Willstown (Cherokee town)

Willstown was a historic Cherokee town located in present-day Alabama, near the modern city of Fort Payne. It was an important political and economic center for the Cherokee Nation during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

The town was situated near Wills Creek, from which it derived its name, honoring a Cherokee leader known as "Wills." Willstown was a significant trading post, facilitating exchange between the Cherokee and European settlers. The fertile land surrounding the town supported agriculture, and the Cherokee cultivated crops such as corn, beans, and squash.

Willstown was home to a variety of individuals, including Cherokee citizens, European traders, and missionaries. The town played a role in the evolving relationship between the Cherokee Nation and the United States government. Missionary efforts, such as those by the Moravians, established schools and religious centers in Willstown, influencing the cultural and social landscape.

During the period of Indian Removal, Willstown was a site of considerable upheaval and disruption. The inhabitants of Willstown, along with other Cherokee people, were forcibly removed from their ancestral lands in the 1830s during the implementation of the Indian Removal Act. This forced migration, known as the Trail of Tears, led to the displacement of the Cherokee people to Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma).

Today, little remains of the original town site. However, the history of Willstown serves as a reminder of the rich cultural heritage of the Cherokee Nation and the tragic consequences of forced removal policies. The legacy of Willstown continues to be an important part of Cherokee history and memory.