Shortly after Florida became a U.S. Territory, Fort Brooke was constructed at the mouth of the Hillsborough River and Fort King was established near the present site of Ocala. In 1825, the federal government began work on an overland route connecting those fortifications. This Military Road was improved and soon became known as the Fort King Road. It was an important transportation and communication link during the Second Seminole War (1835-42), a conflict over the removal of Indians from Florida. The route remained a vital mail and wagon road during the 19th century development of central Florida, and the course of one of Florida's oldest major roads is now crossed by U.S. Highway 301.