Fort Vinton

Fort Vinton, also known as "Post #2", was a small Florida military outpost that existed from 1839 to 1850. Located roughly 16 miles west of present-day Vero Beach and 20 miles northeast of Fort Drum. Archaeologists posit the fort's exact location to be just south of the intersection of State Road 60 and 122nd avenue.

The fort existed mostly to help quell the periodic problems with the Seminole Amerindians and was abandoned for good in 1850 after the final battle with that tribe. For most of its existence it was simply known as "Post #2" but was renamed in honor of Major John Rogers Vinton (1801–1847) just before it was closed.

In the 1800s, the fort's location would have been on the edge of a steaming mosquito-infested cypress swamp, days away from any trace of civilization. Today the area is planted in oranges and grapefruit, though it's still steaming and mosquito-infested.

References

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~flslchs/vinton.htm Rootsweb Entry]
* [http://www.flheritage.com/preservation/markers/markers.cfm?ID=indian%20river Heritage Foundation Information]