Defuniak Springs, Florida

[@evmike71]

My wife and I stopped to charge our Tesla there last spring on our way to Key West. We could not resist taking a short walk by the lake and downtown. I grew up in the small town, Carthage, Missouri. It felt like home.

[@AroundTheWorldWeGo]

yes, i agree! just a very charming vibe, and it's authentic

[@toddwatkins850]

We really enjoy these history videos y'all have been putting together. 👍

[@30A]

Thank you, Todd! We will be sharing a new video every month of 2023!

[@toddwatkins850]

@@30Aawesome! 🤙

[@SkunkMonkey991]

I got to live in Defuniak for 7 months while working up there and miss it deeply. The folks there are so nice and civil compared to Ft Myers where I'm from. I miss burgers at Ed's and chili dogs at the little walk in down town. The circle drive around the lake is like stepping back in time. I plan to retire there hopefully.

[@dougrobinson7784]

Good stuff again, love the content.

[@kellywilson8440]

If you ever get here be sure to stop by Bogey"s restaurant on the corner , Great food and friendly folks in there !

[@whenufirstrealized]

When I visit. My friends call and usually greet me with a sarcastic "WTF U AT?", and I just want to answer "De-fuk-u-ak" fool.

[@alexeatonexploresamerica5511]

I'm swim across Lake DeFuniak many times

[@beastinthesky6774]

Interesting video. My family is from DeFuniak. I wish that more was known about the native people inhabited the area for tens of thousands of years, and what happened to them. There aren't any reservations in the area. So what happened to all the native people? That's something they don't teach in school, and the information is difficult to find online as well. To me that indicates that whatever happened to them was... not great. I wish there was more of an interest in finding out the real whole truth of the history of places, but most people seem content to accept that they just disappeared one day and nobody really knows why.

[@gondola4554]

Half the natives evicted, the other half went further south after the seminole wars.

[@beastinthesky6774]

@@gondola4554 who evicted them and where can I learn more about this? Any book recommendations or anything would be highly appreciated!

[@gondola4554]

Sorry eviction was the wrong word. I forgot to take into account that the Spanish owned the Florida territory before it became a U.S. state. But if it wasn't conflict, it was disease that made the populations in the area decrease.

[@beastinthesky6774]

@@gondola4554 where did you learn about this? I've been rooting around the internet for a few years for it, have even e-mailed some self-proclaimed experts (no responses), and haven't been able to find out what happened. I live in Tallahassee where you can find arrowheads in any backyard, but somehow there's no widely-available documented history on where all the indigenous people that used to live here went.

[@benworthington1663]

@@beastinthesky6774 I read a small book online once about your question. It was written in 1905 by a retired Dr. that lived in the Walton County area. Wanting to do what he could to preserve history he went around interviewing the very old before they passed. Most had not learned to speak English, but still spoke forms of Gaelic. They had come overland from the Carolina Coast when it had gotten to crowded. They said the Indians were friendly, but after a while got upset about how little respect the newcomers showed for the natural resources. Shooting animals for the fun of it, and setting fires just to watch the burn were mentioned. The Indians picked up and left going along the coast, with some in boats and some walking, headed East. They were never seen again.

[@Kwakucam]

My hometown

[@JAHtony1111]

What happened to the Natives?

[@30A]

Members of the Muscogee Nation still live in the region, although many tribes were no doubt forced to relocate or worse. But the Muscogee Nation still had a very strong and proud presence in Walton County.

[@idontknow7738]

Indian Removal Act of 1839. Trail of Tears. 😢🪶🪶😢

[@alexeatonexploresamerica5511]

That Lake used to be clear but now it's disgusting

[@alexeatonexploresamerica5511]

I thought Lake DeFuniak was man-made that's what somebody told me I guess that's not true

[@salvationismines1]

Is this area filled with racism? Or no? I was thinking of moving here due to work.

[@prayforthe_1644]

Just go back to your 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ safesspace