Early European Pioneers and Founding Roughly 100 settlers and over 50 slaves arrived in what would become Hernando County in February 1842. Fort DeSoto was soon established in the northeast edge of present-day Brooksville to protect these settlers in the area from Native Americans. The fort became a small community center, trading post, and way station on the route to Tampa. Further settlements started to grow near the fort beginning around 1845; two towns developed, Melendez and Pierceville, which would later merge to create Brooksville in 1856.
Early European Pioneers and Founding Roughly 100 settlers and over 50 slaves arrived in what would become Hernando County in February 1842 Fort DeSoto was soon established in the northeast edge of present-day Brooksville to protect these settlers in the area from Native Americans The fort became a small community center trading post and way station on the route to Tampa Further settlements started to grow near the fort beginning around 1845; two towns developed Melendez and Pierceville which would later merge to create Brooksville in 1856