Turkeytown (Cherokee town) facts for kids
Turkeytown (also known as Turkey's Town) was a large and important village of the Cherokee people. It was located along the Coosa River for about 25 miles. This village became the biggest Cherokee town of its time. It got its name from its founder, a Chickamauga Cherokee chief named Little Turkey.
Turkeytown was also home to Fort Armstrong, a military base built by the United States in October 1813. This fort was set up during the War of 1812 to protect the area. Interestingly, the fort was first guarded completely by Cherokee soldiers.
History of Turkeytown
Turkeytown was first settled in 1788. Chief Little Turkey created the town as a safe place for his people. This was during the time of the Cherokee–American wars, when there was fighting along the frontier.
On October 3, 1790, a very important person was born here: John Ross. He later became the Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation, leading his people from 1828 to 1866. His parents were Daniel Ross, a trader from Scotland, and Mollie McDonald, his Cherokee mother.
Turkeytown and the Creek War
In October 1813, during the Creek War, Turkeytown faced a threat. The Red Sticks, a group of Creek Indians who were fighting, were planning an attack. The chief of Turkeytown at that time, Pathkiller, who was also the Principal Chief of the Cherokee, asked Andrew Jackson for help.
Andrew Jackson sent a group of soldiers, led by General James White, to help Turkeytown. This group included many Cherokee soldiers who fought alongside them. They came to protect the town from the Red Sticks.
Turkeytown Today
Today, much of the original site of Turkeytown is underwater. This happened when the Coosa River was dammed, creating Weiss Lake.
The modern community of Turkey Town is located in Etowah County, Alabama. It is less than ten miles southwest of Centre, Alabama and is close to where the original village once stood.
