When the United States acquired Florida as a territory in 1821, many Americans moved to the area for fishing, recovery, and agriculture. The First and Second Seminole Wars had a major influence on the region. In 2002, the city of Plantation began constructing a new golf course on the property of the original Plantation golf course, called “Plantation Preserve”. The Everglades Plantation Company was established in 1909 after a two-year contract with the trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund.
The city was named after the co-owner of the land, who had attempted to create a rice plantation in the area. On April 12, 1861, when Confederate artillery fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston, a civil war broke out that would last for decades. In the years following their original agreement, contract negotiations between Everglades Plantation Company and internal improvement managers turned into legal battles. After his election in 1905, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward continued his predecessor's initiative to completely drain the Everglades. In 1993, Kemper National Services opened operations in Plantation and announced plans to double its office space and hire up to 800 additional employees. The civil war had a tremendous impact on plantations in Broward County, Florida.
While Central Florida was relatively safe during the war, Union military incursions caused major disruption to the institution of slavery in East and West Florida. Floridians who worked on farms and plantations grew crops and livestock to send to the troops. To commemorate the bicentennial of the United States in 1976, a 45-foot oak tree was planted in Plantation's Fifth Street Park to represent the Tree of Liberty. The Civil War had a profound effect on plantations in Broward County. The disruption caused by Union military incursions led to an end of slavery in East and West Florida.
This had a significant impact on plantation owners who relied on slave labor for their operations. In addition, Floridians who worked on farms and plantations were forced to grow crops and livestock to send to troops fighting in the war. The legacy of the Civil War is still felt today in Broward County. The 45-foot oak tree planted in Plantation's Fifth Street Park serves as a reminder of this tumultuous period in American history. In addition, many of the businesses that were established during this time are still operating today, such as Kemper National Services which opened operations in 1993.
