Arapaha facts for kids
Arapaha (also called Arapaja or Harapaha) was a town of the Timucua people in the 1600s. The Timucua were a large group of Native Americans who lived in what is now Florida and Georgia. Arapaha was located along the Alapaha River. Sometimes, the name Arapaha was also used to describe a larger area or "province" in Spanish Florida.
Arapaha first appeared in history when the Spanish built a religious settlement there. This settlement was called the mission of Santa María de los Angeles de Arapaha. It was built in the 1620s. The town of Arapaha was probably right on the Alapaha River. The name "Arapaha" might have meant "many houses" or "bear town" in the old Timucuan language. The name "Arapaha" likely changed to "Alapaha" over time.
Nearby Missions and Towns
Several other Spanish missions were connected to Santa María de los Angeles de Arapaha. These included:
- Santa Cruz de Cachipile, which was near where Lake Park, Georgia is today.
- San Ildefonso de Chamini (or Chamile), located near Hixtown Swamp in Madison County, Florida.
- San Francisco de Chuaquin, found on the lower Withlacoochee River.
Chuaquin was close to the important royal road. This road connected St. Augustine to Apalachee Province. The towns of Arapaha, Cachipile, and Chamile were located further north. They were not directly on the royal road. The chiefs of Cachipile and Chuaquin followed the main chief of Chamile.
A Separate Province?
It's not completely clear if Arapaha and its nearby towns were their own separate area or "province." Some Spanish records from 1630 mention "Harapaha Province." This suggests it might have been a distinct region.
However, in 1655, other records said these missions were part of the Northern Utina Province. Yet, the chiefs of Arapaha, Cachipile, Chamile, and Chuaquin did not join the Timucua Rebellion of 1656. This rebellion was started by the main chief of the Northern Utina. Their decision not to join might mean they had some independence or were separate from the Northern Utina.
After the Rebellion
After the Timucua Rebellion in 1656, the Spanish punished many chiefs. Many towns were left without leaders and had fewer people. The Spanish then made the people of Arapaha, Chamile, Cachipile, and Chuaquin move. They wanted them to live in towns closer to the royal road.
The chief of Arapaha was given Santa Fé de Toloca as his new main town. He also gained control over other mission towns like San Francisco de Potano. By 1658, the old towns of Arapaha were mostly empty. Many residents had either died or fled into the forests.
