escaped slavery, to be forced back into it.

Jackson did not have official support from the U.S. government for this. So, he decided to use Native American allies to raid Florida instead. He sent his Creek allies on a mission to find and destroy Angola. The community was "burned to the ground."

This raid caused great fear across Florida. Many Black people who could, left for The Bahamas. They hoped to find safety there. Even though British officials in the Bahamas didn't always offer help, many still managed to establish a new settlement. They created a community called Red Bays on Andros Island in 1821.

A small group also joined the Red Sticks (a group of Creek Indians). They formed a community called Minatti near Lake Hancock.

Remembering Angola

In July 2018, the first "Back to Angola Festival" was held at the Manatee Mineral Springs Park. This event brought together people who are descendants of those who had escaped to the Bahamas. It was a way to remember and honor the history of Angola.

See Also

• Black Seminoles
• Maroon settlements

Images for kids

• Manatee Mineral Springs Park.jpg

  Manatee Mineral Springs Park, a key location for Angola.