Fort Braden, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fort Braden, Florida
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Fort Braden store, date unknown
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 Fort Braden, Florida
Location in Florida
Fort Braden, Florida
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Leon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.17 sq mi (13.39 km2) |
| • Land | 4.35 sq mi (11.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.82 sq mi (2.14 km2) |
| Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,045 |
| • Density | 240.45/sq mi (92.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code |
32310 (Tallahassee)
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| Area code(s) | 850/448 |
| FIPS code | 12-23680 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2805176 |
Fort Braden is a historic place in western Leon County, Florida, United States. It is also a census-designated place (CDP). A CDP is an area that the government identifies for counting people. In the 2020 census, Fort Braden had a population of 1,045 people.
Contents
Fort Braden's Population
Fort Braden was first listed as a CDP in the 2020 census. The population recorded in 2020 was 1,045 people.
The History of Fort Braden
Fort Braden has a long and interesting past. It started as a military fort.
Building the Fort
On December 3, 1839, Fort Braden was built. This happened during the Second Seminole War. A fort is a strong building or place used by soldiers for defense.
The fort was located on the Ochlockonee River. This was about eighteen miles southwest of Tallahassee.
Who Was Fort Braden Named After?
The fort was named after Virginia Braden. Her maiden name was Virginia Ward. She married Dr. Joseph Braden. He was a well-known person in Tallahassee. Joseph Braden's brother, Hector, worked at Tallahassee's Union Bank.
Virginia was the daughter of George Taliaferro Ward. He owned large farms, called plantations, in Leon County. These included Southwood Plantation and Waverly Plantation.
Events at the Fort
On June 12, 1840, there was a fight with Native Americans near Fort Braden. Two soldiers from the 2nd Infantry died during this event.
The fort was no longer needed after June 7, 1842. This was when the Seminole War ended. So, the fort was abandoned.
A Community Grows
Even after the fort was abandoned, a small community grew nearby. In 1843, a person named E.M. Garnett came from this area. He attended a meeting in Tallahassee.
By 1847, people were paying taxes at the Fort Braden School House. This shows the community was active. Fort Braden was also a voting place in Leon County in 1856 and 1872.
Early Farmers and Businesses
Fort Braden was south of the "Red Hills Region." This area was known for growing cotton. Even so, Fort Braden had its own successful farmers. Some of these included Hugh Black and John Gray.
The community also had some important buildings. There was a school house for children. A blacksmith shop was there to make and fix metal items. There was also a grist mill to grind grain. A cotton gin was used to separate cotton fibers.
Places of Worship
Records from 1886-1887 show that Fort Braden had two churches. There was one Methodist church. There was also one Baptist church.
