Apalachee Province facts for kids
The Apalachee Province was a special area in what is now the Florida Panhandle in the United States. It was home to the Native American people called the Apalachee. This was back when Europeans first arrived. The Apalachee lived in parts of today's Leon, Wakulla, and Jefferson counties. The name "Apalachee Province" was used during the early days of European exploration. Later, when Spanish people started to settle the area, it became one of four main provinces in their mission system. Missions were like churches and schools built by the Spanish to teach Christianity to Native Americans. The other provinces were Timucua, Mocama, and Guale.
Contents
History of the Apalachee Province
Early Life and Settlements
About 12,000 years ago, groups of indigenous peoples lived in the hills and near the lakes of what is now Leon and Jefferson counties. They survived by hunting animals, fishing in the waters, and gathering plants. Over time, they began to settle down more. They learned to make useful stone tools and pottery. They also started growing their own plants.
By the year 1000 A.D., these Native Americans had developed farming. They grew many plants, especially different kinds of maize (corn), which became their main food. People lived in small villages made up of farmsteads. As they grew more food than they needed, more people could live closer together.
Growing Towns and Culture
The Apalachee Province was connected to other Native American cultures in the Southeast. They traded goods and shared ideas. This included links to the Southeastern Ceremonial Complex (SECC), a network of shared beliefs and art. It is thought that as many as 60,000 people lived in about 40 towns across the area.
Growing extra corn helped towns grow larger and cultures become more complex. Important leaders organized people to build large earthwork mounds. These mounds were used for religious events, political meetings, and special ceremonies.
Spanish Arrival and Missions
The historical Apalachee people lived at the Velda Mound site from about 1450 CE to 1625 CE. However, they mostly left this site soon after the Spanish Mission Period began around 1565. When the Spanish started to colonize the area and set up missions, they called this cultural region the Apalachee Province.
The population of the Apalachee Province greatly decreased after raids by Carolina Governor James Moore. These raids happened during a conflict known as Queen Anne's War. Most of the Spanish missions in the province were destroyed during these events, which are sometimes called the Apalachee massacre.
Important Towns
- Anhaica was the main capital of Apalachee Province. It was located near Myers Park in today's Tallahassee.
- Lake Jackson Mound site is found on the southern shore of Lake Jackson.
- Velda Mound was the center of an older town located north of Tallahassee. It is now part of the Killearn Estates neighborhood.
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Apalache para niños
