Brooker

History

In 1838, the community was initially called "Ward City", which was named after an early settler, E. P. Ward. In 1892, Thomas R. Collins petitioned for a US Post Office, and became postmaster in 1894. Between April 17, 1893, and August 23, 1894, the post office was briefly renamed "Vandy", before ultimately being renamed yet again as "Brooker" on August 24, 1894. Collins renamed the post office after the old Brooker Bridge located across the Santa Fe River, which had been named after early local farmer, Ed Brooker. A majority of the residents preferred this name for the area over the name "Ward City", prompting Collins' decision. The Town of Brooker is located in western Bradford County. It is west of Starke, the county seat. The town has an offshoot of the Santa Fe River running through its town limits as well as Florida State Road 235. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the Town of Brooker has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  5,375
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  5,315
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  4,906
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,654
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,340
• Red-shouldered/Broad-winged Hawk

  Buteo lineatus (Gmelin, 1788) · Aves
  4,232
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,166
• Eastern Bluebird

  Sialia sialis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  3,814