It was named after U.S. Army Colonel William King, commander of the 4th Infantry Regiment and the first governor of the provisional West Florida region.

The fort was built by the U.S. Military in 1827 during tensions with the Seminole in Florida, a tribe of mostly Creek people who formed in the early nineteenth century.

Archeological investigation has revealed the site was occupied during two lengthy periods by varying cultures of indigenous peoples, beginning as early as 6500 BC, more than 8,000 years ago.

At least two periods of occupation have been identified: between 6500 and 2000 B.C., and 200 to 1500 A.D. Fort King was constructed by the United States Army in 1827 to serve as a buffer between the Seminole (who occupied territory to the south according to the Moultrie Creek Treaty reservation area) and European Americans settling north of this point.

The fort was activated as a base for the United States removal of the Seminole to Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River, in 1832, as part of the Treaty of Payne's Landing.

In October 1927, the founding members of the Ocala Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution purchased the fort's memorial property, vowing to promote and protect its history for future generations.

[8] They raised the funds to erect a granite monument on the property to honor the men who bravely served our state and country here.