Discover Jacksonville 2016

$4.00 

D I S C O V E R 

JACKSONVILLE 

A complete guide to life and leisure on the First Coast in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties 

2016 

Published by The Florida Times-Union 

Visit us at DiscoverJacksonville.com

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2016 Discover Jacksonville Contents 

WELCOME 

Letter from the Times-Union Media President........................................................................ 4 

Letter from the Jacksonville Mayor........................................................................................... 5 

How we rank ................................................................................................................................. 6 

First Coast: Where we are........................................................................................................... 8 

Who we are.................................................................................................................................... 9 

Living the good life..................................................................................................................... 10 

Region rich in history ............................................................................................................... 12 

Discover the flow of the First Coast ....................................................................................... 14 

Seven links to the city............................................................................................................... 16 

Your pets as citizens................................................................................................................. 18 

First things first: Getting started............................................................................................. 20 

HOUSING 

For sale: New, historic and affordable homes....................................................................... 24 

First Coast housing by county................................................................................................. 25 

Floridian lifestyle? Just add water ......................................................................................... 26 

Homeowners associations........................................................................................................ 28 

Property tax calculator............................................................................................................. 29 

COMMUNITIES 

A place to call home................................................................................................................... 30 

EDUCATION 

ABCs of learning......................................................................................................................... 64 

Public schools ............................................................................................................................ 66 

Bright futures.............................................................................................................................. 69 

Not by chance, but by CHOICE.................................................................................................. 70 

Florida residents can lock in cost of college tuition............................................................ 76 

Private schools........................................................................................................................... 78 

Easy access to college education............................................................................................ 82 

‘Start here. Go anywhere.’......................................................................................................... 84 

MEDICAL 

A hub for health.......................................................................................................................... 86 

High marks for health care....................................................................................................... 92 

BUSINESS 

A place for business.................................................................................................................. 94 

An industry on the rise.............................................................................................................. 97 

MILITARY 

U.S. Navy makes a big impact.................................................................................................. 98 

TRANSPORTATION 

You can go anywhere................................................................................................................ 100 

RECREATION 

A golfer’s paradise..................................................................................................................... 104 

Plenty of golf courses just a chip shot away........................................................................ 105 

Fun starts at parks..................................................................................................................... 106 

Marinas: Giving berth................................................................................................................ 108 

Ramps: Float your boat.............................................................................................................. 109 

SHOPPING 

There’s plenty in store for shoppers....................................................................................... 110 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Attractions A to Z....................................................................................................................... 112 

Museums, art, music and more!.............................................................................................. 114 

DINING 

First Coast fine dining............................................................................................................... 116 

SPORTS 

Let the games begin................................................................................................................... 118 

PROGRESS 

Jacksonville — a bright future ahead...................................................................................... 120 

Advertiser Index 

A Coin & Stamp............................................................................ 45 

Adams Homes...............................................................................33 

Amanda Morrow, Coldwell Banker..............................................31 

Anita Vining, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices....................37 

Atlantic Self Storage..........................................Inside back cover 

Auction Direct USA...................................................................... 62 

Avondale Gift Boutique................................................................51 

Bestbet........................................................................................ 113 

Bishop Kenny High School.......................................................... 79 

Boger’s Footwear Specialists.....................................................88 

Bold City Premier Homes............................................................ 63 

CareSpot........................................................................................91 

Cecil Pines Adult Living Community...........................................27 

Chets Creek Church..................................................................... 42 

Classic Jewelers..........................................................................110 

Claude Nolan Cadillac................................................................... 11 

Coastline Home Mortgage...........................................................25 

Columbia College......................................................................... 85 

Crave Boutique.............................................................................51 

Cynthia Givens, Exit Real Estate Gallery.................................... 38 

Dostie Homes..................................................................................2 

D.R. Horton................................................................................... 39 

Duval County Public Schools...................................................... 67 

Elizabeth Hudgins, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices...........15 

Everest University....................................................................... 83 

ExecuCar....................................................................................... 95 

First Coast Magazine.................................................................. 101 

First Coast Manufacturers Association..................................... 97 

Florida State College at Jacksonville..........................................77 

Foot Solutions.............................................................................. 87 

Gandolfo’s New York Delicatessen............................................ 117 

Getz-Ya-There Airport Shuttle...................................................103 

Hardage-Giddens......................................................................... 59 

Health Source Magazine............................................................. 89 

Homes by Deltona....................................................................... 29 

Jacksonville Armada Football Club........................................... 119 

La Petite Academy....................................................................... 74 

La-Z-Boy Furniture........................................................................21 

Leather Ave.................................................................................. 43 

Linda A. Trotter, DMD..................................................................90 

Lou Sobh’s Honda of the Avenues.............................................. 28 

Many Years, Many Tears — Larry McKenzie.............................. 28 

Mary’s Wholesale Furniture....................................................... 47 

Mattamy Homes................................................. Inside front cover 

Morningstar Marinas at Mayport............................................. 108 

Native Sun Natural Foods Market..............................................44 

Orange Tree Antiques................................................................. 38 

Peterbrooke Chocolatier................................................................7 

Pisco’s Restaurant...................................................................... 117 

Primrose Schools......................................................................... 65 

Richmond American Homes.......................................................46 

River Garden Senior Services......................................................19 

St. Vincent’s Primary Care............................................ Back cover 

Teen Challenge Super Thrift.......................................................80 

The Bolles School..........................................................................81 

The Florida Times-Union, jacksonville.com...............................53 

Through the Lens of Lee-Margaret Gallery...............................44 

Times-Union Media.......................................................................41 

Tutor Time Child Care/Learning Centers................................... 69 

Valerie’s Boutique Bridal............................................................111 

VyStar Credit Union........................................................................1 

Waterman's Bluff, Trevett Homes...............................................23 

W.S. Builders, LLC.........................................................................25 

2016 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE | 3

WELCOME 

W 

e are proud to bring you the 2016 edition of Discover 

Jacksonville. Whether you’re new to the area or a longtime 

resident of the First Coast, you’ll appreciate the quality of 

information you’ll find in this award-winning publication. 

Every effort has been made by our talented writers, 

photographers and editors to provide you the most current and 

comprehensive resource guide available in Jacksonville. 

Whether you’re deciding where to live or where to eat, shop and play golf, 

you can be certain the First Coast has plenty to offer. The area’s unique natural 

characteristics, like the St. Johns River, Intracoastal Waterway and miles of beautiful 

beaches, provide a wonderful place to live and play. 

We take pride in calling Jacksonville home. And as the city’s information leader, 

The Florida Times-Union, and its website, Jacksonville.com, takes tremendous pride 

in publishing Discover Jacksonville! 

Enjoy! 

Mark Nusbaum 

President, Times-Union Media 

JACKSONVILLE 

A complete guide to life and leisure on the First Coast in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties 

2016 

Published by The Florida Times-Union 

Visit us at DiscoverJacksonville.com 

D I S C O V E R 

4 | 2016 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE 

$4.00 

About the cover 

1. The last crew of the USS Simpson disembarked at Naval Station Mayport, 

Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com 2. The 12th Annual PGA Tour MS-150 Bike 

Tour, Times-Union file 3. Fishermen catch a barracuda, Times-Union file 4. 

First Coast residents watch the sun reflect on the water, Times-Union file 

5. Sunrise at Big Talbot Island State Park, Times-Union file 6. Friendship 

Fountain on the Southbank Riverwalk, Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com 7. 

Fireworks over the St. Johns River, Bob.Self@jacksonville.com 8. Miami 

Dolphins vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Field, Photo by Gary 

McCullough 9. The Jacksonville Symphony Music Director Courtney Lewis 

leading the orchestra, Photo by Tiffany Manning 10. Canoeing in Hanna 

Park, Times-Union file 11. Brooklyn/Riverside residents bike to the new 

Unity Plaza, Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com 

For ad inquiries, contact Lana Champion at 904-359-4471. 

Discover Jacksonville online at DiscoverJacksonville.com 

Discover Jacksonville staff 

PRESIDENT | Mark Nusbaum 

VICE PRESIDENT OF AUDIENCE | Kurt Caywood 

MANAGING EDITOR OF SPECIALTY AUDIENCE | 

Joe DeSalvo 

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES | Lana Champion 

DIRECTOR OF SALES | Lyn Sargent 

ADVERTISING MANAGERS | Liz Borten, 

Moneek Langston, Miranda Moore 

ADVERTISING OPERATIONS COORDINATOR | 

Dianne Knapp 

ADVERTISING GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Jessica Wait 

DIGITAL SALES DIRECTOR | Marc Jenkins 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Beth Blacker 

MAP DESIGNER | Steve Nelson 

COORDINATOR/STAFF WRITER | Jacqueline Persandi 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS | Samantha Arora, 

Bill Dougherty, Jeff Elliott, Barbara Gavan, 

Saphara Harrell, Blake Obi, Kate Olinto, Jean Sealey, 

Nancy White 

PHOTO EDITOR | Dede Smith 

MARKETING MANAGER | Karen Brashear 

MARKETING GRAPHIC DESIGNER | Michael Merriam 

VICE PRESIDENT OF CIRCULATION | Amy McSwain 

Discover Jacksonville 

is a product of Times-Union Media 

1 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville FL 32202 

904-359-4111, 1-800-472-6397 

Jacksonville.com 

All rights reserved. No portion of this 

book may be reproduced without written 

permission of Times-Union Media and The 

Florida Times-Union. 

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11

WELCOME 

Dear Residents: 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

LENNY CURRY 

Welcome to Florida’s First Coast! On behalf of the beautiful city of Jacksonville, I 

thank you for choosing our corner of Northeast Florida. 

As the gateway to Florida, we are a business-minded city where people work hard 

every day to ensure a brighter future for their families. Top-notch recreation, sports 

and entertainment venues, arts and cultural activities — all make Jacksonville 

a favorite vacation spot and an even greater place to live and work. Home to the 

largest urban park system in the nation, the greater Jacksonville area also features 

many natural treasures, including the majestic St. Johns River and miles of pristine 

beaches. 

Jacksonville is open for business and remains a city of opportunity for all. The 

hardworking entrepreneurs, business owners and innovators of this great city 

ensure that Jacksonville remains a top competitor. Together, we are seizing the great 

potential within our reach by supporting a shared vision and spirit of partnership for 

building “One City. One Jacksonville.” 

As you will see in the pages of this year’s guide, the Jacksonville community is as 

diverse as it is vibrant, with many unique offerings. Again, thank you for choosing 

Jacksonville. From my family to yours, welcome! 

Sincerely, 

Lenny Curry 

Mayor 


WELCOME 

Bruce.Lipsky@jacksonville.com 

The JAX Chamber building added a set of cat eyes so Northbound motorists will be staring into the teal eyes of a Jacksonville Jaguar as 

they exit the Main Street Bridge. 

How we rank 

Sometimes we’re up and sometimes we’re down, 

but either way, Jacksonville is making its mark. 

We may not always be No. 1, but in the last several years, Jacksonville has received exciting national recognition. Well-known 

publications (like Forbes magazine) see Jacksonville’s accomplishments and potential, and are helping put this once smalltown 

city on the map. Although some of the ratings are less than glowing, these scores depict a fluid city continually evolving. 

Here’s a look at a few rankings from the last three years. 

• Forbes magazine ranked Jacksonville 

No. 1 on list of “U.S. Cities Where 

Hispanics Are Doing the Best 

Economically” in 2015. The ranking 

was based on several factors, 

including median household income 

($50,171), home ownership rate (54.9 

percent) and share who are selfemployed 

(17.1 percent). 

• In CBRE Group, Inc.’s “North 

America Ports Logistics Annual 

Report,” Jacksonville ranked among 

top 15 North American ports based 

on port infrastructure capabilities 

and strength of industrial real estate 

market in 2015. 

• A 2015 study by RealtyTrac ranked 

Jacksonville as the fourth-worst 

market for foreclosures in the U.S. 

The study finds that on average one in 

379 homes in Jacksonville will go into 

foreclosure. Along with Jacksonville, 

seven other Florida cities ranked 

in the top 10, including Tampa and 

Ocala. 

• Thumbtack.com gave Jacksonville 

a B in its annual Small Business 

Friendliness survey in 2015. The 

study, which draws data from nearly 

18,000 small business owners, 

provides insights into business 

environments across the nation. 

Jacksonville received particularly 


high marks for tax code friendliness 

(an A-), and the lowest score (C+) for 

zoning. 

• Jacksonville ranked as fifth-best city 

to find work in the U.S. by Forbes 

magazine in May 2015. Logistics 

and industrial jobs were among 

the strongest job markets found in 

Jacksonville. Other cities that ranked 

at the top were Austin, Texas; Grand 

Rapids, Mich.; Nashville, Tenn.; and 

Charlotte, N.C. 

• Similar to the last ranking, in May 

2014, Jacksonville was recognized by 

Forbes magazine as No. 4 in “The Top 

Cities for Finding Employment Right 

Now.” Top industries hiring were 

professional and business services, 

financial activities and health care. 

• In 2014, WalletHub ranked 

Jacksonville the best city in the 

county to start a business. The 

decision was based on a variety of 

information from 150 largest cities 

in the U.S. Jacksonville came out 

on top, it said, because of the area’s 

strong record of successful young 

companies, low corporate tax rates, 

employee availability and accessible 

financing. 

• Due to its low sales tax, low 

unemployment rate and low 

median home price, Jacksonville 

ranked No. 2 for saving money on 

GOBankingRates’ list of the best and 

worst cities for saving money in 2014. 

Another Florida city, Orlando, ranked 

No. 11 for saving money due to its 

lower median household income and 

higher median home price. 

• In May 2014, Biz2Credit.com ranked 

Jacksonville as the 23rd best small 

business city in the country. The 

website based its analysis on markets 

with the highest annual revenue, 

credit scores and other factors. 

• Numbers Economic Index ranked 

Jacksonville as No. 1 on the “Most 

Improved Markets” list from 

September 2012 to September 

2013, and as No. 16 on the “Top U.S. 

Economies” list in 2013. 

• Also in 2013, Jacksonville made the list 

of top 10 cities to find a job, according 

to Forbes magazine. The hot 

industries that year were IT, education 

and health care. The city also ranked 

as No. 2 in the nation for technology 

services jobs growth in 2013. 

• Jacksonville came in at No. 5 in 

NerdWallet’s Top Ten Big Cities for 

Homeownership in 2013. The analysis 

addressed three key factors: the 

availability of homes, the affordability 

of homes and the likeliness of a city to 

grow in the future.

WELCOME 

First Coast: Where we are … 

Mileage from Jacksonville 

to other Florida cities 

Bradenton 236 

Callahan 22.3 

Clearwater 220 

Cocoa 153 

Coral Gables 350 

Daytona Beach 89 

Fernandina Beach 36 

Fort Lauderdale 325 

Fort Myers 321 

Gainesville 71 

Key West 502 

Miami 343 

Melbourne 175 

Naples 352 

Ocala 101 

Orlando 140 

Palatka 63 

Panama City 268 

Pensacola 359 

Port St. Lucie 235 

St. Augustine 40 

St. Petersburg 221 

Sarasota 251 

Tallahassee 164 

Tampa 199 

Titusville 134 

Vero Beach 212 

West Palm Beach 283 

Source: MapQuest 

First Coast commutes: From home to downtown Jacksonville 

Average driving time during “moderate” traffic from First Coast areas to downtown 

Jacksonville in minutes: 

Amelia Island 40 Mandarin 26 

Arlington 7 Mayport 31 

Atlantic Beach/Neptune Beach 28 Middleburg 42 

Jacksonville Beach 29 Moncrief 8 

Callahan 31 Nocatee 29 

Deerwood/Baymeadows 16 Normandy/Hyde Grove 12-14 

Dames Point 15 Orange Park 24 

Fernandina Beach 47 Ortega 16 

Fleming Island 31 Ponte Vedra Beach 25 

Fruit Cove 33 Riverside/Avondale/Murray Hill 6-10 

Garden City/Dinsmore 18 St. Augustine 45 

Green Cove Springs 44 St. Nicholas 6 

Hilliard 42 San Marco 10 

Julington Creek 21 Southside 15 

Keystone Heights 68 Springfield 4 

Loretto 19 World Golf Village 31 

Macclenny 33 Yulee 27 


Driving mileage from Jacksonville to other U.S. cities 

Atlanta, GA 345 Los Angeles, CA 2,419 

Birmingham, AL 464 Nashville, TN 594 

Boston, MA 1,150 New Orleans, LA 547 

Charleston, SC 238 New York, NY 935 

Chicago, IL 1,061 Philadelphia, PA 846 

Cincinnati, OH 795 Phoenix, AZ 2,046 

Dallas, TX 995 Pittsburgh, PA 829 

Denver, CO 1,748 San Francisco, CA 2,798 

Houston, TX 871 Savannah, GA 139 

Kansas City, MO 1,146 Seattle, WA 3,041 

Las Vegas, NV 2,221 Washington, DC 710 


8 | 2016 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE

. . . Who we are 

Here are the latest figures available from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2014 

American Community Survey reported from the Jacksonville Metropolitan 

Statistical Area (rounded to the nearest whole number or percent): 

Gender 

Households 

30% 

25% 

20% 

WELCOME 

Duval County active registered voters as of 10/06/15 

Democrats: 221,080 

Republicans: 198,372 

Others: 120,107 

Total: 539,559 

Source: Duval County Supervisor of Elections 

29% 

28% 

Education 

23% 

21% 

First Coast 

U.S. 

19% 

18% 

Male 49% 

Age 

5% 

65 to 69 years 

6% 


7% 


Female 51% 

7% 


Racial demographics 

2% 


4% 


7% 


White alone 

Black or 

African American alone 

Asian alone 

Two or More Races 

Hispanic or Latino 

Other 

2% 


Family households 66% 

Nonfamily households 34% 

Average family size: 3.24 people 

7% 


4% 

5% 

3% 

3% 

1% 

1% 

8% 

2% 

85 years and over 

13% 

17% 

6% 

Under 5 years 

6% 

5 to 9 years 

6% 


7% 


6% 


31% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

0% 

6% 


3% 

7% 


7% 


6% 

Less than 

9th grade 

7% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 

59% 

Jacksonville 

U.S. 

8% 

9th to 12th grade, 

no diploma 

0% 

77% 

50% 

Married 

High school graduate 

(includes equivalency) 

45% 

3% 

Widowed 

Some college, 

no degree 

10% 

10% 

8% 

Associate degree 

Marital status 

Male 

Female 

11% 

4% 

$200,000 

or more 

5% 

$150,000 to 

$199,999 

13% 

$100,000 to 

$149,999 

11% 

$75,000 

to $99,999 

19% 

$50,000 to 

$74,999 

Median household income 

Divorced 

15% 

2% 

Household income 

Bachelor's degree 

Separated 

3% 

11% 

9% 

Graduate or 

professional degree 

35% 

27% 

Never 

married 

8% 

Less than 5% 

$10,000 $10,000 

to $14,999 

15% 

$35,000 to 

$49,999 

10% 

$15,000 

to $24,999 

12% 

$25,000 

to $34,999 

Jacksonville: $47,557 

Florida: $46,956 

U.S. $53,046 


WELCOME 

Living the good life 

How cost of living stacks up 

Here are cost-of-living comparisons 

between Jacksonville and selected 

other cities from the October 2015 

Cost of Living Index from C2ER: The 

Council for Community and Economic 

Research (c2er.org). This quarterly 

survey measures the differences in the 

cost of six major expenditures (grocery 

items, housing, utilities, transportation, 

health care, and miscellaneous goods 

and services). The average is 100 for all 

participating areas; this means that the 

cost of living in Jacksonville, for example, 

is 2.7 percentage points below the 

average. 

250% 

236.1 

200% 

178.1 

150% 

118.5 

100% 

50% 

0 

New York (Manhattan), NY 

San Francisco, CA 

Chicago, IL 

114 

Ft. Lauderdale, FL 

100.5 100 

Charleston, SC 

Atlanta, GA 

97.6 

Phoenix, AZ 

Cost of living index comparison 

97.3 97 96.7 96.5 95.6 95.5 95.2 


Charlotte, NC 

Nashville-Murfreesboro, TN 

Houston, TX 

Richmond, VA 

Austin, TX 

Pittsburgh, PA 

93.7 

Kansas City, MO 

91.4 

Birmingham, AL 

90.6 

Columbus, OH 

89.9 

Tampa, FL 

89.0 

Raleigh, NC 

Weather to expect 

Jacksonville’s average high/low: 

79.3°F 

57.8°F 

Temperature degrees Fahrenheit (2000-2015) 

100° 

90° 

80° 

70° 

60° 

50° 

40° 

30° 

20° 

10° 

0° 

88% 

64.8 

41.4 

January 

87% 

68.2 

44.7 

February 

87% 

73.7 

49.7 

March 

87% 

79.2 

54.7 

Temperature/humidity in Jacksonville 

Normal daily high 

Normal daily low 

Average morning relative humidity percentage 

April 

86% 

85.5 

62.7 

May 

89.9 

88% 

70 

June 

92 

89% 

72.6 

July 

92% 

90.9 

72.7 

August 

92% 

86.9 

69.5 

September 

91% 

80.4 

60.5 

October 

90% 

73.5 

50.9 

November 

89% 

66.6 

43.9 

December 

100% 

Source: National Weather Service Forecast Office and the Southeast Regional Climate Center 

90% 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Humidity percentage 

10 in. 

8 in. 

Normal monthly precipitation in Jacksonville 

6.45 6.55 6.80 

8.19 8.19 

Average monthly rainfall in Jacksonville 

6 in. 

4 in. 

2 in. 

3.30 3.19 

3.95 

2.64 2.48 

2.11 

2.80 

0 in. 

December 

November 

October 

September 

August 

July 

June 

May 

April 

March 

February 

January 

Source: National Weather Service Forecast Office (Stats based on 2000-2015) 


4.04 in.

4700 SOUTHSIDE BLVD. | 904.642.5111

WELCOME 

Region rich in history 

From the Fountain of Youth to a devastating 

fire in 1901 to the first Hollywood — the First 

Coast has had memorable building blocks. 

Times-Union file 

The Great Fire of 1901 destroyed the heart of Jacksonville. Residents fled the flames with possessions piled high in wagons. Many of those 

possessions, dropped off where people thought they would be safe, were later destroyed by the flames. 

Ponce de Leon was probably the first 

to find us. Timucuan Indians were in 

Florida long before but the Spaniard 

was the first to lay claim to the state 

after landing between what is now Ponte 

Vedra Beach and St. Augustine in 1513 

on his search for the rumored Fountain 

of Youth. 

The actual founding of the first 

permanent European settlement came 

in 1565, when Pedro Menendez de 

Aviles arrived at “San Augustin.” Spain 

continued in control for the next two 

centuries. 

Occasionally, there were interlopers. 

In 1562, for example, explorer Jean 

Ribault and some mainly Huguenot 

settlers claimed the land for France. 

A subsequent group of Huguenots 

established Fort Caroline, the first 

Protestant settlement in North America, 


but Spanish forces ousted them in 1565. 

By 1728, the Timucuans were virtually 

extinct and the Seminole Indians started 

inhabiting the area. One of their first 

villages west of the St. Johns River was in 

current Clay County. 

In 1763, Spain gave Florida to the 

British in exchange for Havana, Cuba 

(Spain got it back in 1784). On the eve of 

the American Revolution in 1776, about 

3,000 people lived in East Florida, the 

largest of three provinces in the British 

territory. 

Jacksonville had its beginnings as a 

narrow spot on the river that farmers 

and their livestock forded on their way to 

market. A settlement emerged at the “cow 

ford,” appropriately named Cowford. Just 

up the river was the town of Fernandina, 

named for Spain’s King Ferdinand VII, a 

haven for pirates. 

Florida became a U.S. territory in 1821, 

the same year that St. Johns County was 

created. Soon after, “Jacksonville” was 

born. A petition sent to the U.S. Secretary 

of State asking that Jacksonville be 

named a port of entry is dated June 15, 

1822; that, according to the Jacksonville 

Historical Society, is the earliest official 

use of the name. The city was named 

for Gen. Andrew Jackson, first military 

governor of Florida who, by the way, 

never visited Jacksonville. 

Duval County was established six 

months later. Carved out of St. Johns 

County, it was named after territorial 

governor William P. DuVal. Nassau 

County, established in 1824, was named 

after the German duchy of Nassau. 

Just as St. Johns begat Duval, so 

Duval begat surrounding counties. 

Clay County, named for Henry Clay,

was formed from Duval County in 1858. 

Baker County was once part of several 

counties, including Duval, St. Johns, 

Alachua, Columbia and what is now 

Union. Named after Confederate senator 

James McNair Baker, it was created in 

1861. 

Early on, areas around Jacksonville 

were populated mainly by timbermen, 

hunters and farmers. For example, 

Orange Park, part of an area originally 

owned by slave trader Zephaniah 

Kingsley, was named for its many orange 

groves (they eventually succumbed to 

major freezes in the 1890s). 

The area’s population grew during the 

Civil War and Reconstruction. In 1870, 

there were 3,989 black people and 2,923 

white people living in Jacksonville. The 

city’s population was predominantly 

black until after World War I. 

The population increased 

dramatically when the railroads 

brought numerous wintering tourists to 

Jacksonville and its beach resort hotels 

in the 1880s. In 1890, Henry Flagler 

financed a train bridge across the St. 

Johns River, and his Florida East Coast 

Railway was able to take visitors from 

New York to St. Augustine, where the 

magnate had built luxury hotels. It was 

Flagler who shifted the state’s economic 

center from Jacksonville to Miami when 

he expanded his railroad’s tracks, but 

that didn’t stop the nation’s oldest city 

from remaining a tourist destination. 

Throughout this early growth, 

area waterways continued to play an 

important part. The building of the 

jetties in the late 1890s helped grow port 

business and the shrimping industry was 

born in Fernandina in the early 1900s. 

By the start of the 20th century, 

Jacksonville had begun its reign as the 

most populated city in the state. 

On May 3, 1901, however, the 

city’s fate was forged in a completely 

different way. Sparks from a chimney 

ignited a fiber factory and the resulting 

conflagration destroyed the heart of the 

city: 466 acres were incinerated; 2,368 

buildings were destroyed; 8,677 were left 

homeless; seven people died. The dollar 

loss was $15 million (equal to about $2 

billion today). 

As incredible as the devastation was, 

the rebuilding effort was more so. It 

began immediately and, 10 years later, 

over 11,000 buildings had gone up. 

During the ragtime years, Jacksonville 

was indeed a toddlin’ town. The Ostrich 

Farm was a big tourist draw, racing cars 

sped up and down the beach and the 

Philadelphia A’s led by Connie Mack 

came for spring training. 

Moreover, the movie industry had 

discovered the city; by 1916, more than 

30 companies were churning out movies 

with such names as Oliver Hardy, Fatty 

Arbuckle and Tom Mix. But citizens got 

fed up with noisy explosions and false 

fire alarms. They voted out Mayor J.E.T. 

Bowden, a major film booster, and the 

industry moved to friendlier California 

climes. 

The military, though, was always 

a fixture. As world wars broke out, 

that military presence really became 

noticeable. Camp Johnston, the area now 

called Jacksonville Naval Air Station, 

held 27,000 men during World War I. 

Shipyards sprang from the riverfront 

and churned out wartime vessels. Quiet 

Ribault Bay became Mayport Auxiliary 

Air Base at the onset of World War II. 

The Depression brought hard times, 

but the corner was eventually turned. 

Jacksonville’s first condo, the Park Lane 

in Riverside, was completed in 1926. 

In 1935, A.L. Lewis opened American 

Beach, a retreat for African-Americans 

refused entry to public beaches. 

WELCOME 

Postwar Jacksonville saw a boom, 

mainly at the hands of Mayor Haydon 

Burns. Insurance companies were lured; 

new city buildings, an auditorium and 

a ballpark were constructed; a modern 

expressway took shape; and the world’s 

largest Sears Roebuck store opened in an 

area that was once skid row. 

But the bubble burst in the early 

1960s amid scandal and school 

disaccreditation. Pressure built for city 

and county consolidation, which came 

to pass in 1968. “The Bold New City of 

the South” was the largest U.S. city in 

land mass until Juneau, Alaska, eclipsed 

it. 

But growth and prestige were not to 

be eclipsed. In 1979, the PGA Tour moved 

its headquarters to Ponte Vedra Beach; 

19 years later, the World Golf Village and 

World Golf Hall of Fame opened in St. 

Johns County. In 1986, the famed Mayo 

Clinic opened its Jacksonville campus. 

And, in 1993, the National Football 

League awarded its 30th franchise to 

Jacksonville, which led to the city being 

the site for Super Bowl XXXIX. 

Sources: The Great Fire of 1901 by Bill Foley and 

Wayne W. Wood; Jacksonville’s Architectural 

Heritage by Wayne W. Wood; The Jacksonville 

Story; History of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity 

by T. Frederick Davis; Jacksonville After the Fire by 

James B. Crooks; Old Hickory’s Town by James R. 

Ward; The Jacksonville Historical Society. 


“Treaty Oak” is a Southern live oak tree in Jacksonville that is estimated to be 250 years old 

and may be the single oldest living thing in the city. 


WELCOME 

Discover the flow 

of the First Coast 

Water is the crown jewel — 

and a way of life. 

Jacqueline.Persandi@jacksonville.com 

At 310 miles long, the St. Johns River winds through or borders twelve counties, three of 

which are the state's largest. 

By Ronald L. Littlepage 

Residents enjoy beach bike rides and the warm Florida weather. 


Photo by Jon Cummins 

You haven’t really discovered 

Jacksonville until you’ve seen the city 

from the water. 

You may think of downtown as 

nothing extraordinary until you’ve seen 

the skyline from a boat in the St. Johns 

River, approaching from the south, 

in the early evening when the wind is 

calm and the river smooth, sparkling 

lights reflected in the water’s mirrored 

surface. 

And you may have caught glimpses of 

the marshes of the Timucuan Preserve 

and the tidal creeks that lace through 

them from a roadway or a bridge, but 

you haven’t absorbed their beauty until 

you’ve paddled through them in a kayak 

or canoe, riding the outgoing tide past 

wading birds and oyster beds. 

Water is the soul of Jacksonville. The 

beaches and dunes of Big and Little 

Talbot islands, preserved and protected 

as parks, are spectacular. 

The marshes of the similarly protected 

Timucuan, their grasses ever changing in 

a parade of yellows, greens and browns, 

stretch for miles to the Nassau County 

line.

WELCOME 

The St. Johns River, one of 14 

American Heritage rivers, ends its 

310-mile journey here, emptying into 

the blue-green waters of the Atlantic at 

Mayport. 

It was near there that the French 

explorer Jean Ribault first dropped 

anchor in the St. Johns in 1562. He was 

awed by the river’s riches, the abundant 

fish and wildlife. 

Those riches are still there today. 

I’ve been fortunate to spend many 

hours on the water in Jacksonville. 

I’ve seen bald eagles, roseate 

spoonbills, great blue herons, egrets, 

kingfishers, gallinules, marsh hens, 

pelicans, wood storks and myriad other 

birds. 

I’ve watched as pods of dolphins, 

swimming in water so shallow it barely 

covered them, shoot across a tidal bay as 

swift as a speedboat, herding mullet onto 

the bank and grabbing a quick meal. 

I’ve had manatees swim around my 

kayak. 

I’ve paddled along the narrow creeks 

and tributaries of the St. Johns into 

forests that are undisturbed, lush and 

green, past deer, turkeys, squirrels and 

rabbits. 

The waters of Jacksonville are 

working waters. They carry commerce, 

and shrimpers and crabbers earn their 

livings on them. 

They are also fun waters, for sailing, 

fishing and skiing. 

But to know them, you have to get out 

on the water. Find a boat, a canoe or a 

kayak and go exploring. Find an out-ofthe-way 

place and learn it, make it your 

own. 

Or hook up with a group on a party 

barge, or get behind a ski boat, or find a 

fishing guide, or take a walk along the 

beach. 

But get out on the water. That’s when 

you will really discover Jacksonville. 

Florida Times-Union 

writer since 1978, Ronald 

L. Littlepage has traveled, 

fished and enjoyed the area 

waters for more than 35 

years. 

Celebrating 25 Years of Selling 

the Best of the First Coast Lifestyle 

904.553.2032 cell 

904.285.1800 office 

elizhudgins@aol.com 

www.beacheshomes.com 


WELCOME 

Seven links to the city 

There are seven vehicle bridges that cross the St. Johns River at Jacksonville — Florida’s 

river city by the sea and gateway to the state’s interior. Sometimes we don’t call our bridges 

by their given names, so we’ve compiled a list to help you navigate the city’s connectors. 

Official name: 

John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge 

Type: 

Steel Truss-center 

lift span 

Date opened: 

July 18, 1941 

Cost: $1.5 million 

Annual average 

daily traffic: 18,200 

Length: 1,700 feet 

Main Street Bridge John T. Alsop Jr. earned so 

much respect of the people of Jacksonville as a 

multi-term mayor, that the Main Street Bridge 

was renamed in his honor nearly 16 years after 

it opened. Alsop, who came to Florida as one 

of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, served 14 

consecutive years before leaving office in 1937 (he 

returned four years later). He died at 83, about a 

month after the bridge was renamed for him on 

April 12, 1957. 

In 2014, the Florida Department of 

Transportation put $11.1 million into a project 

to make maintenance and safety repairs. The 

bridge is considered one of the most recognizable 

features in downtown Jacksonville. 

Fuller Warren Bridge The newest downtown 

bridge and the St. Johns River’s most 

expensive, it replaced a 1954 double-leaf 

bascule drawbridge that often saw long lines 

of stalled traffic — maddening to travelers 

using the Interstate 95 span. In addition, the 

old bridge carried about 115,000 vehicles daily, 

about 35,000 more than it was designed to 

accommodate. Officials, including Florida Gov. 

Fuller Warren, wanted to name it for J. Turner 

Butler, a former Duval County attorney and 

30-year member of the Florida Legislature. But 

Butler thought that public structures should 

not be named for living individuals, so the 

span honors Fuller Warren instead. 


Fuller Warren Bridge 

Type: Pre-stressed 

concrete beam 

Date opened: 

Nov. 17, 2002 


(estimated) 

Annual average daily 

traffic: 150,000 



Henry Holland Buckman Bridge 

Type: Steel multi-beam girder 

Date opened: May 1, 1970; 

expansion opened January 1997 

Cost: $12.5 million; expansion 

$79 million 




Buckman Bridge While this bridge was in the 

planning stage, former U.S. Rep. Charles E. Bennett 

suggested it be named for Henry Holland Buckman, 

who had been a prominent legislator instrumental 

in establishing a state road system and developing 

the St. Johns River channel. In 1905, he authored 

the Buckman Act, which laid the foundation 

for higher education in Florida. The expansion 

project, necessary because average daily traffic 

use increased nearly 11-fold in 20 years, added two 

travel lanes and two safety lanes to each of the twin 

spans. 


WELCOME 


St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge 

Type: 

Cast-in-place segmental 

Opened: Aug. 7, 1994 





Acosta Bridge The Acosta replaced a 

center-lift span that had opened in 1921 

and carried the name of Jacksonville 

city councilman and state legislator, St. 

Elmo “Chic” Acosta. Acosta’s daughter, 

Florence Acosta Flynn, 82, participated 

in groundbreaking ceremonies on 

Jan. 19, 1990, using the same shovel 

she saw her father hoist in 1919 before 

construction of the first bridge. Chunks 

of that bridge are now spawning a fishing 

reef 13 miles off Mayport. 

Mathews Bridge Little wonder that this bridge 

to Arlington was named for John E. Mathews 

even before construction began. The fiery 

redhead had waged a 20-year battle for the 

span, including during his tenure as a member 

of the Florida House of Representatives. 

For nearly 20 years after the bridge opened, 

Arlington was the fastest-growing area in Duval 

County. In September 2013, a Military Sealift 

Command ship collided with the bridge and 

caused enough damage to close the bridge until 

October 2013. 


John E. Mathews Bridge 

Type: 

Cantilever steel truss 

Date opened: 

April 15, 1953 

Cost: $53 million 




Official name: Napoleon 

Bonaparte Broward Bridge 

Type: 

Cable-stayed concrete 

Opened: 

March 10, 1989 

Cost: $117 million 



Length: 10,686 ft. 

Dames Point Bridge The Napoleon 

Bonaparte Broward Bridge, named in 

honor of Florida’s governor from 1905 

until 1909, is the second longest concrete 

cable-stayed bridge in the western 

hemisphere. The name, Dames Point, 

originated in the mid-1800s, when the 

wives of seafaring men would gather at 

the site to welcome home their husbands 

after months of separation. 

Hart Bridge In 1822, Isaiah D. Hart 

pursued the idea of establishing a town 

on the north bank of the St. Johns River 

at the “cow ford,” a shallow crossing 

point. He persuaded neighbors to join 

him in donating land and a surveyor laid 

out the streets of the town in a 20-block 

area. He is thus credited as the founder of 

Jacksonville. 

Source: Florida Department of Transportation 


Isaiah D. Hart Bridge 

Type: Steel arch with 

suspended deck 

Date opened: 

Nov. 2, 1967 






WELCOME 

Your pets as citizens 

Here’s how to make certain that your animals 

meet code-enforcement specifications. 

BAKER COUNTY 

• Rabies vaccination required for dogs, 

cats and ferrets; rabies tag display 

required. Leash law for all but cats; 

must be contained by leash or carrier 

outside personal property. 

• Animal control (adoptions): 

904-259-6786 

CLAY COUNTY 

• Dogs must be contained and not 

allowed to run at large. 

• Food, water and shelter must be 

provided to any domestic animal. 

• Cats can roam at will; however, the 

cat cannot become a nuisance to 

anyone. 

• Dogs or cats four months or older 

shall be vaccinated against rabies by a 

licensed veterinarian. 

• A current rabies tag must be attached 

to the animal’s collar, which shall be 

worn by the animal at all times. 

• Evidence of vaccination shall consist 

of Rabies Vaccination and License 

Certificate signed by the veterinarian 

administering the vaccination. 

• Animal care and control: 

904-269-6342 

• Humane society (animal clinic; 

no adoptions): 904-276-7729, 

clayhumane.org 

DUVAL COUNTY 

• All city of Jacksonville resident dogs, 

cats and ferrets are required to have 

rabies vaccinations on an annual 

basis. At the time of inoculation, the 

veterinarian is required to either 

sell the City of Jacksonville Rabies 

Tag or provide the owner with the 

paperwork to purchase the tag from 

the Tax Collector. The license fee for 

an animal in the city of Jacksonville is 

$20 annually. Fees for registration in 

the city of Jacksonville are provided 


Bob.Mack@jacksonville.com 

The Jacksonville Beach rescue puppy Steve 

was adopted by a Jacksonville Beach family. 

He is a Chihuahua mix. 

at no cost for up to three animals per 

household to owners who are: 62 or 

older, legally blind or 100 percent 

disabled. 

• Yearly rabies vaccination required for 

dogs, cats and ferrets. 

• Leash law; no dog or cat is allowed to 

be at large. 

• Animal Care and Protective Services: 

904-630-CITY(2489), coj.net 

• Humane society (no-kill shelter): 

904-725-8766, jaxhumane.org 

NASSAU COUNTY 

• Licenses required for dogs and cats 

renewed annually at Nassau County 

Animal Control (904-491-7440); 

proof of rabies vaccination required. 

Licenses: $10 per altered dog/cat, 

$23 non-altered. City of Fernandina 

Beach only: Licenses: $5 per altered 

dog/cat, $100 non-altered; verification 

of sterilization required. 

• Rabies vaccination required for dogs 

and cats; rabies tag display required. 

• Leash law for dogs only; must be 

contained by leash or carrier when 

not on personal property 

• Humane society (adoptions): 

904-321-1647, 

nassauhumanesociety.com 

ST. JOHNS COUNTY 

• Owners of cats and/or dogs within 

the city of St. Augustine are required 

to register their pets annually with 

the city. To register an animal, the 

owner need only present current 

rabies certificate for each cat and/ 

or dog, provide some descriptive 

information about the animal (i.e. 

name, breed, color and sex) and pay 

the annual registration fee. Fee: male 

$3, female (spayed) $3 and female 

(unsprayed) $5. Upon registration, 

the owner will be provided with 

an information tag that must be 

attached to the animal’s collar. 

Animals may be registered Monday 

through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

at the Customer Service Division: 50 

Bridge Street, St. Augustine. 

• Rabies vaccination required for dogs, 

cats and ferrets; rabies tag display 

required. 

• Countywide leash law for dogs and 

cats. 

• Animal control: 904-209-0746 

• Humane society (adoptions): 

904-829-2737, 

staugustinehumanesociety.org 

MORE RESOURCES 

• Jax Animals: jaxanimals.com 

• B.E.A.K.S (Bird Emergency Air & Kare 

Sanctuary): 904-251-BIRD(2473), 

beaksbirdkare.org 

• HAWKE (Human Association of 

Wildlife Care and Education): 

904-692-1777, hawkewildlife.org

Why would you go anywhere else? 

WELCOME 

2016 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE | 19 

11401 Old St. Augustine Road • Jacksonville, FL 32258 • 904-260-1818 • www.rivergarden.org

WELCOME 

First things first: Getting started 

Living in Florida definitely has its perks. The state has no state income 

tax, a $25,000 homestead exemption and affordable housing. But even 

in Florida, there are necessary steps you’ll need to take when moving. 

GENERAL INFORMATION 

What you’ll be asked to provide: Utilities and 

other service providers require driver’s 

license and Social Security numbers, 

new and old addresses, home and work 

phone numbers and employer’s name. 

Some require applications be made in 

person with a photo ID. Others allow 

startups by phone or have applications 

online. 

Voter registration: You can apply to register 

to vote at any time, but to vote in an 

election, you must be registered in 

your county by the registration closing 

date, normally the 29th day before each 

election. 

You can visit county election offices 

to register, or start the process online at 

dos.myflorida.com/elections. Florida 

has a motor-voter law, which means you 

may register to vote when you receive a 

driver’s license or identification card. 

Florida is a closed primary state. If 

you wish to vote in a partisan primary 

election, you must be a registered voter in 

the party for which the primary is being 

held. All registered voters, regardless of 

party affiliation, can vote on issues and 

nonpartisan candidates in a primary 

election. 

This is why it is important to indicate 

your preferred party affiliation at the 

time you register. If you leave the field 

blank on the registration form, you will 

be registered without party affiliation. 

To be able to register to vote in 

Florida, you must meet the following 

requirements: You must be a U.S. citizen, 

a Florida resident, and at least 18 years 

old (you can pre-register to vote at 16 

years old, but you’ll need to wait until 


Dede.Smith@Jacksonville.com 

Signs at a Westside precinct show polling places are open as a steady stream of voters head 

to cast votes during an election. 

you’re 18 years old to vote). Also, you 

must never have been convicted of a 

felony (unless your civil rights have been 

restored), and never been legally judged 

ineligible to vote, for either mental 

incapacitation or crime. 

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; bring 

your signed voter card and a picture 

identification card. Early voting is also 

available in some areas. Polling places 

are normally less busy during the midmorning 

and mid-afternoon. 

Property taxes: All First Coast counties 

offer discounts for property taxes paid 

early: 4 percent if paid in November; 3 

percent if paid in December; 2 percent 

if paid in January; and 1 percent if paid 

in February. The gross amount of tax is 

due in March and will be delinquent as of 

April 1, at which time a 3 percent penalty 

will be added. 

Homestead exemption: Most Florida residents 

qualify for a $25,000 property tax 

exemption, which means $25,000 is 

deducted from the assessed value for 

taxes of a qualified primary residence. 

First-time applicants should supply 

a Social Security number, proof of 

residency (such as voter’s registration or 

driver’s license) and evidence of home 

ownership, such as a deed or contract. 

Apply with the Property Appraiser’s

Town Center Blvd. 

WELCOME 

Nearly all of our recliners, sofas & chairs are proudly 

built in the U.S.A. of domestic and imported materials. 

~ Largest selection of upholstered furniture 

~ Complimentary In Home Design services 

~ Allied ASID Designers 

~ Over 1,000 fabrics and leathers to choose from! 

~ 3D space planning scaled for every room 

~ Special Financing is Available 

Save an Additional 

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our sale prices 

Must have coupon to receive additional savings. Expires 12/31/2016. 

SOFAS, SECTIONALS, CHAIRS & A WHOLE LOT MORE. 

Fleming Island 

2001 East West Pkwy 

Fleming Island, FL 32003 

220 

XEast West Pkwy. 

17 

904.425.7010 

Mon-Sat 10-8 ~ Sun Noon-6 

www.lazboy.com/jacksonville 

295 

95 

Avenues Mall 

1 115 

Philips Hwy. 

X 

Southside Blvd. 

Avenues 

10452 Philips Hwy 



WELCOME 


Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) serves an estimated 427,000 electric, 313,000 water 

and 240,000 sewer customers. 

For more information, call the Florida 

Bureau of Inspection and Incident 

Response at 850-617-7996 or access 

floridatermitehelp.org. 

To check that a company or 

individual is licensed to perform pest 

control in Florida, you can use this link: 

ceupublicsearch.freshfromflorida.com 

or call the Florida Bureau of Licensing 

and Enforcement at 850-617-7997. 

Electric power: Different utility companies 

often operate within the same 

areas. Visit county websites for more 

information. 

office between January 1 and March 1 

of the year for which the exemption is 

sought. 

Intangible tax: Since Jan. 1, 2007, 

individuals, married couples, personal 

representatives of estates and businesses 

are no longer required to file an annual 

intangible personal property tax return 

reporting stocks, bonds, mutual funds, 

money market funds, shares of business 

trusts and unsecured notes. The Florida 

Legislature has repealed the annual tax 

on these properties. 

Sales tax: 7 percent in Baker, Clay, Duval 

and Nassau counties. St. Johns County 

increased sales tax from 6 percent to 6.5 

percent, which begins January 2016. 

Driver’s licenses: To renew or obtain a 

driver’s license, Florida law requires you 

to bring original documents that prove 

your identity, social security number 

and residential address. 

You must visit an office with these 

documents: 

• If you are applying for your first 

driver license or identification card 

• When your current credential expires 

and you have already used the onetime 

“convenience” renewal option 

• If you legally change your name (eg: 

by marriage or divorce) 

If none of these apply then you can 

renew your license online at gorenew. 

com, or by mail. 

Car insurance: The minimum requirement 

is $10,000 personal injury protection 

(PIP) and $10,000 property damage 


liability (PDL). If you have been in a 

crash or convicted of certain offenses, 

the Florida DMV can request you 

purchase additional auto insurance 

coverage such as bodily injury liability 

coverage (BIL). 

Motor vehicles: In the state of Florida, a 

motor vehicle is required by law to be 

registered within 10 days of the owner 

becoming employed, placing children in 

public school, or establishing residency. 

Registering your motor vehicle goes 

hand in hand with the titling process. 

Visit flhsmv.gov/html/titlinf.html for 

more information. 

Termite Protection: Know right up front that 

termites are a serious problem in Florida. 

State law requires that a contract be 

issued whenever a termite treatment is 

conducted. If building or buying a new 

house, make sure that the contractor 

or developer has a termite protection 

contract and ask for a copy. Check what 

kind of warranty the contract has and 

whether repair to structural damage is 

included. The warranty must be valid 

for a year and offer the homeowner the 

option to extend the contract annually for 

four more years. If you do not renew your 

contract, it automatically becomes null 

and void. 

If buying a house on the secondary 

market, make sure that a termite 

inspection will be done (be present if 

possible) and get written documentation 

of any treatments, inspections and 

contracts issued on the structure for at 

least three years. You are responsible for 

obtaining or transferring a contract. 

Natural gas: Some communities are piped 

for natural gas. To find out which areas 

are served by natural gas, call TECO 

Peoples Gas at 904-739-1211 or 877-832- 

6747, or visit peoplesgas.com. 

Watering restrictions: Mandatory lawn 

watering restrictions specify the days 

when you may water. These days depend 

on whether you have an odd or even 

numbered address, and the time of year. 

For more information, contact: 

St. Johns River Water Management 

District: 4049 Reid Street (P.O. Box 1429), 

Palatka 32178; 386-329-4500 or 

800-451-7106; floridaswater.com. 

Garbage/yard waste collection: Different 

garbage haulers serve within the same 

areas. Call the county’s Solid Waste 

Department for more information. For 

those without curbside pickup of yard 

waste, county landfills are available, 

usually for a fee. Yard waste can be tree 

limbs, grass clippings, leaves, etc. 

Recycling: Programs are ongoing in all 

First Coast counties through cityprovided 

curbside service, private 

contractors and/or drop-off sites and 

landfills. In most counties you can use 

curbside service to recycle: cardboard, 

paper, food boxes, mail, beverage cans, 

food cans, jars (plastic and glass), jugs, 

plastic bottles and some glass bottles. 

For a full list of non-recyclable items, call 

the county Solid Waste Department. 

Telephone, internet and cable service: Many 

communications companies provide all 

three services in bundle packages that 

can be purchased at a reduced rate.

Plan Your Escape 

Homes from the $300’s 

Lots from the $80’s 

W elcome to Waterman’s Bluff. 

This extraordinary waterfront neighborhood is embraced by 

Bells River, canopied with centuries-old oak trees and breathtaking 

views. A life that outshines your expectations is waiting for you. 

Your escape is waiting at Waterman’s Bluff. 

Homes now available for 

Quick Move-In 

904.849.1042 

www.WatermansBluff.net 

Located on the Bells River off 

of Chester Road, Yulee, FL 

29711 Southern Heritage Pl. Yulee, FL 32097 

Welcome Home 

HARRY TREVETT has made his mark on the Amelia Island/Fernandina 

area as a land developer, builder, real estate professional, and business 

owner for the past 35 years. Trevett Homes has a well-earned 

reputation for building exquisite, high quality new homes. When you buy 

a Trevett Home, you purchase over five decades of collective experience 

in the homebuilding industry. Quality, 

aesthetics, and longevity are at the 

core of their philosophy.

HOUSING 

For sale: New, historic 

and affordable homes 

Signs of growth are obvious. Road 

construction, while temporarily inconvenient, 

heralds growth in all directions in and 

around Jacksonville. 

New communities throughout 

Northeast Florida draw families, 

professionals and retirees. Existing 

communities and historic districts 

are attracting a new audience with 

renovations and infill construction. It 

all points to a steady comeback from the 

economic downturn that slowed growth 

for a few years. 

Home values are on the rise with 

the five-county average of $171,660 

outpacing the state average of $160,200, 

and an increase of 5.5 percent. Median 

housing costs by county from low to high 

are $121,800 in Baker, $151,400 in Duval, 

$161,600 in Clay, $181,100 in Nassau and 

$242,900 in St. Johns. 

Analysts often rank Jacksonville high 

in job growth and housing affordability. 

Based on rate of population gains, St. 

Johns is 11th on the list of the fastestgrowing 

100 counties in the United 

States. St. Johns County showed an 

increase of 14.7 percent over last year, 

compared to a 5.54-percent average 

growth rate in the five-county area, 

5.8-percent rate in Florida and a 

3.3-percent rate nationwide. 

With positive economic news 

coming from many angles, there are no 

imminent factors to prepare for beyond 

the typical seasonal drop-off. Analysts 

agree the area is in the midst of one 

of the healthiest housing markets in 

the past 15 years. In conjunction with 

the improvements in the economy, an 

anticipated interest rate hike is expected. 

In 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau 

estimated that Baker, Clay, Duval, 

Nassau and St. Johns counties have 

nearly 616,000 housing units, including 

single-family residences, condos, 

apartments and manufactured housing. 

More than half of those are in Duval 

County. 

Single-family housing in the area 

is available in all price ranges. From 

handyman fixer-uppers below $100,000 

to more than $10 million, homebuyers 

have many choices. Homes in many 

upscale communities start in the 


high-$100,000s to mid-$200,000 and 

run into the millions, depending on 

amenities. Upscale communities are 

found throughout the area and offer 

such amenities as navigable waterways, 

gated entrances, golf course, tennis 

courts and organized social activities. 

Condominium prices range from the 

low $100,000s to several million for a 

waterfront view. 

Historic areas are benefiting from 

infill construction activity. New homes 

are being built on vacant lots or to 

replace demolished houses. Historic 

areas such as Springfield, Riverside- 

Avondale, San Marco and Murray Hill in 

Jacksonville are continuing to come back 

to life thanks to private enterprise and 

the city’s completion of infrastructure 

projects under the Better Jacksonville 

Plan. 

Recent retail and housing projects 

HOUSING 

along Riverside Avenue near downtown 

have added to the area’s residential 

options. Development of the Brooklyn 

area brought new homes with the 

opening of Brooklyn at Riverside 

and 220 Riverside. The net result has 

been the addition of hundreds of 

new residential units, a retail grocery 

story, restaurants, specialty shops and 

an urban park. Just across the street 

from Brooklyn, construction on the 

First Coast housing by county 

BAKER CLAY DUVAL NASSAU ST. JOHNS 5-COUNTY TOTAL/AVG FLORIDA UNITED STATES 

Population 27,093 199,798 897,698 76,619 217,919 1,419,127 19,893,297 318,857,056 

Population change -0.1% 4.7% 3.9% 4.5% 14.7% 5.54% 5.8% 3.3% 

Housing units 9,620 77,439 395,841 35,972 96,900 615,772 9,144,250 133,957,180 

Homeownership rate 79.7% 76.6% 61.6% 78.4% 77.0% 74.66 67.1% 64.9% 

Median value 

(owner-occupied units) 

$124,300 $158,600 $151,400 $181,100 $242,900 $171,660 $160,200 $176,700 

Source: 2010 Census, 2014 Estimates 

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HOUSING 

$22-million Winston Family YMCA is 

underway with expected completion 

in about 15 months. 

“Consumers should understand the 

reality that Northeast Florida’s real 

estate market is vibrant and healthy,” 

said Sally Suslak, 2015 president of 

the Northeast Florida Association of 

Realtors. “We have seen extremely 

strong sales numbers throughout the 

bulk of 2015.” 

NEFAR’s sales figures confirm 

Suslak’s assertion. At the end of the 

third quarter 2015, indicators point to 

a strong housing market. Even with 

fluctuations present within the same 

states and cities, the overall tempo of 

real estate potential is experiencing 

a healthy number of good omens. 

The job market has shown continual 

improvement, jobless rates are down, 

real average hourly and weekly 

earnings have been up and there has 

been good news in new household 

formation. New listings in the 

Northeast Florida region increased 5.9 

percent to 2,941. Pending sales were 

up 15.2 percent to 2,234. Inventory 

levels fell 14 percent to 9,657 units 

which equates to only 4.3 months on 

hand. A balanced market is five to 

six months. Prices continued to gain 

traction. In 2015, the number of days 

on the market was down 8.4 percent to 

76 days. 

New-home construction is enjoying 

a similar period of growth, said Rick 

Morales, the 2015 president of the 

Northeast Florida Builders Association. 

September 2015 had the secondhighest 

monthly new-home permits 

count for the past three years in the 

four-county area that includes Clay, 

Duval, Nassau and St. Johns. 

“With the steady increase over the 

past few years, builders are optimistic 

about the economy and the newhome 

market. Builders throughout 

the area are reporting a resurgence of 

consumer confidence and the permit 

statistics are evidence of that,” Morales 

said. “General improvement in the 

economy, favorable mortgage rates and 

population growth create a need for 

more homes. Projects that were on hold 

have been restarted along with new 

community development.” 

Floridian lifestyle? Just add water 

From lakes to ocean, the First Coast 

offers choices to enjoy waterfront living. 

In Northeast Florida, homes on the 

Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal 

Waterway provide upscale waterfront 

living. Rivers such as the St. Johns, St. 

Marys, Trout, Ortega, Nassau, Guana and 

Tolomato form a network throughout 

the area that is ideal for boaters, 

birdwatchers, kayakers, paddle boarders 

and nature lovers. In addition to natural 

waterways, numerous subdivisions have 

manmade lakes for recreation. 

Nationally, waterfront homes are 

worth more than double the value 

of homes overall. Florida is reported 

to have some of the lowest prices for 

waterfront homes. In 2014, Zillow 

published a study that showed 

the median value for a waterfront 

single-family home in Jacksonville 

was $157,700 as compared to a nonwaterfront 

home at $119,400. 

Epping Forest on San Jose Boulevard 

has a yacht club, access to a private 

marina and residences from $600,000 to 

figures in the millions. Homes at Queen’s 

Harbour Yacht and Country Club, with a 

navigational freshwater lock system on 

the Intracoastal Waterway, typically start 

just above $300,000 and can go as high as 

$4 million. 


HOUSING 

Bob.Self@jacksonville.com 

Left: Paddlers head up the St. Johns River past the Jacksonville skyline during the 2013 

River City Challenge. Right: With the Jacksonville skyline as a backdrop, Gator and Bulldog 

fans show their team colors aboard their watercrafts in the city marina across from 

EverBank Field. 

If you’re looking to live on the St. 

Johns River, prices for properties located 

on the St. Johns tributaries start at 

$200,000 for smaller homes either on 

the Northside of Jacksonville or much 

further south towards Palatka. 

To get a St. Johns riverfront home with 

deep-water access and stretching views, 

prices start at $400,000 and go much 

higher (think into the millions). 

Waterfront condos and townhomes 

are also popular in the area because they 

typically require less maintenance, but 

still offer all the beauty and convenience 

of living on the water. Channelside 

Luxury Waterfront Townhomes is a 

new 30-unit waterfront townhome 

community, located just off Beach 

Boulevard. The townhomes offer 

unobstructed views of the Intracoastal 

Waterway and start in the $600,000s. 

In Nassau and St. Johns counties, the 

story is much the same. Homebuyers 

will pay a premium price for oceanfront 

properties, and marsh, river and creek 

frontages are in high demand. Area 

developers are also carving out enclaves 

for those who want a small private 

neighborhood with a water view. 

Living on the water is desirable 

to many. For those who want a rush, 

it’s easy to enjoy water sports such as 

wakeboarding and water skiing. For 

nature lovers, the water offers a view 

of wildlife in your backyard, including 

birds, turtles, dolphins and manatees. 

Cecil Pines is an 

Active Adult Community offering a safe 

and peaceful environment with a 

maintenance-free lifestyle for a very 

reasonable monthly fee. We are pet friendly 

& our benefits include complete home and 

yard maintenance, an in-home emergency 

response system and more! 

Call today to schedule your personal tour. 

We are an equal opportunity 

housing provider 

Located Close By: 

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Fitness Center & Golf Course 

Shopping at Oakleaf Town Center 

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

904-771-8839 

www.cecilpines.org 

6008 Lake Cove Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 


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Homeowners 

associations 

Homeowners associations — commonly 

known as HOAs — exist to protect 

property values and ensure the 

consistent, attractive appearance 

of the community. A covenant of 

restrictions consistent with local 

codes are incorporated into the 

purchase transaction. The groups are 

backed by Florida law. Residents pay 

monthly dues for landscaping, pool 

maintenance, taxes, power costs, and 

other maintenance and repair items. 

Nonpayment of dues can lead to liens or 

foreclosure of your home. 

Professional management groups 

are often hired to oversee finances, seek 

bids for services and act on behalf of the 

community’s interests. A volunteer board 

of directors meets each month, and other 

members may serve on architectural 

review, communications, beautification 

and welcoming committees. 

Restrictions vary but frequently 

include the following covenants: 

• Garbage cans must be concealed on 

non-trash-pickup days. Restricted 

hours when garbage cans may be 

placed at the curb. 

• Exterior of house and lawn must 

be maintained. 

• Inoperable or unlicensed vehicles, 

boats and recreational vehicles may 

not be allowed in yard or driveway. 

• Houses may not be used to breed 

animals. 

• Neighborhood home colors must 

be approved. 

• Vehicles must be parked in the 

garage, not in the driveway. 

• Restricted hours for contract labor 

(lawn maintenance, plumber, 

construction, etc.) to be allowed into 

the community. 

• Mailboxes and For Sale signs must be 

a certain type for consistent look in 

community. 


HOUSING 

Property tax calculator 

Add your county millage rate and any city millages and/or special district taxes. Multiply that total by every $1,000 of taxable 

property (after subtracting your $25,000 homestead exemption). For example, if your taxes total 18.1825 mills and your home 

is assessed at $125,000, subtract the exemption and divide by $1,000 ($125,000 - $25,000 = $100,000 and $100,000/$1,000 = 100). 

Then calculate your taxes as follows: 18.1825 x ($100,000/$1,000)100. Your tax obligation is $1,818.25. These are current millage 

rates in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties: 

Baker County.............................................16.0558 

Macclenny...................................................................... 19.6558 

Suwannee River.............................................................16.1418 

Clay County................................................15.5403 

Green Cove Springs.......................................................16.7790 

Keystone Heights.......................................................... 18.9293 

Orange Park..................................................................18.8560 

Penney Farms................................................................ 15.4293 

Lake Asbury (water)......................................................15.5403 

Duval County (except Beaches, Baldwin) ...........18.8932 

Jacksonville Beach.........................................................19.4972 

Atlantic Beach................................................................18.9310 

Neptune Beach.............................................................. 18.9681 

Baldwin......................................................................... 20.1205 

Nassau County...........................................14.0543 

Callahan..........................................................................17.2695 

Amelia Island (outside city limits)............................... 15.7370 

Piney Island (with mosquito control)...........................15.8709 

Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island......................... 20.5059 

Hilliard...........................................................................15.5980 

St. Johns County......................................... 15.0767 

Hastings......................................................................... 23.6142 

Ponte Vedra Beach........................................................ 15.4517 

South Ponte Vedra and U.S. 1 area.............................. 15.1405 

St. Augustine..................................................................21.1780 

St. Augustine South lighting (no port)......................... 15.2876 

St. Augustine South lighting (with port)..................... 15.3505 

St. Augustine Beach......................................................18.0347 

St. Augustine Beach (outside city limits)..................... 15.1405 

Marineland area............................................................ 15.1405 

Julington Creek (municipal).......................................... 15.0767 

Julington Creek Plantation CDD................................... 15.0767 

Marshall Creek CDD....................................................... 15.1405 

Sampson Creek CDD...................................................... 15.0767 

Elkton drainage............................................................. 15.0767 

Hastings drainage (in city limits)................................. 23.6142 

Hastings drainage (outside city limits) ...................... 15.0767 

Flagler Estates road and drainage district................. 15.0767 

Vilano Beach lighting.................................................... 15.1905 

St. Johns Forest............................................................. 15.0767 

Brandy Creek................................................................. 15.0767 

Durban Crossing, Aberdeen......................................... 15.0767 

World Commerce, Sandy Creek.................................... 15.0767 

Heritage Landing, Lake Beluthahatchee..................... 15.0767 

Tolomato, Turnbull Creek, Main Street........................ 15.0767 

Sweetwater, Glen St. Johns, Treaty Oaks.................... 15.0767 

Las Calinas, Rivers Edge............................................... 15.0767 

Moultrie Creek............................................................... 15.0767 

Isles of Bartram Park, Flagler Estate.......................... 15.0767 

Six Mile Creek................................................................ 15.0767 

Sandy Creek................................................................... 15.0767 

Bartram Springs............................................................ 15.0767 

Trout Creek.................................................................... 15.0767 

Southaven CDD.............................................................. 15.0767 

Marshall Creek.............................................................. 15.0767 

Heritage Park................................................................ 15.1405 

Antiqua at St. Augustine, Maderia................................21.1780 

Deerfield Preserve CDD................................................ 15.1405 

Summer Haven............................................................. 23.6405 

Source: CDD: Community Development District 

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COMMUNITIES 

A statue of three lions in the heart of San Marco is a well-known symbol of the community. 

Jacqueline.Persandi@jacksonville.com 

A place to call home 

From multimillion-dollar homes on the water to rural 

communities, Northeast Florida has a variety of 

neighborhoods that are sure to fit your lifestyle and budget. 

Teresa.Stepzinski@jacksonville.com 

Historic Spring Park in downtown Green 

Cove Springs is an icon in the community as 

well as a tourist attraction. 


This corner of the world may be spread 

out, but an individual or family can 

find their niche within one of the 

many towns, cities and neighborhoods. 

However, the area’s expanse can make 

finding your way a difficult task. Names 

such as the Westside, Baymeadows, 

Murray Hill, Arlington or Loretto may 

pinpoint that particular area for the 

people who live there, yet be meaningless 

to newcomers or those not familiar with 

that part of town. 

These brief capsules of many of our 

communities give a glimpse of the people 

who live there, work there and raise their 

families there. 

You’ll discover the Jacksonville 

neighborhoods of San Marco and 

Riverside, both treasure troves of 

interesting architecture. You’ll get closer 

to the history of St. Augustine in St. 

Johns County and the Springfield area of 

Jacksonville. Also, you’ll get a glimpse at 

the newly constructed 220 Riverside and 

The Brooklyn Riverside, new housing 

with nearly 1,000 residential units. 

You’ll find many interesting people 

and places, plus homes in a wide range 

of prices — sometimes in unexpected 

places. 

In this corner of the world, there are 

diverse places and a diverse population 

— with some embracing the past, some 

embracing growth, but all embracing the 

individuality of their communities.

BAKER COUNTY 

Macclenny and Glen St. Mary 

Best of both worlds 

For those who want small-town 

friendly and big-city bustle, Baker 

County is ideal. Downtown Jacksonville 

is a 30-minute drive from Baker County, 

where you’ll find all the friendliness and 

hospitality that is part of a small town. 

For relaxing with family and friends, 

Baker County offers swimming, boating, 

fishing, hiking, camping and hunting. 

Shoals Park has more than 1,600 acres of 

hiking, ATV and equestrian trails, while 

Ocean Pond, an 800-acre lake, offers 

picnic areas and modern camp sites. The 

St. Marys River and the Little St. Marys 

River are pristine waterways that take 

you back to nature. Take advantage of 

the fresh air and nature in the Osceola 

National Forest, a federally managed 

forest of 220,000 acres, which provides 

some of the best hiking and hunting in 

Florida. 

Residents are avid supporters of Baker 

County High School sports. Enthusiastic 

crowds cheer on the Wildcats during 

football and basketball seasons, and the 

Lady Wildcats volleyball and softball 

games. 

Macclenny’s residents are diversified 

in their career choices with many 

commuters to neighboring Jacksonville. 

Other residents work for the Baker 

County schools, hospitals or the Walmart 

distribution center. 

Glen St. Mary has its own appeal and 

history. A northern vacationer, Alverdo 

Geiggey, was so impressed with the 

community, he invested in 12,700 acres 

of Baker County land making him the 

first real estate developer. He named the 

streets after U.S. presidents and some of 

Glen's horticultural products. 

At the turn of the century, Glen St. 

Mary was a thriving little town. Within 

the township limits were at least three 

boarding houses, two general stores, a 

doctor's office with pharmacy, a train 

depot, an ice-cream parlor, a livery 

COMMUNITIES 

Baker County Neighborhoods 


COMMUNITIES 

stable, a cotton and lumber mill, a large 

strawberry farm, a boom citrus and 

lumber industry, an alcohol-free billiard 

hall, various churches and their crowning 

glory, the Glen St. Mary Nursery. All this 

industry took place south of Highway 90, 

which was just a dirt road then. Growth 

and development have not diminished the 

town’s original appeal. 

The area offers large acreages as 

well as houses that average $133,300 in 

Macclenny. The average home price in 

Glen St. Mary is $112,800 

Sanderson 

A chosen few 

About 50 miles west of Jacksonville 

on Interstate 10, Sanderson offers a 

faster commute to downtown than some 

communities with a Jacksonville ZIP 

code. While many commute to work, 

jobs have increased by 4.29 percent in 

Sanderson, including jobs in health care, 

retail, hospitality and service businesses. 

And those who live there enjoy a cost of 

living 10.9 percent lower than the United 

States average. As of 2014, the population 

of Sanderson was 5,553. 

Home buyers typically get a larger 

house and more property for less money 

than they would elsewhere, choosing 

from manufactured housing in the 

$50,000s to a 1,700-square-foot cabin on 

50 acres for $625,000. The average home 

price is $110,230. 

CLAY COUNTY 


(Eagle Harbor ... Fleming Island Plantation ... Pace Island ... Hibernia 

Plantation ... Margaret’s Walk ... Romeo Point) 

Strength of character 

Margaret Seton Fleming had a 

working knowledge of trade, business 

and politics, as well as domestic subjects. 

In 1837, the highly disciplined and 

spiritual Fleming moved to Hibernia 

Plantation with her new husband, Lewis 

Fleming, whose father George had 

received Fleming Island as a 1790 land 

grant from the king of Spain. In the years 

to come, she would twice witness the 

destruction of the plantation and twice 

bring it back from ashes. 

Her dream from the time she arrived 

at Hibernia as a 24-year-old bride was 

Teresa.Stepzinski@jacksonville.com 

The community of Eagle Harbor is located on Fleming Island. 

to have a proper chapel on the grounds. 

Construction on the church in the 

Carpenter Gothic style began in 1875 

and completed in 1878. Sadly, Margaret 

died only months before its completion, 

and its first service was her funeral. 

Today, Fleming Island is one of the 

fastest-growing areas in the county. 

The most significant change on 

Fleming Island has been the number 

of new businesses — nationally known 

department stores, restaurants and 

specialty shops — that have opened, 

particularly at the northwest and 

southwest corners of County Road 220 

and U.S. Highway 17. 

Fleming Island home prices in 

developments such as Eagle Harbor, Pace 

Island, Hibernia Plantation and Romeo 

Point range from the $300,000s up to $3 

million, with the majority of homes in the 

$350,000-to-$500,000 range. The median 

house or condo value for all Fleming 

Island is $145,200. 

The area has many organized 

activities for people of all ages. There 

is an active 55-plus group, a number 

of championship-quality golf courses, 

organized tennis, soccer and all types of 

programs for children. 

Green Cove Springs 

Healthy beginning, healthy living today 

Green Cove Springs was a booming 

town on a bend of the St. Johns River 

early in the 1900s. River steamers 

brought visitors to the “Saratoga of the 

South,” noted for the health-giving 

qualities of its spring. Its hotels and 

boarding houses rivaled the best 

northern resorts. 

As an expanding railroad system 

carried tourists south, Green Cove 

Springs saw its first decline. Grand 

hotels, most made of wood, were left to 

disrepair or burned down. 

The city experienced renewed 

development in the 1940s with the wartime 

construction of Benjamin Lee Field, 

a 1,500-acre air auxiliary complex, by the 

U.S. Navy. After the war, the base became 

home port to a fleet of 600 ships. Green 

Cove Springs experienced yet another 

decline when the Navy decommissioned 

its base in 1961. 

But Green Cove, as most locals refer to 

the county seat, has been coming back. 

Its population is about 7,000. 

There are many older homes in 

Green Cove, and in and around town a 

lot of new homes continue to be built. 

The average home price is in the high 

$100,000s. 


Magnolia Heights 

Magnolia Heights has homes starting in the $170k’s. 

Floorplans range from 

1540 sq ft to 3000 sq ft. 

Several homes are 

currently available for quick 

occupancy, or we can build 

a home for you! 

For information on Magnolia Heights, 

please contact 904.241.9895 

Dawson’s Creek 

Dawson’s Creek has homes starting in the $230k’s. 


1540 sq ft to 3000 sq ft. 





For information on Dawson’s Creek, 


Longleaf Ranch 

Longleaf Ranch has homes starting in the $170k’s. 


1540 sq ft to 3000 sq ft. 





For information on Longleaf Ranch, 


CRC 1330146 

For more details on all of our Jacksonville Adams area Homes communities, is the southeast please visit region’s our website only at all-brick www.adamshomes.com/florida/jacksonville 

builder. We 

are a Florida-based company, founded in 1991. Longleaf Ranch has

COMMUNITIES 

Magnolia Point, a gated golf, tennis 

and country club off U.S. Highway 17, 

is zoned for about 975 homes, with 800 

already built and inhabited. Current 

prices range from the high $200,000s 

to the high $500,000s. Bay Street 

Condominiums offer two- or threebedroom 

condos with a boat slip for 

about $500,000. 

Recreational opportunities also 

abound. Spring Park along the St. Johns 

River features playground equipment, 

picnic facilities, gazebo, a spring-fed pool 

and a 500-foot city pier with 12 boat slips. 

Keystone Heights 

To the moon and back 

Paradise is what many people call 

the small, picturesque community of 

Keystone Heights at the southern tip 

of Clay County amid numerous sandbottomed 

lakes. 

Keystone was settled by 

Pennsylvanians drawn to the numerous 

lakes in the early 1920s. The town’s 

name was derived from Pennsylvania’s 

nickname — the Keystone State — and 

for the area’s unusual hilly terrain. 

Keystone Heights is also home to 

one of the country’s moon trees. When 

Apollo 14 launched in 1971, it carried 

with it hundreds of tree seeds, part of a 

joint NASA/USFS project. Upon return 

to Earth, the seeds that survived reentry 

were germinated by the U.S. Forest 

Service. Known as the “moon trees,” 

the resulting seedlings were planted 

throughout the United States and around 

the world. Unfortunately no systematic 

effort was made to track the trees, but 

one of the rare trees stands beside 

the library at the corner of Lawrence 

Boulevard and Orchid Avenue in 

Keystone Heights. 

Today, Keystone Heights is a small, 

peaceful, family-oriented town, with 

most businesses family-owned. Many 

residents belong to civic and social 

organizations such as the Federated 

Women’s Club, Rotary Club, Lions Club 

and Kiwanis Club. The average home 

price is $116,200. 

There are numerous recreational 

opportunities, including a beach with 

bathhouses and shaded picnic tables, 

public boat ramps, lighted tennis courts, 

nature trails and the Keystone Golf and 

Country Club. 


Photo by Tommy Moloney 

The Keystone Heights moon tree is grown from an American sycamore seed that orbited the 

moon before being planted. 

Keystone Heights Airpark, 

constructed in 1942 as Crystal Lake 

Airfield, also calls the area home. The 

2,500-acre park has one of the few 

aviation sports facilities in Florida and 

also offers flight training. The Airpark 

Authority also leases wildlife area to 

a sportsman’s club, with designated 

areas for corporate leasing and access 

to the taxiways, and a large area for an 

industrial park. 

Middleburg 

A simpler way of life 

Middleburg started in the early 1800s 

as Clark’s Ferry. Nearby Fort Heilman 

protected settlers at Clark's Ferry where it 

was a major depot for Florida’s east coast. 

From 1833 to 1850, the area was then 

known as Gary's Ferry, and in 1853 the 

area was finally called Middleburg. The 

town traded in timber, citrus fruits and 

crops from farmland. When Clay County 

was created in 1858 Middleburg became 

the temporary county seat until 1874. 

As recently as 40 years ago, dirt 

roads were common, you rarely saw a 

street sign and most residents came to 

Middleburg, southwest of Orange Park, 

looking for a way to escape the hustle and 

bustle of city life. Now, most — if not all 

— of that has changed. 

Middleburg covers a nearly 20 squaremile 

area in Clay County and had 13,008 

residents in 2010. 

Spurred by infrastructure 

improvements a few years ago with 

water and septic lines coming into the 

community, a great deal of commercial 

building has occurred, including new

fast-food restaurants and retail outlets. 

This has led to increased property 

values and has made Middleburg more 

appealing to commuters. 

Potential buyers have numerous 

choices, from manufactured housing to 

million-dollar properties. The average 

home price throughout Middleburg is 

$128,200. 

The community is still considered 

somewhat rural, offering a laid-back 

lifestyle, larger home lots and a chance to 

commune with nature. 

Orange Park 

A town with its own flavor 

The town of Orange Park stretches 

along the western bank of the St. Johns 

River, the nation’s longest north-flowing 

river and Florida’s largest. Once known 

as Laurel Grove after the name of the 

old Kingsley Plantation, the area was 

incorporated into Clay County in 1877. 

Orange groves, a valuable 

commodity planted by developers from 

Massachusetts, originally enticed many 

new residents to the area. The groves 

died out in harsh freezes in the mid- 

1890s, but a strong community flourishes 

in their place. Orange Park is now Clay 

County’s largest city, with about 8,570 

residents. Orange Park sits on a high 

and dry area featuring beautiful oak 

trees and splendid vistas along the St. 

Johns River. Convenient to Interstates 

10, 95 and 295, many residents work 

elsewhere and raise their families in this 

community. 

Wells Road has been dubbed 

“Restaurant Row” for all of its dining 

options. Jacksonville International 

Airport, downtown Jacksonville and the 

beaches are all within a 45-minute drive. 

Orange Park also boasts a 9-mile 

jogging and mountain biking trail that 

winds parallel with U.S. Highway 17 and a 

1.5-mile concrete river walk along the St. 

Johns River. The Orange Park Kennel Club 

(now known as Bestbet Orange Park) has 

been in the area since the 1930s. 

Orange Park also has a reasonable 

tax base and the average home value is 

$140,000. 

OakLeaf Plantation 

Bi-county hometown 

OakLeaf is really a giant subdivision, 

but it is somewhat unique in that 

it includes parts of Clay and Duval 

counties. Most of the 6,400-acre property 

is in Clay, however, southwest of 

Jacksonville and next to the 20,000-acre 

Jennings State Forest. 

Several areas offer single-family homes 

and condominiums priced from $80,000 

to more than $500,000. Completed and 

planned amenities include two village 

retail centers, two multimillion dollar 

athletic centers and a waterpark, an 18- 

hole championship golf course, a public 

library and 2.5-million square feet of 

commercial space. Housing in OakLeaf 

ranges from less than $100,000 to more 

than $500,000. 

Penney Farms 

A haven for retirees 

The town’s name is, indeed, from 

St. Vincent’s 

Medical Center 

Clay County 

St. Johns 

River State 

College 

COMMUNITIES 

department store icon J.C. Penney, 

who, in 1923, founded an experimental 

farming community where destitute 

farmers could live and work until they 

rebuilt their lives. 

Next to his Penney Farms, 8 miles 

west of Green Cove Springs, he built 196 

apartment units. The Memorial Home 

Community became a retirement home 

for ministers and gospel workers and 

their spouses and was dedicated in 1926 

in memory of Penney’s father, a minister, 

and his mother. The community is now a 

historic district. 

Today, Penney Farms is a selfsufficient 

town of about 710 (with most 

residents age 60 and older). About 530 

residents live in the Penney Retirement 

Community, while others live in singlefamily 

homes with a median value of 

Orange Park 

Medical Center 

Clay County Neighborhoods 


COMMUNITIES 

about $45,000. Living choices include 

apartments, cottages or single-family 

homes in a safe, secure environment. As 

a continuing care retirement community, 

Penney Retirement Community 

allows residents to remain in the same 

community, regardless of the changes 

in living assistance needs. Penney has 

a full continuum of health care services 

on campus, including skilled nursing, 

rehab/therapy and memory care. 

DUVAL COUNTY 

Argyle 

Becoming a city of its own 

Argyle, a family-friendly community 

of homes, schools and businesses close 

to Jacksonville Naval Air Station and 

Interstate 295, has evolved from the 

farmlands it once was. Since its inception 

in the early 1980s, the area, part of which 

is in Clay County, continues to be a hot 

spot for affordable housing. 

New subdivisions have spurred the 

growth of stores and services to the area, 

including street lane expansions and 

additional public services. A potentially 

long commute from Argyle to work and 

school was alleviated with construction 

of the First Coast Expressway (FCE), the 

northern portion of which was formerly 

called Branan Field-Chaffee Road. FCE 

is a 15-mile section of toll road along 

Florida 23 from Interstate 10 to Blanding 

Boulevard. Construction on the second 

segment from north of Argyle Forest 

Boulevard to Blanding Boulevard began 

in May 2014 

A separate project to construct a 

non-tolled frontage road parallel to the 

eventual First Coast Expressway from 

OakLeaf Plantation Parkway to Old 

Jennings Road began in September 2012 

and was completed as of spring 2014. 

Neighborhood parks, recreation 

centers and churches dot Argyle Forest 

Boulevard. An established portion of 

Argyle is Chimney Lakes, consisting of 

1,677 homes in 24 separate subdivisions. 

The property boasts 14 lakes, a recreation 

center, tennis courts, volleyball courts, 

a swimming pool, basketball courts, 

horseshoes facility and a covered 

pavilion. A white gazebo on scenic Twin 

Lakes is a popular place for residents’ 

parties and weddings. 

Homes in Argyle can be purchased for 


as low as the $60,000s (condos and small 

detached) up to an average in the mid 

$200,000s. 

Arlington 

(Alderman Park ... Arlingwood ... Charter Point ... Glynlea ... Grove Park ... 

Spring Hill ... Holiday Hills ... University Park ... Woodmere) 

Traditional yet young 

From its earliest days of settlements 

during the Spanish ownership of Florida, 

Arlington — the community west of the 

Regency Square shopping area and north 

of Beach Boulevard — has played an 

important role in Jacksonville’s housing 

history. 

During the 1800s, lumber and grist 

mills were established and, after the Civil 

War, more homes were constructed. It 

also was the site of religious colonies and 

a popular railroad line. 

Starting in 1950 and assisted by the 

opening of the Mathews Bridge in 1953, 

Arlington was the fastest-growing area in 

Duval County for the next 20 years. 

Arlington has since mushroomed 

far beyond its original boundaries. Real 

estate professionals familiar with the 

area see a renewed interest in some of 

the older homes, especially those with 

waterfront property. Some of these 

homes date back to the early 1900s. 

Many home buyers are looking for 

resale homes in mature neighborhoods 

and Arlington has a large price range to 

offer with an average of $156,140. 

Atlantic Beach 

A drive-to neighborhood 

Bordered by Kathryn Abbey Hanna 

Park to the north, Atlantic Boulevard to 

the south and the Intracoastal Waterway 

to the west, Atlantic Beach offers a smalltown 

atmosphere with easy access to the 

ocean. 

Stretching only about 25 blocks 

from north to south, Atlantic Beach is a 

closed-end community of about 13,000 

with a neighborhood feeling. The town 

center, near One Ocean Resort and Spa, 

is a popular gathering point with many 

quaint eateries and boutiques. 

Atlantic Beach has plenty of parks 

with opportunities for a variety of 

activities such as tennis, racquetball, 

basketball, baseball and nature hikes, 

as well as playground equipment. In 

addition, the Bull Recreational Area 

houses the Atlantic Beach Experimental 

Theater. 

The community is dominated 

by single-family homes, with some 

townhomes and duplexes. Prices range 

from about $100,000 for a starter home 

to the $600,000s-plus for a four-bedroom 

a few blocks from the beach to several 

million dollars for an oceanfront 

residence. The average house or condo 

price is $286,732, up from $155,400 in 

2000. 

Many Atlantic Beach residents work in 

downtown Jacksonville or the Southpoint 

area, both about a 30- to 45-minute 

commute depending on traffic. 

Community activities are an 

important part of the Atlantic Beach 

lifestyle. Popular events include the 

Farmer’s Market, the annual Dancin’ 

in the Street festival in mid-May, a 

Christmas festival and parent andchildren 

campouts in the city park 

several times a year. 

Although part of the greater 

Jacksonville municipality, Atlantic Beach 

has its own mayor, city council, police 

and fire departments. 

Baldwin 

Away from it all 

Baldwin, a town of 1,430 in extreme 

western Duval County north of Interstate 

10, was named for Dr. A.S. Baldwin, 

who led the successful fight to bring the 

railroad to the area. 

Beaver Street, once known as the Old 

Spanish Trail, almost bisects Baldwin, 

from which there is easy access to I-10 

and to U.S. Highway 301. 

Although Baldwin has had its own 

government and fire departments, 

the town council voted to disband its 

17-member police force in 2005. The 

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office took over 

services in 2006. 

Baldwin is the end point of the 

Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail, a 

14.5-mile trail system for hikers, in-line 

skaters, bicyclists and horseback riders. 

The trail runs between Imeson Road and 

County Road 121, just past Baldwin. 

Most Baldwin residents live in singlefamily 

older homes. The mean price for 

all housing units, including detached, 

townhomes/condos and other attached 

housing, mobile homes and occupied 

mobile residences was $192,500 in 2013.

Bayard 

Quaint bit of country 

Bayard, off U.S. Highway 1 at the 

deep southern end of Duval County, 

was founded in the 1800s to serve 

nearby sawmills and turpentine plants. 

Named for a member of President 

Grover Cleveland’s Cabinet, Thomas 

Francis Bayard, it was a stopping point 

for wagons, coaches and Florida East 

Coast railroad trains headed between 

Jacksonville and St. Augustine. 

Now, it’s a quiet, quaint locale and a 

stopping point for shoppers who crave 

garage sale-type bargains at a popular 

antique village. 

In addition, the I- 295 loop around 

Jacksonville, connects to U.S. 1 by 

Bayard, while 9B also connects to U.S. 

1 just south of Bayard. Also close to the 

area is Baptist Medical Center South, 

a high-tech state-of-the-art hospital 

at the southeast corner of I-95 and St. 

Augustine Road. The average home price 

is $310,859. 

Baymeadows 

Mixing it up 

On any given day in Baymeadows, 

you might find families looking for 

starter homes, empty-nesters scaling 

down in house size or growing families 

moving up. The many apartments mean 

that Baymeadows is often the choice of 

singles who have just moved to the city. 

The landscape is a mix of mature trees 

and large yards with the conveniences of 

city living. You don’t have to go far to get 

to the places you need to go, but still have 

the feeling that you live among nature. 

With Southside Boulevard and an easy 

connection to I-95 from Baymeadows 

Road, residents can be downtown in 

20-25 minutes — if traffic isn’t heavy 

(popularity of the area has brought 

increasing traffic tieups). Nearby are The 

Avenues Mall, Deerwood Village Mall 

and St. Johns Town Center, an open-air 

shopping area with restaurants and 

many high-end stores. 

The area has a range of home types 

and prices, including patio homes, 

condominiums, townhouses and singlefamily 

homes. A condo home or small 

single-family detached can be purchased 

for less than $100,000, and the average 

home listing price is $119,631. Many 

neighborhoods include amenities such 

as tennis courts, playground equipment, 

pools, security gates, soccer fields and 

parks. 

Beauclerc 

A tree-lined spot 

Straddling the eastern bank of the St. 

Johns River at one of its widest points and 

nestled between Mandarin, San Jose and 

Baymeadows lies Beauclerc, an idyllic, 

tree-lined neighborhood conveniently 

located with easy access to greater 


Sections of the neighborhood have 

developed an overhanging canopy, with 

the branches of trees on opposite sides of 

the roadway interlocking high above and 

providing a shaded pathway for residents 

and cars. 

Beauclerc homes have proven to be 

good investments, with the median sales 

price of $237,500. 

The area’s larger lots translate into 

homes with more floor space and bigger 

yards, some encompassing more than 

half an acre. Though many homes date 

from the 1970s, most homeowners 

have steadily updated interiors, giving 

COMMUNITIES 

most properties a modern touch with 

few renovations needed. Home styles 

range from traditional to contemporary 

to colonial, the variety of architecture 

stemming from the many different 

builders who constructed homes over 

the years. Many houses feature brick 

construction. 

Beauclerc is centrally located to 

shopping areas; proximity to I-295 allows 

residents access to many other parts of 

the city. 

The St. Johns River marks the 

neighborhood’s border, so boating is a 

popular recreational outlet. 

A number of marinas dot the area, 

including the Epping Forest Yacht Club, 

a half-mile north of the Epping Forest 

neighborhood. The club’s centerpiece is 

a beautiful Spanish Renaissance-style 

mansion, originally built by a duPont 

family heir in 1927. 

Beauclerc also boasts a YMCA and 

several public parks. 

Beauclerc attracts a nice mixture 

of older and younger homeowners, is 

culturally diverse and gives residents a 

sense of pace hard to find in other areas 

of the city. 

NO MATTER THE 

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COMMUNITIES 

Brentwood 

Reclaiming a neighborhood 

Old photos of Brentwood reveal its 

past as a former military base with 

barrack-style housing. Crime was 

rampant in an area of racial disharmony; 

in 1975, the privately run golf course 

closed. Part of the property was sold to 

the Duval County School Board for the 

construction of the A. Philip Randolph 

Academies of Technology. The remaining 

property reopened in 2000 as a nine-hole 

course with driving range under the 

direction of the First Tee of Jacksonville. 

The mission of The First Tee of North 

Florida is to have a positive impact on 

the lives of young people by providing 

educational programs that build 

character, instill life-enhancing values 

and promote healthy choices through 

the game of golf. In 2013, The First Tee 

of Jacksonville and The First Tee of St. 

Augustine merged to become The First 

Tee of North Florida, which continues to 

own and operate the facility. Also that 

year, Brentwood Golf Course earned the 

PGA Excellence Award for its outstanding 

performance in growing the game of golf. 

The most significant and galvanizing 

change in Brentwood is $34 million in 

new public housing. The Jacksonville 

Housing Authority complex is a mixedincome, 

32-acre area with 328 public 

housing and subsidized units. An 

adjacent 18 acres holds 94 HabiJax, 

the local arm of Habitat for Humanity, 

single-family homes. Seniors can 

choose to live in a separate section of 

apartments, and families can transition 

more smoothly into owning a home. 

A Shands clinic and Head Start office 

and computer lab operate on site. 

The $3 million Youth Education 

Town Center at Brentwood Park is 

a 22,685-square-foot education and 

recreational facility located in Brentwood 

Photo by Jean Sealey 

New apartments along Riverside Avenue – 200 Riverside and The Brookly Riverside – have 

added hundreds of residential units to the area. The Brooklyn Riverside is distinctive for its 

bright colors and is situated just behind the retail development on Riverside that contains a 

Fresh Market, boutiques, services and restaurants. 

Park. The center contains a 7,000-squarefoot 

gymnasium, a teen center, 

classrooms and administrative spaces. 

Exterior features consist of a stucco 

finish with a standing seam metal roof. 

The National Football League-seeded 

project is a byproduct of Jacksonville 

playing host to Super Bowl XXXIX. 

Residents continue to work hard to 

reclaim their neighborhood from crime. 

Older developments, such as 589-unit 

Brentwood Park, have reported fewer 

crimes after massive rehabilitations. 

Repairs occur more quickly, federal laws 

help evict criminals faster and more 

police patrol the area. 

Brentwood home prices average 

$43,970. 

Brooklyn 

A quickly emerging community 

The historically residential Brooklyn 

area, between Riverside Avenue and Park 

Street, has seen its share of progress. In 

October 2004, Jacksonville approved 

the Brooklyn Neighborhood Strategy 

Plan, which called for the creation of 

mixed-income residential, parking and 

commercial development for south 

Brooklyn, to the tune of $290 million 

in projects for up to 1,050 residences, 

167,000 square feet of retail space, 

250,000 square feet of office space and a 

central park. 

Newly constructed 220 Riverside and 

The Brooklyn Riverside added nearly 

1,000 residential units. The Brooklyn 

Riverside development, in addition to 

apartments, features a Fresh Market, 

restaurants, boutiques, hair and nail 

salons, and specialty shops. 

Unity Park, an urban park associated 

with 220 Riverside, was designed to be 

a public gathering spot, with scheduled 

activities such as concerts and art shows, 

festivals and free yoga and meditation 

sessions. The developers of 220 Riverside 

and Unity Plaza will begin construction 

on a hotel and on more apartments, 

tentatively called 200 Riverside, which 

should take about two years to complete. 

Across Riverside Avenue the YMCA 

is undergoing its own renaissance. 

Construction of the Winston 


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10920 Baymeadows Road, Suite 29 • Jacksonville, Fl 32256 

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Family YMCA has begun. The new 

72,000-square-foot branch will overlook 

the St. Johns and is being built behind 

the current 60-plus-year-old structure. 

The $22-million facility containing 

wellness spaces, group exercise spaces, 

an indoor track, locker and shower 

facilities, healthy living spaces, an 

aquatics center, meeting spaces, a café, 

outdoor café seating, outdoor lawn areas, 

and a future splash park is expected to be 

completed early 2017. 

The neighborhood also lies in an 

Enterprise Zone, an area designated 

as a target for economic development. 

Officials say its proximity to I-95 and 

downtown make Brooklyn a marketable 

area, with home prices expected to be an 

average of $205,699. 

Cedar Hills/Confederate Point/Jacksonville Heights 

Westside resurgence 

The close-knit neighborhoods of 

Cedar Hills, Confederate Point and 

Jacksonville Heights received renewed 

interest as residential communities 

as well as retail and commercial 

areas several years ago. These longstanding 

communities on the Westside 

lie east and west of I-295 along 103rd 

Street experienced resurgence in the 

construction of new subdivisions, the 

remodeling of existing homes and 

opening of new stores and shopping 

centers. Major thoroughfares that 

connect these communities to 

Jacksonville include Old Middleburg 

Road, Blanding Boulevard and Lane 

Avenue. 

One of the last vestiges of a 

simpler, country Jacksonville lifestyle, 

developments took place in the area 

in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s, resulting in 

homes built in a variety of styles. 

An extensive housing price range 

is one of the area’s biggest assets, with 

the average price being $152,500. 

Property values are increasing, but not 

skyrocketing. 

Residents are a short drive from 

the Cecil Field Commerce Center, an 

area of growing industry and several 

recreational facilities. 

Dames Point 

Diamond in the rough 

There is a forgotten frontier in 

Jacksonville with an abundance of 

waterfront property and pristine views 

Building in over 30 communities throughout 

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COMMUNITIES 

Pictures, elevations, features, sizes and colors are approximate for illustration purposes only 

and will vary from the homes as built. CBC058997 ©2015 D.R. Horton, Inc. All rights reserved. 


COMMUNITIES 

of the St. Johns, Trout and Broward 

rivers, and Dunn Creek. It is an area 

where industry and nature coexist. 

Jacksonville’s Northside is a diamond in 

the rough, offering an expanse of land 

to those desiring a quieter lifestyle and 

an area being mapped to handle growth 

with strategic planning. 

Although the area has been known 

primarily for industry, the tides have 

turned. People now see the Northside 

as incredibly convenient to downtown, 

Jacksonville International Airport (only a 

15-minute drive), and varied recreational 

opportunities such as Big Talbot and 

Little Talbot islands, the Jacksonville 

Zoo and Gardens and Huguenot Park. 

The Dames Point area backs up to 56,000 

acres of the Timucuan Ecological and 

Historic Preserve. 

Newer housing developments offer 

homes priced from the $100,000s to the 

$500,000s. 

Commercial strip malls have opened; 

one at Interstate 295 and Lem Turner 

Road is anchored by Home Depot, while 

another, the 78,000-square-foot Duval 

Station Centre across from First Coast 

High School, is anchored by Publix. 

The area has space to expand with 

waterfront land available. The average 

home price is $180,500, but waterfront 

properties can go much higher. 

Deerwood and Tinseltown 

Upscale with razzle-dazzle 

The gated, golf club communities 

of Deerwood and Deercreek set the 

stage for this area of town off Southside 

Boulevard. While there are numerous 

developments of moderately priced 

condominiums, apartment homes and 

single-family residences off Southside, 

Deerwood is the venerable locale with 

homes ranging from the $200,000s to $1.5 

million or more. 

Beautifully kept office parks and car 

dealerships are close by, while the St. 

Johns Town Center and The Avenues 

mall are just 10 to 15 minutes away. 

The Tinseltown area, north of the 

Deerwood-Deercreek area, is named for 

the Cinemark Tinseltown Theater that 

was first on the site. Now, it has plenty of 

company with numerous restaurants and 

nightspots, shops, hotels and offices. 

Upscale apartments near Tinseltown 

and the St. Johns Town Center have 

attracted young singles, while newer 


developments in the area, such as Old 

Mill Branch off Gate Parkway, has singlefamily 

homes priced from the high- 

$200,000s to mid-$400,000s. 

The area has also seen many 

apartment-to-condo conversions, with 

units beginning in the $100,000s. The 

average home price is $181,500. 

Durkeeville 

A real success story 

Durkeeville, a Myrtle Avenue 

neighborhood, west of I-95 north of Kings 

Road, began life as a suburb primarily 

for middle class African-Americans who 

were prohibited from living in other parts 

of Jacksonville by segregation laws. 

In 1937, Durkeeville was the first 

federally funded housing complex in 

Jacksonville for African-Americans. 

The Durkeeville Housing Project 

was built on land Dr. Jay Durkee had 

sold to the city. Over the years, the 

neighborhood fell into decline. But in 

1992, the housing project was replaced 

with a new housing complex – The Oaks 

of Durkeeville. Many changes were 

necessary to restore this neighborhood. 

Today, the area boasts single-family 

homes, a park and shopping area. 

The homeowners association and the 

Durkeeville Historical Society point with 

pride to the many positive changes. In 

2000, Durkeeville was honored by the 

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban 

Development as one of the top public 

housing areas in the nation. 

The Durkeeville Historical Society, 

which operates a museum, is dedicated 

to telling the stories of many prominent 

African-Americans from the area, such 

as Charlie “Hoss” Singleton, who wrote 

Frank Sinatra’s Strangers in the Night, 

among other hits. 

The average home price in the area is 

$35,000. 

Five Points 

Eclectic and vibrant 

Five Points — named for where 

Park, Margaret and Lomax streets 

come together from five directions 

— is a distinct area of the Riverside 

neighborhood. It stands on its own 

because of its unusual nature. 

Colorful storefronts, restaurants and 

funky specialty shops, some with a lot 

of attitude, make up the retail part of 

this area. Within eyesight and walking 

distance are schools, churches, parks 

and the Cummer Museum of Art and 

Gardens. The area is known for its 

diversity, young people with generational 

preferences in clothing, hair color and 

styles and more conservatively attired 

people of all ages mingle easily at the 

area’s restaurants, the neighborhood 

Publix and Starbucks. 

In 2005, a project was completed to 

give the heart of Five Points a makeover 

by redoing sidewalks and adding lighting 

and benches. 

A JTA trolley that started in July 2008 

between Five Points and downtown has 

been very successful. The average home 

price is $256,000. With numerous rental 

offerings, the average monthly rent is 

$1,195. 

Fort Caroline/East Arlington 

Still a popular settlement 

Fort Caroline is an area less than 

15 square miles east of downtown 

Jacksonville on the southern shore with 

breathtaking views of rolling terrain and 

stately oaks. 

In their leisure time, families in Fort 

Caroline take advantage of their natural 

surroundings by hiking, exploring, 

kayaking and fishing. They don’t have 

to go far: a protected nature preserve is 

practically in their backyard. 

Fort Caroline National Memorial, a 

part of the Timucuan Ecological and 

Historic Preserve, pays tribute to early 

French settlement efforts with a replica 

fort exhibit and visitor’s education center. 

Just next door is St. Johns Bluff at Ribault 

Monument, a memorial to Jean Ribault, 

one of the area’s first explorers. The view 

from the bluff offers a bird’s-eye vista of 

the St. Johns River, once known as the 

River of May. 

Adding to a buyer’s choices are 

homes in the $200,000-to-high-$300,000 

range in housing developments such 

as Waterleaf, The Preserves at St. 

Johns Landing, Kernan Forest and 

Summerbrook. Captiva Condominiums 

in Arlington offer one-, two- and threebedroom 

condominiums beginning in 

the $50,000s. The average home price for 

the area is $150,200. For home buyers in 

search of country club living, one of the 

area’s more established private clubs is 

Hidden Hills Country Club, founded in 

1965. 

Although new homes are going

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COMMUNITIES 

up quickly, hundreds of acres in Fort 

Caroline will remain untouched because 

of their historic standing. 

Garden City and Dinsmore 

Quiet lifestyle on city outskirts 

The communities of Dinsmore and 

Garden City retain the rural small-town 

appeal they have held for decades. 

Residents who move here tend to stay, 

and many have neighbors they have 

known for years. 

With the exception of Dunn Avenue 

and I-295, most of the area comprising 

Dinsmore and Garden City has 

been spared heavy traffic and urban 

encroachment. These two areas have 

communities sprinkled amid acres of 

forested, undeveloped land. Residents 

enjoy a friendly, rural lifestyle in quiet 

neighborhoods filled with large private 

properties. 

The area has single-family home 

developments, including Waterbrook 

Falls, with homes from the high 

$100,000s to the $300,000s, and White 

Oak Trail, with homes in the $200,000s. 

The average home price is $150,200. 

Locale is a big advantage to living in 

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the area as it is close to Interstate 295 

and the North Campus of Florida State 

College at Jacksonville; only a 25-minute 

commute to the Orange Park Mall or 

Regency Square; and has a J.C. Penneyanchored 

shopping center at Lem Turner 

Road and Dunn Avenue. 

Gateway and Talleyrand 

Full spectrum of real estate 

It’s a part of Jacksonville that often 

gets overlooked, but Gateway and 

Talleyrand are redeveloping themselves. 

Renovations at Gateway Center, along 

with road improvements funded by the 

Better Jacksonville Plan and new housing 

options, are bringing vitality to the area. 

Historically, the Gateway and 

Talleyrand areas, on the outskirts of 

Springfield and downtown, were some 

of the earliest settled neighborhoods 

in Jacksonville. Examples of early 

1900s architecture still exist. Buyers 

are purchasing these older homes and 

restoring them to their original glory. 

Parts of Talleyrand are highly 

industrial, but the landscape is rapidly 

changing. The opportunity to own 

riverfront housing downtown in former 

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industrial areas has become a reality. 

The Plaza Condominium at Berkman 

Plaza and Marina is a luxury riverfront 

complex. Located along the St. Johns 

River on 400 E. Bay Street, the 22-story, 

208-unit high-rise tower, has many 

amenities, including a swimming pool, 

a private parking garage with rooftop 

tennis courts, a sun deck and gardens. 

The building features Mediterranean 

architecture and lush landscaping. 

Recent for-sale-by-owner one- and 

two-bedroom condo homes begin in the 

$160,000s to $330,000, townhomes about 

$400,000. Subleases are available from 

$1,250 to $2,000. 

The Shipyards, an ill-fated riverfront 

development on a 40-acre plot of cityowned 

land, has been mired in lawsuits, 

bankruptcy, grand jury investigations 

and broken contracts. It is currently 

the subject of proposals that would add 

office, retail, residential and medical 

facilities. 

Intracoastal and Intracoastal West 

A place like no other 

When you stop in one of the 

neighborhoods along the Intracoastal 

Waterway, taking in its vibrant 

ecosystem, you will see why so many 

residents have selected the area to 

call their home. It is, for all practical 

purposes, the city's eastern frontier 

— not quite the Beaches, not quite 

Jacksonville. It is a unique community, a 

place like no other in Northeast Florida. 

The Intracoastal West real estate 

market is almost entirely made up of 

single-family homes. The typical home 

ranges in size from 1,000 to 5,000 square 

feet, with home prices ranging from 

around $125,000 to more than $3 million 

for estate properties and waterfront 

homes with magnificent views. 

Waterfront homes start at $400,000. Land 

is also available for custom homes. 

Development didn’t stop with 

single-family homes. Spots along the 

Intracoastal were tapped for condos, 

such as Marina San Pablo off Butler 

Boulevard, the first tower of which was 

completed in late 2006 and immediately 

sold out. A second tower was planned, 

but the economic downturn delayed 

those plans. A new project, Aphora at 

Marina San Pablo, will be 12 stories 

with 57 residences from $600,000 to $2 


million. It will be waterfront within the 

marina and is being developed by Bove 

LLC and Remi Properties. 

West of what residents call “The Big 

Ditch” was not so long ago tree farms and 

cow pastures along Butler Boulevard, 

then a two-lane road leading to the 

beach. Begun simply as an access road to 

the University of North Florida, it is now 

six lanes for most of its length and has 

brought shopping, new communities and 

more roads. 

Homes in the region between Butler 

Boulevard along Hodges and Kernan 

roads to Atlantic Boulevard appeal to 

home buyers in every income level. The 

average home value is $250,000, but there 

are newer upscale neighborhoods with 

homes going for more than $1 million. 

Gated golf communities, such as 

Jacksonville Golf and Country Club and 

Glen Kernan Golf and Country Club, 

are housing choices. Also in the area are 

the First Coast Technology Park on the 

University of North Florida campus and 

the St. Johns Town Center, an open-air 

shopping center near the intersection 

of Butler Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff 

Road. 

Residences range from moderate 

homes starting at $175,000 to gated 

country club communities with homes 

up to $2 million and more. The average 

home price is $286,700. 

Queen’s Harbour Yacht and Country 

Club, which has been steadily growing 

for the past 10 years, has been a big 

hit with boaters because of its easy 

Intracoastal and St. Johns River access 

through a freshwater lock system, 

and with golfers because of its Mark 

McCumber-designed course. Resale 

homes begin in the high $500,000s and 

range to $2 million. 

On the south end of the Intracoastal, 

just past Butler Boulevard is Marsh 

Landing, which opened in 1982. Prices 

range from the high $400,000s to the 

millions. 

rental property. It was a nice place to visit 

or shop. 

But as demand for homes at the 

Beaches continues to skyrocket, more 

people have found Jacksonville Beach’s 

mix of everything from $1 million-plus 

oceanfront homes to the area’s most 

affordable housing quite appealing. The 


Of course, the resort and laid-back 

lifestyle is Jacksonville Beach’s biggest 

perk. The area is becoming a community 

of the young and active. Head out on 

the weekends and you'll see young 

people everywhere — playing on school 

grounds, bicycling along the ocean, or 

riding the waves on surfboards. 

Cultural, music and entertainment 

events are often on stage in Jacksonville 

Beach. The SeaWalk Pavilion is the focal 

point of beach festivals, which bring 

everything from blues legends to Latin 

bands to the stage. 

There’s a vibrant arts community 

throughout Jacksonville Beach — by 

day or night. You can hear classical 

music performed at St. Paul’s by-the-Sea 

Episcopal Church throughout the fall 

COMMUNITIES 

as part of the Beaches Fine Arts Series 

and see a production by Players by the 

Sea, one of the Beaches’ two community 

theater groups. 

All this activity, combined with some 

vigorous efforts by the city of Jacksonville 

Beach to beautify the area, adds to the 

demand for Jacksonville Beach property. 

Lake Shore 

Water, water everywhere 

A neighborhood reaching back from 

the shores of the Ortega, Cedar and 

St. Johns rivers, Lake Shore is a family 

community that consists of both modest 

residences and waterfront homes. Lake 

Shore real estate is primarily made up of 

medium-sized (three or four bedrooms) 

to small (studio to two bedrooms) singlefamily 

homes and small apartment 

buildings. 

Most of the residential real estate is 

owner occupied. Many of the residences 

in the Lake Shore neighborhood are 

older, well-established and built 

between 1940 and 1969. A number of 

residences were built before 1940, but 

it was primarily developed after the 

Jacksonville’s 

Only 

Leather 

Specialist 

Jacksonville Beach 

By the beautiful sea 

After years of standing in the shadow 

of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach, 

Jacksonville Beach is finally coming into 

its own. Formerly known as the beach 

commercial center, Jacksonville Beach 

was full of businesses and residential 

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COMMUNITIES 


A view from the top on the second day of the 2015 Jacksonville Sea & Sky Spectacular air 

show in Jacksonville Beach. 

Jacksonville Naval Air Station boom in 

the 1940s. The average home price is 

$108,649. 

Because of its major road access — 

Blanding Boulevard, Cassat Avenue 

and Roosevelt Boulevard cross the area, 

Lake Shore residents are a quick drive 

away from shopping at Roosevelt Square, 

restaurants, the river with its many 

recreational activities and downtown. 

LaVilla 

Bringing back vitality 

From its years as a bustling 

transportation center in the late 1800s 

to the time when it swung to the beat of 

Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and Sarah 

Vaughan, LaVilla has had a colorful 

past. Its busy railway depot attracted 

thousands of travelers along Lee and Bay 

streets. In the early 1900s, its African- 

American community of houses and 

entertainment venues flourished. 

Today, after decades of urban decay 

and a controversial revitalization plan 

in the 1990s that left vacant lots where 

several longtime structures existed, 

LaVilla has been revitalized. 

The Ritz Theater has been restored 

to its former glory. The LaVilla School 

of the Arts attracts talented students 

from across the county. An increasing 

number of businesses are expanding or 

developing offices. 

While development in LaVilla — 770 

acres north and west of the central 

downtown business district — has been 

commercial so far, it is still possible that 

residential living might be a reality. 

Loretto 

A bit of middle America 

A distinct part of the greater 

Mandarin area, Loretto sits between San 

Jose Boulevard to the west and Philips 

Highway to the east. It is bordered to the 

north by Interstate 295 and to the south 

by the county line. 

Loretto was formed by the Catholic 

Diocese of St. Augustine. In the 

days of Reconstruction, Loretto 

sprouted up next to the nuns’ convent, 

dormitory and school. It is on what 

became Old St. Augustine Road, the 

highway between Jacksonville and St. 

Augustine. According to Wayne Wood’s 

Jacksonville’s Architectural Heritage, the 

nuns were sent there to educate both the 

residents and newly freed slaves. 

As more and more new Northeast 

Florida residents found the area’s 

ancient tree cover, access to the river and 

convenient location appealing, Loretto 

and Mandarin started to grow. 

The area public schools always have 

ranked high. Loretto Elementary has 

earned a grade of A consistently since 

2001. 

The average price for homes is 

$194,496. Many homes are built on some 

of the largest new construction lots in 

the area, and there are many dead-end 

streets and cul-de-sacs. 

Loretto is popular, too, because of 

all its nearby amenities. Just about 

every merchant, service or restaurant 

imaginable is on San Jose Boulevard. 

Loretto definitely has a solid, 

hometown feel. The neighborhoods are 

established. Parks and nature areas are 

nearby. There are many places for kids 

to play. It’s a bit of proverbial middle- 

America neighborhood. 

Mandarin 

Popular, family-oriented community 

Bordered by the Beauclerc area to the 

north, Julington Creek to the south and 

the St. Johns River to the west, Mandarin 

offers residents a suburban, familyfocused 

lifestyle in an area that is quaint, 

charming and filled with history. 

There are plenty of choices for home 

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COMMUNITIES 

buyers with prices ranging from $140,000 

to more than $3 million for a riverfront 

home and the median real estate value 

of $316,028. Many Mandarin home sites 

have a canopy of large trees that put 

nature’s beauty on display. 

Quality education is a priority for 

most families considering relocation, 

and Mandarin is known for its excellent 

schools. 

The area also offers various parochial 

and private educational facilities. The 

community is central to Southpoint and 

Philips Highway businesses, making it a 

convenient commute for those who work 

in that busy corridor. 

Downtown is about a 20- to 25-minute 

drive. Mandarin has a variety of 

shopping facilities and restaurants. 

Most residents have a grocery store 

and pharmacy within minutes of their 

homes. 

River access and good neighborhood 

parks are another attractive feature. The 

community has many parks, several 

marinas and more waterfront views than 

any other area in Jacksonville. 

Mandarin’s roots go back to about 

1830. The building that is home to the 

Mandarin Community Club was rebuilt 

in 1872 after a fire destroyed an earlier 

building on the site. Harriet Beecher 

Stowe, famed author of Uncle Tom’s 

Cabin and longtime winter resident, led 

the project. 

Since before the Civil War until nearly 

1975, Mandarin remained a primarily 

rural community with much of the 

business in agriculture. Today, Mandarin 

is a thriving area with plenty of homes, 

retail centers and businesses. 

Marietta and Whitehouse 

Country atmosphere 

Few places around Jacksonville still 

can claim a country atmosphere with 

room to move. 

Marietta offers unusually large 

lots with an average of a half-acre and 

an average home value of $224,500. 

New development, too, satisfies those 

looking for a good combination of rural 

community and modern homes. 

Many move to Marietta because they 

have animals. It’s not uncommon to see 

cows, horses or other farm animals. 

The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail 

also winds through Marietta. The 

trail, converted from the roadbeds of 

abandoned railroad lines to paved or 

graveled restricted thoroughfares, Rails 

to Trails, offers a pathway for bicyclists, 

skaters and walkers/hikers as well as 

horseback riders. The 14.5-mile trail 

runs through an area of industrial 

developments, farms with grazing cows, 

and horses and forests that come right up 

to the grassy shoulders. 

Marietta is home not only to people 

looking for space, it is also home to many 

businesses looking for space. The Publix 

and Michael’s warehouses are off Beaver 

Street; the Westside Industrial Park is 

just north of Marietta; and the Cecil 

Commerce Center also is convenient. 

Mayport 

Simply shipshape 

Mayport, the nation’s oldest fishing 

village, is an eclectic mix of a beach 

community and quaint town with a 

strong military presence. The area, 

previously a forgotten bedroom 

community of Jacksonville, is 

undergoing improvements, with even 

more planned for a place that’s home 

to a fleet of shrimp boats, a large naval 

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of Florida, LP, CBC1257429. 


ase, old Florida-style bungalows and 

numerous pelicans squatting on saltwarped 

pilings. 

While there was some discussion of a 

cruise terminal in Mayport several years 

ago, land designated for the terminal 

is fenced off and unused. Today, the 

possibilities for renewal are awaiting 

the recommendations of a consultant 

as to the potential of declaring the area 

a Community Redevelopment Area. 

That designation would allow the city 

to collect taxes for redevelopment and 

infrastructure improvements. 

The Mayport Waterfront Partnership 

was set up by the state in 1997 to preserve 

and revitalize the historic fishing village, 

established in 1562. The partnership 

includes business people, civic leaders 

and residents. The hope of many is to 

revitalize the area while retaining its 

quaint, charming atmosphere. 

Transportation to Mayport was 

enhanced when the Wonderwood 

Connector opened. The connector, also 

called Florida 116, is made up of portions 

of Monument, McCormick and Mount 

Pleasant roads and Wonderwood Drive. 

It is designated an evacuation route from 

the coast. 

Besides Mayport’s obvious draw of 

being close to the beach, the community 

also has a lot of other enticing qualities. 

It is home to Kathryn Abbey Hanna 

Park, the northernmost beach on the 

south side of the St. Johns River. This 

Jacksonville city park at the north end of 

Mayport Road has an uncrowded beach 

with high dunes that are densely forested 

on the inland side, a hiking trail and a 

small water park for children. 

And, with its prime location between 

the Intracoastal Waterway and the 

Atlantic Ocean, Mayport is home to a 

major fishing industry. You can buy 

Mayport shrimp and other seafood fresh 

off the docks from many of the seafood 

companies that operate there. 

The average home price in Mayport is 

$215,784. 

Maxville 

A little corner of the world 

Maxville, a community at the 

intersection of U.S. Highway 301 and 

Normandy Boulevard in the southwest 

corner of Duval County to the Clay 

County line, is home to about 6,000 

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COMMUNITIES 

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HOURS 

• Mon: CLOSED 

• Tues: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM 

• Wed: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM 

• Thurs: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM 

• Fri: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM 

• Sat: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM 

• Sun: CLOSED 


COMMUNITIES 

Photo by Christy Whitehead 

The Murray Hill Theatre has been a landmark on the Westside for many years. And for 

almost 15 years it has been the home of Christian music and outreach. 

people who like to get away from it all. 

The first things you notice about 

Maxville is that homes have lots of land 

and that their park has softball fields that 

are almost always full. 

The Diamond D Rent Horse Stables, 

which offers guided horseback rides 

through beautiful forest trails, is in 

Maxville. 

New residential development is 

anticipated due to Maxville’s proximity 

to the Cecil Commerce Center and 

indicator that more businesses and 

people are probably on their way. Of 

existing homes, the average price is in 

the low $100,000s. 

Moncrief 

Pride on the Northside 

Pride is a word that comes up when 

talking about the Moncrief area, 

bordered by Moncrief Road and 44th 

Street on the south, Sibbald Road on the 

west and the Trout and St. Johns rivers on 

the north and east. 

The Moncrief Improvement 

Association has made great strides and it, 

along with the community’s City Council 

representatives, church-funded charities 

and other groups are continually 

working to beautify the area. 

Moncrief residents enjoy quick access 

to the downtown area, the airport, retail 

shopping centers and the core of the city. 

The addition of some major retailers as 

well as small businesses offer practically 

all of the same services and goods other 

Jacksonville communities enjoy. 

New residential construction is 

coming to Moncrief and the surrounding 

areas. The average home price is $92,354. 

Over the years, the Moncrief 

Improvement Association and residents 

have been instrumental in acquiring a 

community center and a playground, 

repairing streets and performing other 

fundamental services. 

Murray Hill 

Blast from the past 

Murray Hill was first platted in 1906, 

became a city in 1916 and was voted to 

become a part of the city of Jacksonville 

in 1925. Its beginnings are linked to the 

railroads — families settled in the area 

because of its close proximity to the rail 

yards. 

With a history dating back to the 

turn of the century, Murray Hill has 

landmarks that add to its uniqueness. 

The neighborhood boasts one of 

Jacksonville’s only two 1918 Sears, 

Roebuck and Co. kit homes. And, the 

original Dreamette, a Jacksonville 

institution, still offers self-serve ice 

cream at Edgewood and Post. 

The borders of Murray Hill run 

roughly from I-10 down Cassat Avenue 

to Park Street, Roosevelt Boulevard, and 

back up to I-10. 

Now boasting more than 5,000 homes, 

ranging from small bungalows and 

brownstones to larger two-story homes, 

residents of Murray Hill are moving in or 

staying in the small community because 

of its family-oriented appeal, its location 

close to major arteries and downtown, 

its parks and its pedestrian-friendly 

business district. 

The Murray Hill Preservation 

Association, which has operated under 

different names since 1932, can take 

much of the credit for making Murray 

Hill what it is today. MHPA, organized 

to preserve the neighborhood, is a key 

component to planning, representing 

and preserving Murray Hill’s unique 

character. 

Homes in Murray Hill range from 

fixer-uppers at $18,000 to more than 

$300,000, with an average price of 

$84,815. The average rental price in 

Murray Hill is currently $759 per month. 

Neptune Beach 

The ‘burbs of the beaches 

The youngest and smallest of the 

beaches neighborhoods, Neptune Beach 

has defined itself by becoming the 

closest thing to a suburban area among 

Jacksonville’s oceanfront communities. 

Neptune Beach’s boundaries run 


from Atlantic Boulevard to the north, 

the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the 

Intracoastal Waterway to the west and 

Seagate Avenue to the south. According 

to Wayne Wood’s Jacksonville’s 

Architectural Heritage, Neptune Beach 

first came into being in 1931 when the 

citizens organized a tax revolt against 

the city of Jacksonville Beach for better 

services. Since 1989, it has operated 

under an elected mayor, council and city 

manager government. 

The name Neptune is attributed to 

resident Dan G. Wheeler. Wheeler, who 

regularly walked to Mayport to catch the 

train for work in Jacksonville, found out 

that if he constructed a station near his 

home, the train would have to stop there. 

He built the station in 1922 and named 

the station Neptune. It’s been the name 

ever since. 

Legendary Pete’s Bar is the 

granddaddy of all of Duval County 

watering holes, with the area’s first 

liquor license issued in 1933. It also was 

featured in John Grisham’s novel, The 

Brethren. 

One of the strongest similarities 

among Neptune Beach and the other 

beaches communities is the steady rise 

in property values. 

Many Neptune Beach newbies 

buy a fixer-upper home or duplex for 

restoration and possible use as a rental 

or resale investment. Homes date from 

the 1930s to recent years, offering 

opportunities for everyone from doit-yourselfers 

to people ready to hire 

professional contractors. The average 

home price is in the $400,000s, but 

expect to pay much more for oceanfront 

homes. 

Nocatee 

New town, new type of living 

The town of Nocatee is a masterplanned 

community in the northeast 

corner of St. Johns County and the 

southeast corner of Duval County. 

The development offers a variety of 

residential lifestyles, employment 

opportunities, shopping, schools and 

civic uses. 

The Nocatee Parkway opened in 

January 2007, with traffic routed from 

County Road 210. This east-west route 

will take drivers north of 210 into 

Nocatee, a 15,000-acre development that 

COMMUNITIES 


Residents enjoyed the Budweiser Clydesdales as they paraded along Atlantic Boulevard in 

Neptune Beach Thanksgiving 2015. 

eventually will have 30,000 residents. A 

southern route, Crosswater Parkway, was 

opened in 2007. 

Some neighborhoods, like Riverwood, 

a 55+ community by Pulte Del Webb, 

and Coastal Oaks by Toll Brothers, 

have houses for sale beginning in the 

$300,000s and going up to $1 million or 

more. 

The town has more than 360 acres 

of neighborhood and community 

parks. Each neighborhood has its own 

park, which may include ball fields, 

tot lots, playgrounds and picnic areas. 

In addition, 185 acres of community 

parks are dedicated to athletic fields, 

an aquatics park, playgrounds, tennis 

facilities and basketball courts. 

The turndown in the economy slowed 

construction in Nocatee, but today it is 

one of the hottest real estate markets in 

the region. 

Normandy and Hyde Park 

(Hyde Grove) 

Past merges with future 

Driving along Normandy Boulevard is 

like looking into the past and future all at 

once. The previously rural area nestled 

on Jacksonville’s Westside was once 

used mainly for dairy farming, and large 

patches of land spotted with sprawling 

oaks, tall pines and grazing cattle still 

can be found. 

With Jacksonville Naval Air Station 

and the former Cecil Field Naval Air 

Station close by, Normandy/Hyde Park 

has long been a military community. The 

federal government closed Cecil Field in 

1999, and the city improved the 17,000- 

acre property into the Cecil Commerce 

Center. 

The Cecil Commerce Center includes 

the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, 


COMMUNITIES 

Photo by Jon Worth 

Riverside and Avondale have some of the highest property values in the area. Since 1994, 

property values in these neighborhoods have escalated almost 500 percent. 

with indoor arena seating for 4,000, 

an outdoor arena and ring, lighted 

practice rings and barns. There is also 

a recreation complex and community 

center, Olympic-size swimming pool, 

instructional pool and softball fields. The 

original plans projected that businesses 

at the center would have 25,000 

employees by 2019. 

Part of the draw to Normandy/ 

Hyde Park is its location with easy 

access to Interstates 295 and 10 and 

only a 10-minute drive to downtown. 

Jacksonville International Airport and 

shopping are 15 to 30 minutes away, and 

the beaches about 40 minutes away. 

Existing neighborhoods offer 

affordable housing, and new 

developments have homes ranging from 

the low $100,000s to the $700,000s. The 

median home price is $132,400. 

Residents are civic-minded and 

there are many community groups. 

Westside Involved Neighbors, one of 

the community groups in the area, 

has completed landscaping and 

beautification projects in the area. 

Oceanway 

A rural fixture 

Amid the major development in 

Oceanway, the rural aspect of life 

— the cows, the green fields and the 


lush forests — remain as fixtures that 

embody the area. 

New communities have sprung up 

along Busch Drive, Alta Drive, Starratt 

Road and New Berlin Road. Amelia View, 

a development with homes starting in 

the high-$200,000s and up, features 

deep, navigable water and direct access 

to the Intracoastal Waterway, along 

with views across the Nassau Sound to 

Amelia Island. Home sites are a quarterto 

a half-acre in size, and community 

amenities include lakes, clubhouse, a 

pool, basketball courts, play area and a 

waterfront park. 

Industry in Oceanway is alive and 

well. Industrial parks blend in with the 

landscape, and acres of undeveloped 

land surround businesses. Companies 

along busy Busch Drive include 

Anheuser-Busch, Smurfit-Stone 

Container Corp. and Bacardi Bottling 

Corp. River City Marketplace, an openair 

shopping complex along Interstate 

95 at Duval Road that includes a 

Walmart Supercenter and a 14-screen 

Hollywood Theater cinema, opened 

its first phase in 2006, and now has 12 

national anchors and a host of boutiques, 

restaurants, specialty shops, clothing 

stores and much more in a retail space 

that encompasses approximately 900,000 

square feet. 

Nature-based recreation is popular 

in this area with access to many water 

sources, including a public pond behind 

Oceanway Community Center that offers 

residents a place to fish and relax. 

The median home price is $169,600. 

Ortega and Ortega Forest 

Defined by the river and the past 

The currents of the Ortega River 

have swept ashore a host of colorful 

characters: renowned botanist William 

Bartram; highwayman and cattle rustler 

Daniel McGirtt and Don Juan McQueen, 

who attempted to establish a plantation 

on his 1791 Ortega land grant, but was 

forced out by the attacks of Georgians 

and the French. There was even a 

persistent rumor that gangster George 

“Machine Gun” Kelly and his wife were 

the mysterious couple who abruptly left 

their rented Grand Avenue home hours 

before a midnight police raid in 1933. 

Present-day Ortega is defined by its 

rivers, tree shaded home sites and parks, 

and an eclectic collection of spectacular 

architectural styles. Mediterranean 

Revival homes sit side-by-side with 

colonial-style frame houses. Grand 

Tudors are alongside cedar-shingle 

homes. 

Perhaps the most obvious 

characteristic of today’s Ortega is its 

stability. It is well-known as a place to 

raise a family and to remain even after 

the children are grown and have left 

home. Roosevelt Square mall is just 

across the river, and the Ortega Village 

shopping area has its own array of retail 

and service businesses. 

Also drawing residents is Ortega’s 

physical beauty. The view of the city from 

across the water is spectacular, and there 

seems to be a park around every corner. 

Ortega, long known as home to “Old 

Jacksonville” families, has waterfront 

home prices that can reach into the 

multi-millions, although the median 

price is $347,200. 

Riverside/Avondale 

Preserving our roots 

In 1868, Confederate veteran Miles 

Price sold 500 acres of his property, 

known as Dell’s Bluff, to a Yankee, 

Edward M. Cheney, and financial 

backer John M. Forbes of Boston for 

$10,000 in gold. Forbes and Cheney built 

grand riverfront homes and waited for

COMMUNITIES 

The Riverside Arts Market under the Fuller Warren Bridge is open on Saturdays March through December. 


the influx of residents. For the next 30 

years, however, they remained the only 

homeowners in the very rural area. 

On May 3, 1901, in less than 24 hours, 

downtown Jacksonville and the majority 

of the city’s homes disappeared in a 

blazing inferno, sparked by a fire that 

spread from the Cleveland Fiber Factory. 

With downtown Jacksonville in ruins 

from the Great Fire, residents relocated 

in droves to the suburbs, starting with 

Riverside. 

Soon the riverfront on Riverside 

Avenue was lined with elegant mansions 

and within 10 years was being called 

one of the most beautiful streets in 

America. Architects and construction 

companies from all over the country 

had followed the fire to Jacksonville, and 

Riverside benefited greatly. Innovative 

home designs were commissioned by 

lumber magnate Wellington W. Cummer 

and his two sons, Waldo and Arthur, 

Jacksonville’s Mayor J.E.T. Bowden, Col. 

Raymond Cay and Episcopal Bishop 

Edwin G. Weed. Homes were designed 

by Mark & Sheftall, Henry J. Klutho and 

Addison Mizner. 

The expansion continued with the 

creation of Avondale, an exclusive 

development planned by a group 

of investors led by Telfair Stockton. 

Appealing unabashedly to the well-todo, 

Avondale was a huge success with 

nearly 200 homes built in its first two 

years. Most of the residences were two 

stories and many were designed in the 

Mediterranean Revival style, which 

Mizner had earlier taken to South 

Florida and which became the strongest 

architectural statement of 1920s Florida. 

Klutho brought the Frank Lloyd 

Wright-inspired Prairie style to 

Jacksonville. The simple bungalow, 

influenced by the Arts and Crafts 

Movement, made a big statement: 

along with Avondale, Riverside has the 

largest collection of bungalows of any 

neighborhood in Florida. 

Thanks to historically minded people 

and the Riverside Avondale Preservation 

Association, much of that distinctive 

architecture remains today. You can 

see many houses with the brown RAP 

plaque — symbolic of a restoration effort. 

Developers are also continuing to take 

a fresh look at old buildings and finding 

innovative new uses for them. 

The Riverside Arts Market has 

become a popular destination 10 a.m. 

to 4.p.m. Saturdays March through 

December. Based on a concep Dr. 

Wayne Wood, local historian, brought 

back to Jacksonville from Oregon, the 

location under the Fuller Warren Bridge 

provides protection from the weather 

Home Decor Ë Unique Gifts 

www.avondalegiftboutique.com 

3650 Saint Johns Ave. Ë Jacksonville, FL 32205 

904.387.9557 

(904) 357-3654 

3685 Saint Johns Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32205 

www.craveboutique.com 


COMMUNITIES 

Balis Park and the San Marco Fountain. 

and features local artists in a number of 

media, baked goods, entertainment, a 

farmer’s market and something for just 

about everyone. 

Where Park and King streets intersect 

has become the hub of gastropubs, 

bakeries, restaurants, vintage shops 

and a popular meeting place. The 

Blind Rabbit, Kickbacks, Carmine’s Pie 

House, Lola’s Burrito and Burger Joint 

are interspersed with smaller local 

offerings and long-time favorites, such as 

Whiteway Deli, which has been around 

since the 1920s. Breweries, Bold City 

Brewery and Intuition Ale Works, have 

also found a home on King Street. 

The area has homes in every price 

range from bungalows up to millions of 

dollars for estates on the St. Johns River. 


St. Nicholas 

(Empire Point) 

Jolly old neighborhood 

St. Nicholas’ history began in 1822 

when the British settled the northern 

bank of the St. Johns River at the narrow 

crossing called the “Cow Ford” and the 

Spanish fortified the Pass de San Nicolas 

along the southern bank, making it an 

important northerly point of defense for 



St. Augustine. 

The area south of the river near the 

former fort has continued to be known 

as St. Nicholas, a tribute to days of yore. 

After the Civil War and through the late 

1800s, the area from the ferry landing to 

the Arlington River, including Empire 

Point, was referred to as the village of 

St. Nicholas. In 2007, the neighborhood 

underwent visual enhancement as one of 

the city’s Town Center Projects. 

St. Nicholas is a place where neighbors 

are really neighbors. Every December, 

the neighborhood has a holiday party 

complete with a visit from St. Nick 

and streets lined with luminaria. The 

neighborhood also has its own Easter egg 

hunt and Fourth of July celebration. 

The community, the heart of which 

lies where Beach and Atlantic boulevards 

meet, is a few minutes from I-95, 

downtown and the San Marco shopping 

district. 

It also is home to two of the most 

respected private high schools in the 

area. Episcopal and Bishop Kenny both 

have beautiful campuses spotted with 

century-old oaks standing tall along 

waterfront property with spectacular 

views of downtown Jacksonville. 


San Jose 

(Lakewood) 

Grace and elegance 

Born of the Florida land boom in 1925 

on the tree-shaded eastern bank of the 

St. Johns River, San Jose Estates was the 

most ambitious land development in 

North Florida in its day. Hotels, a yacht 

club, shopping center, schools, a country 

club and hundreds of houses were 

planned. The best architectural, design 

and development firms were retained. 

A national advertising campaign was 

so successful that construction crews 

worked around the clock to meet the 

demands of prospective buyers from 

across the country. 

By late 1926, all construction on 

San Jose Estates had ceased. The Great 

Depression loomed on the horizon, and 

Florida’s boom became a bust. Only one 

hotel, the country club and 31 houses 

were built. The development was dead, 

but the San Jose neighborhood lived on. 

Today, the San Jose Hotel is the 

private Bolles School; the development’s 

administration building has become San 

Jose Episcopal Church; and the site of 

the never-built second hotel became the 

Alfred I. duPont estate, Epping Forest — 

now a yacht club surrounded by upscale 

homes and condominiums. 

Only San Jose Country Club still 

functions as it did upon completion. 

Although renovations have updated 

the clubhouse interior and facilities, 

the club’s architecture remains intact. 

In 1985, the remaining San Jose Estates 

structures were listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places. 

Many other architectural styles have 

found a home in San Jose, giving it an 

eclectic appeal. Condos start in the 

$50,000s, and single-family detached 

homes start in the low $200,000s and can 

reach the millions. The median price of a 

home in Lakewood is $177,400. 

Contributing to the community’s good 

looks and overall allure are its sweeping 

trees and many parks. 

Because of the area’s excellent 

schools, San Jose is an ideal 

neighborhood for families with children. 

Many couples stay in their large houses 

even after the children are gone because 

of their attachment to the community. 

The central location is minutes from

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COMMUNITIES 

downtown or Southpoint and well within 

a half-hour of Jacksonville’s beaches. 

Fine restaurants and good shopping, 

including several large antique malls, 

add to San Jose’s appeal. 

San Marco 

Where past and present meet 

Red Bank Plantation House on 

Greenridge Road, the oldest known 

structure still standing in San Marco, 

was completed in 1857 by Albert Gallatin 

Philips, Jacksonville’s sheriff from 1833 to 

1839. Philips Highway, on the periphery 

of San Marco, was named for one of his 

sons, Judge Henry B. Philips. 

No longer in existence, Villa 

Alexandria was the grandest structure 

of its time. Built in 1872 by Martha 

Reed Mitchell, sister of former Florida 

Governor Harrison Reed, it stood on 

a 140-acre tract on the St. Johns River. 

Mitchell’s home was a showplace 

and served as the center of her many 

charitable activities — St. Luke’s Hospital 

(now St. Vincent’s Southside) and All 

Saints Episcopal Church, among others. 

Mitchell’s neighbors in the Fletcher 

Park area were 158 shipyard workers 

living in Henry Klutho-designed homes. 

World War I saw a boom in shipbuilding, 

creating in turn a need for housing for 

its workers. Today, 12 of these homes 

surround Fletcher Park with its 1883 

church, now home to the San Marco 

Preservation Society. 

Modern residential development 

came to San Marco with the 1921 

completion of the St. Johns River Bridge, 

later renamed the Acosta Bridge. Then, 

came Telfair Stockton and his plans for 

an 80-acre subdivision called San Marco. 

Streets were curved to show off trees 

and scenic vistas and Lake Marco was 

formed out of an old brickyard. The mix 

of architectural styles reflected residents’ 

strong interest in the outside world. 

In 1926, the shopping district was 

laid out at the corner of Atlantic and San 

Marco boulevards. Theatre Jacksonville, 

one of the nation’s oldest continuously 

operating community theater groups, is 

housed in an Art Deco building dating 

from 1937. With its many-tiered fountain 

and wrought iron sculpture still intact, 

the area thrives today as home to an 

eclectic collection of trendy shops, 

theaters and restaurants. 

Photo by Sandy Strickland 

The Colonial Revival mansion at 25 E. First St. in Springfield was built in 1901 by William 

Barnett. The mansion was sold to Solomon Lodge No. 20 in 1941 and remains an active 

Masonic lodge. 

Homes can cost more than $1 million, 

but the average value is $250,600. 

San Mateo 

From ecological roots 

Before 1956, the area known as San 

Mateo was mostly forest with huge oaks 

laden with Spanish moss, wild holly 

trees and an abundance of magnolias, 

hickories, pines and wildflowers. Wildlife 

was abundant. 

In the winter of 1955-1956, though, 

development found the area and the 

first families began moving in. Now, the 

area is a quiet residential neighborhood 

of 50-plus-year-old homes on the 

northern bank of the St. Johns River. 

The community name comes from the 

Spanish name given to the river in the 

1560s, Rio de San Mateo (River of St. 

Matthew). 

San Mateo, south of Oceanway, has 

very affordable homes, with an average 

price of $87,500. 

Southside 

(San Souci ... Southside Estates ... Spring Glen ... Windy Hill) 

Location, location, location 

This is the confusing one. Southside 

is really more of a general location 

than a pure neighborhood, but you’ll 

hear it referred to quite often as where 

people live. San Jose is on the Southside, 

but so is Southside Estates, across the 

river and 15 miles away. Because we’ve 

outlined particular neighborhoods 

within Southside, we’re identifying it 

here as north of Butler Boulevard, south 

of Atlantic Boulevard, east of University 

Boulevard and west of St. Johns Bluff 

Road. 

Not surprisingly, Southside has a 

diverse mix of residential styles and 

offerings within its borders. Home 

prices in the area can reach the 

$1 million range, with the average 

price being in the mid-$100,000s. 

Neighborhood offerings range from 

working class, single-family homes, 

condos and townhomes to gated 

communities with all the amenities. 

There are a host of retailers and 

restaurants in the area, and Regency 

Square and The Avenues malls are just a 

10- to 20-minute drive away. Easy access 

to the St. Johns River through tributaries 

such as Pottsburg Creek appeals to those 

interested in fishing and boating. 

Southside has a mix of public and 

private schools for elementary through 

high school students, with close 

proximity to the University of North 

Florida off St. Johns Bluff Road and the 


Florida State College at Jacksonville’s 

South Campus off Beach Boulevard. 

Springfield 

History in a house 

There has been a great deal of 

renewed interest in living in the historic 

district of Springfield. Many believe 

it has a lot to do with the charm of the 

beautiful homes. Touring one, as many 

people have done over the past few years, 

is like opening a yearbook of the city, 

circa the late 1800s. Windows, porches, 

staircases, attics, and fireplaces yield 

page after page of historical glimpses of 

Jacksonville’s past. 

New homes are being built that are 

architecturally compatible with the 

historic district’s building guidelines 

for the area. A few of these homes that 

line Pearl Street look like rehabilitated 

homes, but they are new — with many 

of the features people love in older-style 

homes, including the porches. The 

homes have standard features such as 

prewired security systems, semi-plank 

exterior siding, decorative foundation 

blocks, fiberglass shingles, all-wood 

kitchen cabinets, kitchen appliances, 

ceramic tile and double-hung wood 

exterior windows. 

Beyond the crop of new historiclooking 

homes, some of the area’s 

authentic homes, with rich histories 

behind them, are capturing people’s 

attention. Popular styles include 

Florida vernacular, bungalow, Prairie 

and transitional Queen Anne/Colonial 

Revival. 

Henry J. Klutho, who was influenced 

by Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture, 

began experimenting with the Prairie 

style in Springfield. The aesthetically 

pleasing style endures today. 

COMMUNITIES 

Springfield attracts buyers who 

purchase homes at low prices, then 

rehabilitate them. 

The median home price in Springfield 

is $106,800, but large renovated homes 

can go much higher. The median rent is 

$748. 

In 1987, Springfield was selected as a 

National Register Historic District under 

federal criteria and recognized under 

federal law. Only three other areas in 

Jacksonville — Avondale, Riverside and 

Ortega — hold the title. A historic gem 

worth revitalizing, Springfield contains 

one of the largest concentrations of 

residences dating from the early 1800s in 

Florida. 

Timuquana and Venetia 

Beautiful vistas 

With an area along one of the most 

scenic stretches of the St. Johns River, the 

A look at the many neighborhoods of Duval County 

As you can see, Jacksonville has a variety of 

communities spread across its large land mass. 

Downtown spans the Northbank and Southbank at 

a narrow spot on the St. Johns River. Just north of 

there is Historic Springfield. North Jacksonville 

goes from the Trout River to the Nassau County 

line and from New Kings Road on the west 

to the Intracoastal Waterway. Westside 

runs from Riverside Avenue west 

to Baker County and from 

Interstate 10 to Clay County. 

Arlington is bordered by 

the river on the west 

and north and the 

Intracoastal on 

the east. 

River City 

Marketplace 

Southside, a huge area that runs on both sides of the river from 

Arlington south to Baymeadows Road and the St. Johns County line, 

includes such diverse areas as San Jose, San Marco and the St. Johns 

Bluff Road area. Mandarin is the area south of Baymeadows, bordered 

by Philips Highway to the west and Julington Creek to the south. The 

Beaches are bordered by the Intracoastal and the Atlantic Ocean. 


COMMUNITIES 


The Annual Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival in Fernandina Beach crowns a winner for best 

kids pirate contest. 

Venetia and Timuquana area is a little 

bit of heaven. Southeast of Ortega off 

Roosevelt Boulevard and bordered by the 

river and Timuquana Country Club, the 

Westside communities have beautiful 

vistas galore. 

The private country club is a buffer 

from the hustle and bustle of the 

Jacksonville Naval Air Station, while the 

Timuquana Yacht Club also provides 

relaxation on the river for its members. 

The homes are older but beautifully 

kept, with expansive manicured lawns. 

While you might be able to find a house 

in the nearby area for less, most are in the 

multi-hundred-thousands. On the river, 

of course, prices can reach $1 millionplus. 

The average home price in the area 

is $212,950. 

Wesconnett 

Call it eclectic 

Wesconnett, more than a century 

old, has grown and evolved along with 

Jacksonville. Today, this neighborhood 

offers a variety of residential areas, goods 

and services. 

Hundreds of businesses — from car 

dealerships to mom-and-pop stores — 

line Blanding Boulevard, Timuquana 

Road and 103rd Street, creating several 

shopping districts. 

Although a small area, two post 

offices serve it, the Westland Station and 

Lake Shore Station. 

Residents like the area because it is 


quaint and quiet, yet it is only a 10- to 

20-minute drive to downtown. 

The area has many established older 

neighborhoods with nice block or brick 

homes that are moderately priced and 

conveniently located. There is a wide 

range of home prices in the area. 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Amelia Island 

The fairest of the isles 

Amelia Island, the southernmost 

of the “Golden Isles” chain of barrier 

islands, claims title to the fairest of the 

isles — and its 13 miles of unsullied 

beaches and 40-foot dunes, lush golf 

courses and captivating old Victorian 

homes support the claim. 

As the only territory in the United 

States under the dominion of eight 

different flags during the past five 

centuries, it absorbed much from each 

culture to become the multi-faceted 

region it is today. 

It was not until the early part of the 

20th century that Amelia Island, because 

of its natural deep-water harbor, gave 

birth to the modern shrimping industry. 

Today, nearly 80 percent of Florida’s 

Atlantic white shrimp are harvested in 

Amelia Island’s waters. 

American Beach was developed in the 

1930s by the founders of Afro-American 

Life Insurance as an oceanfront haven 

for African Americans during an era 

of rigid segregation. Today, American 

Beach remains a quiet, beachfront 

community and the first stop on Florida’s 

Black Heritage Trail. 

A community of beachfront homes, 

luxurious condominiums and myriad 

golf courses, Amelia Island also boasts a 

50-block section of tree-shaded streets 

lined with authentic and original 

Victorian homes. Their architectural 

styles range from the Florida Vernacular 

and Mississippi Steamboat to Queen 

Anne, Italianate and Chinese 

Chippendale. Many of these gracious 

homes have become plush inns and 

guest houses, giving rise to a thriving bed 

and breakfast industry. 

The island is a national resort 

destination. The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia 

Island, operates an AAA-rated, fivediamond 

resort and restaurant, and is the 

only hotel in the chain with a golf course 

on the property. Amelia Island Plantation 

offers both resort and residential 

communities carefully developed for a 

complementary relationship with native 

wildlife, secluded beaches, maritime 

forest and tidal marshes. 

Since 1996, Amelia Island has hosted 

the Concours d'Elegance, a renowned 

automotive charitable event held each 

March at the Ritz-Carlton, featuring 

significant cars, drivers and concepts. 

Amelia Island also is a getaway 

destination for Jacksonville-area 

residents, with many rental properties — 

including a lighthouse home — available 

by the weekend or week. 

Amelia Island is about 15 minutes 

west of I-95 and about 30 minutes away 

from Jacksonville International Airport. 

Amelia Island has a median home price 

of $257,000. Some properties can go into 

the millions. 

Fernandina Beach 

Old-town, relaxed charm 

Bordered by parks, buffered by 

natural wetlands, pristine rivers and 

alluring beaches, Fernandina Beach sits 

on the northern end of Amelia Island. 

As the second oldest city in the state of 

Florida, it is rich with history. 

Once a bustling Victorian seaport, 

picturesque downtown Fernandina 

Beach harbors a treasure trove of history, 

antiques, fashions and restaurants. 

Buildings dating from 1873 to 1900, gas 

lantern replicas, wrought-iron benches

COMMUNITIES 

and cobblestone walks lead to the 

marina filled with shrimp boats. 

The 12-mile-long and 2.5-mile-wide 

island is surrounded by the Amelia River, 

the Atlantic Ocean, the St. Marys River 

and Nassau Sound. Nearly 10 percent 

of the land is dedicated to parks, and 

miles of beaches (all with public access 

and walkovers) are available to visitors, 

as well as several golf courses. Fort 

Clinch State Park, at the north end of the 

island, preserves 1,121 acres of beaches, 

dunes, nature trails, salt marshes and 

ponds. On the first full weekend of each 

month, visitors can observe Civil War reenactors 

carrying out daily chores. 

The Spanish influence is seen in 

its plaza and city plan. Florida’s oldest 

surviving tourist hotel, the Florida House 

Inn, remains in Fernandina and boasts of 

once having Ulysses S. Grant as a guest. 

Centre Street Historic District covers 50 

blocks of restored 19th century Victorian 

homes, shops and restaurants. 

One of the biggest festivals of the 

Southeastern coast honors the shrimping 

industry and the area’s history. The Isle 

of Eight Flags Fernandina Beach Shrimp 

Festival attracts 150,000 visitors during 

its spring weekend run. 

The island’s principal industries 

include tourism, commercial and sport 

fishing, Smurfit-Stone Container Corp., 

Rayonier Inc. and The Ritz-Carlton. 

Golf is an attraction that brings 

thousands of visitors to Amelia Island 

each year. Fernandina Beach Golf Club 

on Bill Melton Road offers a 27-hole golf 

club within the city limits of Fernandina 

Beach. It is open to the public and is 

reasonably priced. 

The average home price is $234,146, 

but intricate mansions and waterfront 

properties can go much, much higher. 

Hilliard and Callahan 

The backbone of America 

Wide yards full of trees draped with 

Spanish moss hold homes with oldfashioned 

front porches, harkening back 

to a time when neighbors strolled and a 

community grew together through hard 

times as well as good. This is Hilliard and 

Callahan. 

Ideally placed as bedroom 

communities to both Jacksonville and 

Kings Bay in Georgia, Hilliard and 

Callahan offer their own brand of familyoriented 

living within easy commuting 

distance. Just west of I-95 in western 

Nassau County, the “main drag” through 

both towns is U.S. Highway 1, a slightly 

FSCJ Nassau 

Center 

Fernandina 

Beach Municipal 

Airport 

Nassau County Neighborhoods 

Baptist 

Medical 

Center 

Nassau 

sleepy, mostly two-lane road running 

north and south throughout the eastern 

portion of the country. 

There are many small local businesses 

supporting the citizens of the area. 

Hilliard has one of the largest employers 

in Nassau County, the Federal Aviation 

Administration Air Traffic Control 

Center. The median home price in 

Hilliard is $107,614. 

Callahan residents are proud of a 

beautifully restored railroad depot. 

Flags fly in front of many businesses 

and homes, local football games at West 

Nassau and Hilliard high schools are 

attended even by those with no children 

in the schools, and churches are full on 

Sunday mornings. The median home 

price in Hilliard is $132,153. 

Yulee 

On the go 

As Territorial Representative to 

Congress and later as Florida’s U.S. 

senator, David Yulee had a presence in 

the area that is felt even to this day. His 

vision of a cross-Florida railroad with 

Fernandina as its east terminus was 

thought an outlandish idea in the earlyto 

mid-1850s, but Yulee never wavered in 

his determination. 

Neither the Civil War, incarceration 

in a federal prison nor the necessity of 

physically moving an entire town could 

deter Yulee from his goals of statehood 

for Florida and of cross-state commercial 

centers joined by his railroad tracks. 

Statehood came first. Then, Yulee’s 

Florida Railroad was completed in 1860, 

just before Florida’s secession from the 

Union. 

After the Civil War came the depths. 

The Confederate Army ripped up Florida 

Railroad’s tracks to use for their own 

transport system and, by the end of the 

war, the railroad was in total disrepair. 

Yulee’s life was unraveling; in 1865, he 

was arrested and charged with treason. 

He served only 10 months and was freed 

in 1866, returning home to resurrect his 

beloved railroad. Eventually, Florida 

Railroad became the successful Atlantic, 

Gulf and West India Transit Co. with 

trains arriving daily bearing tourists 

from New York and other cities. 

Nassau County’s largest 

unincorporated area with a population 

of about 12,000, Yulee consists primarily 

of residential neighborhoods and 


COMMUNITIES 

Will.Dickey@Jacksonville.com 

Ponte Vedra residents place their order on the screened-in porch of Lulu’s Waterfront Grille, 

overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway. 

commercial development along State 

Road A1A. 

Residential choices are numerous 

and range from planned communities, 

waterfront property and private tracts 

to an emerging rental market. Yulee is 

the fastest-growing residential market in 

Nassau County, with developments such 

as North Hampton, Lighthouse Pointe 

and Flora Parke providing a variety of 

housing options. The average home value 

in Yulee is $143,932. 

Florida State College at Jacksonville’s 

Betty P. Cook campus and public schools 

are centrally located in the town. It is 

also home to several private schools. 


Hastings 

Grown from a garden 

Hastings, about 18 miles southwest of 

St. Augustine, is an agricultural center 

that, according to the St. Johns County 

Chamber of Commerce, literally grew 

from a garden. Henry Flagler, who built 

tourist hotels in St. Augustine, needed a 

source of fresh vegetables for his guests. 

He persuaded a cousin, Thomas Horace 

Hastings, to develop a farm; a small 

town evolved to which Hastings gave his 

name. 

Since that birth in 1890, Hastings 

has been known as the “Potato Capital 

of Florida” with 21,000 acres of potato 

farmland. The area is also known 


for its cabbage, onions, eggplant and 

ornamental horticulture. 

The small-town closeness of Hastings 

coexists peacefully with the progress the 

town has made in recent years. The Al 

Wilke Recreation Field, just across the 

street from the town office, provides a 

venue for children’s fun and organized 

sporting events. Several years ago, 

St. Johns County built a fire station 

in Hastings, replacing the town’s allvolunteer 

firefighting force with paid 

firemen. 

Although the tough economy has 

affected the area, it has new hope with 

the completion of a four-lane extension 

of State Road 207 and the completion of 

new developments. Flagler Estates is a 

10,000-plus-acre development with more 

than 700 residents. The average home 

price in the area is $103,840. 

Julington Creek 

Crossing bridge to paradise 

Northwest St. Johns County — Fruit 

Cove, Switzerland and Orangedale — 

is experiencing its own growth spurt 

while still maintaining its rural charm. 

Bordered by the St. Johns/Duval County 

line to the north, the St. Johns River to 

the west, County Road 208 to the south 

and I-95 to the east, the northwest sector 

has grown more than 55 percent between 

2000 and 2012. 

The area is home to Julington 

Creek Plantation, which encompasses 

4,119 acres, with more than a dozen 

distinctive neighborhoods. Among the 

top 10 master-planned communities 

in Florida, Julington Creek Plantation 

offers recreational facilities, a large 

selection of homes and price ranges 

(from the $200,000s to over $1 million 

with an average price in the $300,000s) 

and a great location — 30 minutes to 

downtown Jacksonville and 30 minutes 

to St. Augustine. 

Businesses and shopping centers have 

moved in; the county has built a $1.2 

million annex in Fruit Cove; and Baptist 

Medical Center South, a state-of-the-art 

hospital, opened in 2005. 

Many recreational opportunities 

exist, including golf courses, such as The 

Champions Club in Julington Creek. The 

Julington Creek Marina offers wet and 

dry storage for boating. 

And parents appreciate the fact that 

the St. Johns County School District is the 

highest-rated school district in Northeast 

Florida. 

Palm Valley 

A mix of modern and classic 

For a community with an evergreen 

name, Palm Valley has been through 

plenty of changes. In the beginning 

of the 20th century, the Intracoastal 

Waterway allowed easier access to 

an area once home to only Native 

Americans and later Spanish settlers. 

The plentiful palms prompted residents 

to change the name from Diego to Palm 

Valley in 1908. 

Farmers, loggers and moonshiners 

during Prohibition all worked the 

marshy, heavily treed lands. More 

recently, Palm Valley was filled with 

smaller homes and manufactured homes 

— some used as year-round residences, 

others used as second homes or 

hunting lodges. Some new residents are 

demolishing the old lodges to make room 

for mansions or are finding untouched 

land ready for development. 

Waterfront properties along Roscoe 

Boulevard sell for at least $1 million to 

several million, but the average home 

value in Palm Valley is $350,000. River 

Marsh is a small gated community on 

the Guana River bordered by the Guana 

River State Park and Preserve. It offers 

access to the river and a preserve for 

fishing and hunting.

COMMUNITIES 

Find out how 

to celebrate a 

life like no other. 

EdgEwood 

Cemetery 

4519 Edgewood Dr. • 904-765-2484 

Alex.Sanchez@StAugustine.com 

Sunset on the east side of the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine is a perfect place for an 

evening “selfie.” 

Ponte Vedra Beach and Sawgrass 

Sophisticated beach living 

The rich history of the area and 

its pristine natural resources helped 

shape Ponte Vedra Beach. Years of 

conflict between Timucuan Indians, 

the Spanish, the French and the English 

persisted until around 1821, when Spain 

sold Florida to the United States and it 

became a territory. Nearly 100 years later, 

in 1914, two young chemical engineers, 

Henry Holland Buckman and George A. 

Pritchard, discovered that Ponte Vedra’s 

beaches contained industrial minerals, 

including components necessary for the 

production of titanium and zirconium. 

The National Lead Co. bought out the 

partners in 1916. 

The mining settlement, named 

Mineral City, played a crucial role in 

World War I, as titanium was a key 

component in the manufacture of 

poisonous gas. In 1928, the National Lead 

Co. rechristened Mineral City in honor 

of what was believed to be the birthplace 

of Christopher Columbus — Pontevedra, 

Spain. City founders later learned that 

Columbus was actually born in Genoa, 

Italy. 

The name Ponte Vedra stuck 

and today has come to symbolize 

sophisticated beach-style living. 

Modern-day Ponte Vedra Beach began 

to take shape when National Lead built 

a nine-hole golf course for its employees 

along with a log clubhouse and polo field 

in 1922. In 1928, the complex became the 

world-famous Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. 

With the post-war mineral market gone 

and production at a standstill, National 

Lead used its clubhouse and golf course 

as the base from which to launch a resort 

community. 

Road construction in the 1940s 

through the 1960s brought further 

development and, in 1972, developer 

James Stockton Jr. broke ground on 

the 1,100-acre development known as 

Sawgrass. Today, Sawgrass is home 

to THE PLAYERS Championship golf 

tournament and is world headquarters 

for the PGA TOUR, thanks to a legendary 

1978 deal in which developers Jerome 

and Paul Fletcher sold then-PGA TOUR 

Commissioner Deane Beman 415 densely 

wooded acres for $1. 

Although synonymous with luxury, 

Ponte Vedra Beach does have affordable 

housing away from the ocean. The 

median home price is $325,600, but those 

elaborate waterfront mansions will set 

you back multimillions. 

St. Augustine and St. Augustine Beach 

A hub of history 

The oldest continuously occupied 

European settlement in the United States 

still gives residents a taste of small-town 

charm 450 years after its founding. 

St. Augustine, 35 miles south of 

Jacksonville beside Matanzas Bay, was 

established by Spanish Admiral Don 

HardagE-giddEns 

Chapel Hills Funeral Home & Memory Gardens 

850 St. Johns Bluff Rd. N. • 904-641-9755 

rivErsidE 

Memorial Park 

7242 Normandy Blvd. • 904-781-9262 


Oaklawn Chapel & Oaklawn Cemetery 

4801 San Jose Blvd. • 904-737-7171 


greenlawn Funeral Home & Cemetery 

4300 Beach Blvd. • 904-396-2522 


Town & Country Funeral Home 

7242 Normandy Blvd. • 904-781-9262 


holly hill Funeral Home & Memorial Park 

3601 Old Jennings Rd. • 904- 282-9336 


Rivermead Funeral Home 

127 Blanding Blvd. • 904-264-2481 


Funeral Home 

11801 San Jose Blvd. • 904-288-0025 


Funeral Home 

729 South Edgewood Ave. • 904-388-2711 

BEacHEs cHapEl 

by Hardage-Giddens 

1701 Beach Blvd. • 904-249-2374 


Funeral Home 

5753 Blanding Blvd. • 904-777-5727 


Funeral Home 

4315 Main St. • 904-356-6585 


Funeral Home 

4115 Hendricks Ave. • 904-346-3808 

Hardage-Giddens.com 


COMMUNITIES 

The Shops of World Golf Village include boutiques, dining and an IMAX Theater. 


Pedro Menendez de Aviles Sept. 8, 1565. 

The city is the center of the action in St. 

Johns County.St. Augustine is the host 

of more than 50 annual events, many 

revolving around the city’s historic role. 

The Fort Castillo de San Marcos, built 

between 1672 and 1695 by the Spanish, 

dominates the city’s tableau. Its massive 

gates draw tourists and longtime residents 

to explore the city’s past. More than 85 

historic sites lie within the city’s confines. 

Numerous museums detail an 

aspect of the city’s development, 

while archaeological digs proceed 

throughout the year, unearthing further 

information on St. Augustine’s heritage. 

Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, 

the St. Augustine Alligator Farm and 

Potter’s Wax Museum are among the 

popular attractions. With an average 

temperature of 70 degrees and mild 

winters, St. Augustine allows for yearround 

recreation. Boating, swimming 

and surfing take a high priority in 

leisure activities as does golf, with 

championship golf courses, including 

two at the World Golf Village. 

St. Augustine is a shopping experience 

with more than 35 antique shops, 25 art 

galleries and an abundance of specialty 

shops, many located on the brick-lined 

streets of the city’s historic district. Two 

outlet malls off Interstate 95 and State 

Road 16 — one an outside center, the 

other indoor — are visited by locals and 

by visitors on the way to Disney World 

and other points south. The city is also 

known for its fine eateries. More than 

100 restaurants, some ranked among the 

highest in the state, offer everything from 


authentic French cuisine to eclectic new 

world fusion cooking. Higher education 

is provided by Flagler College, a private 

four-year liberal arts school, and St. 

Johns River State College. 

More than 40 religious affiliations 

are represented in St. Johns County, and 

many churches have histories dating 

back hundreds of years. The median 

home value for the area is $207,500. Golf 

course communities, oceanfront homes, 

Intracoastal Waterway spreads, marsh 

front properties and homes in the city’s 

historic district command top dollar. 

Palencia quickly captured the hearts 

and minds of discerning homebuyers. 

The 2,350-acre master-planned 

community offers a full-spectrum 

of home sites, and retail and office 

opportunities along with more than 33 

acres of parks, trails and open areas. 

Anchoring the community is a 40-acre 

Village Center and The Palencia Club, 

featuring a 33,000-square-foot clubhouse 

and spectacular Arthur Hills-designed 

championship golf course. 

Condominium pricing at Palencia 

starts at less than $100,000, and singlefamily 

detached homes are priced from 

the $200,000s to more than $3 million. 

Vilano Beach 

Rising interest 

Residents in the seaside community 

of Vilano Beach have seen many changes 

that indicate their quiet, secluded 

neighborhood is evolving. 

The main catalysts to this 

revitalization are the Usina Bridge 

connecting Vilano Beach to the mainland 

and the upscale Serenata Beach Club 

development on Florida A1A. One thing is 

certain: interest is growing, and housing 

and lot prices are rising in response. 

Vilano Beach is a peninsula bordered 

by South Ponte Vedra Beach to the 

north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, 

St. Augustine Inlet to the south and the 

Intracoastal Waterway to the west. 

The most expensive houses are the 

ocean-front homes beginning at $800,000 

in the southern end of Vilano Beach 

known as Porpoise Point. However, the 

median value for homes in the area is 

$296,246. Construction of the Usina 

Bridge spurred the area’s revitalization as 

it replaced an undependable drawbridge 

that deterred people from buying homes 

in Vilano Beach. 

The Vilano/Surfside area was 

primarily a summer beach community, 

but more and more people are living 

there year-round. Vilano Beach also has 

one of the few red shell coquina beaches 

in the state. 

World Golf Village 

Living with the legends 

When Jim Davidson, president/CEO 

of Davidson Development, learned of 

tentative plans to build a golf hall of 

fame 10 miles north of his property, he 

began to re-think his plan to build a selfcontained 

resort community. 

He had a proposal for golf’s officials: 

take the hall of fame concept, combine 

it with the future of the sport and the 

technology of the industry, then build 

into it a sense of place that would 

celebrate that concept. That sense of

COMMUNITIES 

place would incorporate the roots of the 

game in Scotland and the architectural 

details of the St. Augustine area in which 

it would be located. 

Bermuda grass was planted to the 

roadbed of the winding entrance, 

bordered on either side by the greens 

and fairways of The Slammer and 

Squire Course, designed by golf giants 

Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen. Street 

signs became monuments of stone, 

reminiscent of the ancient stonework 

of St. Augustine. More than 4,000 trees 

were planted. The Arnold Palmer-Jack 

Nicklaus King and Bear golf course was 

also completed. 

The 75,000-square-foot Hall of 

Fame with its historical artifacts and 

interactive displays, an IMAX theater, 

restaurants (actor/comedian Bill Murray 

and his brothers have one there), 

boutiques, hotel and resort soon followed 

and World Golf Village opened in May 

1998. Residents of various neighborhoods 

who would make it truly a village began 

moving in, starting with the Davidson 

family. 

With homes in every price range — 

custom homes, condominium homes, 

patio homes, even a continuingcare 

community for retirees, The 

Neighborhoods of World Golf Village 

blends many different ages, incomes and 

lifestyles. The price of homes begins in 

the $200,000s for patio homes and ranges 

to $2 million-plus for estate homes. The 


Besides the golf courses, amenities 

include a swim and tennis center, several 

parks, resort hotels, nature preserves and 

picnic areas. There are baseball, softball 

and soccer fields, basketball courts, sand 

volleyball, shuffleboard, playgrounds, 

barbecue grills and a full-time activities 

director. Laterra, a resort community 

includes a world-class PGA TOUR spa. 

And, thanks to Davidson 

Development, Inc., about 44 percent of 

World Golf Village is in its natural state 

as wildlife and environmental preserves, 

never to be developed. 

St. Johns County Neighborhoods 

Palm 

Valley 

Nocatee 

Mickler’s 

Landing 

Flagler 

Hospital 

Northeast 

Florida 

Regional 

Airport 

Coming Attractions 

Construction signals steady growth 

Retail development is showing up all 

over the region, especially in and around 

flourishing established retail centers. 

The area around the 900,000 square-foot 

River City Marketplace will welcome 

Phase II of the University of Florida 

Health North’s facility and a new Hobby 

Lobby. 

Other medical facilities are also 

expanding. Baptist Health/Wolfson 

Children’s Hospital Emergency Center 

has begun site work in the area of St. 

Johns Town Center for two emergency 

centers in one structure. One side will be 

dedicated to the needs of adult patients, 

the other side to children. Expected 

completion is mid-2016. 

Brooks University Crossing will add 

a skilled-nursing and rehab center 

at Beach and University boulevards. 

Construction on the three-story, 

81,267-square foot facility should be 

completed late 2016. 

Vistakon Inc. is expanding its 

manufacturing capability in a project that 

will extend over the next seven years. The 

$300-million project adds 35,000 square 

feet to the company’s manufacturing 

complex. It is estimated the project will 

create 100 high-wage jobs. 

At the beaches, the former 

Jacksonville Beach post office, Third 

Street and Seventh Avenue, is being 

renovated to house a retail store and 

other services offered by BEAM, the 

Beaches Emergency Assistance Ministry. 

The new facility, 7North, will serve local 

residents with a thrift store, offering low- 


COMMUNITIES 

or no-cost clothing and household items. 

Multi-family construction is also on 

the rise. On Jacksonville’s Southbank, 

the Alliance Residential Company is 

planning the 265-unit Broadstone River 

House apartments on a 3.7-acre parking 

lot next to the Duval County School 

Board building. 

New apartment complexes on the 

Southside include 130 units in Lake Lofts 

at Deerwood; Galleria Club Apartments, 

254 three-story garden-style units; Sola, 

a 330-unit complex; and, Loree, a 300- 

unit complex and the first phase of a 

community of up to 600 units. 

New housing opportunities are 

coming to downtown Jacksonville, too. 

The Clara White Mission is renovating 

the long-closed New Center Hotel at 605 

North Broad St. One of only a few historic 

structures remaining in LaVilla, the 

former hotel will be a mixed-use project 

— known as the Beaver Street Villas — 

with 4,600 square feet of office space on 

the ground level and 16 apartments on 

the upper levels. Clara White Mission 

would also like to add new construction 

to be able to provide services with 

Americans with Disabilities Act-required 

access behind the renovated hotel. 

St. Johns County continues to lead the 

First Coast in residential construction. 

Durbin Creek National LLC Urban 

Service Area has received approval from 

the St. Johns County Commission that 

opens the way for the development of 

more than 1,600 acres south of Race 

Track Road east and west of Interstate 

95. The area is expected to attract 

commercial development over the next 

20 years that will be larger than the St. 

Johns Town Center in Jacksonville when 

it has been built out. Current estimates 

are an addition of nearly 3 million 

square feet of office space, 2.3 million 

square feet of entertainment and retail 

space, 350 hotel rooms and nearly 1,000 

multi-family residential units. Roadway 

improvements would also be financed in 

conjunction with the development. 

St. Johns County is also the 

site of three new major residential 

developments: Shearwater, Markland 

and TrailMark. Shearwater is a 1,500- 

acre community on County Road 210 that 

will add 2,000 homes, 400,000 square feet 

of retail space, a K-8 school and 600 acres 

of preserved natural habitat. The project 

will begin with single-family homes, and 

townhomes will come later. 

Markland, from developer/investment 

firm Hines (also the developer of 

Palencia), will add 345 homes to the area 

off International Golf Parkway east of 

Interstate 95. Prices will range from the 

low $300,000s to more than $600,000, for 

an overall build-out value of $138 million. 

West of I-95 and also along 

International Golf Parkway, TrailMark 

is under development by GreenePointe 

Communities. The 1,300-acre 

development is approved for 2,278 homes 

priced in the mid-$200,000s and up. 

Among the amenities will be a free-form 

lagoon pool. 

In the Beaches area, site preparation 

has begun on Atlantic Boulevard 

adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway for 

a waterfront condominium community 

on the former Bellinger Shipyards site. 

Jacksonville Intracoastal LLC’s project 

will feature 590 multifamily units, a 650- 

slip and up to 60,000 square feet of retail 

and office space. 

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EDUCATION 


Second-grade students read at the Main Library in downtown Jacksonville. 

ABCs of learning 

From kindergarten to PhDs, Jacksonville 

has education for all ages. 

Jacksonville is the largest city by land 

area in the country. So, it should be no 

surprise that it holds the 22nd largest 

school district in the nation and the sixth 

largest school district in Florida. 

Home to two high schools ranking 

in the top 15 by the Florida Department 

of Education, the First Coast has a 

tradition of creating opportunity for all 

students. Stanton Prep in Duval County 

was voted number 269 out of 500 for the 

nation’s best high schools by Newsweek 

Magazine, and Allen D. Nease High 

School in St. Johns County was ranked 

469. 

In 2015, the Washington Post 

named area schools as America’s most 

challenging high schools based on a 

number of college-level tests given at 

a school in the previous calendar year, 

divided by the number of graduates that 

year. The index scores for more than 

2,300 high schools nationwide. Several 

area high schools scored among the top 

percentage, including: Stanton Prep, No. 

8; Paxon School for Advanced Studies, 

No. 14; Douglas Anderson School of 

the Arts, No. 120; Creekside, No. 200; 

Bartram Trail, No. 271; Mandarin, No. 

284; and Allen D. Nease, No. 310. 

Located just west of Jacksonville is 

Baker County, which is comprised of 

several rural communities with more 

than 27,000 residents. Baker County High 

School is the only public high school, 

serving nearly 1,350 students in grades 

nine through 12. 

The Duval County public school 

system has more than 125,000 students 

and 8,000 teachers. The goal of the 

district is to provide educational 

excellence “in every school, in every 

classroom, every day.” 

Currently, Duval County has moved 

away from the traditional FCAT testing 

system and has implemented the Florida 

State Assessment (FSA) and the Florida 

Alternate Assessment (FAA). 

In St. Johns County, 18 high school 

seniors have qualified, based on their 

scores on the PSAT test taken as a junior, 

as National Merit Semifinalists for 2016, 

and are eligible to advance to the finalist 

competition to compete for nearly 7,400 

scholarships that are worth more than 

$32 million. These students are from 

various schools in St. Johns County, 

including Bartram Trail High School, 

Allen D. Nease High School, Ponte Vedra 

High School, Creekside High School and 

St. Augustine High School. 

Continuing their tradition of 

excellence, St. Johns County School 

District was the recipient of the Sunshine 

Medallion Award for their excellence 

in public relations, earned for their 

Connect, Commit, Care conference. 

Currently, St. Johns County boasts a 

graduation rate of 87.8 percent and ranks 

among the highest in the state. 

Along with hundreds of public schools 

in the area, the First Coast offers an 

extensive number of private schools as 

well. 

Duval County also offers another 

alternative to traditional public school — 

the Duval Choice Program. This allows 


EDUCATION 

students to apply to attend a school 

outside of their zoned school within the 

Duval County public school system, as 

well as apply to multiple charter and 

magnet schools. 

Also available is Home Education 

Choice, which is a parent-directed 

alternative to the public and private 

school system. In order for families 

to establish a home school program, 

they are required to complete a 

notification form within 30 days of its 

establishment. Florida Statute 1002.41 

requires that parents notify the District 

Superintendent of Schools in writing 

of intent to initiate a Home Education 

Program. 

For more information about how 

to set up a home school program, visit 

duvalschools.org, select the schools 

tab and choose “Home Education.” If 

parents have any other concerns about 

laws or creation of a home education 

program, the Florida Parent Educators 

Association has the most accurate, upto-date 

information available to educate 

and inform its members. For more 

information, visit fpea.com. 

Enroll 

NOW 

Will.Dickey@Jacksonville.com 

Students celebrate graduation from First Coast High School in Duval County. 

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Primrose School of Glen Kernan 

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Primrose School of St. Johns Forest 

904.824.1100 | www.PrimroseStJohnsForest.com 

Proprietary Balanced 

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Ongoing customized 

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Surpasses state standards 

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Each Primrose School is a privately owned and operated franchise. Primrose Schools, Balanced Learning, and The Leader in Educational 

Child Care are trademarks of Primrose School Franchising Company. ©2012 Primrose School Franchising Company. All rights reserved. 


EDUCATION 

Public schools ... 

BAKER COUNTY 

Elementary Schools 

Macclenny 

One Wildkitten Dr., 

Macclenny 32063 

904-259-2551 

Westside 

One Panther Circle, 

Glen St. Mary 32040 

904-259-2216 

Middle Schools 

Keller Intermediate 

420 South 8th St., 


904-259-4244 

Baker County 

211 E. Jonathan St., 


904-259-2226 

High School 

Baker County 

1 Wildcat Dr., 

Glen St. Mary 32040 

904-259-6286 

CLAY COUNTY 


Argyle 

2625 Spencer Plantation 

Blvd., Orange Park 32073 

904-573-2357 

Charles E. Bennett 

1 South Oakridge Ave., 


32043 904-529-2126 

Clay Hill 

6345 County Road 218, 

Jacksonville 32234 

904-289-7193 

Clay Virtual Academy 

2306 Kingsley Ave., Bldg. 

#20, Orange Park 32073 

904-529-4804 

Coppergate 

3460 Copper Colts Court, 

Middleburg 32068 

904-291-5594 

Doctors Inlet 

2634 County Rd. 220, 


904-213-3000 



4425 Lakeshore Dr., 

Fleming Island 32003 

904-278-2020 

Grove Park 

1643 Miller St., Orange 

Park 32073 

904-278-2010 


335 SW Pecan St., 

Keystone Heights 32656 

352-473-4844 

Lake Asbury 

2901 Sandridge Rd., 


32043 904-291-5440 

Lakeside 

2752 Moody Ave., Orange 

Park 32073 

904-213-2966 

McRae 

6770 County Rd. 315 C, 


352-473-5686 

Middleburg 

3958 Main St., 


904-291-5485 

Montclair 


Park 32073 

904-278-2030 

Oakleaf Village 

410 Oakleaf Village 

Parkway, Orange Park 

32065 904-291-5458 

Orange Park 

1401 Plainfield Ave., 

Orange Park 32073 

904-278-2040 

Paterson 

5400 Pine Ave., Fleming 

Island 32003 

904-278-2078 

Plantation Oaks 

4150 Plantation Oaks 


904-214-7474 

RideOut 

3065 Apalachicola Blvd., 


904-291-5430 

Ridgeview 

421 Jefferson Ave., 


904-213-2952 

S. Bryan Jennings 

215 Corona Dr., Orange 

Park 32073 

904-213-3021 

Shadowlawn 

2945 County Rd. 218, 


32043 904-213-2036 

Swimming Pen Creek 

1630 Woodpecker Lane, 


904-278-5707 

Thunderbolt 

2020 Thunderbolt Rd., 


904-278-5630 

Tynes 

1550 Tynes Blvd., 

Middleburg, 32068 

904-291-5400 

W.E. Cherry 

420 Edson Dr., 


904-278-2050 

Wilkinson 

4965 County Rd. 218, 


904-291-5420 



Junior High 

1220 Bonaventure Ave., 


32043 

904-529-2140 

Lake Asbury Junior High 

2851 Sandridge Rd., 


32043 

904-291-5582 

Lakeside Junior High 


Park 32073 

904-213-1800 

Oakleaf Junior High 



904-213-5500 

Orange Park Junior High 

1500 Gano Ave. Orange 

Park 32073 

904-278-2000 

Wilkinson Junior High 

5025 County Rd. 218, 


904-291-5500 

High Schools 

Bannerman 

Learning Center 

608 Mill Street, Green 

Cove Springs 32043 

904-529-2100 

Clay 

2025 State Rd. 16 W, 


32043 

904-529-3000 


2233 Village Square 

Parkway, Fleming Island 

32003 904-541-2100 


900 Orchid Ave., 


352-473-2761 

Middleburg 

3750 County Rd. 220, 


904-213-2100 

Oakleaf 



904-213-1900 

Orange Park 

2300 Kingsley Ave., 


904-272-8110 

Ridgeview 

466 Madison Ave., 


904-213-5203 

Alternative Schools 

PACE Center for Girls, Clay 

1241 Blanding Blvd. Suite 

5 Orange Park 320065 

904-510-2337 

AMI Kids @ Clay High 

2025 FL-16 Green Cove 

Springs, 32043 

904-529-3057 

Florida Youth Challenge 

Academy 

5629 FL-16, Starke 32091 

904-682-4036 

DUVAL COUNTY 

(Jacksonville unless 

otherwise noted) 


Abess Park 

12731 Abess Blvd. 32225 

904-220-1260 

Alimacani 

2051 San Pablo Rd. 32224 

904-221-7101 


298 Sherry Dr., Atlantic 

Beach 32233 

904-247-5924 

Bartram Springs 

14799 Bartram Springs 

Parkway 32258 

904-260-5860 

Bayview 

3257 Lake Shore Blvd. 

32210 

904-381-3920 

Beauclerc 

4555 Craven Rd. W. 

32257 

904-739-5226 

Brookview 

10450 Theresa Dr. 

32246 

904-565-2720 

Cedar Hills 

6534 Ish Brant Rd. 

32210 

904-573-1050 

Central Riverside 

2555 Gilmore St. 32204 

904-381-7495 

Chaffee Trail 

11400 Sam Caruso Way 

32221 

904-693-7510 

Chets Creek 

13200 Chets Creek Blvd. 

32224 

904-992-6390 

Crown Point 

3800 Crown Point Rd. 

32257 904-260-5808 

Don Brewer 

3385 Hartsfield Rd. 

32277 

904-745-4990 

Enterprise Academy 

8085 Old Middleburg Rd. 

32222 

904-573-3260 

Greenland Pines 

5050 Greenland Rd. 

32258 

904-260-5450 

Hendricks Avenue 

3400 Hendricks Ave. 

32207 904-346-5610 

Jacksonville Heights 

7750 Tempest St. S. 

32244 

904-573-1120 

Joseph Finegan 

555 Wonderwood Dr., 


32233 

904-247-5996 

Kernan Trail 

2281 Kernan Blvd. S. 

32246 904-220-1310 

Kings Trail 

7401 Old Kings Rd. S. 

32217 

904-739-5254 

Louis Sheffield 

13333 Lanier Rd. 32226 

904-696-8758 

Love Grove 

2446 University Blvd. S. 

32216 904-720-1645 

Mamie Agnes Jones 

700 Orange Ave. Baldwin 

32234 904-266-1214 

Mandarin Oaks 

10600 Hornets Nest Rd. 

32257 

904-260-5820 

Merrill Road 

8239 Merrill Rd. 32277 

904-745-4919 

Neptune Beach 

1515 Florida Blvd., 

Neptune Beach 32266 

904-247-5954 

New Berlin 

3613 New Berlin Rd. 

32226 

904-714-4601 

Normandy Village 

8257 Herlong Rd. 32210 

904-693-7548 

Parkwood Heights 

1709 Lansdowne Dr. 32211 

904-720-1670 

Ramona Boulevard 

5540 Ramona Blvd. 32205 

904-693-7576

Explore the Quality 

of Public Education! 

STOP 

Explore for yourself 

Take a tour today 

Preparing students for success 

Discover 

Duval Schools 

For more information and tour dates, visit: 

www.discoverduval.org

EDUCATION 

Ruth N. Upson 

1090 Dancy St. 

32205 904-381-7485 

Sabal Palm 

1201 Kernan Blvd. N. 32225 

904-221-7169 

Sadie Tillis 

6084 Morse Ave. 

32244 904-573-1090 

Seabreeze 

1400 Seabreeze Ave., 

Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-247-5900 

Southside Estates 

9775 Ivey Rd. 

32246 904-565-2706 

Stonewall Jackson 

6127 Cedar Hills Blvd. 

32210 904-573-1020 

Timucuan 

5429 110th St. 

32244 904-573-1130 

Twin Lakes 

8000 Point Meadows Dr. 

32256 904-538-0238 

Waterleaf 

450 Kernan Blvd. N. 

32225 904-565-8000 

West Jacksonville 

2115 Commonwealth Ave. 

32209 904-630-6592 

Westview K-8 School 

5270 Connie Jean Rd. 

32210 904-573-1082 

Whitehouse 

11160 General Ave. 32220 

904-693-7542 


Arlington 

8141 Lone Star Rd. 32211 

904-720-1680 

Fletcher 

2000 North 3rd Street, 


904-247-5929 

J. E. B. Stuart 

4815 Wesconnett Blvd. 

32210 904-573-1000 

Jefferson Davis 

7050 Melvin Rd. 32210 

904-573-1060 

Kernan Middle 

2271 Kernan Blvd. S. 

32246 904-220-1350 

Landmark 

101 Kernan Blvd. N. 32225 

904-221-7125 

Mandarin 

5100 Hood Rd. 32257 

904-292-0555 

Oceanway 

143 Oceanway Ave. 32218 

904-714-4680 

Twin Lakes 

8050 Point Meadows Dr. 

32256 904-538-0825 

Westview 

5270 Connie Jean Rd. 

32210 904-573-1082 

High Schools 

Atlantic Coast 

9735 R.G. Skinner 

Parkway, 32256 

904-538-5120 

Edward H. White 

1700 Old Middleburg Rd. 

32210 904-693-7620 

Englewood 

4412 Barnes Rd. 

32207 904-739-5212 

First Coast 

590 Duval Station Rd. 

32218 904-757-0080 

Fletcher 

700 Seagate Ave., 

Neptune Beach 

32266 904-247-5905 

Sandalwood 

2750 John Prom Blvd. 

32246 904-646-5100 

Terry Parker 

7301 Parker School Rd. 

32211 904-720-1650 

Westside 

5530 Firestone Rd. 32244 

904-573-1170 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Primary/ 


Bryceville (K-5) 

6504 Church Ave., 

Byrceville 32009 

904-497-7932 

Callahan (Pk2- 2) 

449618 U.S. Highway 301, 

Callahan 32011 

904-491-7933 

Callahan Intermediate 

(3-5) 

34586 Ballpark Rd., 


904-491-7934 

Emma Love Hardee (3-5) 

2200 Susan Dr., 

Fernandina Beach, 

32034 904-491-7936 

Hilliard (PreK-5) 

27568 Ohio St., Hilliard 

32046 904-491-7939 

Southside (PreK-2) 

1112 Jasmine St., 


32034 904-491-7941 

Yulee (3-5) 

86063 Felmor Rd., Yulee 

32097 904-491-7943 

Yulee Primary (PreK-2) 

86426 Goodbread Dr., 

Yulee 32097 

904-491-7945 


Callahan (6-8) 

450121 Old Dixie Highway, 


904-491-7935 

Fernandina Beach (6-8) 

315 Citrona Dr., 


904-491-7938 

Hilliard Middle-Senior 

High (6-12) 

One Flashes Ave., 

Hilliard 32046 

904-491-7940 

Yulee (6-8) 

85439 Miner Rd., 

Yulee 32097 

904-491-7944 

High Schools 


435 Citrona Dr., 


904-491-793 

West Nassau County (9-12) 

1 Warrior Dr., 


904-491-7943 

Yulee (9-12) 

85375 Miner Rd., 

Yulee 32097 

904-491-7944 



John A. Crookshank 

1455 North Whitney St., 


904-547-7840 

Cunningham Creek 

1205 Roberts Rd., St. 

Johns 32259 

904-547-7860 

Durbin Creek 

4100 Race Track Rd., 

St. Johns 32259 

904-547-3880 

W. D. Hartley 

260 Cacique Dr., St. 

Augustine 32086 

904-547-8400 

Hickory Creek 

235 Hickory Creek Trail, 


904-547-7450 


2316 Racetrack Rd., 


904-547-7980 

Ketterlinus 

67 Orange St., 


904-547-8540 

Mill Creek 

3750 International Golf 

Parkway, St. Augustine 

32092 904-547-3720 

Ocean Palms 

355 Landrum Lane, 

Ponte Vedra Beach 32082 

904-547-3760 

Osceola 

605 Osceola Elementary Rd., 


904-547-3780 

Otis A. Mason 

207 Mason Manatee Way, 


904-547-8440 

Palencia 

355 Palencia Village Dr., 


904-547-4010 

PV/PV – Rawlings 

610 A1A, North Ponte 

Vedra Beach 32082 

PV/PV: 904-547-3820; 

Rawlings: 904-547-8570 

R. B. Hunt 

125 Magnolia Dr., 


904-547-7960 

South Woods 

4750 State Rd. 206, West 

Elkton 32033 

904-547-8610 

Timberlin Creek 

555 Pine Tree Lane, St. 


904-547-7400 

Wards Creek 

6555 State Rd. 16, St. 


904-547-8730 

The Webster School 

420 North Orange St., 


904-547-3860 

K-8 Schools 

Liberty Pines Academy 

10901 Russell Sampson Rd., 


904-547-7900 

Patriot Oaks Academy 

475 Longleaf Pine 

Parkway, St. Johns 32259 

904-547-4050 

Valley Ridge Academy 

105 Greenleaf Dr., 

Ponte Vedra 32081 

904-547-4090 


Alice B. Landrum 

230 Landrum Lane, 


904-547-8410 

Fruit Cove 

3180 Race Track Rd., 


904-547-7880 

Pacetti Bay 

245 Meadowlark Lane, 


904-547-8760 

Gamble Rogers 

6250 U.S. Highway 1 S., 


904-547-8700 

R. J. Murray 

150 North Holmes Blvd., 


904-547-8470 

Sebastian 

2955 Lewis Speedway, St. 


904-547-3840 

Switzerland Point 

777 Greenbriar Rd., 


904-547-8650 

High Schools 

Allen D. Nease 

10550 Ray Rd., 


904-547-8300 

Bartram Trail 

7399 Longleaf Pine 

Parkway, 


904-547-8340 

Creekside 

100 Knights Lane, 


904-547-7300 

Pedro Menendez 

600 State Road 206 W., 


904-547-8660 

Ponte Vedra 

460 Davis Park Rd., 


904-547-7350 

St. Augustine 

3205 Varella Ave., 


904-547-8530 

St. Johns Technical 

2980 Collins Ave., 


(904)547-8500 

Alternative Schools 

Gaines Alternative and 

Transition Schools 

at the Evelyn B. Hamblen 

Center, 1 Christopher St., 


904-547-8560 


EDUCATION 

Bright futures 

Students can earn one 

of three scholarships 

toward education. 

Students must apply in order to receive 

the Bright Futures Scholarship by 

submitting the Florida Financial Aid 

Application (FFAA) starting Dec. 1 of 

their senior year and no later than Aug. 

31 following high school graduation. 

All eligibility requirements must 

be met by high school graduation, but 

testing scores will be accepted through 

June 30 of the graduation year. 

Three tiers of the scholarship and requirements: 

1. Florida Academic Scholars (FAS): requires 100 

service hours; SAT score of 1290 or 

ACT score of 29; 3.5 GPA unweighted 

Alex.Sanchez@StAugustine.com 

Creekside High School students throw their hats up in celebration for the class of 2014 

graduation at the University of North Florida. 

2. Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS): requires 75 

service hours; SAT score of 1170 or 

ACT score of 26; 3.0 GPA unweighted 

3. Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV): requires 

30 service hours; SAT Reading 440/ 

Math 440; ACT English 17, Reading 

19, and Math 19, or PERT scores 

Reading 106, Writing 103, Match 114; 

take at least 3 full credits in a single 

Career and Technical Education 

program; Achieve the required 

minimum 3.5 GPA in the career 

education courses. 

Students are also required to submit 

Proof of Dependency, a declaration of 

Florida Residency, have documentation 

of service hours and submit official high 

school transcripts. 

For more information about 

the requirements for the Bright 

Futures Scholarships, visit 

floridastudentfinancialaid.org. 

Seeking awesome kids. 

Every child is unique. We embrace that 

individuality to nurture their growth, 

learning, self-esteem, and imagination. This 

is where one-of-a-kinds get started. 

Your awesome kid would be a perfect fit. 

• Preschool and Pre-Kindergarten 

• Experienced teachers 

• Literacy and mathematics focus 

• Before- and after-school clubs 

• Full- and part-time enrollment 

Now enrolling! 

Schedule a tour today. 

Locations: 

4783 Windsor Commons Court 


904.223.6770 

8510 Watermill Boulevard South 


904.908.5500 

125 Hampton Point Drive 

St. Augustine, FL 

904.230.4899 

13734 Old St. Augustine Road 


904.268.4253 

751 Lady Lake Road 


904.757.7773 

TutorTime.com 

An equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2015 Tutor Time Learning Centers, LLC. CTT50. 

License #C04DU0594, C04DU0595, C04DU0707, C04DU0685, C07SJ0093 


EDUCATION 

How to enroll a new student 

Registration requirements 

All registrants must provide valid 

documentation to include proof of 

birth age, Florida certification of 

immunization or exemption, proof 

of residency, and meet the following 

school registration requirements under 

Florida Law: 

1. Kindergarten: Children may enter 

kindergarten if they will be 5 years 

old on or before Sept. 1. 

2. First grade: Children may enter 

first grade if they will be 6 years 

old on or before Sept. 1, and 

have successfully completed 

kindergarten. 

3. All children who will be 6 years old by 

Feb. 1 must attend school. 

4. All children must attend school until 

they reach the age of 16. 

The requirements above are Florida law 

and there are no exceptions. 

Immunization requirements 

Florida law requires that students must 

have on file a Florida Certification 

of Immunization (DH Form 680) or 

have an exemption on file at their 

school. Please visit dcps.com for more 

information about the requirements on 

immunizations. 

Students entering, attending, or 

transferring into 7th, 8th and 9th grade 

must have documented proof on a 

“Florida Certificate of Immunization” 

one dose of Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, 

pertussis) vaccine. All other 

vaccinations should be complete. 

Transfer students 

Florida laws authorize school officials 

to permit transfers of students who 

present proof of measles vaccination to 

attend school up to 30 school days until 

their records can be obtained unless 

the student is transferring into a grade 

covered by a policy for two doses of the 

MMR vaccine and/or documentation of 

Hepatitis B vaccine series or Varicella. 

Students transferring into 7th, 8th and 

9th grades require an additional proof 

of a recent tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis 

vaccine. 

For more help on registration contact: 

• Pupil Assignment Office 

904-390-2144 

• School Choice Office 

904-390-2082 

• Exceptional Education 

& Student Services Office 

904-390-2071 



A student enjoys the Mayport Middle School Coastal Sciences magnet display at the 

Duval County School Choice Expo. 

Not by chance, but by CHOICE 

Duval County Public Schools offer the option to apply 

to a different school in the county; schools range 

from traditional public schools to magnet programs. 

The goal of Duval County Public 

Schools is to offer every student 

the best opportunity for academic 

success. In order to accomplish this 

goal, the school system created the 

Duval Choice program. The Duval 

County magnet programs are the 

main attraction for the Duval County 

Choice Program. Duval County boasts 

the magnet programs in more than 60 

different schools. The Choice program 

is host to multiple education specific 

programs, including magnet, career 

academies, high school acceleration 

programs, choice programs and charter 

schools. Much of the focus for a magnet 

program is based on a theme and will 

give students an opportunity to explore 

an interest or talent. On Saturday, Jan. 

9th, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Prime 

Osborn Convention Center, Duval 

County public schools hosts the School 

Choice Expo. Following the expo, 

during January and February, schools 

offer tours and open houses for families 

to visit and see how the different 

programs are facilitated in each school. 

Choice schools 

Sometimes families seek 

prospective schools outside the area 

the student is zoned to attend. The 

Choice Program was created to give 

students the opportunity to transfer 

from their assigned school. These 

transfers can only occur during the 

Special Transfer period and will be 

determined by a lottery based on that 

school’s enrollment ability. If a student 

chooses to attend a school zoned in 

a different area, it is the parent’s, or 

guardian's, responsibility to provide 

transportation to the new school. 

If an application to transfer is 

received following the deadline, they 

will be filed. If space becomes available 

for the school that was requested, 

parents will be notified in the summer. 

Magnet program 

These programs were developed 

so students would have the chance 

to attend a school that has a focus 

on themes or career areas that may 

be geared toward a student’s special 

interest. At more than 50 schools in

the area there are more than 30 different 

programs with opportunities that range 

from culinary arts and Montessori to 

computer sciences and the medical 

professions. Often, students have the 

opportunity to follow that same magnet 

prospect through middle school to high 

school. Students who are enrolled at 

magnet programs at Darnell-Cookman, 

James Weldon Johnson, Kirby-Smith, 

LaVilla, Frank H. Peterson, Paxon, Asa 

Philip Randolph and Stanton must 

meet specified academic performance 

standards in order to continue 

attendance each year. 

These standards are: 

• Grades 6-7: Pass all courses 

• Grades 7-11: Maintain an overall 

unweighted 2.0 grade point average, 

and pass all courses. 

• Also, students at LaVilla must earn 

a “C” or higher in each arts area. 

Acceleration programs 

These programs give students the 

opportunity to earn college credits 

while attending high school. Some of 

the different programs in place are 

the AICE (Advanced International 

Certificate of Education), the AP Honors, 

the Early College, and the International 

Baccalaureate (IB) programs. They are 

intended to “serve students from outside 

the attendance area on a space available 

basis." 

The AICE program is an 

internationally recognized system 

geared towards highly motivated, 

academically exceptional students 

attending high school. The program 

sponsors a flexible, wide-ranged, two 

year program for upperclassmen in high 

school and is hosted by the University of 

Cambridge International Examinations. 

The AP Honors program was created 

to challenge students to excel in 

academic achievement on AP exams 

across multiple academic areas. These 

classes are taught at an academic 

level that would be equal to a college 

freshman course. Students are able 

to earn credits to college by scoring a 

minimum of a 3 on a 5-point score on the 

comprehensive exam that was created by 

the College Board. 

Early College is commonly referred 

to as a ‘school within a school’ and is a 

small community of students that have 

a curriculum of blended high school and 

college courses. This program allows 

students to earn both a high school 

diploma and credits towards a college 

degree. Students are enrolled full time at 

Florida State College at Jacksonville when 

they reach their junior and senior year. 

The IB program is also an 

internationally known course of 

study for students that are seeking a 

challenging curriculum based on college 

preparation. The purpose of the program 

is to promote students who recognize 

world citizenship to create a more 

peaceful and better world. 

How to Apply 

Choice schools 

Families must first obtain the Special 

Transfer Option application from the 

School Choice Office, which can be found 

at the school the student is currently 

attending, wish to attend, or online at 

duvalchoice.com/how-to-apply. 

Families are allowed to only make one 

choice on the application. Families need 

to make sure they name the program 

correctly on the application, and there 

may only be one application per student. 

The application must be signed by a 

parent or legal guardian and is generally 

due by mid-May. The application will be 

placed in the lottery which is based on 

supply vs. demand. The only priorities 

that are a part of this lottery are for 

students whose parent is employed at 

the school they are applying to attend, 

are dependents of recently transitioned 

active duty military applying to magnet 

EDUCATION 

schools, advanced studies, Advanced 

Placement, dual enrollment, AICE or IB, 

if a sibling is already in attendance at 

the school and is able to attend again the 

next school year or if the principal of the 

projected school signs the application. 

Families are notified mid-June. 

Magnet programs 

Families have two options in order 

to apply for a Magnet program: paper or 

online. The deadline will be the same 

for both options. If you are a currently 

enrolled in a Duval County public 

school, your name will be recognized 

in the system and you will be able to 

see which priorities have an effect on 

your choices. If you apply, you will 

need the 10-digit PIN at the bottom 

of the paper application. Students are 

limited to making three choices, but 

may only make one or two if they wish. 

It is suggested to only apply to the 

program that the student really wants. 

If you are using the preprinted form 

and your student is eligible for Program 

Continuity to the next school level, make 

sure that you mark that selection on the 

application or, if you are filling out a 

blank form, you may fill in the box if you 

believe your student is eligible. 

For more information on how to 

apply to all of the programs listed, or for 

more information about schools that 

have possible openings, both magnet 

and non-magnet Choice schools, refer 

to the website duvalchoice.com, where 

all applications and the Reference Guide 

can be found. 


Students show their skills at the Lake Forest Elementary School booth during the Duval 

County School Choice Expo. 


EDUCATION 

Duval County Magnet Schools 

Grades 

Served Phone Magnet Specialty 

School Name 

Address (Jacksonville unless otherwise noted) 

A. Philip Randolph academies 1157 Golfair Blvd. 32209 PK, 6-12 904-924-3011 Technology 

Alfred I. Dupont Middle 2710 Dupont Ave. 32217 6-8 904-739-5200 

International Business and World Language 

Academy 

Andrew A. Robinson Elementary 101 W. 12th St. 32206 PK-5 904-630-6550 Science/Math 

Andrew Jackson High 3816 N. Main St. 32206 9-12 904-630-6950 Other 

Baldwin Middle/High 291 Mills St. W 32234 6-12 904-266-1200 technology 

Brentwood Elementary 3750 Springfield Blvd. 32206 KG-5 904-630-6630 Performing Arts 

Carter G. Woodson Elementary 2334 Butler St. 32209 PK-5 904-924-3004 Medical 

Central Riverside Elementary 

2555 Gilmore St. 32204 PK-5 904-381-7495 Academically Talented 

Chimney Lakes Elementary 9353 Staples Mills Drive 32244 PK-5 904-573-1100 Other 

Crystal Springs Elementary 1200 Hammond Blvd. 32221 PK-5 904-693-7645 Other 

Darnell Cookman Middle/High 1701 N. Davis St. 32209 PK, 6-10 904-630-6805 Medical 

Dinsmore Elementary 7126 Civic Club Drive 32219 KG-5 904-924-3126 Other 

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts 2445 San Diego Road 32207 9-12 904-346-5620 Performing Arts 

Englewood Elementary 4359 Spring Park Road 32207 KG-5 904-739-5280 Other 

Fishweir Elementary 3977 Herschel St. 32205 PK-5 904-381-3910 Performing Arts 

Fort Caroline Middle 3787 University Club Blvd. 32277 6-8 904-745-4927 International Baccalaureate 

Frank H. Peterson Academies 7450 Wilson Blvd. 32210 9-12 904-573-1150 Technology 

Greenfield Elementary 6343 Knights Lane N. 32216 KG-5 904-739-5249 Other 

Henry F. Kite Elementary 9430 Lem Turner Road 32208 KG-5 904-924-3031 International Baccalaureate 

Highlands Middle 10913 Pine Estates Road E. 32218 6-8 904-696-8771 Other 

Holiday Hill Elementary 6900 Altama Road 32216 PK-5 904-720-1676 Other 

J. Allen Axson Elementary 4763 Sutton Park Court 32224 PK-5 904-992-3600 Other 

Jacksonville Beach Elementary 315 10th St. S, Jacksonville Beach 32250 KG-5 904-720-1663 Academically Talented 

James W. Johnson College Prep Middle 13276 Norman E Thagard Blvd 32254 6-8 904-630-6640 Academically Talented 

Jean Ribault High 3701 Winton Drive 32208 9-12 904-924-3092 Other 

Jean Ribault Middle 3610 Ribault Scenic Drive 32208 6-8 904-924-3062 Other 

John E. Ford K-8 1137 Cleveland St. 32209 PK-8 904-630-6540 Other 

John Stockton Elementary 4827 Carlisle Road 32210 KG-5 904-381-3955 Other 

Joseph Stilwell Middle 7840 Burma Road 32221 6-8 904-693-7523 Military Leadership 

Julia Landon College Preparatory & 

Leadership 

1819 Thacker Ave. 32207 6-8 904-346-5650 Academically Talented 

Kirby-Smith Middle 2034 Hubbard St. 32206 6-8 904-630-6600 Other 

Lake Forest Elementary 901 Kennard St. 32208 PK-5 904-924-3024 Performing Arts 

The Duval Transformation Office (DTO) was developed in 2013 with a goal 

to provide quality education to the students of historically 

low-performing schools. The Quality Education for All (QEA) 

Fund is a large pool of private dollars for targeted investment 

in human capital (defined as high-quality teachers and 

leaders) for Duval County Public Schools. 

DTO/QEA Schools 

(Jacksonville unless 

otherwise noted) 

Andrew Jackson - QEA 

3816 Main St. N. 32206 

904-630-6950 

Andrew Robinson - QEA 

101 West 12th St. 32206 

904-630-6550 

Annie R. Morgan - QEA 

964 Saint Clair St. 32254 

904-381-3970 

Arlington - DTO 

1201 University Blvd. N. 

32211 

904-745-4900 

Arlington Heights - DTO 

1520 Sprinkle Drive 32211 

904-745-4923 

Biltmore - QEA 

2101 Palm Ave. W. 32254 

904-693-7569 

Biscayne - QEA 

12230 Biscayne Blvd. 

32218 904-714-4650 

Brentwood - QEA 

3750 Springfield Blvd. 

32206 904-630-6630 

Carter G. Woodson - QEA 

2334 Butler Ave. 32209 

904-924-3004 

Dinsmore - QEA 

7126 Civic Club Road 

32219 904-924-3126 

Eugene Butler, YMLA 

(Boys) - QEA 

900 Acorn St. 32209 

904-630-6900 

Eugene Butler, YWLA 

(Girls) - QEA 

900 Acorn St. 32209 

904-630-6900 

Fort Caroline E - DTO 

3925 Athore Drive 32277 

904-745-4904 

Garden City - QEA 

2814 Dunn Ave. 32218 

904-924-3130 

George W. Carver - QEA 

2854 West 45th St. 32209 

904-924-3122 

Gregory Drive - DTO 

7800 Gregory Dr. 32210 

904-573-1190 

Henry F. Kite - QEA 

9430 Lem Turner Road 

32208 

904-924-3031 

Highlands Elementary - DTO 

1000 dePaul Drive 32218 

904-696-8754 

Highlands Middle - QEA 

10913 Pine Estates Road E. 

32218 904-696-8771 

Hogan-Spring Glen E - DTO 

6736 Beach Blvd. 32216 

904-720-1640 

Hyde Grove - DTO 

2056 Lane Ave. S. 

32210 

904-693-7562 

Hyde Park - DTO 

5300 Park St. 32205 

904-381-3950 

John E. Ford - QEA 

1137 Cleveland St. 

32209 

904-630-6540 


Duval County Magnet Schools 

Grades 

Served Phone Magnet Specialty 

School Name 

Address (Jacksonville unless otherwise noted) 

Lake Shore Middle 2519 Bayview Road 32210 6-8 904-381-7440 International Baccalaureate 

LaVilla School of the Arts 501 N. Davis St. 32202 6-8 904-633-6069 Performing Arts 

Lone Star Elementary 10400 Lone Star Road 32225 KG-5 904-565-2711 Other 

Loretto Elementary 3900 Loretto Road 32223 PK-5 904-260-5800 Technology 

Mandarin High 4831 Greenland Road 32258 9-12 904-260-3911 Academically Talented 

Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary 8801 Lake Placid Drive E. 32208 KG-5 904-924-3027 Performing Arts 

Matthew W. Gilbert Middle 1424 Franklin St. 32206 6-8 904-630-6700 Other 

Mayport Elementary 2753 Shangri-La Drive, Atlantic Beach 32233 PK-5 904-247-5988 Other 

Mayport Middle 2600 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach 32233 6-8 904-247-5977 Other 

North Shore Elementary 5701 Silver Plaza 32208 KG-5 904-924-3081 STEM 

Ortega Elementary 4010 Baltic St. 32210 KG-5 904-381-7460 Other 

Paxon School for Advanced Studies 3239 Norman E. Thagard Blvd. 32254 9-12 904-693-7583 Academically Talented 

Pinedale Elementary 4229 Edison Ave. 32254 KG-5 904-381-7490 STEM 

Pine Forest Elementary 3929 Grant Road 32207 KG-5 904-346-5600 Performing Arts 

R. V. Daniels Elementary 1951 W. 15th St. 32209 KG-2 904-630-6872 Academically Talented 

Richard L. Brown Elementary 1535 Milnor St. 32206 KG-5 904-630-6570 International Baccalaureate 

Robert E. Lee High 1200 S. McDuff Ave. 32205 9-12 904-381-3930 Other 

Rufus E. Payne Elementary 6725 Hema Road 32209 PK-5 904-924-3020 International Baccalaureate 

Sallye B. Mathis Elementary 3501 Winton Drive 32208 PK-5 904-924-3086 Other 

Samuel W. Wolfson High 7000 Powers Ave. 32217 9-12 904-739-5265 Other 

San Jose Elementary 5805 St. Augustine Road 32207 PK-5 904-739-5260 Other 

San Mateo Elementary 600 Baisden Road 32218 KG-5 904-696-8750 Other 

San Pablo Elementary 801 18th Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach 32250 KG-5 904-247-5947 STEM 

Southside Middle 2948 Knights Lane E. 32216 6-8 904-739-5238 International Baccalaureate 

Spring Park Elementary 2250 Spring Park Road 32207 PK-5 904-346-5640 International Baccalaureate 

Stanton College preparatory 1149 W. 13th St. 32209 9-12 904-630-6760 Academically Talented 

Susie E. Tolbert Elementary 1925 W. 13th St. 32209 3-5 904-630-6860 Academically Talented 

Thomas Jefferson Elementary 8233 Nevada St. 32220 KG-5 904-630-6860 Other 

Venetia Elementary 4300 Timuquana Road 32210 KG-5 904-381-3990 Medical 

West Riverside Elementary 2801 Herschel St. 32205 KG-5 904-381-3900 Dual Languages 

William M. Raines High 3663 Raines Ave. 32209 9-12 904-924-3049 Technology 

Windy Hill Elementary 3831 Forest, Blvd. 32246 PK-5 904-565-2700 Technology 

Woodland Acres Elementary 328 Bowlan St. N. 32211 PK-5 904-720-1663 Medical 

Young Men’s Leadership Academy 900 Acorn St. 32209 6-8 904-630-6900 Leadership 

Young Women’s Leadership Academy 900 Acorn St. 32209 6-8 904-630-6900 Leadership 

EDUCATION 

John Love - QEA 

1531 Winthrop St. 32206 

904-630-6790 

Lake Forest - QEA 

901 Kennard St. 

32208 

904-924-3024 

Lake Lucina - DTO 

6527 Merrill Rd. 

32277 

904-745-4916 

Long Branch - QEA 

3723 Franklin St. 32206 

904-630-6620 

Martin Luther King - QEA 

8801 Lake Placid Drive E. 

32208 

904-924-3027 

Matthew Gilbert - QEA 

1424 Franklin St. 32206 

904-630-6700 

North Shore - QEA 

5701 Silver Plaza 32208 

904-924-3081 

Northwestern - QEA 

2100 West 45th St. 32209 

904-924-3100 

Oak Hill - DTO 

6910 Daughtry Blvd. S. 

32210 

904-573-1030 

Oceanway Elementary - DTO 

12555 Gillespie Ave. 

32218 

904-696-8762 

Pickett - QEA 

6305 Old Kings Road N. 

32254 

904-693-7555 

Pine Estates - DTO 

10741 Pine Estates Road E. 

32218 

904-696-8767 

Rufus E. Payne - QEA 

6725 Hema Road 

32209 

904-924-3020 

Rutledge H. Pearson - QEA 

4346 Roanoke Blvd. 32208 

904-924-3077 

Reynolds Lane - QEA 

840 Reynolds Lane 32254 

904-381-3960 

Ribault High - QEA 

3701 Winton Drive 32208 

904-924-3092 

Ribault Middle - QEA 

3610 Ribault Scenic Drive 

32208 

904-924-3062 

Richard L. Brown - QEA 

1535 Milnor St. 32206 

904-630-6570 

S. A. Hull - QEA 

7528 Hull St. 

32219 

904-924-3136 

S. P. Livingston - QEA 

1128 Barber St. 

32209 

904-630-6580 

Saint Clair Evans - QEA 

5443 Moncrief Road 32209 

904-924-3035 

Sallye B. Mathis - QEA 

3501 Winton Drive 32208 

904-924-3086 

Susie Tolbert - QEA 

1925 West 13th St. 32209 

904-630-6860 

Thomas Jefferson - QEA 

8233 Nevada St. 

32220 

904-693-7500 

William Raines - QEA 

3663 Raines Ave. 32209 

904-924-3049 

Duval Exceptional 

Student Education 

Schools 

Alden Road 

11780 Alden Road 32246 

904-565-2722 

GRASP Academy 

3101 Justina Road 32277 

904-745-4909 

Mount Herman 

1741 Francis St. 32209 

904-630-6740 

Palm Avenue 

1301 Palm Ave. 32254 

904-693-7516 


EDUCATION 

Charter schools 

The purpose of a Charter School is to allow for different options as it pertains 

to school choice. These schools are open to all students in the districts. However, 

these schools may aim to enroll students based on grade level or age. The difference 

between these schools and others in the counties is that they have more freedom 

from many of the guidelines that are present in traditional public schools. 

Duval County has more than 33 charter school serving many grade levels, several 

opening during the 2015-2016 school year. St. Johns County, meanwhile, hosts six 

schools in the area. 

Below you will find the charter schools in the two counties, their locations and 

their contact information. 


Second-grade students walk up the 

staircase of the Main Library on their way to 

the Children’s Book Room. 

Duval County Charter Schools (Jacksonville unless otherwise noted) 

Biscayne High School 

680 Dunn Ave. 32218 

904-301-4367 

Duval Charter Scholars 

Academy 

100 Bell Tel Way 32216 

904-724-1536 

Duval Charter at Baymeadows 

7510 Baymeadows Way 

32256 904-638-7947 


Duval Charter High at 

Baymeadows 

7510 Baymeadows Way 

32256 

904-271-4127 

Duval Charter at Flagler 

12755 Flagler Center 

Blvd. 32258 

1-866-KIDS-USA 

Duval Charter at Mandarin 

5209 Shad Road 32257 

904-440-2901 

SEEKING: 

AWESOME 

KIDS. 

Here, your child will discover respect, 

collaboration, and the joy of learning. 

This is a great place to start for all kinds 

of awesome kids. We know yours will be 

a perfect fit. 

• Preschool and Pre-K 

• Literacy and mathematics focus 

• Before- and after-school clubs 

• Full- and part-time enrollment 

An equal opportunity provider and employer. ©2015 La Petite Academy, Inc. 

CLPA112. License #C04DU0254, C04DU0252, C04DU0253, C04DU0255, 

C04DU0250 

Duval Charter at Southside 

8680 AC Skinner 

Parkway 32256 

904-423-5348 

Duval Charter at Westside 

9238 103rd St. 32210 

904-421-0250 

Florida Virtual Academy at 

Duval County 

9143 Philips Highway, 

Ste. 590 32256 

904-247-3268 

Global Outreach Academy 

9570 Regency Sq. Blvd. 

32225 

904-551-7104 

KIPP Jacksonville K-8 

1440 N. McDuff Ave. 

32254 

904-683-6643 

KIPP Impact Middle School 


32254 

904-683-6643 

NOW 

ENROLLING 

AT FIVE 

JACKSONVILLE 

LOCATIONS. 

TOUR TODAY! 

50 ST. JOHNS BLUFF RD. 

904.642.3224 

6601 ARGYLE FOREST BLVD. 

904.777.0440 

13957 BEACH BLVD. 

904.223.3758 

9220 GOLFSIDE DR. 

904.731.2795 

800 GIRVIN RD. 

904.221.6236 

LaPetite.com 

KIPP VOICE Elementary 


32254 

904-683-6643 

Lone Star High School 

8050 Lone Star Road. 

32211 

904-725-5998 

Murray Hill High School 

929 McDuff Ave. S. 32205 

904-866-4516 

MYcroSchool 

1584 Normandy Village 

Parkway, 

Ste. 25 32221 

904-783-3611 

River City Science Academy 

Elementary 

7555 Beach Blvd. 32216 

904-565-0065 

River City Science Academy 

7565 Beach Blvd. 32216 

904-855-8010 

River City Science Innovation 

8313 Baycenter Road 

32256 

904-647-5110 

SAL Tech 

4811 Payne Stewart Drive 

32209 

904-328-5001 

San Jose Academy 

4072 Sunbeam Road 

32257 

904-425-1725 

San Jose Preparatory 

4072 Sunbeam Road 

32257 

904-425-1725 

Seacoast Charter Academy 

9100 Regency Square 

Blvd. N. 32211 

904-562-4780 

Seaside Community 

2630 State Road A1A 

32233 

904-853-6287 

Somerset Academy Eagle High 

1429 Broward Road 

32218 

904-854-0990 

Somerset Academy 

Elementary-Eagle Campus 

8711 Lone Star Road 

32211 

904-854-0990 

Somerset Academy Middle- 

Eagle Campus 

8711 Lone Star Road 

32211 

904-854-0990 

Somerset K-8 

1429 Broward Road 

32218 

904-503- 0661 

SOS Academy 

6974 Wilson Blvd. 32210 

904-573-0880 

Tiger Academy 

6079 Bagley Road. 

32209 

904-309-6840 

Valor Academy of Leadership 

High School 

4819 Soutel Drive 32208 

904-469-8195 

Valor Academy of Leadership 

Middle School 

4819 Soutel Drive 32208 

904-469-8195 

Virtue Arts and Science 

Academy Middle 

1824 Dean Road 32216 

904-379-0004 

Virtue Arts and Science 

Academy High 

1824 Dean Road 32216 

904-379-0004 

Waverly Academy 

5710 Westconnett Blvd. 

32244 

904-647-8552 

Wayman Academy of the Arts 

1176 LaBelle St. 32205 

904-695-9995


Students and teachers from Fletcher High 

School came to the annual International 

Coastal Cleanup, coordinated by the Ocean 

Conservancy. 

St. Johns County Charter Schools 

ABLE 

(The Academy of Business and Leadership Education) 

149 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084 

904-826-1606 

First Coast Technical College 

2980 Collins Ave., St. Augustine 32084 

904-547-3282 

St. Johns Community Campus (ARC) 

62 Cuna St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-209-6842 

Therapeutic Learning Center 

2109 Arc Drive, St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-8932 

St. Augustine Public Montessori 

7 Williams St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-342-5350 

St. Paul School of Excellence 

85 M. L. King Ave., St. Augustine 32084 

904-829-9910 

Programs of Choice 

Acceleration Academies 

There are three acceleration academies 

in St. Johns County: 

School 


High School 

Pedro 

Menendez 

High School 

St. Augustine 

High School 

Program 

International Baccalaureate 

Program (IB) 

International Baccalaureate 

Program (IB) 

Advanced International 

Certificate of Education (AICE) 

Bartram Trail, Ponte Vedra and Creekside 

high schools also have advanced 

academic programs for students who 

live within their school zones only. These 

programs are not open for any students 

outside their school zones. 

Clay County Career Academies 

School 

Academies 

Clay High 

School 


High School 

Keystone 

Heights High 

School 

Middleburg 

High School 

Oakleaf High 

School 

Orange Park 

High School 

Ridgeview 

High School 

EDUCATION 

Academy of Business and Leadership; Academy of Law and Emergency Services; 

Academy of Manufacturing and Veterinary Assisting 

AICE Academy; Academy of Digital Media; Academy of Teaching and Learning; 

Academy of Visual and Performing Arts; VyStar Academy of Business and Finance 

Academy of Business, Leadership and Advanced Studies (BLAS); Academy of Arts, 

Health and Human Services (AHS); Academy of Agriscience, Manufacturing and 

Technology (STEM) 

Design Build Academy Architecture, Construction, and Design; MECCA Academy - 

Medical, Early Childhood and Culinary Arts; STEAM Academy - Science Technology, 

Agriculture and and Automotive; VITAL Academy - Visual, Information Technology 

and Leadership 

Academy of Digital and Commercial Media; Academy of Visual and Performing 

Arts; Academy of Public Service; Cambridge AICE Academy; Academy of Aerospace 

Technology; Agriculture Biotechnology Academy 

Academy of Business and Leadership; Academy of Engineering; Manufacturing, and 

Design; Orange Park Medical Center Academy of Health and Human Services 

Academy of Advanced Studies; Academy of Health and Human Services; Academy of 

Performing Arts and Design 

St. Johns County Career Academies 

School 

Academies 


High School 

Bartram Trail 

High School 

Creekside High 

School 

Pedro 

Menendez 

High School 

Ponte Vedra 

High School 

St. Augustine 

High School 

St. Johns 

Technical High 

School 

Communications Academy; Stellar Academy of Engineering; St. Johns Academy of 

Hospitality and Tourism 

Academy of Information Technology; Design Academy; VyStar Academy of Business 

and Finance 

Academy of Environmental and Urban Planning; Academy of Emerging Technology 

Academy of Architectural and Building Sciences; Flagler Hospital Academy of 

Medical and Health Careers; VyStar Academy of Business and Finance 

Academy of Biotechnology and Medical Research; Academy of International Business 

and Marketing 

St. Johns County Aerospace Academy; St. Johns County Center for the Arts; St. Johns 

County Academy of Future Teachers 

Academy of Culinary Arts; Academy of Coastal and Water Resources 

Programs of Choice 

ROTC program 

Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) is a program of choice designed to focus on 

leadership development, problem solving, strategic planning and professional ethics. 

The following ROTC programs are available in St. Johns County: 

School 

Allen D. Nease High School 

Bartram Trail High School 

St. Augustine High School 

Program 

Navy ROTC 

Air Force ROTC 

Army ROTC 


EDUCATION 

Entrance to Florida State College at Jacksonville’s downtown campus main building. 

Will.Dickey@jacksonville.com 

Florida residents can lock 

in cost of college tuition 

Taking advantage of prepaid college 

Number of children enrolled in the Florida Prepaid 

College Plan by county: 

Duval: 34,329 

Florida Prepaid College and 529 plans 

are a great way to save for the future. 

The Florida Prepaid College Board’s 

investment program lets parents pay 

for tuition, fees and dorm housing at 

Florida public colleges at current prices. 

It allows for the amount saved to be used 

at Florida colleges or state universities. 

However, it can also be applied to other 

schools nationwide. 

Prepaid tuition programs, known as 

“529 plans” after a section of the federal 

tax code, allows you to choose from any 

of their investment options to decide 

how much or how often you want to 

contribute. 

There is also a plan, called the Florida 

Prepaid College Plan, which allows 

parents to select from options with 

specific costs, payment schedules and 

benefits. The largest difference between 

the two is that the 529 has the possibility 


to fluctuate due to financial markets 

whereas the other is guaranteed by the 

state of Florida. 

The Florida 529 Savings Plan allows 

for families to pay as much as they would 

like, as often as they would like. On the 

other hand, the Florida Prepaid College 

Plan has its first payment due April 20, 

2016. For monthly and five-year plans, 

each payment will be due on the 20th 

until the plan is paid in full. 

Parents also have the option to invest 

more money in their plans to help cover 

the costs of books, housing, food and 

other college needs. 

During the 2013-2014 enrollment 

period, a total of 1,026,000 parents had 

enrolled students in the Florida Prepaid 

College Plan. 

Baker: 649 

Nassau: 2,603 

St. Johns: 14,691 

For more information about how to 

sign up for Florida Prepaid or to learn 

more about the different plans, visit 

myfloridaprepaid.com. 

Clay: 

9,439 

= 

1,000 Children

EDUCATION 

Private schools 

The following private schools designated to each county are listed below 

in alphabetical order. Contact the school for current tuition rate and specific 

religious denominations. If the school is a specialty school, alternative or special 

needs, it will be labeled after to the school name. 

Baker County 

United Christian Academy 

3-12 

P.O. Box 332, 


904-259-1199 

Clay County 

Annunciation Catholic 

Sch. PK-8 

1610 Blanding Blvd., 


904-282-0504 

Berean Christian Academy 

PK-12 

4459 Us Highway 17, 


904-264-5333 

Calvary Christian 

Academy K-12 

1532 Long Bay Road, 


904-282-0407 

Center Academy Special 

Program Emphasis 6-12 



904-276-3552 

Christian Home Academy 

Alternative Sch. K-12 

16 College Drive, 


904-276-3339 

Citizens’ High Sch. 9-12 

Po Box 66089, 

Orange Park, FL 32065 

904-276-1700 

Community Christian 

Sch. K-9 

Po Box 1040, 


352-473-6600 

Congregational Holiness 

Church Sch. K-12 

Po Box 432, 

Green Cove Springs 32043 

904-529-1798 

Eagle Harbor Pkwy 

KinderCare NS-PK 

1735 Eagle Harbor Pkway., 


904-278-7710 

Faith Christian Academy 

PK-12 



904-276-1300 

Grace Episcopal Day Sch. 

PK-8 



904-269-3718 

Heritage Christian 

Academy 1-12 

4325 Us Highway 17, 


904-269-2405 

HighPoint Christian 

Academy Special Program 

Emphasis 7-12 

84 Knight Boxx Road, 


904-272-7949 

Madeira Christian 

Academy K-9 



904-291-1875 

Morningstar Christian 

Sch. 3-12 

Po Box 2170, 


352-478-5001 

Orange Park Kindergarten 

3050 Moody Ave., 


904-264-9959 

Pinewood Christian 

Academy PK-8 

198 Knight Boxx Road, 


904-272-6408 

Primrose Sch. of Fleming 

Island K 

Alternative School 

2031 Town Center Blvd., 


904-298-3938 

Seamark Ranch K-12 

3631 Seamark Ranch Road, 


904-529-1951 

Seven Bridges Sch. 3-11 

Special Education School 

402 Loring Ave., 


904-269-7377 

St. Johns Country Day 

Sch. PK-12 

3100 Doctors Lake Drive, 


904-264-9572 

St. Jude Academy 4-12 


409 Walnut St., 


904-531-9439 

The Broach Sch. [Orange 

Park] KG-12 


772 Foxridge Center Drive, 


904-298-3500 

The Help House 1-12 


1624 Smith St., 


904-269-1030 

Wonderworks PK-K 

152 Stowe Ave., 


904-264-7330 

Duval County 

1st. Ave. Montessori Sch. 

PK-K 

617 1st Ave. N, 


904-246-0433 

A Child’s Place 

Montessori Sch. NS-5 

3718 Salisbury Road, 


904-733-5797 

ABC Christian Academy & 

PreSch. PK-7 

2360 Kings Road, 


904-353-0103 

Academie de Montessori 

PK-6 

1216 Lasalle St., 


904-398-3830 

Al-furqan Academy PK-5 

2333 St. Johns Bluff Rd S., 


904-645-0810 

Amikids Jacksonville 

Alternative Sch. 6-12 

13375 Beach Blvd., 


904-223-1121 

Argyle Christian PK-K 

6823 Argyle Forest Blvd., 


904-778-4838 

Arlington Academy Of 

Excellence 2-8 

930 Cesery Blvd. Ste B, 


904-743-4147 

Arlington Country Day 

Sch. K-12 

5725 Fort Caroline Road, 


904-762-0123 

Arlington Kindergarten 

PK-KG 

1210 Marcheck St., 


904-743-4034 

Assumption Catholic Sch. 

PK-8 

2431 Atlantic Blvd., 


904-398-1774 

Atcom Christian Sch. PK-11 

5508 Wesconnett Blvd., 


904-777-0500 

Atlantic Beach KinderCare 

NS-PK 

#2 Atlantic Court, Atlantic 

Beach 32233 

904-249-0888 

Baymeadows Christian 

Academy NS-8 

4826 Baymeadows Road, 


904-733-3400 

Baymeadows KinderCare 

NS-PK 

8401 Baymeadows Way, 


904-730-9181 

Beaches Chapel Sch. 

PK-12 



904-241-4211 

Beaches Episcopal Sch. 

PK-6 

1150 5th St. N, 


904-246-2466 

Bethel Holiness Academy 

KG-12 

Po Box 26804, 


904-781-5400 

Beverley Hills 

Development Center 

NS-PK 

3731 Rogers Ave., 


904-768-3428 

Bible Baptist Academy 

2-12 

3134 Trout River Blvd., 


904-765-5111 

Bishop John J Snyder High 

Sch. 9-12 

5001 Samaritan Way, 


904-771-1029 

Bishop Kenny High Sch. 

9-12 

1055 Kingman Ave., 


904-398-7545 

Blessed Trinity Catholic 

Sch. PK-8 



904-641-6458 

Broach School of 

Jacksonville 6-12 


440 Lenox Square, 


904-389-5106 

Broach School South 1-12 


6211 Terry Road, 


904-674-0900 

Cedar Creek Christian 

Sch. PK-12 

1372 Lane Ave. S, 


904-781-9151 

Cedar Hills Baptist 

Christian Sch. PK-8 

4200 Jammes Road, 


904-772-0812 

Center Academy 4-12 


10679 Old St. Augustine 

Road, Jacksonville 32257 

904-448-1956 

Center Academy 

[St. Johns Bluff] 6-12 


2804 Saint Johns 

Bluff Road S Suite 103, 


904-645-5366 

Chappell Child Dev Center 

[Deerwood] NS-PK 

8400 Baycenter Road, 


904-739-1279 

Chatmans Early Learning 

Christian Academy PK-9 

1614 Leonid Road, 


904-751-9803 

Chosen Vessels Christian 

Academy K 

4545 Shirley Ave. Unit 3, 


904-854-0100 

Christ The King Catholic 

Sch. PK-8 

6822 Larkin Road, 


904-724-2954 

Christ’s Church Academy 

K-12 



904-268-8667 

Christ(United) Methodist 

Kindergarten PK-K 

400 Penman Road, 


904-249-5370 


Christian Heritage 

Academy KG-8 

3930 University Blvd. S, 


904-733-4722 

Clarke Schools for 

Hearing & Speech PK-KG 

Jacksonville Special 

Education School 

9857 Old St. Augustine Rd., 

Ste 6, Jacksonville 32257 

904-880-9001 

Community Presbyterian 

PK-K 

150 Sherry Drive, 

Atlantic Beach 32233 

904-241-7335 

Conservative Christian 

Academy 7-12 



904-262-7777 

Coral Ridge Baptist Sch. 

6-12 


Po Box 16502, 


904-642-2627 

Cornerstone Christian 

Sch. PK-1 

4000 Spring Park Road, 


904-730-5500 

Crossroads Christian 

Sch. 5-8 




904-720-2178 

Crossroads Sch. K-12 


12276 San Jose Blvd. Suite 

528, Jacksonville 32223 

904-652-1282 

Culler Child Care Center 

PK-K 

2318 W 13th St., 


904-353-6449 

Depaul School of NE Florida 

[Gudal Campus] 2-8 

3044 San Pablo Rd S, 


904-223-3391 

Discovery Montessori 

Sch. K-7 

102 15th St. S, Jacksonville 

Beach 32250 

904-247-4577 

Eagle Academy NS 

8985 Lone Star Road, 


904-722-9223 

Eagle's View Academy 

KG-12 

7788 Ramona Blvd. W, 


904-786-1411 

Eastport Presch & 


1322 Eastport Road, 


904-757-8333 

Ephesus Junior Academy 

K-9 

2760 Edgewood Ave. W, 


904-765-3225 

Episcopal School of 




904-396-5751 

Esprit De Corps Center For 

Learning K-12 

9840 Wagner Road, 


904-924-2000 

Eunice Christian Sch. K-12 


Po Box 26157, 


904-351-6610 

Faith Academy 5-12 

13328 Dunn Creek Road, 


904-714-0040 

First Baptist Academy Of 

Jacksonville KG-8 

124 W Ashley St., 


904-265-7474 

First Coast Academy, 

Inc. 9-12 

2725 College St., 


904-381-1935 

First Coast Christian Sch. 

PK-12 



904-777-3040 

For Your Child Only 

Christian Academy K-9 

2183 W 15th St., 


904-355-6706 

Ft. Caroline Learning 

Tree K-6 

7440 Merrill Road, 


904-744-0434 

Ft. Caroline Baptist 

Academy NS-PK 

11428 Mccormick Road, 


904-642-3210 

Geraldine Ransome Field 


8550 Arlington 

Expressway, Jacksonville 

32211 

904-713-8260 

Good Shepherd School & 

Daycare K-7 

1656 Edgewood Ave. W, 


904-768-1580 

Grace Christian Academy 

PK-12 

479 Center St. N, Baldwin 

32234 904-266-9532 

Grace Lutheran Sch PK-8 

12200 Mccormick Road, 


904-928-9136 

Great Strides 

Rehabilitation PK-K 


12276 San Jose Blvd., 

Suite 508, Jacksonville 

32223 

904-886-3228 

Greenwood School 6-12 


9920 Regency Square Blvd., 


904-726-5000 

Guardian Lutheran Sch. 

PK-8 

4825 Losco Road, 


904-262-7887 

Harvest Christian 

Academy KG-12 

1051 Arlington Road N, 


904-724-8223 

Harvest Community Sch. 

PK-12 

2360 St. Johns Bluff Road 

Suite 1, Jacksonville 32246 

904-997-1882 

Heart To Heart Christian 

Academy & Childcare 1-12 

8247 Ramona Blvd. W, 


904-783-8638 

Highlands Baptist 

Weekday Ministry PK-K 

2159 Broward Road, 


904-751-3909 

Holy Family Catholic Sch. 

PK-8 

9800-3 Baymeadows 


904-645-9875 

Holy Rosary Catholic Sch. 

PK-8 

4920 Brentwood Ave., 


904-765-6522 

Holy Spirit Catholic Sch. 

PK-8 



904-642-9165 

EDUCATION 

A Legacy of Catholic Education Since 1952 

For more than six decades, Bishop Kenny High School has 

been privileged to help young people explore their gifts, 

expand their understanding, and grow in God’s love. 

"Preparing young people for college and for life" 

www.bishopkenny.org 

Hope Christian Academy 

KG-11 

1722 N Davis St., 


904-634-4991 

Hosanna Academy Allgirls 

7-12 

Po Box 440819, 


904-317-0333 

House Of God Day Care 

Center PK-K 

1941 Tuskeegee Road, 


904-764-4444 

Jacksonville Adventist 

Academy PK-8 

4298 Livingston Road, 


904-268-2433 

Jacksonville Assembly 

Christian Academy 1-12 

6350 Old Kings Road, 


904-786-1198 

Contact the office of Admissions for information or a campus tour: 904-398-7545 

1055 Kingman Avenue • Jacksonville, FL 32207 • 904-398-7545 • www.bishopkenny.org 


EDUCATION 

Jacksonville Christian 

Academy 1-12 

11697 Normandy Blvd., 


904-783-2818 

Jacksonville Country Day 

Sch. NS-6 

10063 Baymeadows Road, 


904-641-6649 

JCA - Michele Block Gan 

Yeladim Preschool & 

Kindergarten NS-K 



904-730-2100 

Joshua Christian Academy 

NS-12 

924 Saint Clair St., 


904-388-2227 

Keystone Academy PK-11 


6867 Southpoint Drive N 

Ste 103, 


813-899-2345 

Lighthouse Christian 

School [Northside] 3-12 


5400 N Pearl St., 


904-353-7062 


School [Westside] 4-12 


6800 W 5th St., 


904-854-4599 


School [Arlington] 1-12 



904-642-4043 


School [Mandarin] 4-12 

3423 Loretto Road, 


904-288-0673 

Little Star Center Inc. PK 


11512 Lake Mead Ave. Ste 

511, Jacksonville 32256 

904-928-0112 

Lutheran High School of 


9000 Cypress Green 

Drive, Jacksonville 32256 

904-742-2882 

Martin J Gottlieb Day 

Sch. K-8 

Special Program Emphasis 

3662 Crown Point Road, 


904-268-4200 

Merrill Road Day School 

Inc. PK-K 



904-724-6361 

Montessori Tides Sch. 

PK-6 

1550 Penman Road, 


904-241-1139 

Monument Christian 

Academy KG-12 

1509 Mayport Road, 


904-247-0929 

Monument KinderCare 

NS-PK 

12040 McCormick Road, 


904-641-1812 

Morning Star Sch. K-8 


725 Mickler Road, 


904-721-2144 

New Beginning PK-KG 

2804 W Edgeview Ave., 


904-765-2845 

New Beginnings Christian 

Academy 1-12 

7020 Ramona Blvd., 


904-786-3178 

New Dimensions Learning 

Center PK-1 

3612 Belfort Road, 


904-739-1062 

New Horizon Christian 

Academy 8-12 

207 Ford Ave., 


904-859-3801 

New Leaf School for 

Change 1-12 


407 3rd St., 


904-246-9100 

North Florida Educational 

Institute 1-12 

P.O. Box 40112, 


904-764-0084 

North Florida School Of 

Special Education KG-12 


223 Mill Creek Road, 


904-724-8323 

Oak Hill Christian 

Academy K-6 

7876 Gregory Drive, 


904-771-9599 

Oasis Christian Academy 

6-12 


15705 Butch Baine Drive, 


904-696-2662 

Old Plank Christian 

Academy PK-12 

8964 Old Plank Road, 


904-783-4888 

Old St. Augustine Road 


4310 Barkoskie Road, 


904-262-3034 

Pablo Academy Private 

Sch. Inc. K-12 

Po Box 350009, 


904-928-0778 

Parkwood Kindergarten 

& Preschool PK 

1740 Tracy Road, 


904-446-9044 

Parsons Christian 

Academy PK-12 



904-745-4588 

Parsons’ Little Scholars 

PK-6 

6505 Ft. Caroline Road, 


904-744-3221 

Plantation Christian 

Academy PK-6 

6263 Roosevelt Blvd., 


904-777-8277 

Playhouse Christian 

Learning Academy K-5 

5045 Soutel Drive, 

Suite 60&70, 


904-768-3952 

Primrose School of 

St. Johns Forest PK-KG 

180 Gateway Circle, 


904-824-1100 

Promise Land Academy K-7 

3990 Loretto Road, 


904-268-2422 

Providence Sch. PK-12 

2701 Hodges Blvd., 


305-596-9883 

Resurrection Parish Sch. 

PK-8 

5710 Jack Road, 


904-744-1266 

Rita’s Learning Center K 

5001 Soutel Drive, 


904-765-3595 

Riverside Presbyterian 

Day Sch. NS-6 

830 Oak St., 


904-353-5511 

S. A. Hull Kindergarten K 

4711 Ave. B, 


904-765-4278 

Sacred Heart Sch. PK-8 



904-771-5800 

Safe Harbor Academy 9-12 

All-boys Alternative School 

4772 Safe Harbor Way, 


904-757-7918 

San Jose Catholic Grade 

Sch. PK-8 

3619 Toledo Road, 


904-733-2313 

San Jose Episcopal Day 

Sch. NS-6 



904-733-0352 

Seacoast Christian 

Academy PK-12 

8057 Arlington 

Expressway, 


904-725-5544 

Sharing & Caring Learning 

Center PK-KG 

8531 N. Main St., 


904-751-9782 

Shekinah Christian 

Academy KG-12 

10551 Beach Blvd., Ste. 1, 


904-421-1015 

Shepherd of the Woods 

Lutheran Sch. [Mandarin] 

PK-7 

6595 Columbia Park Ct., 


904-641-8385 

St. Andrews Episcopal 

School PK-5 

7801 Lone Star Road, 


904-725-6597 

St. John’s Presbyterian 


4275 Herschel St., 


904-389-8191 

St. Joseph Catholic Sch PK-8 

11600 Old St. Augustine Rd., 


904-268-6688 

St. Marks Episcopal Day 

School NS-6 

4114 Oxford Ave., 


904-388-2632 

St. Matthew Catholic Sch. 

PK-8 



904-387-4401 

St. Patrick’s Catholic Sch. 

PK-8 

1429 Broward Road, 


904-768-6323 

St. Paul Catholic Sch. PK-8 

428 2nd Ave. North, 


904-249-5934 

St. Paul’s Catholic 

Elementary Sch. 

[Riverside] PK-8 

2609 Park St., 


904-387-2841 

St. Pius V Catholic Sch. 

PK-8 

1470 W 13th St., 


904-354-2613 

St. Stephen Child Care & 

Learning Center NS-K 

1525 N Davis St., 


904-358-2799 

Tempette Learning 

Academy K-12 

1766 West 17th St., 


904-598-0078 

Ten Broeck Jacksonville 

9-11 




904-724-9202 

The Beaches Sch. PK-9 



904-249-0905 


EDUCATION 

The Beverly Institute 6-12 

5310 Lenox Ave. Ste. 13, 


904-394-0877 

The Bolles Sch. PK-12 

Day & Boarding 



904-256-5030 

The Broach Sch. K-12 


75 12th St. S., 


904-247-7288 

The Foundation Academy 

PK-12 

Special Program Emphasis 

3765 San Pablo Road S., 


904-493-7300 

The Jericho School for 

Children with Autism 

PK-12 

1351 Sprinkle Drive, 


904-744-5110 

The Keystone Academy UG 


6867 Southpoint Drive 

#103, Jacksonville 32216 

904-619-6071 

The Little Country Sch. PK-11 

862 Baisden Road, 


904-757-8200 

The Magellan Sch. PK-2 

Po Box 551509, 


904-419-5660 

The Noble Street Sch. 6-12 


1572 Penman Road, Ste. 2&3, 


904-803-3260 

The Potter’s House 




904-786-0028 

The Seaside Playgarden K 

Waldorf Inspired Program 

223 8th Ave. S., 


904-247-1314 

Torah Academy of 

Jacksonville NS-8 



904-268-7719 

Trinity Christian Academy 

PK-12 

800 Hammond Blvd., 


904-596-2400 

University Christian Sch. 

NS-12 

5520 University Blvd. W., 


904-737-6330 

West Jacksonville Baptist 

Daycare K 



904-781-4321 

West Meadows Baptist 

Academy KG-12 



904-786-6843 

Wisdom Learning 

Academy KG-12 

Po Box 13152, 


904-683-1837 

Zarephath Learning 

Center K-12 

1028 E. 10th St., 


904-632-1330 

St. Michael’s Academy 

PK-8 

228 N 4th St., 


904-321-2102 

The Ogburn School 2-12 


1411 South 14th St., Unit H, 


904-491-6233 

St. Johns County 

Accotink Academy PK-3 

171 Canal Blvd., 


904-273-4267 

Beacon Of Hope Christian 

Sch. PK-12 

1230 Kings Estate Road, 


904-797-6996 

Bible Baptist Sch. 5-8 

2485 Old Moultrie Road, 


904-797-3999 

Cathedral Parish Sch. K-8 

259 Saint George St., 


904-824-2861 

Christ Episcopal 

Preschool NS-K 

400 San Juan Drive, 


904-285-6371 

Crosswater Christian 

Academy NS-PK 

211 Davis Park Road, 


904-824-0086 



200 North Ridgecrest Lane, 


904-287-3211 


Academy PK-12 

555 St. Road 16, 


904-540-9887 

Living Waters Preschool 

NS-PK 

2189 State Road 13, 

Switzerland 32259 

904-287-2883 

Matanzas Academy 2-12 

4255 Us Highway 1 S., Ste 18, 


904-794-1623 

Memorial Lutheran Chapel 

Sch. K-3 

3375 Us 1 S., 


904-797-8777 

Palmer Catholic Academy 

PK-8 

4889 Palm Valley Road, 


904-543-8515 

Ponte Vedra KinderCare 

NS-PK 

12000 Sawgrass Village Dr., 


904-285-9054 

San Juan Del Rio Catholic 

Sch. PK-8 



904-287-8081 

St. Gerard Campus 8-12 

All-girls 

Po Box 4382, 

St Augustine 32085 

904-829-5516 

St. John's Academy PK-8 

1533 Wildwood Drive, 


904-824-9224 

St. Johns Grammar Sch. 

K-9 



904-287-8760 

St. Joseph Academy 9-12 



904-824-0431 

The Village Academy PK-1 

145 Lewis Point Road, 


904-797-5909 

Trinity Early Learning 

Center K 

215 Saint George St., 


904-824-2876 

Turning Point Christian 

Academy PK-6 



904-824-0744 

Victory Preparatory Sch. 

K-9 

110 Masters Drive, Saint 


904-810-0534 

Nassau County 

Amelia Island Montessori 

Sch. PK-6 

Po Box 3000, 


904-261-6610 

Faith Christian Academy 

PK-8 

96282 Brady Point Road, 


904-321-2137 

Nassau County Private 

Sch. PK-12 

System Alternative School 

1933 West State Road 200, 


904-225-5265 

New Life Christian Sch. 

PK-12 


464067 State Road 200, 

Yulee 32097 

904-261-4818 

Sonshine Christian 

Academy NS-12 

P.O. Box 5026, 


904-879-1260 


EDUCATION 

Easy access to college education 

Anyone with a car or a computer 

can go to college. 

Jacksonville’s higher-education opportunities have grown in program offerings and 

availability. From private universities to public universities, to colleges that focus 

on liberal arts or on law, there are options for every type of education. 

Edward Waters College was founded in 1866 

and is the oldest private institution of 

higher education in the state of Florida. 

Celebrating 144 years of service, Edward 

Waters College was initially named 

“Brown Theology Institute.” Edward 

Waters College awards bachelor’s 

degrees in eight academic major courses 

throughout arts, science and business 

administration. 

Florida Coastal School of Law is fully accredited 

by the American Bar Association and 

opened in 1996. With a full-time staff that 

represents more than 50 ABA-accredited 

law schools from across the country, it 

was the recipient of the 2010 ABA Smythe 

Gambrell Professionalism Award. It is 

one of only a few ABA-accredited laws 

schools that offer a spring start date. 

Flagler College is located in downtown St. 

Augustine and has been ranked No. 6 

in the U.S. News & World Report’s Best 

Colleges guide for the Best Regional 

Colleges in the South and the No. 7 in the 

Best Value Schools category. It is a fouryear 

college that offers 29 majors and 34 

minors that combine classroom and realworld 

experiences. 

Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is 

growing its reputation as a dynamic and 

influential higher education institution 

on the First Coast. FSCJ’s 150+ degree 

and certificate options offer real, handson 

training and comprehensive content 

matter that provides students with the 

industry required knowledge and skills 

to excel in the workforce and prepare 


for the career of their dreams. FSCJ has 

multiple locations in Duval and Nassau 

counties and offers traditional day 

classes as well as evening and weekend 

classes, hybrid classes, and completely 

online courses, in addition to several 

accelerated learning programs. 

The University of North Florida (UNF) is growing 

yearly in attendance — there are now 

more than 16,300 students in attendance. 

UNF offers majors in five colleges, 

ranging from business to health as well 

as various minors in each college. Not 

only does the school offer undergraduate 

degrees, but also is host to graduate 

degrees and doctorate programs ranging 

from education to physical therapy. 

Jacksonville University (JU) was founded in 1934 

as a junior college offering night classes 

and became a four-year college in the 

1950s. It boasts seven bachelor’s degree 

programs with more than 70 majors, 

programs and concentrations. JU also 

offers the Accelerated Degree Program 

which allows students to attend classes 

during the evenings and weekends. 

St. Johns River State College (SJR State) has been 

dedicated to meeting the educational 

and workforce training needs of its 

Northeast Florida district since 1958. 

With campuses in Orange Park, Palatka 

and St. Augustine, SJR State is expanding 

its services and programs while 

continuing its focus on the Associate 

in Arts (transfer) degree and more 

than 30 Associate in Science degrees 

and certificates. The College recently 

expanded its mission to include two 

baccalaureate degrees. 

School Address Phone Website 

Edward Waters 

College 

Florida Coastal 

School of Law 

Flagler College 

Florida State 

College at 



University 

St. Johns River 

State College 

University of North 

Florida 

1658 Kings Road, 


8787 Baypine Road, 


74 King St., 


Visit fscj.edu for more 

information on locations in 

Duval and Nassau counties 

2800 University Blvd., 


Visit sjrstate.edu for more 

information on locations 

1 University of North 

Florida Drive, Jacksonville 

32224 

904-470-8000 ewc.edu $19,681 

904-680-7700 fcsl.edu 

Average 

annual tuition 

800-304-4208 flagler.edu $24,960 

904-633-8100 

*contact for 

Downtown campus 

fscj.edu $13,010 

904-256-8000 ju.edu $43,440 

904-808-7400 

*contact for 

St. Augustine 

campus 

sjrstate. 

edu 

904-620-1000 unf.edu 

full-time students 

$21,145; 

part-time $16,918 

in-state $16,648 

in-state $5,747; 

out-of-state $18,710

EDUCATION 

Other education opportunities: 

AAA Construction School 

904-722-9994 

aaaconstructionschool.com 

Alliance Business Schools 

904-825-4934 

floridacamtraining.webs.com 

Alpha School of Massage 

904-389-9117 

alphaschoolofmassage.com 

Art Institute of Jacksonville 

800-924-1589 

artinstitutes.edu/jacksonville 

First Coast Academy 

800-658-1180, aiilearn.com 

Columbia College 

Jacksonville: 904-338-9150 

ccis.edu/jacksonville 

NAS Jacksonville: 904-778-9769 

ccis.edu/nasjacksonville 

Concorde Career Institute 

904-725-0525, concorde.edu 

Conservative Theological Seminary 

904-262-8275, conservative.edu 

DeVry University 

904-367-4942, devry.edu 

Everest University 

Jacksonville: 904-731-4949, 

Orange Park: 904-264-9122 

everest.edu 

First Coast Technical College 

904-547-3282, fctc.edu 

Florida Aviation Career Training, Inc. 

904- 824-9401 

florida-aviation.com 

Florida Beacon College & Seminary 

904-786-5033, floridabeacon.org 

Health, Wellness & Fitness 

Professionals, Inc. 

904-323-9913, hwfitness-pros.com 

Heritage Institute – Jacksonville 

904-332-0910, heritagecollege.edu 

ITT Technical Institute 

904-573-9100, itt-tech.edu 

Jones Technical Institute 

877-447-0442, jtech.org 

Jacksonville Theological Seminary 

904-786-5383, jts.edu 

Jones College 

904-743-1122, jones.edu 

Keiser University 

904-296-3440 

keiseruniversity.edu 

Logos University 

800-776-0127 

logos.edu 

National Heavy Equipment 

Operators School 

800-488-7364, earthmoverschool.com 

North Florida Medical Institute 

904-534-3478, nflmi.com 

Nova Southeastern University 

904-245-8910, nova.edu 

Professional Dealer & Player School, Inc. 

904-317-6537, 

professionaldealerschool.com 

Remington College 

800- 323-8122, remingtoncollege.edu 

Revelation Message Bible School 

904-744-9773, revelationmessagebible 

collegehomeoffice.com 

Roadmaster Drivers School 

904-783-3333, roadmaster.com 

Saint Leo University 

352- 588-5700, saintleo.edu 

St. Thomas Christian University 

904-389-5592, greateducation.com 

Sanford-Brown College 

904-363-6221, sanfordbrown.edu 

Southeastern Theological Seminary 

904- 221 7606, stsonline-edu.org 

Southeastern College 

888-522-4909, sec.edu 

Southern Illinois University at NAS 


904-771-4258, siu.edu 

Stenotype Institute of Jacksonville 

904-398-4141, stenotype.edu 

Strayer University 

904-538-1000, strayer.edu 

Trinity Baptist College 

904-596-2300, tbc.edu 

Tulsa Welding School 

888-765-5555, weldingschool.com 

University of Phoenix 

904-636-6645, phoenix.edu 

University of St. Augustine for Health 

Sciences 

800-241-1027, usa.edu 

Webster University 

904-268-3037, webster.edu/jack 

Zoe University 

904-743-6166, zoeuniversity.org 

See what sets us apart: 

• Scholarships and grants 

available for those who qualify 

• 20% reduction in tuition costs 

• Now nonprofit, meaning more 

money goes back to our students 

Call or visit us today. 

(904) 731-4949 

In-Demand Career Programs: 

• Business 

• Business (BS) 

• Criminal Justice 

• Dental Assistant 

• Massage Therapy 

• Master of Business Administration 

• Master of Science in Criminal Justice 

• Medical Assistant 

• Medical Insurance Billing and Coding 

• Pharmacy Technician 

For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the 

program and other important information, please visit our website at www.everest.edu/disclosures. 

8226 Philips Hwy., Jacksonville, FL 32256 


EDUCATION 


Children look over a historical display on the history of the Buffalo Soldier on display at the Jacksonville Public Library’s Main Library. 

‘Start here. Go anywhere.’ 

Libraries are easily accessible 

to all residents. 

Duval County consists of the Main 

Library and 20 branch locations 

throughout Jacksonville. The Main 

Library is a 300,000-square-foot library 

in the heart of downtown Jacksonville 

that has a little something for everyone. 

The library system of Duval County 

directly serves the residents and 

employees within Jacksonville city limits, 

extending to the Beaches and Baldwin 

communities. The system also allows 

the residents of neighboring counties to 

use their services if they meet specific 

criteria. 

The mission of the Jacksonville 

Public Library System is “to enrich lives, 

build community, and foster success by 

bringing people, information and ideas 

together.” They work to be accessible for 

all people in the community by offering 

the Talking Books Library for disabled 

customers and an active-adult literacy 

program. 

Not only can you check out books 

from the library, but you can score 

movies and music as well. 

Need a space for meeting or event? 

The Jacksonville Public Library offers 

residents the ability to rent or schedule 

use of meeting rooms at various branches 

or the conference center at the Main 

Library. 

For more information and branch 

hours, visit jpl.coj.net. 

County libraries 

BAKER COUNTY 

Emily Taber Public Library 

(located in the Peg McCollum Building) 

14 McIver Ave. West, Macclenny 32063 

904-259-6464 

newriver.lib.fl.us 

CLAY COUNTY 

Green Cove Springs Library 

403 Ferris St., 


904-284-6315 

claycountygov.com/departments/library 

Headquarters Library - Fleming Island 



904-278-3720 


Keystone Heights Library 

175 Oriole St., 


352-473-4286 


Middleburg-Clay Hill Library 

2245 Aster Ave., 


904-541-5855 



Orange Park Library 

2054 Plainfield Ave., 


904-278-4750 


DUVAL COUNTY 

(Jacksonville unless otherwise noted) 

Main Library 

303 Laura St. N. 32202 

904-630-2665 

jaxpubliclibrary.org 

Argyle Branch 

7973 Old Middleburg Road S. 32222 

904-573-3164 


Beaches Branch 

600 3rd St., Neptune Beach 32266 

904-241-1141 


Bradham and Brooks Branch 

1755 Edgewood Ave. W. 32208 

904-765-5402 


Brentwood Branch 

3725 Pearl St. 32206 

904-630-0924 


Brown Eastside Branch 

1390 Harrison St. 32206 

904-630-5466 


Dallas Graham Branch 

2304 Myrtle Ave. N. 32209 

904-630-0922 


Highlands Regional 

1826 Dunn Ave. 32218 

904-757-7702 


Mandarin Branch 

3330 Kori Road 32257 

904-262-5201 


Maxville Branch 

8375 Maxville Blvd. 32234 

904-289-7563 


Murray Hill Branch 

918 Edgewood Ave. S. 32205 

904-384-2665 


Pablo Creek Regional 

13295 Beach Blvd. 32246 

904-992-7101 


Regency Square Branch 

9900 Regency Square Blvd. 32225 

904-726-5142 


San Marco Branch 

1513 LaSalle St. 32207 

904-858-2907 


South Mandarin Branch 

12125 San Jose Blvd. 32223 

904-288-6385 


Southeast Regional 

10599 Deerwood Park Blvd. 32256 

904-996-0325 


University Park Branch 

3435 University Blvd. N. 32277 

904-630-1265 


Charles Webb Wesconnett Regional 

6887 103rd St. 32210 

904-778-7305 


West Branch 

1425 Chaffee Road S. 32221 

904-693-1448 


Westbrook Branch 

2809 Commonwealth Ave. 32254 

904-384-7424 


Willowbranch Branch 

2875 Park St. 32205 

904-381-8490 


NASSAU COUNTY 

Bryceville Branch 

7280 Motes Road, Bryceville 32009 

904-266-9813 

nassaulibrary.org 

Callahan Library Branch 

450077 State Road, 200 Suite 15, Callahan 32011 

904-879-3434 


Fernandina Library Branch 

25 N. 4th St., Fernandina Beach 32034 

904-277-7365 


Hilliard Branch Library 

15821 County Road 108, Hilliard 32046 

904-845-2495 


Yulee Library Branch FSCJ Campus 

76346 William Burgess Blvd.,Yulee 32097 

904-548-4467 


EDUCATION 


Anastasia Island Branch 

124 Seagrove Main St., 

St. Augustine Beach 32080 

904-209-3730 

sjcpls.org 

Bartram Trail Branch 

60 Davis Pond Blvd., Fruit Cove 32259 

904-827-6960 

sjcpls.org 

Hastings Branch 

6195 S. Main St., Hastings 32145 

904-827-6970 

sjcpls.org 

Main Library 

1960 N. Ponce De Leon Blvd., St. Augustine 32084 

904-827-6940 

sjcpls.org 

Ponte Vedra Beach Branch 

101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach 32082 

904-827-6950 

sjcpls.org 

Southeast Branch 

6670 U.S. 1 South, St. Augustine 32086 

904-827-6900 

sjcpls.org 

Bookmobile - Extension Services 

904-827-6944 

sjcpls.org 

Two locations to serve you. 

In-seat, online and 

hybrid courses available. 

ASSOCIATE | BACHELOR’S | MASTER’S 

Columbia College-Jacksonville 

(904) 338-9150 

www.ccis.edu/jacksonville 

Columbia College-NAS Jacksonville 

(904) 778-9769 

www.ccis.edu/nasjacksonville 


MEDICAL 

Photo provided by Baptist Health 

Dr. Cynthia Anderson, radiation oncologist for Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, works with a patient on the TrueBeam advanced 

radiotherapy system at Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center. 

A hub for health 

Area hospitals are at the forefront in 

providing highly specialized services 

with the latest technology. 

The First Coast is home to some of the most sought-after health care facilities, 

research programs and cutting-edge technologies in the nation. 

Medical facilities 

Founded in 1955, Baptist Health has 

been serving Northeast Florida and 

Southeast Georgia for 60 years. Baptist 

Health serves families in the area with 

high-quality, comprehensive care for 

every stage of life through its downtown, 

southside, beaches and Nassau facilities. 

Baptist is also home to freestanding 

Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Heart 


Hospital and recently opened MD 

Anderson Cancer Center. Baptist Health 

comprises seven area hospitals: 

• Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville is the central 

hub of the Baptist Health system. 

Located on the south bank of the 

St. Johns River, Baptist Jacksonville 

provides the highest level of medical 

and surgical care, using the latest 

technologies, such as the roboticassisted 

da Vinci Surgical System. 

This was the first area hospital to 

offer Gamma Knife surgery, a noninvasive 

treatment of brain tumors. 

The mission of Baptist Jacksonville 

pairs highly advanced diagnostic and 

treatment capabilities with highly 

personalized care. 

• Baptist Medical Center South serves the 

residents of southern Duval and 

northern St. Johns counties. At 

Interstate 95 and Old St. Augustine 

Road, Baptist South offers residents 

access to a full-service health 

care facility. The hospital boasts 

technologically advanced facilities 

alongside Baptist Health’s mission of 

providing for the physical, spiritual 

and emotional needs of patients and 

their families. In 2011, Baptist South 

opened the 20,000 square-foot, $11 

million expansion to the Emergency 

Center, more than doubling the size of 

the center.

• Baptist Medical Center Beaches provides 

the only hospital-based, 24-hour 

emergency service available at the 

beach. This facility provides beaches 

residents with convenient access to 

comprehensive, high-tech medical 

and surgical care. The ER is currently 

undergoing renovation that will result 

in an additional 1,000 square feet, 

including improvement of patient 

rooms, renovation and expansion of 

the waiting room, and a larger lobby 

area. Baptist Beaches received an ‘‘A’’ 

grade from the Leapfrog Group for 

hospital safety. 

• Baptist Medical Center Nassau is an acutecare 

hospital on Amelia Island that 

provides various inpatient and 

outpatient services and 24-hour 

emergency services to Northeast 

Florida and Southeast Georgia. It was 

among the first small community 

hospitals in the nation to use totally 

electronic medical records (EMR) and 

the Picture Archive Communications 

System (PACS). 

• Baptist Heart Hospital is the Jacksonville 

area’s only freestanding hospital 

for heart and vascular care. This 

state-of-the-art hospital is the core 

of Baptist Health’s top-ranked heart 

and vascular program with over 

500 physicians, nurses and staff 

– all with specialized training in 

providing inpatient and outpatient 

cardiovascular and thoracic care. 

The Heart Hospital was recently 

awarded the Women’s Choice Award 

as one of America’s Best Hospitals 

for Heart Care and Patient Safety by 

WomenCertified. 

• Baptist & Wolfson Children's Emergency Center is 

located on Fleming Island at U.S. 17 

and Village Square Parkway at the 

Baptist Clay Medical Campus. The 

child-friendly emergency center is 

staffed with nurses who specialize in 

pediatric medicine and a pediatric 

emergency medicine physician. 

• Wolfson Children’s Hospital is the area’s 

only full-service children’s 

hospital providing state-of-the-art 

comprehensive pediatric care from 

eating disorder treatment to bone 

marrow transplants. The Newborn 

Intensive Care Unit and the Children’s 

Emergency Center are among the 

services offered by Wolfson. This 

hospital is recognized yearly by U.S. 

News and World Report as one of 

America’s best children’s hospitals. 

This 216-bed facility provides care for 

all children regardless of ability to pay. 

• Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is the result 

of uniting The MD Anderson Cancer 

Center and Baptist Health. This 

new partnership brings together 

MD Anderson’s cancer expertise 

and Baptist Health’s comprehensive 

health system/network to create a 

range of options for adult cancer 

patients in the area. The new 

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer 

Center is focused on adult cancer 

care, addressing the medical needs 

of patients as well as emotional, 

spiritual, social and financial needs. 

It offers all the services patients need 

in one facility: diagnosis, treatment 

planning, treatment, support and 

survivorship. 

Brooks Rehabilitation has more than 40 years 

of experience in providing physical 

rehabilitation services. It offers advanced 

therapy and medical care, along with 

the compassion, motivation, and hope 

needed to help people reach a healthy 

recovery. Brooks offers many services 

including: inpatient rehabilitation and 

outpatient therapy at Brooks Hospital on 

University, home care (AmeriCare Main 

office: 844-238-0064), skilled nursing 

at the Bartram Crossing facility, and 

assisted living/memory care at Bartram 

Lakes. 

Baker County Medical Services was established 

in 1993 to operate Ed Fraser Memorial 

Hospital and W. Frank Wells Nursing 

Home. Ed Fraser Hospital offers inpatient 

and outpatient care, respiration, physical 

therapy and emergency services. The 

Dopson Family Medical Center was also 

created under Baker County Medical 

Services to provide primary and specialty 

physician services to the residents of 

Macclenny and Baker County. 

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MEDICAL 

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MEDICAL 

Flagler Hospital is a 335-bed, acute care 

hospital that has operated as a notfor-profit 

health care institution in St. 

Augustine since its founding in 1889. 

The independent Leapfrog Group 

recently gave Flagler an ‘‘A’’ grade for 

patient safety. The hospital is consistent 

in gathering high marks for patient 

safety. The hospital plans to open a new 

outpatient behavioral health clinic for 

patients in need of psychiatric services. 

Hope Haven Children’s Clinic and Family Center, 

founded in 1927, focuses on outpatient 

care of children with developmental, 

psychological, behavioral or academic 

achievement problems. This facility 

provides services for children, families 

and young adults with special needs. 

Hope Haven serves more than 5,000 

families each year. 


High School students gather around a state-of-the-art Anatomage table to learn how this 

valuable tool assists in teaching in the Mayo Clinic J. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver 

Simulation Center at Mayo Clinic. 

Kindred Hospital North Florida, located in Green 

Cove Springs, is an 80-bed fully accredited 

long-term acute care facility. The hospital 

offers a range of services for medically 

complex patients who require continued 

care and extended recovery time. 

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Boger’s Shoes has been serving Jacksonville for 

over 50 years. Spanning three generations, our 

family owned and operated business is your “go 

to” place for all your shoe fitting needs. Customer 

service is our passion. Our expertly trained staff is 

skilled in the art and science of shoe fitting and has 

a comprehensive understanding of the anatomical 

and biomechanical needs of the foot. 

Comfort is our goal because we all know when 

your feet hurt everything does. We have on staff 

a board certified and state licensed Pedorthist 

to help with any and all prescription needs. You 

can expect individual, caring service to each and 

everyone. We are not trying to sell, we are trying 

to serve by helping you to find comfort and relief 

for your tired and aching feet. Boger’s Shoes is 

dedicated to providing the finest quality products 

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Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville was established 

in 1986, with a focus on treating complex 

conditions and unraveling hard-to-solve 

medical problems, pooling the knowledge 

of physicians and scientists through 

state-of-the-art electronics at its three 

locations. Like Mayo’s other locations 

in Rochester, Minn., and Scottsdale, 

Ariz., the Jacksonville site has education 

and research arms that complement its 

patient-care services. Research is done 

in such areas as Parkinson’s disease, 

Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy and more. 

Mayo has the technologically advanced 

da Vinci robot, which allows surgeons to 

perform minimally invasive surgeries. 

Mayo Jacksonville dedicated the first 

center in the history of Mayo Clinic 

devoted exclusively to cancer research in 

February 2004; it has received the National 

Cancer Institute’s highest designation as a 

comprehensive cancer center. Mayo Clinic 

Hospital is the admitting hospital for Mayo 

Clinic’s campus in Florida. It has 304 beds 

and 22 operating rooms and offers care in 

more than 35 adult medical and surgical 

specialties. The hospital includes a fullservice 

emergency department, open to 

everyone. Mayo recently received an ‘‘A’’ 

grade from Leapfrog Group for hospital 

safety. 

Memorial Hospital has been serving Northeast 

Florida for more than 45 years now. The 

hospital is a 418-bed acute care facility 

offering a range of services, including 24- 

hour emergency care at three different 

locations around the Jacksonville area. 

The hospital also features an accredited 

Chest Pain Center, certified Stroke 

Center, Heart Center, which treats over 

10,000 patients annually, Bone and Joint 

Center and Memorial’s maternity center, 

Special Beginnings. In November of last 

year, Memorial completed an expansion 

and renovation to the emergency 

facility adding five new private patient 

rooms and two additional triage rooms. 

Memorial recently received an ‘‘A’’ from 

the Leapfrog Group for hospital safety. 

Naval Hospital Jacksonville is a private medical 

treatment facility that provides medical 

support to naval forces in Northeast 

Florida and Southeast Georgia. The 

teaching hospital is the fourth largest in 

Navy Medicine — including the main 

hospital and five Branch Health Clinics 

in Florida and Georgia. 

Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville 

is an 11-story clinic on the bank of 

the St. Johns River that provides 

comprehensive, family-focused care in 

more than 30 medical specialties. U.S. 

News & World Report named Nemours’ 

gastroenterology and neurology 

programs (partnership with Wolfson 

Children’s Hospital, University of Florida 

College of Medicine-Jacksonville and 

Mayo Clinic Florida) among the best 

in the country. Nemours Jacksonville

MEDICAL 

is one of only two pediatric oncology 

programs in the country recognized 

for outstanding achievement by the 

American College of Surgeons. 

Northeast Florida State Hospital (NEFSH) is located 

in Macclenny, and has provided mental 

health services to people requiring 

specialized psychiatric treatment since 

1959. The facility has 633 beds and serves 

residents from 30 of the 67 counties in 

Florida. 

Orange Park Medical Center, established in 1974, 

is a full-service acute-care hospital with 

297 inpatient beds. The hospital provides 

medical care to Clay County and the 

surrounding communities. The hospital 

has 150 private rooms. There are nine 

labor, delivery and recovery room suites 

for new mothers and a seven-bed, Level-2 

neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for 

premature babies and those born with 

special needs. There is also a 24-bed 

psychiatric unit and 20 intensive care 

unit (ICU) beds. The hospital also offers 

rehabilitation services and emergency 

services. The hospital recently received 

Photo provided by St. Vincent’s HealthCare 

St. Vincent’s Medical Center Clay County opened its doors to the community in 2013 with 

64 beds, and began an expansion to double in size in 2015. 

an ‘‘A’’ grade from Leapfrog Group for 

hospital safety. 

St. Vincent’s HealthCare is a faith-based, notfor-profit 

health system that has served 

the people of Jacksonville and the 

surrounding communities since 1873. 

• St. Vincent’s Riverside was founded by 

the Daughters of Charity in 1916 to 

provide health services to the sick and 

the poor of North Florida. 

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MEDICAL 

• St. Vincent’s Southside, formerly St. Luke’s 

Hospital, was founded in 1873 by 

three women who saw the need for 

medical care in the community. 

• St. Vincent’s Clay County, the third hospital, 

opened in October 2013. St. Vincent’s 

Riverside and St. Vincent’s Southside 

both received ‘‘A’’ grades in hospital 

safety from the Leapfrog Group. St. 

Vincent’s Clay County has not been 

open long enough to receive a grade. 

University of Florida Health is the Southeast’s 

most comprehensive academic health 

center. The system encompasses 

hospitals, physician practices, colleges, 

centers, institutes, programs and 

services across Northeast and Northcentral 

Florida 

• UF Health Jacksonville is the region’s 

academic health center in association 

with the University of Florida. The 

hospital, with its 3,300 employees, 

serves Northeast Florida and 

Southeast Georgia and offers various 

services, including emergency 

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St. Vincent’s Medical Center Southside, 

formerly St. Luke’s Hospital, was the very 

first private hospital in Jacksonville. 

services, neurology, cancer, heart 

and vascular, and pediatrics among 

others. Separate from the emergency 

department, UF Health operates 

TraumaOne, the only level 1 trauma 

center in the area. With five bays to 

receive trauma patients and 24/7 

service, TraumaOne serves Baker, 

Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns 

counties, and part of Southeast 

Georgia. 

• UF Health North, new and state-of-the-art, 

is an outpatient medical complex 

in North Jacksonville. The facility 

houses an emergency department, 

a birth center, outpatient surgery, 

radiology and rehabilitation services, 

among others. The pediatric center 

opened in July 2015. UF Health North 

is ready to become an integral part 

of the North Duval and Southeast 

Georgia communities. 

• UF Health Emerson Medical Plaza is a multiservice 

outpatient center located 

on Jacksonville’s Southside. The 

center offers primary care, initial 

evaluations, health screenings, 

noninvasive to minimally invasive 

procedures and advanced imaging. 

As a part of the UF Health network, 

the Emerson Medical Plaza provides 

the Southside community with 

conveniently located medical 

services. 

Specialty Hospital Jacksonville, established 

in 1992, is a long-term acute care 

hospital under Memorial Health — one 

of approximately 300 in the nation. 

The first of its kind in North Florida, 

Specialty Hospital is for patients in need 

of extended hospital stays with complex 

medical conditions. The hospital’s goal 

is to provide individualized, coordinated 

care for its patients. 

River Point Behavioral Health is a private facility 

offering inpatient hospitalization, 

partial hospitalization, rehabilitation 

and intensive outpatient programs for 

children and adults with psychiatric 

problems and chemical dependencies. 

Wekiva Springs Center offers specialized mental 

health programs for men and women. 

Each program is customized to meet 

the needs of the individual and his or 

her family. This facility understands the 

different needs regarding care between 

men and women and has specialized 

programs for each individual. Programs 

address mood disorders, anxiety 

disorders, substance abuse and 

chemical dependency. Detoxification 

and rehabilitation treatments are also 

available. 

Hospice care 

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida offers a 

variety of resources to terminally ill 

adults and children, and their families 

at home, in long-term care facilities, 

hospitals, short-term inpatient facilities 

and at Community Hospice’s centers for 

caring. The hospice consists of a team of 

physicians, nurses, social workers, home 

health aides, grief experts and trained 

volunteers. 

Haven Hospice has served the community 

since 1979. Haven Hospice pioneered 

freestanding hospice care centers in the 

North Florida region. There are inpatient 

care centers in Chiefland, Gainesville, 

Lake City, Palatka and Orange Park. 

Haven Hospice provides direction, 

support and counseling for individuals 

and families dealing with life-limiting 

illness. 

Heartland Hospice is part of the HCR 

ManorCare family, a leading provider of 

home health care, hospice care, skilled 

nursing, memory care and post-acute 

care. In Northeast Florida, Heartland 

serves Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. 

Johns counties.

Hospital and medical center profiles 

MEDICAL 

BAKER COUNTY 

Dopson Family Medical Center 

159 N. Third St., 


904-259-7815, bcmedsvcs.com 

Ed Fraser Memorial Hospital 

159 N. Third St., Macclenny 32063 

904-259-3151, bcmedsvcs.com 

Type of facility: Short-term acute care 

Total staffed beds: 93 

Northeast Florida State Hospital 

7487 FL-121, Macclenny 32063 

904-259-6211, myflfamilies.com 

Type of facility: Psychiatric 


CLAY COUNTY 

Baptist & Wolfson Children's Emergency 

Center (Baptist Clay Medical Campus) 

1771 Baptist Clay Drive, 


904-516-1000, baptistjax.com 

Kindred Hospital North Florida 

801 Oak St., Green Cove Springs 32043 

904-284-9230, khnorthflorida.com 

Type of facility: Long-term care 


Orange Park Medical Center 



904-639-8500, 

orangeparkmedical.com 



St. Vincent’s Medical Center Clay County 

1670 St. Vincent’s Way, 


904-602-1000, jaxhealth.com 



DUVAL COUNTY 

Baptist Heart Hospital 

800 Prudential Drive, 




An aerial view of St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside. 

Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center 

1235 San Marco Blvd., 



Baptist Medical Center Beaches 

1350 13th Ave. S., 





Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville 





Total staffed beds: 821 (including 

Baptist South, Wolfson’s and 

Baptist Heart) 

Baptist Medical Center South 

14550 Old St. Augustine Road, 





Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital 

3599 University Blvd. S., 


904-345-7600, brooksrehab.org 

Type of facility: Rehabilitation 


Hope Haven Children’s Clinic 

and Family Center 

4600 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville 32207 

904-346-5100, hope-haven.org 

Type of facility: Children’s 

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ARLINGTON 

CESERY 

904.743.2466 

BEACHES 

904.241-0117 

MIDDLEBURG 

904.406.8240 

ST. AUGUSTINE 

904.429.0001 

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ARLINGTON 

MONUMENT 

904.642.0337 

NORTHSIDE 

904.757.2008 

SAN MARCO 

904.854.1730 

SOUTHSIDE 

904.248.3910 

YULEE 

904.572.1959 

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BEACH AND 

HODGES 

904.854.1700 

MANDARIN 

904.288.0277 

ORANGE PARK 

904.213.0600 

WESTSIDE 

904.378.0121 

To find one of the 13 Jacksonville area locations nearest you, 

visit CareSpot.com. 

UC_HALF_NFL.indd 1 

2016 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE | 91 

12/10/2015 6:49:03 PM

MEDICAL 

High marks for health care 

Local hospitals and medical centers receive 

recognition for their outstanding services. 

The Jacksonville area offers a plethora 

of quality health care. The Mayo 

Clinic is internationally recognized, 

but it’s not the only noteworthy medical 

facility in the area. Other hospitals 

have received awards and recognition 

as well. The U.S. News & Health Report 

ranks hospitals in terms of performance 

in medical specialties and in common 

procedures. They evaluate nearly 5,000 

hospitals across 16 adult and 10 pediatric 

specialties. 

According to U.S. News & Health 

Report, the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is 

ranked No.1 overall in the Jacksonville 

area and No. 4 in the state of Florida. In 

terms of national rankings, the Mayo 

Clinic is No. 40 in gastroenterology 

and GI surgery, No. 41 in geriatrics, 

No. 46 in neurology and neurosurgery, 

No. 48 in cancer treatment. UF Health 

Jacksonville ranks a close second in 

the Jacksonville area, and No.12 in the 

state of Florida, according to U.S. News & 

Health Report. 

Healthgrades is a national health 

care quality company that recognizes 

hospitals that have met a standard of 

excellence in various areas. Ratings 

can be seen at healthgrades.com. 

Hospitals in Jacksonville that have 

received Healthgrades’ Patient Safety 

Excellence Award include: St. Vincent’s 

Medical Center Southside, St. Vincent’s 

Medical Center Riverside and Mayo 

Clinic Jacksonville. The Patient Safety 

Excellence Award is awarded to hospitals 

that do an outstanding job at preventing 

infections, medical errors and other 

complications. Hospitals given the Patient 

Safety Excellence Award have a lower risk 

of experiencing patient safety events. 

Hospitals in the area are also 

recognized by Healthgrades for high 

performance in specialties. St. Vincent’s 

Southside has received the Spine Surgery 

Excellence Award 2014 and 2015. Baptist 

Medical Center Jacksonville has been 

awarded America’s 50 Best Hospitals 

for Vascular Surgery Award 2015 and 

2016. The hospital was also awarded 

America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary 

Intervention Award 2016. St. Vincent’s 

Medical Center Riverside has received a 

Hospital and medical center profiles continued ... 

Mayo Clinic – Jacksonville 

4500 San Pablo Road, 


904-953-2000, mayoclinic.org 



Memorial Hospital 

3625 University Blvd. S., 


904-399-6111, 

memorialhospitaljax.com 



Naval Hospital Jacksonville 

2080 Child St., Jacksonville 32214 

904-542-7300, med.navy.mil 


Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville 

807 Children's Way, Jacksonville 32207 

904-697-3600, nemours.org 


Riverpoint Behavioral Health 


904-724-9202, riverpointbehavioral.com 




Specialty Hospital Jacksonville 

4901 Richard St., Jacksonville 32207 

904-737-3120, specialtyhospitaljax.com 

Type of facility: Long-term care 


St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside 

1 Shircliff Way, Jacksonville 32204 




St. Vincent’s Medical Center Southside 

4201 Belfort Road, Jacksonville 32216 




UF Health Emerson Medical Plaza 

4555 Emerson St., Jacksonville 32207 

904-633-0052, ufhealthjax.org 

UF Health Jacksonville 

655 West Eighth St., Jacksonville 32209 

904-244-0411, ufhealthjax.org 



UF Health North 

15255 Max Leggett Parkway, Jacksonville 32218 

904-383-1000, north.ufhealthjax.org 


Wekiva Springs Center 

3947 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville 32216 

904-296-3533, wekivacenter.com 



Wolfson Children’s Hospital 

800 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville 32207 



NASSAU COUNTY 

Baptist Medical Center Nassau 

1250 S. 18th St., Fernandina Beach 32034 





Flagler Hospital 

400 Health Park Blvd., St. Augustine 32086 

904-819-5155, flaglerhospital.org 


Total staffed beds: 335

MEDICAL 

few awards including: Labor and Delivery 

Excellence Award 2015, Spine Surgery 

Excellence Award 2014 and 2015, and 

Vascular Surgery Excellence Award 2014. 

Baptist Medical Center South 

received: America’s 50 Best Hospitals 

for Vascular Surgery Award 2015 

and 2016, and America’s 100 Best 

Hospitals for Coronary Intervention 

Award 2016. Orange Park Medical 

Center was awarded the Labor and 

Delivery Excellence Award 2015 and the 

Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence 

Award 2015. UF Health Jacksonville 

received the Women’s Health Excellence 

Award 2014, Neurosciences Excellence 

Award 2014 and Stroke Care Excellence 

Award 2014. Baptist Medical Center 

Beaches was given the Maternity 

Care Excellence Award 2014. Flagler 

Hospital St. Augustine also received 

a number of awards including: 

Distinguished Hospital Award for 

Clinical Excellence 2014 and 2015; 

Women’s Health Excellence Award 

2014 and 2015; America’s 100 Best 

Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery Award 

2016; America’s 100 Best Hospitals for 

Pulmonary Care Award 2014, 2015 and 

2016; General Surgery Excellence Award 

2016; Joint Replacement Excellence 

Award 2016; Cardiac Care Excellence 

Award 2015; and Gynecologic Surgery 

Excellence Award 2015. 

The Mayo Clinic is in a league 

of its own when it comes to awards 

from Healthgrades. The area hospital 

received: Distinguished Hospital Award 

for Clinical Excellence 2014 and 2015, 

Women’s Health Excellence Award 2014 

and 2015, America’s 100 Best Hospitals 

for Critical Care Award 2016, America’s 

100 Best Hospitals for Gastrointestinal 

Care Award 2015 and 2016, America’s 

100 Best Hospitals for General Surgery 

Award 2015 and 2016, America’s 100 

Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement 

Award 2014, 2015 and 2016, Cardiac 

Care Excellence Award 2016, Cranial 

Neurosurgery Excellence Award 2016, 

Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award 

2014, 2015 and 2016, and Stroke Care 

Excellence Award 2014 and 2015. 

Mayo Clinic, Baptist Medical Center 

Beaches and Baptist Medical Center 

Nassau received the Outstanding 


UF Health held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and self-guided tours of its new North Campus 

medical complex on Feb. 12, 2015. 

Patient Experience Award 2015, meaning 

these facilities provided outstanding 

patient experiences based on 10 

measures related to doctor and nurse 

communication, hospital cleanliness and 

noise levels, and medication and postdischarge 

care instructions. The award 

is based on the Hospital Consumer 

Assessment of Healthcare Providers 

and Systems (HCAHPS) patient survey 

data from the Centers for Medicare and 

Medicaid Services (CMS). 


BUSINESS 


The One Spark festival in downtown Jacksonville encourages innovation and creativity. 

A place for business 

Companies big and small find 

success in Northeast Florida. 

When you think of Northeast Florida, 

you typically think of sunny 

beaches and soft sand, but it’s not 

all vacation here. We know how to get 

down to business, too. Forbes recently 

listed Jacksonville as No. 31 on its list of 

Best Places for Business and Careers. 

Many headquarters, including 

four Fortune 1000 and three Fortune 

500 company headquarters, are in 

Jacksonville. Companies enjoy the 

young, educated workforce in the area, 

including a median age lower than most 

areas in Florida, and public and private 

universities that continually produce an 

eager, educated workforce. 

In 2015, Johnson & Johnson Vision 

Care Inc. announced it will expand 

its Jacksonville facility, creating 100 

new jobs and will also add a capital 

investment of $301 million. Another 

well-known company, Anheuser-Busch, 

announced in September that it will 

expand the Metal Container Corporation 

facility in Jacksonville. The expansion 

will create a total of 75 new jobs. The 

company will also make a $170 million 

capital investment in the community. 

Another company expanding on 

the First Coast is River Valley Paper 

Company. The processor and exporter 

of waste paper committed to a facility 

in Yulee as the new headquarters for 

its Southeast operations in 2015. For 10 

years, the recycling company has leased 

a 43,000-square-foot space in the old 

Portside Paper facility on Talleyrand 

Avenue. 

Thumbtack.com, a business 

development website, named 

Jacksonville the second best small 

business city in the United States for 

“small business economic sentiment” in 

2015. This is just one of many accolades 

that the area has earned in the last 

several years. 

Entrepreneurs and small businesses 

on the First Coast have a host of support, 

including One Spark, a festival to 

encourage innovation and creativity. 

One Spark provides an opportunity for 

creators, entrepreneurs and all those 

with great ideas to connect with the 

resources they need, and make their 

dreams a reality through crowdfunding. 

The festival is held yearly (typically in the 

spring) in downtown Jacksonville. 

The Florida Small Business 

Development Center, located at the 

University of North Florida, is another 

resource for business owners. It is a 

no-cost consulting, low-cost training 

and extensive information center that 

offer entrepreneurs access to business 

solutions that help them grow and 

succeed. 

The Jacksonville Chamber of 

Commerce is also committed to 

supporting local businesses through the 

Office of Economic Development. This 

office assists small business owners with 

financing through local, state and federal 

programs. It also guides businesses in 

using innovative financing alternatives. 

In addition to the Chamber and the 

Florida Small Business Development 

Center, there are a variety of resources 

within Jacksonville to assist small 

businesses. Visit coj.net/departments/ 

office-of-economic-development/smallbusiness/small-business-assistanceproviders.aspx 

for a comprehensive list. 


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BUSINESS 

Major sectors for 

employment in Jacksonville: 

Military 

Trade, Transportation and Utilities 

Professional and Business Services 

Government 

Educational and Health Services 

Leisure and Hospitality 

Finance 

Manufacturing 

Source: Florida Department of Economic 

Opportunity, Labor Market Statistics Center, 

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages 

Program, 2011 

A unique look at the buildings of downtown Jacksonville. 


Corporate headquarters on the First Coast 

Jacksonville is home to three Fortune 500 companies, including CSX, Fidelity 

National Financial and FIS. Major companies are drawn to the area because of the 

competitive cost of living and doing business, as well as a diverse and educated 

workforce. Take a look at some of the major employers in the area. 

The top employers with headquarters on the First Coast (number of employees) 


Above: Guests 

enjoy a view 

of downtown 

Jacksonville from 

the 42nd floor 

of the Bank of 

America tower. 

Below: A look up 

at the Bank of 

America tower 

in downtown 




1. Bank of America Merrill Lynch (8,000) 

2. Florida Blue (6,500) 

3. JP Morgan Chase (4,200) 

4. CSX Corporation (4,000) 

5. Bi-Lo Holdings (2,500) 

6. Black Knight Financial Services (2,400) 

7. EverBank (2,200) 

8. VISTAKON Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (2,000) 

9. Gate Petroleum (1,400) 

10. Crowley Maritime Corporation (1,250) 

11. Swisher International (1,250) 

12. Miller Electric Company (1,200) 

13. Stein Mart Inc. (1,000) 

14. McKesson Corp. (1,000) 

15. Landstar System Inc. (900) 

16. NorthgateArinso (800) 

17. Allstate Workplace Division (800) 

18. W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractors Inc. (750) 

19. PGA TOUR Inc. (620) 

20. Web.com (600) 

21. Fidelity National Financing (500) 

22. Acosta (500) 

23. Suddath Relocation Systems (450) 

24. Kemper Preferred (450) 

25. Haskell (420) 

26. Rayonier (280) 

Source: Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce

BUSINESS 

An industry on the rise 

‘For every job that is created in manufacturing, 

it’s like creating three jobs.’ 

Florida is home to more than 18,200 

manufacturers, employing more than 

317,000 workers. Northeast Florida is 

one of the largest manufacturing regions 

in the state, employing more than 

35,000 residents (which is slightly less 

than 5 percent of the Northeast Florida 

workforce). 

JAXUSA Partnership reports that 

competitive local assets such as JaxPort, 

the area's three major rail lines, low 

electricity costs and ample land for large 

facilities and operations are attracting 

advanced manufacturing companies 

because the area provides the necessary 

means for companies to run their 

businesses, as well as expand. 

The greater Jacksonville area 

(including Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and 

St. Johns counties) total nonagricultural 

employment in October 2015 was 641,900, 

an increase of 12,700 jobs over the 

previous year. 

In 2015, Development Counselors 

International (DCI) published its annual 

survey of corporate executives and site 

location consultants — A View from 

Corporate America: Winning Strategies in 

Economic Development Marketing. With 

more than 350 participants, the survey 

noted that 47 percent of site location 

consultants identified manufacturing/ 

production operations as the most 

common type of relocation project they 

expect to see from their clients. 

With a stable presence, including 

a local, professional trade association 

and big-name players in the industry, 

including VISTAKON, a division of 

Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., it’s 

no wonder manufacturing companies 

are finding success on the First Coast. 

The First Coast Manufacturers 

Association (FCMA) assists 

manufacturing companies coming to 

and currently in Jacksonville, and is a 

great resource in the areas of government 

relations and workforce development. 

The association is currently working 

on an initiative to make a temporary 

sales tax exemption for manufacturing 

equipment permanent in Jacksonville. 

This will benefit both those relocating 

their company to the area as well as 

those already here who are upgrading 

their equipment. 

An eager, educated workforce is also 

attracting manufacturing companies. 

FCMA is focused on providing 

manufacturing companies a skilled 

workforce in Jacksonville. University 

of North Florida, Jacksonville’s public 

university, which has more than 16,300 

enrolled students, and Florida State 

College at Jacksonville, a local college 

with campuses throughout Duval and 

Nassau counties, both work closely with 

FCMA to develop programs that will 

provide a workforce during a time where 

there is a national shortage of skilled 

workers. 

“We are working with UNF on a 

managers training [program], and we 

are working with FSCJ on a hands-on 

program,” said First Coast Manufactures 

Association President Lake Ray. “One of 

the things we are doing is refining the 

programs to provide targeted results in 

training.” 

As the industry thrives, the positive 

impact spills over to other areas of 

business and facilitates development and 

economic growth throughout Northeast 

Florida. 

“For every job that is created in 

manufacturing, it’s like creating 

three jobs,” Ray said. “We are working 

all different levels in order to help 

support our manufacturers and attract 

manufactures into the region.” 

FCMA has continued to grow and become even more effective as the 

voice of local manufacturing. Our commitment continues to be serving our 

members in the best, most effective and efficient manner possible. 

Today, the First Coast Manufacturers Association is made up of nearly 

300 companies. We provide workforce development training, foster 

networking and business relationships, and continue to be a respected 

voice in local, state and federal government. The collective strength of 

FCMA’s member companies is unmatched among other local associations. 

It has been an amazing 25 years, and we are looking forward to a bright 

future as we move forward. 

Thank you all for being a part of this incredible organization. 

P. (904) 296-9664 

F. (904) 296-9644 

information@fcmaweb.com 

fcmaweb.com 

1615 Huffingham Road, Suite 2 



MILITARY 

The last crew of the USS Simpson disembarked at Naval Station Mayport on Sept. 29, 2015. 


U.S. Navy makes a big impact 

There are three major naval installations in the area. 


The flag is lowered on the USS Simpson just 

before the crew disembarked for the final 

time. 


On its two bases in Jacksonville, the 

service employs almost 30,000 activeduty 

personnel, reservists and civilians 

and its operations occupy more than 

7,000 acres of land. 

The U.S. Navy has a commanding 

presence here to the tune of more than 

$8 billion in payroll, goods and services 

purchased on the local economies. 

Jacksonville is home to Commander, 

Navy Region Southeast, which manages 

and oversees shore installation 

management support and execution for 

18 installations within the Southeastern 

United States and parts of the Caribbean, 

and three area Navy installations: Naval 

Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station 

Mayport and Naval Submarine Base 

Kings Bay in Georgia. 

These three installations employ 

nearly 30,000 active-duty personnel, 

Naval Reservists and civilians, and 

provide services to more than 40,000 

military retirees and family members. 

Officially commissioned on Oct. 15, 

1940, Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS 

Jacksonville) occupies more than 3,800 

acres of land and employs more than 

19,000. 

In 1946, NAS Jacksonville was the 

birthplace of the Blue Angels, the Navy’s 

flight demonstration squadron. In 2016, 

the Blue Angels will celebrate their 

70th anniversary. Today, more than 100 

tenant commands make up the multimission 

base. Mayport Naval Station 

was commissioned in December 1942, 

decommissioned at the end of World

MILITARY 

Recruiting offices in Jacksonville 

Air Force 

2141 Loch Rane Blvd., 904-272-6164 

4539 Beach Blvd., 904-396-0901 

7451 103rd St., 904-777-8944/8912 

Air National Guard 

14300 Fang St., 904-741-7155 

Army 

5751 N. Main St., 904-696-9777 

4539 Beach Blvd., 904-393-4738 

1549 Atlantic Blvd., 904-241-3115 

7451 103rd St., 904-771-8620 

Army Reserve 

1851 Executive Center Drive, 

904-396-2598 

Coast Guard 

10601 San Jose Blvd., 904-232-1561 

Marine Corps 

7451 103rd St., 904-779-1633 

4539 Beach Blvd., 904-396-1298 

1036 Dunn Ave., 904-757-4880 

Navy 

4539 Beach Blvd., 904-398-5118 

7451 103rd St., 904-778-7407 

4070 Blvd. Center Drive, 

904-396-3822 

4051 Philips Highway, 904-737-6321 


Lt. Cmdr. Mikhael Floyd reads his 4-year-old son Liam’s sign. More than 100 U.S. military 

and civilian personnel who served aboard the U.S. Navy Hospital Ship USNS Comfort 

returned to Mayport Naval Station on Sept. 25, 2015, after a six-month deployment. 

War II, then reactivated in 1948. Today, 

it is the third largest naval facility in the 

continental U.S., encompassing more 

than 3,400 acres and a harbor that can 

accommodate up to 35 ships. 

Naval Station Mayport is home to a 

busy seaport as well. The installation’s 

mission is to sustain and enhance 

warfighter readiness. It is home to 

Commander, 4th Fleet/US Naval Forces 

South (COMUSNAVSO). 

Mayport is the announced homeport 

of several LCSs, and is also home to the 

Southeast Regional Maintenance Center. 

Kings Bay Submarine Base was 

commissioned in July 1978; two years 

later, it was named the Atlantic Fleet 

homeport of the Trident submarine. 

Currently, the installation is the home 

port for six ballistic missile submarines 

and two guided missile submarines. 


Members of the Blue Angels climb skyward as they perform during the NAS Jacksonville Air 

Show. 



Bob.Self@jacksonville.com- 

Passengers wait for their aircraft at Jacksonville International Airport. 

You can go anywhere 

With an international airport, historic ferry 

and various car services, there are plenty 

of ways to get where you need to go. 

As the First Coast continues to grow, so does the area’s transportation. Whether 

residents are looking to travel to another city, across the water, or ship important 

products, Jacksonville’s transportation has their bases covered. 

Ever-changing roads 

As Jacksonville continues to grow, 

transportation for both the people 

and products must keep up with the 

demand. The Florida Department 

of Transportation has some major 

upcoming projects on Florida’s highways 

that many Northeast Florida commuters 

are eager to see completed. There 

are several substantial road changes 

underway to ease the stress of the 

Jacksonville commute. 

Here is a little overview of some of the 

major improvements. 

• Interstate 295 (Florida 9A) forms 

the suburban beltway loop around 

the Jacksonville metropolitan area. 

The loop is split between the West 

Beltway and East Beltway. The 

West Beltway carries the original 


35 miles of I-295 from Interstate 95 

in Southside through to Mandarin, 

Orange Park, Westside and Northside 

where it meets I-95 near Jacksonville 

International Airport. The newer 

26-mile East Beltway continues 

I-295 from the West Beltway and I-95 

through Northside and Arlington to 

the West Beltway in Southside. 

• The Florida Department of 

Transportation (FDOT) started 

construction on a project to 

improve the I-95/Butler Boulevard 

interchange. The interchange 

will be reconstructed to provide 

a flyover ramp for southbound 

I-95 traffic exiting onto eastbound 

Butler Boulevard as well as other 

improvements. 

• Tampa Bay to Northeast Florida 

Corridor is a proposed new toll 

road that will connect Tampa to 

Jacksonville. The highway concept is 

looking to extend Suncoast Parkway, 

even further north and east, to meet 

Interstate 75 somewhere around 

Ocala, Gainesville or Lake City. 

Three ways to ride: buses, trolley and skyway 

The Jacksonville Transportation 

Authority, JTA, (904-630-3181, jtafla. 

com) plans, designs and builds highway 

projects in addition to running the 

city bus system, the Skyway, trolleys, 

a stadium shuttle, Park-N-Ride and 

a disabled and disadvantaged rider 

service. 

Public buses run across Jacksonville, 

the beaches and into Clay County. 

STAR is JTA's new state-of-theart 

electronic fare collection system 

featuring hard-plastic smart cards and 

smart paper tickets instead of magnetic 

stripe tickets. The system features 

interactive ticket vending machines; 

“Simply Tap And Ride” card readers on 

buses, trolleys, Community Shuttles and 

paratransit vehicles; and a unique online 

card registration system. 

JTA Paratransit Service provides 

destination to destination public 

transportation for people with 

disabilities who are unable to use fixed 

route services. Paratransit Service also 

offers travel training to Americans 

with Disabilities Act (ADA) paratransiteligible 

individuals who have the ability 

to use a fixed route. 

Connexion, JTA's paratransit service, 

is a comparable service under the 

ADA for people with disabilities who 

are functionally unable to use regular 

accessible fixed route bus service for 

some or all of their transportation needs, 

and for people who are transportation 

disadvantaged. Connexion runs 

daily, including holidays (jtafla.com/ 

schedules/paratransit). 

Skyway: The JTA Skyway (jtafla.com/ 

schedules/skyway) is a 2.5-mile elevated 

automated monorail two-way system, 

offering convenient service to downtown 

patrons and employees. The system 

currently consists of two routes of track, 

serving eight stations, and crosses the St. 

Johns River on the Acosta Bridge. There 

is currently no fare to ride the Skyway. 

Trains arrive every three to six minutes.

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The Skyway operates every Monday 

to Friday. Skyway is open for the first 

Wednesday of each month for Art Walk. 

JTA also offers the Riverside 

Avondale Night Trolley 

(riversideavondalenighttrolley.com), 

which is a service from the Jacksonville 

Landing to Five Points. The Riverside 

Night Trolley runs the first full weekend 

of every month. 

The Beaches Trolley (jtafla.com/ 

schedules/the-beaches-trolley) offers a 

summer weekend service that runs every 

15 minutes from South Beach Regional 

Shopping Center to Atlantic Boulevard. It 

costs $1.50 to ride. The trolley runs from 

April 17 through Sept. 7. 

Fly in the sky 

The Jacksonville Airport Authority, 

JAA, (904-741-2000, jaa.aero) is 

responsible for aviation operations. 

The Jacksonville Airport System is 

a diversified system that serves the 

commercial business and aviation needs 

of Northeast Florida and Southeast 

Georgia. 

The JAA encompasses four central 

airports: Jacksonville International 

Airport, Cecil Airport, Jacksonville 

Executive Craig Airport and Herlong 

Recreational Airport. 

The Jacksonville International 

Airport, JIA, (flyjax.com, 904-741-4902) 

is 18 miles north of downtown. It is a 

commercial service airport with more 

than 200 flights per day. 

Future plans for the airport call for 

expanding concourses by 2020 and 

possibly adding a people-mover system 

to the airport and connecting the airport 

with the onsite DoubleTree suites via a 

moving walkway. 

The Cecil Airport (904-741-2000) 

is a public joint civil-military airport 

and spaceport located on the site of the 

former Naval Air Station Cecil Field, 

which opened in 1941 and closed in 

1999. Cecil sits amidst a full spectrum 

of efficient multimodal transportation 

links. Cecil is directly tied into an 

expansive interstate highway system, 

while also in close proximity to three 

intercontinental rail arteries, one of the 

fastest-growing deep water ports in the 

Southeast and Jacksonville International 

Airport. Cecil Airport is also the first 

FAA-licensed horizontal to launch 

commercial spaceport on the East Coast 

and the eighth to be licensed in the U.S. 

Jacksonville Executive Craig 

Airport, JAXEX, (flyjaxex.com, 904- 

641-7666) located just minutes from 

downtown, serves the needs of general 

aviation enthusiasts and the corporate 

flyer. JAXEX is ideally located with 

quick access to the city’s beaches and 

downtown business district. 

Herlong Recreational Airport, 

HEG (904-783-2805) has been home 

to Jacksonville Aviation enthusiasts 

since the 1960s. It is Northeast Florida’s 

primary location for light sport 

aircraft, skydiving, gliders and other 

experimental aircraft. 

On the rails 

Headquartered in Jacksonville, CSX 

Corp (904-359-3200, csx.com), is the 

parent company of subsidiaries that 

include CSX Transportation (904-359- 

3100), one of the largest rail networks 

on the East Coast, running more 21,000 

route miles; and CSX Intermodal, one 

of the nation’s biggest coast-to-coast 

trailer/container intermodal companies 

that operates more than 50 intermodal 

terminals across the eastern U.S. CSX 

serves nearly two-thirds of the American 

population through a network that spans 

23 states, the District of Columbia and 

two Canadian provinces. 

Florida East Coast Railway, FERC, 

(904-538-6100, fecrwy.com), based in 

Jacksonville, is a freight railroad that 

extends from Jacksonville to Miami. 

FECR operates 351 miles of mainland 

track along the east coast of Florida 

with direct rail access to South Florida’s 

ports. FECR also serves five intermodal 

terminals and provides full service 

drayage for customers. 

For rail passengers, Jacksonville’s 

Amtrak station (904-766-5110, amtrak. 

com) offers the Silver Star or Silver 

Meteor train route that runs from 

Jacksonville to New York City, and south 

to Miami and Tampa, with stops at 

exciting destinations in between. 

Big ports of call 

JaxPort (904-357-3000, jaxport. 

com) is a 1,500-acre, full-service, 

international trade seaport situated 

at the crossroads of the nation’s rail 

and highway network. The port offers 

worldwide cargo service from dozens of 

ocean carriers, including direct service 

with Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle 

East, South America, the Caribbean, 

and other key markets. JaxPort’s 

intermodal connections include three 

U.S. interstates (I-10, I-95 and I-75), 

along with 36 daily train departures via 

three railroads: CSX, Norfolk Southern, 

and Florida East Coast Railway. 

A packed Skyway car stops at the Central station. 



The port owns, maintains and 

markets three cargo terminals and one 

passenger cruise terminal along the 

St. Johns River: Blount Island Marine

Terminal, Dames Point Marine Terminal, 

Talleyrand Marine Terminal and the 

JaxPort Cruise Terminal. JaxPort’s three 

marine terminals handle every type of 

general and project cargo. 

JaxPort also operates Jacksonville’s 

passenger cruise terminal, which is 

home to the Carnival Cruise Line. 

JaxPort Cruise Terminal offers yearround 

service from Jacksonville to the 

Bahamas via four-day and five-day 

cruises. 

Besides JaxPort’s facilities at Blount 

Island, Talleyrand and Dames Point, 

about 20 privately owned marine 

terminals move about 10 million tons 

of cargo a year. One of the largest 

is Horizon Lines Inc. (904-482- 

1709, horizonlines.com) which is an 

American domestic ocean shipping and 

logistics company that has accounted 

for approximately 37 percent of all 

U.S. container shipments linking the 

continental United States to Alaska, 

Hawaii and Puerto Rico. 

TOTE Maritime (877-775-7447 or 

904-855-1260, totemaritime.com) 

formerly known as Sea Star Line LLC, 

headquartered in Jacksonville, provides 

high-speed integrated transportation 

between the United States, Puerto 

Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and 

the Eastern Caribbean islands of St. 

Maarten, St. Kills, Antigua and Tortola. 

In October 2015, TOTE Maritime 

received the world's first LNG-powered 

container ship, which will sail between 

Jacksonville and Puerto Rico. 

Trailer Bridge Inc. (800-554-1589 

or 904-751-7100, trailerbridge.com), 

headquartered in Jacksonville, offers 

international and domestic shipping 

with primary international calls to San 

Juan, Puerto Rico and Puerto Plata, 

Dominican Republic. 

The Port of Fernandina (904-261- 

0753, portoffernandina.org) overseen by 

the Nassau County Ocean, Highway and 

Port Authority, has annual visits by about 

140 ships. 

The Clay County Port (Reynolds 

Industrial Park, 904-284-3676; 

reynoldspark.com) handles import/ 

export operations and is linked 

to air, rail, surface and sea-going 

transportation. Reynolds Park is a 1,700- 

acre complex located on the St. Johns 

River in Green Cove Springs. 

A cargo connection 

Jacksonville-based Landstar (877- 

696-4507, landstar.com) is a unique 

global transportation system that 

provides numerous transportation 

carrier services across North America, 

carrying everything from huge cranes to 

U.S. mail to the tiniest of heart valves. 

Other haulers based in Jacksonville 

are Patriot Transportation Holding 

Inc. (877-704-1776, patriottrans. 

com), the subsidiary of which is 

Florida Rock & Tank Lines Inc. 

(floridarockandtanklines.com) serves 

the southeastern United States as a 

premier bulk carrier. In 2015, Patriot 

Transportation Holding Inc. became 

a separately traded public company 

trading under the ticker symbol “PATI” 

on the NASDAQ exchange. Florida Rock 

& Tank Lines Inc. specializes in hauling 

freight consisting mainly of petroleum 

products and other liquid and dry bulk 

commodities. 

The Suddath Companies (888- 

799-5033, suddath.com) provides 

relocation and customized freight 

services, and Trailer Bridge (800- 

554-1589, trailerbridge.com) offers 

freight transportation between the U.S. 

mainland and Puerto Rico. 

Greyhound 

Greyhound Lines has a main 

bus terminal located in downtown 

Jacksonville, open 24 hours a day, as 

well as other branches throughout 

the Jacksonville area. Greyhound 

offers assistance for customers with 

disabilities, (800-752-4841), as well as 

free Wi-Fi, individual power outlets, and 

extra legroom on every bus. 

Rental services 

The Jacksonville area has various 

taxi, limo, shuttle and rental services. 

Taxi fares are $1.50 to start, then $1.85 

for each mile. There is also typically 

a $0.23 for each minute waiting time. 

Please keep in mind rates differ between 

taxi companies. Fares from Jacksonville 

International Airport (JIA) are about 

$28 to downtown Jacksonville; $45 to 

the Beaches or Amelia Island; and $65 

to St. Augustine. Shuttle fares from JIA 

to downtown are about $18-$24 one 

way; limos cost about $65. Jacksonville 

also offers Uber, a taxi, private car or 


rideshare service available via an app on 

customers' phones. 

A unique way to travel within 

downtown Jacksonville is hopping 

aboard one of the St. Johns River Taxis 

(904-372-3318, jaxrivertaxi.com) that 

cross the St. Johns River from The 

Jacksonville Landing, the Southbank 

Riverwalk at Friendship Fountain, 

the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel, the 

Lexington Hotel and Municipal Marina. 

The Metropolitan Park Marina is only a 

designated water taxi stop when events 

are taking place at EverBank Field. 

A historic ride 

The St. Johns River Ferry (904- 

241-9969, stjohnsriverferry.com), for 

vehicles and passengers, which dates 

back to 1948, is now under the wing of 

the Jacksonville Port Authority. It runs 

daily between Mayport and Fort George 

Island. The Jean Ribault and its backup, 

the Blackbeard, carry about 40 vehicles 

and 200 passengers. The ferry operates 

every day, including holidays. 

Getz-Ya-There 

Airport Shuttle 

Servicing North Florida and South Georgia 

24/7 

Licensed & 

Insured 

Non-Smoking Vehicles 

Private Transportation 

Free Wifi 

Military & First Responder Discounts 

(904) 910-1987 

Flat Rate Service 

(No Mileage Fees) 

www.getz-ya-there.com 

Book Online 24/7 


RECREATION 

Left: Jerry Kelly celebrates after his putt 

on the 18th hole ends his round in the final 

round of the 2015 Players Championship at 

TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course in 

Ponte Vedra Beach. 

Terry.Dickson@jacksonville.com 

A golfer’s paradise 

With more than 1,220 holes and 70 private and public 

courses, Northeast Florida is the perfect place to putt. 


Above: The Players Championship trophy on 

display in front of the clubhouse. 

It should be no secret golf is a popular 

sport in Florida. The state is known for 

being home to more golf courses than 

any other with nearly 1,500 courses. 

With that many places to putt, Northeast 

Florida is a golfer’s dream. 

Here’s the “hole” story of Northeast 

Florida: Residents have a variety of 

courses from plush, oceanside layouts to 

popular public greens. The area features 

plenty of tour-caliber courses designed 

by experts such as Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, 

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary 

Player and Mark McCumber. 

Two key factors in the First Coast’s 

golf reputation lie directly south of 

Jacksonville in St. Johns County. The 

Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass 

in Ponte Vedra Beach is home to the 


PGA Tour headquarters and The Players 

Championship, while the World Golf 

Village and Hall of Fame north of St. 

Augustine has become a destination 

attraction. 

More so than ever, the First Coast is an 

area in which to learn and appreciate the 

game, thanks in good part to the First Tee 

program. 

The First Tee of North Florida works 

to impact the lives of young people by 

providing educational programs that 

build character, instill life-enhancing 

values and promote healthy choices 

through the game of golf. 

Its signature course, the Brentwood 

Golf Course, offers a quality nine-hole 

golf course with challenging layout — 

three par 3s, five par 4s and one par 

5. It also offers a full practice facility 

including a driving range, putting and 

chipping green. 

Golf lovers will soon have a haven to 

beat the heat during the brutal summer 

months. Topgolf has begun building one 

of their golf entertainment centers near 

the St. Johns Town Center. 

Topgolf complexes typically feature 

a high-tech driving range with targets 

that range from 25 yards to more than 

200 yards. Each golf ball has a microchip 

in it that is read by the target, allowing 

various measurements of distance and 

accuracy. The location will include three 

bars, a full-service restaurant, and more 

than 230 TVs throughout the facility.

Plenty of golf courses just a chip shot away 

Golf clubs 

and courses 

CLAY COUNTY 

River Bend Golf Links 

659 Leonard C Taylor Parkway, 

Green Cove Springs, 32043 

904-284-8777 

riverbendgolflinks.com 

Eagle Harbor Golf Club 

2217 Eagle Harbor Parkway, 


904-672-114 

eagleharboronline.com 

The Golf Club at Fleming Island 



904-269-1440 

flemingislandgolf.com 

Lakeside Links Golf Club 

294 S.E. 43rd St., Keystone 

Heights 32656 

352-473-4540 

lakesidelinksgolfclub.com 

Magnolia Point Golf & Country 

Club 

3670 Clubhouse Drive, Green 

Cove Springs 32043 

904-269-9276 

magnoliapointgolfclub.com 

Country Club of Orange Park 

2525 Country Club Blvd., 


904-276-7660, solegolf.com 

Eagle Landing Golf Club 

3989 Eagle Landing Parkway, 


904-291-5600 

eaglelandinggolf.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 

Blue Cypress Golf Club 

4012 University Blvd., 


904-762-1971 

bluecypressgolf.com 

Deercreek Country Club 

7815 McLaurin Road N., 


904-385-5558 

deercreekclub.com 

Deerfield Lakes Golf Club 

54002 Deerfield Country Club 

Road, Callahan 32011 

904-879-1210 

Deerwood Club 

10239 Golf Club Drive, 


904-642-5917 

deerwoodclub.com 

Fiddler’s Green 

13715 Lake Newman St., 


904-778-5245 

Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club 

131990 Glen Kernan Parkway, 


904-646-1116 

glenkernanrealty.com 

Bent Creek Golf Course 

10440 Tournament Lane, 


904-779-0800 

golfbentcreek.com 

Hidden Hills Country Club 

3901 Monument Road, 


904-641-8121 

hiddenhillscc.com 

Hyde Park Golf Club 

6439 Hyde Grove Ave., 


904-786-5410 

hydeparkgolfclub.com 

Jacksonville Beach Golf Course 

605 Penman Road S., 


904-247-6184, jaxbchgolf.com 

Jacksonville Golf & Country Club 

3985 Hunt Club Road, 


904-223-6910, jaxgcc.com 

Blue Sky Golf Club 

1700 Monument Road, 


904-446-2899 

golfbluesky.com 

NAS Jacksonville Golf Club 

808 Mustin Road, 

Jacksonville, 32212 

904-542-3249 

Pablo Creek Golf Club 

5660 S. San Pablo Road, 


904-992-6900 

Queen’s Harbour Yacht & 

Country Club 

1131 Queen’s Harbour Blvd., 


904-220- 2118 

San Jose Country Club 



904-733-1511, sjccjax.com 

Atlantic Beach Country Club 

1600 Selva Marina Drive, 


904-372-2222 

atlanticbeachcountryclub.com 

Timuquana Country Club 

4028 Timuquana Road, 


904-389-0477, timuquana.net 

Windsor Parke Golf Club 

13823 Sutton Park Drive N., 


904-223-4653 

windsorparke.com 

Windy Harbor Golf Club 

Naval Station St. 18, Mayport 

32228 

904-270-5380 

windyharborgolf.com 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Omni Amelia Island Plantation 

6800 First Cost Highway, 

Amelia Island 32034 

904-261-6161, omnihotels.com 

Fernandina Beach Golf Club 

2800 Bill Melton Road, 


904- 310-3175 

fernandinabeachgolfclub.com 

The Golf Club at North Hampton 

22680 North Hampton Club 

Way, Fernandina Beach 32034 

904-548-0000 

hamptongolfclubs.com 

The Golf Club of Amelia Island 

4700 Amelia Parkway, Amelia 

Island 32034 

904-277-8015 

golfclubofamelia.com 

Amelia River Golf Club 

4477 Buccaneer Trail, 


904-491-8500 

golfclubameliariver.com 

Amelia National 

95211 Clubhouse Road, 


904-652-0660 

amelianationalgolf.com 


Julington Creek Golf Club 

1111 Durbin Creek Blvd., Fruit 

Cove 32259 

904-287-4653 

julingtoncreekgc.com 

Cimarrone Golf Club 

2800 Cimarrone Blvd., 


904-287-2000 

cimarronegolf.com 

The Golf Club at South Hampton 

315 S. Hampton Club Way, 


904-287-7529 

golfsouthhampton.com 

Marsh Creek Country Club 

169 Marshside Drive, St. 


904-461-1145 

marshcreek.com 

Marsh Landing Country Club 

25655 Marsh Landing Pkwy, 

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 

904-285-6459 

marshlandingcc.com 

Palencia Club 

649 Palencia Club Drive, St. 


904-599-9040 

palenciaclub.com 

Plantation at Ponte Vedra Beach 

101 Plantation Drive, Ponte 


904-543-2999 

theplantationpvb.com 

Ponte Vedra Golf & Country Club 

254 Alta Mar Drive, Ponte 


904-285-0204 

thepontevedragolfandcc.com 

RECREATION 

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club 

200 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte 


904-273-7710, pontevedra.com 

Royal St. Augustine Golf 

& Country Club 

301 Royal St. Augustine 

Parkway, St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-4653 

royalstaugustinegolf.com 

St. Augustine Shores 

707 Shores Blvd., 


904-794-4653 

St. Johns Golf Club 

4900 Cypress Links Blvd., 

Elkton 32033 

904-209-0350, sjcgc.com 

St. Johns Golf & Country Club 

205 St. Johns Golf Drive, 


904-940-3200 

stjohnsgolf.com 

Sawgrass Country Club 

10034 Golf Club Drive, Ponte 


904-273-3720 

sawgrasscountryclub.com 

TPC at Sawgrass Players 

Stadium Course 

110 TPC Blvd., 


904-273-3235, tpc.com 

World Golf Hall of Fame 

1 World Golf Place, St. 


904-940-6088, golfwgv.com 

Driving ranges 

Many golf courses have driving ranges as 

part of their practice facilities. Here are the 

standalone driving ranges in the area: 

UNF Golf Complex 

1 UNF Drive, 904-620-2050 

Westside Golf Center 

2301 Parrish Cemetery Road, 904-786-1999 

MasterFit Teaching and Learning Academy 

14055 Philips Highway, 904-886-4800 


RECREATION 

Fun starts at parks 

For a getaway day or just an afternoon, you 

can hike, bike, fish, swim, picnic or just relax. 

BAKER COUNTY 

For more information, contact 

the Osceola National Forest at 

904-752-2577. 

Parks 

Heritage Park Village 

South Lowder Street, 

Macclenny; storefronts from 

the 1930s and 1950s set up 

as museums, as well as a 

gazebo, garden, picnic area 

and restored train depot and 

caboose 

Little St. Marys River Park 

Highway U.S. 90 West between 

Macclenny and Glen St. Mary 

on the South Prong of the St. 

Marys River; picnic areas and 

fishing in a stocked pond 

Ocean Pond Recreation Area 

In Osceola National Forest, 

close to Olustee Battlefield 

State Historic Site off County 

Road 250A between U.S. 90 

and Interstate 10; 2-mile-wide 

lake, hiking trails, camping 

areas, boat ramp, fishing, 

swimming and picnic area 

Osceola National Forest 

Ranger station on U.S. 90, 

just west of Olustee; about 

one-half of the 200,000 acres 

is in Baker County; swamps, 

woodlands, streams, ponds 

and hiking trails; camping 

allowed 

CLAY COUNTY 


Clay County Parks and 

Recreation at 904-269-6378 or 

claycountygov.com. 

Selected parks 

Camp Blanding Wildlife 

Management Area 

myfwc.com 

In Clay County, east of Starke; 

more than 56,000 acres for 

hunting, fishing, swimming 

and picnicking 


Carl Pugh Park 

317 West St., Green Cove 

Springs; leased to the city 

athletic association; softball 

field and baseball field 

Clarke House Park 

A 15-acre municipal park on 

Kingsley Avenue in Orange 

Park; includes equipped 

playground, volleyball court, 

picnic area and hiking/nature 

trails 

Four Silo Park 

1657 Farm Way, off County 

Road 220 in Middleburg; 

tennis courts, basketball court, 

softball field, picnic areas and 

playground on 6 acres 

Foxmeadow Recreational Park 

1155 Foxmeadow Trail off 

Old Jennings Road; pavilions, 

basketball court, all-purpose 

ballfield, horse riding trails 

and playground 

Hunter-Douglas Park 

A 10-acre park on Longmire 

Road in Middleburg; picnic 

pavilion, softball field, 

basketball court, tennis court, 

playground, community 

meeting room 

Island Forest Park 

A 2.8-acre park on Bermuda 

Drive in Fleming Island with 

playground, picnic areas, 

pavilions, volleyball and 

basketball courts 

Jennings State Forest 

freshfromflorida.com 

More than 23,000 acres 

located in Middleburg with 

swimming, hiking, bicycling, 

canoeing, horseback riding 

and wildlife viewing; the forest 

is open to regulated hunting 

and fishing, and closes to all 

other recreation activities 

during hunting periods 

Keystone Beach 

Located at 565 S. Lawrence 

Blvd. (State Road 21), 

Keystone Heights on Lake 

Geneva; picnicking, volleyball, 

playground and pavilion 

Kingsley Lake Park 

Off State Road 16A at Kingsley 

Lake; tennis court, picnic area 

with covered pavilion and 

playground 

Little Rain Lake Park 

A 34-acre park on Little Rain 

Lake Road off State Road 21, 

north of Keystone Heights; 

football field, baseball fields, 

basketball court and tennis 

courts 

Main Street Park 

Next to Main Street boat ramp 

in Middleburg on Black Creek; 

the 5-acre park includes picnic 

area, playground, 825-foot 

boardwalk and two fishing 

piers 

Moccasin Slough 

A 255-acre parcel on Fleming 

Island from Highway 17 east 

to the St. Johns River; nature 

trail and shaded picnic area; 

one of the largest undeveloped 

tracts on the river between 

Jacksonville and Palatka 

Omega Park 

A 16-acre park on Country 

Road 218 in Middleburg area 

leased to Middleburg Athletic 

Association with seven 

baseball fields, concession 

area, two football fields and 

softball field; next to Omega 

Park Playground with pavilion, 

picnic area, two tennis courts 


Paul C. Armstrong Park 

An 18-acre park at 2445 County 

Road 220 in Doctors Inlet; 

softball and soccer fields, 

tennis courts, basketball court, 

playground and covered picnic 

pavilions 


Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in Jacksonville gives 

visitors the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors close 

to home. 

Ronnie Van Zant Park 

An 85-acre park at 2760 

Sandridge Road off County 

Road 739B in Lake Asbury; 

basketball and tennis courts, 

soccer field, softball field, 

picnic pavilions, playground, 

volleyball court, fishing pond 

with piers and nature trails 

Spring Park and City Pier 

In Green Cove Springs along 

the St. Johns River, next to 

City Hall; featuring playground 

equipment, picnic facilities, a 

gazebo, spring-fed pool and 

500-foot pier with 12 boat slips 

Tanglewood Park 

A 12.75-acre park at 2680 

Gifford Ave., near Orange 

Park; baseball fields, tennis 

courts, picnic pavilions and 

playground 

Theme Park 

At 555 S. Lawrence Blvd., 

behind Keystone Heights 

City Hall; tiny tot play area, 

picnicking, tennis and 


Twin Lakes Park 

A 50-acre park on Twin Lakes 

Road S. off State Road 100 in 

Keystone Heights; bike trail, 

baseball field, soccer fields, 

playground, picnic pavilion 

and two tennis courts 

Vera Francis Hall Park 

At the west end of Martin 

Luther King, Jr. Boulevard; 

basketball courts, volleyball, 

fitness center, nature trails, 

playground, picnic facilities, 

nature interpretive center, 

canoe landing, horseshoe 

courts, ball field and 

amphitheater 

W.E. Varnes Park 

At Peoria Road and Fortuna 

Drive; this 3.25-acre park has 

two tennis courts, covered 

picnic area and playground 

DUVAL COUNTY 

The city of Jacksonville 

operates one of the largest 

urban park systems in the 

country, providing services 

at more than 400 locations. 


the Jacksonville Parks and 

Recreation Department at 

904-630-2489 or coj.net. 


A. Philip Randolph Heritage Park 

1096 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.; 

playground equipment and 

picnic facilities 

Alberts Field 

12073 Brady Road; lighted 

youth and adult baseball 

fields, concession stand and 

picnic facilities 

Baker Skinner Park 

7641 Powers Ave., across from 

Wolfson High School; features 

38 acres with lighted baseball 

fields, picnic areas, nature and 

jogging trails and playgrounds 

Bethesda Park 

10790 Key Haven Road, 

Northside. Completely 

accessible and barrier-free 

recreational complex for the 

physically disabled; nature 

trail boardwalks, 20-acre 

stocked fishing lake, picnic 

facilities, cabins, lodge and 

picnic facilities

RECREATION 

Blue Cypress Park 

4012 University Blvd. North; 

a 119-acre park on the south 

bank of the St. Johns River; 

a nine-hole golf course, 

fishing pier, boardwalk, 

ponds, community center and 

swimming pool 

Bruce Park 

6549 Arlington Road, 

Arlington; lighted softball 

field, lighted tennis and 

basketball courts, playground 

and picnic shelters 

Catherine Hester McNair Park 

551 W. 25th St; a 16-acre park 

with baseball and softball 

fields, basketball and tennis 

courts, shuffleboard and 

playground equipment 

Cecil Field 

13531 Lake Newman Drive; 

more than 800 acres for 

recreational use with picnic 

areas, playground, gym, 

ballfields, basketball court, 

lighted tennis courts, golf 

course and two pedestrian 

docks 

Crystal Springs Road Park 

9800 Crystal Springs Road; 

lighted tennis courts, nature 

trails, picnic tables, grills, 

playground, and baseball field 

Ed Austin Regional Park 

11751 McCormick Road, 

Arlington; features golf course 

with tournaments available. 

Also includes lighted baseball 

fields, soccer fields, walking 

trail, community center, 

playground and picnic area 

Dutton Island Park 

and Preserve 

793 Dutton Island Road 

West; this park lies along the 

Intracoastal Waterway and 

includes a dock, canoe launch, 

picnicking, trail, fishing and 

wildlife observation posts 

Huguenot Memorial Park 

10980 Hecksher Drive, Fort 

George Island; the park 

has access to the ocean, St. 

Johns River and Fort George 

Inlet; only Duval park that 

allows vehicle beach access; 

boat launch, picnic shelters, 

campsites, restrooms and 

showers; $5 entrance fee per 

vehicle 

Jarboe Park 

Fifth St., Neptune Beach; two 

free sand beach volleyball 

courts, tennis courts, baseball 

field, jogging trail, basketball 

court, playground and picnic 

area 

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park 

500 Wonderwood Drive, 

Atlantic Beach; this park, 

located on a 1.5-mile stretch 

of the Atlantic Ocean, has 

a 60-acre freshwater lake, 

water playground, hiking and 

off-road, single-track biking 

trails, picnic shelters and close 

to 300 campsites with shower 

facilities; $5 entrance fee per 

vehicle 

Lannie Road Park 

3461 Lannie Road; this 

215-acre park features radio 

control flying field for model 

airplane enthusiasts; to fly 

a model, you must have 

Academy of Model Aeronautics 

insurance coverage or its 

equivalent; weekend classes 

are provided for beginners; 

park also has covered 

pavilion with picnic tables, 

workbenches, clubhouse, 

playground equipment and 

athletic fields 

Lonnie C. Miller Sr. 

Regional Park 

7689 Price Lane; this 126- 

acre park has a playground, 

volleyball, paved trails, 

restrooms and picnic pavilions 

Mandarin Park 

14780 Mandarin Road; the 

park has a small pond, and 

short, easy trails, nature 

discovery center, picnic 

pavilions with grills, fishing 

area, observation pier, 

playground, boardwalk and 

boat ramp 

Memorial Park 

1620 Riverside Ave.; dedicated 

in 1924, this park on the St. 

Johns River honors the 1,200 

Floridians who died in World 

War I; listed on the National 

Register of Historic Places 

Metropolitan Park 

4110 Gator Bowl Blvd., 

downtown on St. Johns River; 

23-acre waterfront park hosts 

outdoor concerts and events, 

picnic shelters, playground 

and docking facilities 

Ringhaver Park/Ortega River 

Nature Preserve 

5198 118th St., Ortega; athletic 

fields, covered picnic area, 

playground and boardwalk; 

canoe launch on the Ortega 

River 

Treaty Oak at Jessie Ball 

duPont Park 


downtown; this 3-acre park is 

centered by the 180+-year-old 

Treaty Oak 

Tree Hill Nature Center 

7152 Lone Star Road; 50-acre 

forest with an indoors nature 

center, interactive exhibits, 

wildflower gardens and nature 

trails; admission: $4 for adults, 

$3 for students and seniors, $2 

for children 17 and under, free 

to Tree Hill members 

Walter Jones Historical Park 

11964 Mandarin Road; the 

park is significant for its 

historic buildings, centuriesold 

oak and cypress trees; 

museum highlighting post- 

Civil War Mandarin and a 

boardwalk along the St. John’s 

River 

Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park 

7000 Roosevelt Blvd., 

Westside; the park has a 

nature center, picnic area 

with grills, playground, biking 

trails, hiking and nature trails 

and an observation tower to 

view wetlands and wildlife 

NASSAU COUNTY 


the Nassau County Parks 

and Recreation Department 

at 904-530-6120 or 

nassaucountyfl.com. 


Atlantic Recreation Center 

2500 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina 

Beach; community center, 

pool, baseball field and 

basketball court 

Big Talbot Island State Park 

State Road A1A North; five 

hiking trails through dunes, 

hammocks and beach 

Central Park 

1200 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina 

Beach; tennis courts, 

basketball court, playground 

and baseball/softball complex 

Main Beach Park 

Corner of Atlantic and South 

Fletcher avenues, Fernandina 

Beach; picnic tables, sand 

volleyball, playground and 

multipurpose court 

Martin Luther King Jr. Center 

and Park 

1200 Elm St., Fernandina; 

playground, picnic area and 

baseball practice field 



St. Johns County Parks and 

Recreation Office at 904-209- 

0333 or co.st-johns.fl.us. 


Al Wilkie Park 

6150 Main St., Hastings; 

playground, picnic shelter, 

tennis courts, basketball 

courts, baseball field and 

community center 

Alpine Groves Park 

Access from William Bartram 

Scenic and Historic Highway, 

direct access through Swiss 

Lane; a 55-acre park with 

historical structures, hiking 

trails, picnic areas and 

playground 

Collier- Blocker-Puryear Park 

10 North Holmes Blvd., St. 

Augustine; tennis, volleyball 

courts, basketball courts, 

softball field, picnic area and 

playground 

Cornerstone Park 

1046 A1A N., St. Augustine; 

baseball fields, multi-purpose 

field, and tennis courts, 

basketball courts and picnic 

shelter 

Davenport Park 

Corner of San Marco and San 

Carlos, St. Augustine; area’s 

only carousel, playground and 

picnic area 

Davis Park 

210 Davis Park Road, Ponte 

Vedra; soccer and football 

complexes, picnic shelter, 

playground, softball and 

baseball complexes; home to 

one of the county’s three Paw 

Parks, with large off-leash 

play area 

Francis Field 

27 Castillo Drive, St. 

Augustine; hosts many of the 

city’s major festivals 

Frank Butler Park West 

399 Riverside Blvd., St. 

Augustine Beach; park with 

beach access, a boat ramp, 

picnic shelters and grills 

Lighthouse Park 

Red Cox Drive, St. Augustine; 

fishing pier, boat ramp, 

playground and grills 

North Beach Park 

3721 Coastal Highway, 

Vilano Beach; beach access, 

playground, showers and grills 

Ron Parker Park 

607 Old Beach Road, St. 

Augustine Beach; playground, 

softball field, lighted tennis 

and paddle tennis courts and 


St. Johns County Ocean Pier 

350 Beach Blvd., St. Augustine 

Beach; 4-acre beachfront 

park with playground, Splash 

Park, pavilion, lighted beach 

volleyball courts and fishing 

pier; parking is free; $1 fee to 

visit pier; daily fishing passes: 

$2 for residents, $3 for nonresidents 

Treaty Park 

1595 Wildwood Drive, St. 

Augustine; playground, picnic 

shelter and grills, nature trails, 

bicycle and fitness trails, 

3-acre lake with canoe trail, 

lighted tennis and paddle 

tennis courts, racquetball 

courts, softball fields, multipurpose 

fields, skate park and 

pavilion; includes one of three 

county Paw Parks 

Trout Creek Park 

6795 Collier Road, Orangedale; 

16.5-acre park with onsite 

naturalist, nature trails, 

community center, boat ramp 


Northeast Florida is also home 

to many national parks. Visit 

floridastateparks.org for more 

information. 


RECREATION 

Marinas: Giving berth 

Full-service marinas take care 

of all your boating needs. 


Boats line up before dawn to get into position for the start of the 

Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament. 

CLAY COUNTY 


Green Cove Springs Marina 

851 Bulkhead Road, 


904-284-1811, gcsmarina.com 

Holland Marine 

1011 Bulkhead Road, 


904-284-3349 

hollandmarineboatyard.com 

Rudder Club 

8533 Malaga Ave., Orange Park 32244 

904-264-4094, rudderclub.com 

Doctors Lake Marina 

3108 U.S. Highway 17, 


904-264-0505 

Fleming Island Marina 

3027 U.S. Highway 17, 

Orange Park 32073, 904-269-0027 

DUVAL COUNTY 



Arlington Marina 

5137 Arlington Road, 32211 

904-743-2628, arlingtonmarina.com 

Clapboard Marina, Inc. 

6220 Heckscher Drive 32226 

904-757-1135 

Epping Forest Yacht Club 

1830 Epping Forest Drive 32217 

904-739-7200, efyc.com 


Florida Yacht Club 

5210 Yacht Club Road 32210 

904-387-1653, thefloridayachtclub.org 

Morningstar Marinas at Mayport 

“The Fisherman’s Marina” 

4852 Ocean St., 


904-246-8929 

morningstarmarinas.com/mayport 

Metropolitan Park Marina 

1410 Gator Bowl Blvd. 32202 

904-630-0839, coj.net 

River City Marina 

835 Museum Circle 32207 

904-398-7918 

St. Johns River (Julington Creek) 

The Marina at Julington Creek 


904-268-5117 

Mandarin Holiday Marina 


904-268-1036 

St. Johns River (Ortega River) 

The Marina at Ortega Landing 

4240 Lakeside Drive 32210 

904-387-5538, ortegalanding.com 

Sadler Point Marina 

4669 Roosevelt Blvd. 32210 

904-384-1383 

Lamb’s Yacht Center 

3376 Lake Shore Blvd. 32210 

904-384-5577 

lambsyachtcenter.com 

The Fisherman’s Marina 

Mayport 

4852 Ocean Street • Atlantic Beach, FL 32233 

P: 904.758.1523 • VHF: 16 

morningstarmarinas.com 

closest to the ocean • full service • save on fuel spend more time fishing 

Lakeshore Dry Storage 

3326 Lake Shore Blvd. 32210 

904-387-644, lakeshoredrystorage.com 

St. Johns River (Trout River) 

Seafarers Marina 

455 Trout River Drive 32208 

904-765-8152, seafarersmarina.com 

Intracoastal Waterway 

Beach Marine 



904-249-8200, jaxbeachmarine.com 

Marina San Pablo/San Pablo Yacht Club 

Butler Boulevard at Intracoastal 

Waterway 

904-515-5099 

Palm Cove Marina 

14603 Beach Blvd. 32250 

904-223-4757, palmcovemarina.com 

Queens Harbour Yacht & Country Club 

1131 Queens Harbour Blvd. 32225 

904- 220-2118, qhycc.com 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Amelia Island Yacht Basin 

251 Creekside Drive, 


904-277-4615, aiyb.net 

Fernandina Harbor Marina 

3 S. Front Street, 


904-310-3300, fhmarina.com 

Olde Towne Marina 

1420 N. 14th St., 


904-277-8511, oldetownemarinafla.com 

Tiger Point Marina & Boat Works 

997 Egan’s Creek Lane, 


904-277-2720, tigerpointmarina.com 


(St. Augustine unless otherwise noted) 

English Landing Marina 

509 South Ponce de Leon Blvd. 32084 

904-669-7363, englishlanding.net 

Hidden Harbor Marina 

10 Prawn St. 32084 

904-829-0750, hiddenharbor.biz 

Intercoastal Marina Inc. 

200 Nix Boat Yard Road 32084 

904-824-0138 

intercoastalmarinainc.blogspot.com 

River’s Edge Marina 

65 Lewis Blvd. 32084, 904-827-0520 

St. Augustine Marina 

245 Vilano Road 32084 

staugustinemarina.net 

St. Augustine Yacht Club 

442 Ocean Vista Ave. 32080 

904-824-9725, 

staugustineyachtclub.com 

Trout Creek Marina 

6550 Florida 13 32092, 904-342-2471 


Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor 

3070 Harbor Drive 32084 

904-829-5676 camacheeisland.com 

St. Augustine Municipal Marina 

111 Avenida Menendez 32084 

904-825-1026 

staugustinegovernment.com 

Salt Run (between Conch & Anastasia islands) 

Conch House Marina Resort 

57 Comares Ave. 32080 

904-824-4347, 

conch-house.com/marina 

San Sebastian River 

Fish Island Marina 

State Road 312 and Intracoastal 

Waterway, 904-471-1955 

Oasis Boatyard 

256 Riberia St. 32084 

904-824-2520 

oasisboatyardandmarina.com

RECREATION 

Ramps: Float your boat 

From the St. Johns River to the Intracoastal 

Waterway, there are lots of places to launch. 


The Kings Ferry Boat Ramp in Nassau County. 

BAKER COUNTY 

Ocean Pond (Olustee Beach) 

Osceola National Forest 

off U.S. 90, end of CR 

231, about half-mile 

north of Olustee; $3 fee 

Ocean Pond (Hog Pen 

Landing) 

Off Interstate 10, Forest 

Road 241, 241-A about 11 

miles east of Lake City; 

$2 fee 

Ocean Pond (North 

Campground) 

East of Hog Pen Landing 

Boat Launch, off 

National Forest Road 266 

St. Marys River 

Off Steel Bridge Road, 

about 4 miles north of 

Macclenny; surface is 

hard-packed sand 

CLAY COUNTY 

Black Creek (Rideout Ferry) 

Old Ferry Road off CR 

209, 1 mile north of 

Middleburg; single-lane 

Black Creek (Middleburg) 

Off Highway 21, down 

the end of Main Street 

Lake Geneva 

Off CR 100, 2.4 miles 

west of Keystone Heights 

Lake Lowry and 

Lake Magnolia 

Off CR 100, State Road 

21, 5 miles north of 



Lake Shore (Doctor’s Lake) 

Off U.S. 17 South, south 

of Orange Park; two 

lanes, launch and staging 

areas 

Knight’s Boat Ramp 

1492 River Lane, north 

of Green Cove Springs; 

three-lane ramp with 

floating docks; fishing 

pier; 40-slip docking 

facility; large paved 

parking lot, restrooms, 

picnic area and fuel for 

sale 

DUVAL COUNTY 


Alimacani 

At Huguenot Memorial 

Park off A1A; 

unimproved sand-andshell 

ramp suitable only 

for small craft; limited 

parking; picnic area 

and grills, portable 

restrooms 

Talbot Island State Park 

Sawpit Creek at A1A 

bridge over Nassau 

River; single-lane ramp 

with good surface; 

restrooms; $3 charge on 

honor system 

Jim King Park 

Off Heckscher Drive; 

double-wide ramp; 

adequate paved parking 

lot; floating concrete 

docks; restrooms 

Joe Carlucci 

McKenna Drive off 

Heckscher Drive on 

north bank of St. Johns 

River at juncture with 

ICW; double-wide, 

rippled-surface ramp; 

picnic area; restrooms 

Mayport 

Off A1A at Mayport east 

of ferry slip; one of best 

ramps for ocean access; 

currents and wakes from 

large vessels can be a 

problem 

Oak Harbor 

2428 Seaway St. off A1A 

near Mayport Road; 

good access to ICW and 

ocean; good facilities; 

restricted to shallow 

draft boats 

McCue Park 

Just east of Intracoastal 

bridge behind Beach 

Marine; on-site and offsite 

parking 

St. Johns River and 

tributaries 

New Berlin 

End New Berlin Road off 

295; very limited parking 

Lonnie Wurn 

4131 Ferber Road in Fort 

Caroline area; limited 

parking 

Bert Maxwell 

Just north of Interstate 

95 at 500 Maxwell 

Road on Trout River; 

little-used ramp has 

good parking and launch 

surface, but care is 

needed going in and out 

Dinsmore 

Trout River at junction 

of New Kings Road 

and Dunn Ave.; limited 

parking 

T.K. Stokes 

Ribault River on 

Riverview Avenue off 

Lem Turner Road; limited 

parking 

Arlington Lion’s Club 

At Lion’s Club Park off 

University Boulevard, 

north of Jacksonville 

University; one of best 

on St. Johns; good 

parking, nature trails, 

picnic areas, restrooms 

Arlington Road 

At the end of Arlington 

Road just north of 

Mathews Bridge; singlewide 

ramp; parking very 

limited 

St. Johns Marina 

Last ramp going 

south on the St. Johns 

River in Duval County, 

directly behind River 

City Brewing Company 

restaurant; wide and 

well-surfaced, but 

parking and access 

limited; currents can 

also be a problem 

Curtis Lee Johnson 

Marina Park 

(Lighthouse Marina) 

Cedar River, 5434 San 

Juan Ave. at bridge; 

floating dock; restrooms; 

limited parking 

Wayne B. Stevens 

Fishing Creek off Ortega 

River at Ortega Farms 

Boulevard; adequate 

parking; restrooms 

Hood Landing 

Julington Creek at the 

end of Hood Landing 

Road at Clark’s Fish 

Camp; singlewide ramp 

with no dock; parking 

virtually nonexistent, but 

ramp offers only ready 

access to St. Johns River 

from east bank between 

downtown Jacksonville 

and St. Johns County 

limited turnaround area 

Goodby’s Creek 

San Jose Boulevard; 

floating docks; good 

parking; restrooms 

Timucuan Eco and 

Historic Preserve 

(Cedar Point) 

Horseshoe Creek at the 

end of Cedar Point Road; 

very limited parking 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Holly Point Park 

Off Old Nassauville 

Road, State Road 200; 

restrooms; picnic area; 

floating dock 

Fernandina Harbour Marina 

1 North Front St., 

Fernandina Beach; good 

surface, picnic tables 

and restrooms 

Dee Dee Bartels (North 

End Boat Ramp) 

ICW at N 14th St., 

Fernandina Beach, 

adjacent to Fort Clinch 

State Park; ample 

parking, picnic tables, 

restrooms, good access 

to St. Marys River 

entrance 

Wilson Neck 

Faye Road, south of 

Yulee off U.S. 17; limited 

parking, good surface, 

new ramp with floating 

dock 

St. Marys River 

King’s Ferry 

Off Middle Road, County 

Road 108, northeast 

of Hilliard; single 

lane; floating dock, no 

restrooms 


Intracoastal/ocean 

Frank Butler Park 

399 Riverside Blvd. off 

A1A in Butler Beach; 

picnic shelters, grills 

Douglas C. Crane Park 

Shore Drive in St. 

Augustine South 

subdivision; adequate 

parking, portable 

restroom 

Guana River (North) 

In Guana State 

Recreation Area off A1A 

between Jacksonville 

Beach and St. Augustine, 

6 miles north of Guana 

Dam; outboard motors 

limited to 10 HP 

Guana River (South) 

Guana Dam off A1A; 

picnic tables, grill, 

restrooms 

Lighthouse Park 

At St. Augustine 

Lighthouse south of 

Bridge of Lions; 2 ramps; 

good surface, limited 

parking, small dock; 

grills 

Vilano 

Vilano Causeway; good 

surface; ample parking; 

follow navigation 

markers carefully; great 

ocean access 

Moultrie Creek 

Off Shore Drive in St. 

Augustine Shores; one 

ramp, limited parking 


Palmo Cove 

Palmo Fish Camp Road 

off County Road 13; 

shallow ramp, limited 

parking 

Trout Creek 

Off SR 13, 4 miles south 

of Shands Bridge in 

Green Cove Springs; 

good access to St. Johns; 

adequate parking; 

tables, grills and fish 

cleaning station 


SHOPPING 


Shoppers can take a break and enjoy outdoor seating at the St. Johns Town Center. 

There’s plenty in 

store for shoppers 

From large department stores to small consignment 

shops, you can find anything on the First Coast. 


The Avenues Mall is home to five major 

department stores including Belk, Dillard’s, 

Forever 21, JCPenney and Sears, plus more 

than 150 of the most exciting stores. 

The Jacksonville area might be spread out, but shopping 

is always close at hand — from major malls to one-ofa-kind 

designers to antique malls to thrift shops. Most 

neighborhoods have everything nearby, including grocery 

stores. Major markets include Winn-Dixie, Publix and Rowe’s, 

along with the groceries inside Walmart Supercenter and 

SuperTarget. The Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Earth Fare, 

Trader Joe’s and locally based Native Sun Natural Market offer 

organic and gourmet fare. 

8221-6 Southside Blvd. (904) 641-8999 

Department store shopping is available at such mainstays 

as Dillard’s, Belk, Sears, J.C. Penney, Kohl’s and Stein Mart, as 

well as discounters Walmart, Target and Kmart. Warehouse 

shopping is available at Sam’s Club, Costco and BJ’s. 

The area’s history also translates into unique shopping 

areas. The shopping districts in San Marco, Five Points and 

Avondale are in some of Jacksonville’s oldest and most historic 

neighborhoods and offer restaurants, quaint shops, boutiques, 

coffee shops, book stores and more. 

Along St. George Street, the main street in St. Augustine’s 

historic district, there are 11 pedestrian-only blocks of historic 

sites (the oldest wooden schoolhouse among them), eating 

establishments and shopping. If you’re into antiques, San 

Marco Avenue in St. Augustine has one store after another. 

Centre Street in Fernandina Beach consists of 50 blocks of 

restored Victorian homes, shops and restaurants. The shopping 

area has everything from antiques to fashions to collectibles 

and such historical treasures as the Palace Saloon, the state’s 

oldest tavern. 


Take a look at some of the major retail areas on the First Coast: 

(Hours might change during seasonal events) 

CLAY COUNTY 

Orange Park Mall 

1910 Wells Road in Orange Park 32073 

Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 

noon - 6 p.m. Sunday. 

This mall features 112 specialty stores and department 

stores, including Dillard’s, Belk and Sears, along with 

a food court, other restaurants and an AMC 24-screen 

megaplex. 

DUVAL COUNTY 

The Avenues Mall 

10300 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville 32256 

Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon - 6 

p.m. Sunday. 

The mall is a two-level center with Dillard’s, Belk, 

J.C. Penney and Sears and 150 specialty stores and 

restaurants along with the Oasis Food Court. 

Gateway Town Center 

5000-7 Norwood Ave., Jacksonville 32206 

Hours: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. - 9 

p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon - 6 p.m. Sunday. 

As the city’s oldest mall, this area has emerged as a 

community and retail center. The newly renovated 

center houses both local and national businesses, as 

well as some government services. 

The Jacksonville Landing 

2 Independent Drive, Jacksonville 32202 

Hours: 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m. - 9 

p.m. Friday and Saturday; noon - 5:30 p.m. Sunday. 

Known as “The Landing” to locals, this festival 

marketplace is on the St. Johns River in downtown 

Jacksonville. The two-level, U-shaped pavilion facing 

the river has shops, restaurants, services and an 

arcade. The Landing also has about 1,000 feet of dock 

space available for public use. 

Regency Square Mall 

9501 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville 32225 

Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon - 6 

p.m. Sunday.This area features more than 170 stores, 

including Dillard’s, Sears and J.C. Penney, along with a 

food court and an AMC 24-screen megaplex. 

River City Marketplace 

12884 City Center Blvd., Jacksonville 32218 

Hours: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. - 7 

p.m. Sunday.The marketplace features 72 stores and a 

movie theater, making it the largest shopping center on 

Jacksonville’s Northside. Stores include Old Navy, Bed 

Bath & Beyond, Walmart and PetSmart. 

SHOPPING 

Roosevelt Square 

4535 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville 32210 

Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; noon - 6 p.m. 

Sunday. 

Roosevelt Square is anchored by Belk, Stein Mart and a 

Publix grocery. 

St. Johns Town Center 

4663 River City Drive (Butler Boulevard and Gate 

Parkway) Jacksonville 32246 

Hours: 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. - 6 

p.m. Sunday. 

This outdoor shopping mall opened in March 2005. 

The first phase included Dillard’s, a two-story Dick’s 

Sporting Goods and Sephora, among other trendy 

retailers, and such restaurants as The Cheesecake 

Factory and Maggiano’s Little Italy. Phase II was 

completed in fall 2007, and includes Louis Vuitton, 

Coach, Urban Outfitters and restaurants, such as The 

Capital Grille and Mitchell’s Fish Market. 


St. Augustine Outlets 

Interstate 95 and Florida 16 (about 25 miles south of 

downtown Jacksonville) 

The St. Augustine Outlets have 75 brand-name discount 

outlet stores, a food court and free trolley service. 

Fully renovated in 2015, the St. Augustine Outlets are 

anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and features 

Gucci, St. John, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand Jeans. 

First Coast slow food 

Farmers markets are a great way to enjoy farm to table 

food in your own home. The greater Jacksonville area 

started with only a handful of markets, and now there 

is one in almost every corner of the city. The list below 

is a taste of markets on the First Coast. Stop by the one 

closest to you to enjoy homegrown, slow food. 

CLAY COUNTY 

Keystone Heights Farmers Market 

State Road 21, south of SR 100 in 


keystoneheightsfarmersmarket. 

blogspot.com 

Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

DUVAL COUNTY 

Ancient Oaks Arts and Farmers Market 

Mandarin Community Club, 12447 

Mandarin Road, Jacksonville 32223 

Hours: Every other Sunday, noon - 

4 p.m. year-round; closed in August 

Atlantic Beach Mid-Week Market 

Bull Park, 7th St. and East Coast 

Drive, Jacksonville 32233 

Hours: Wednesdays, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

Beaches Green Market 

Jarboe Park, intersection of A1A 

and Florida Boulevard, 


beacheslocalfoodnetwork.org 

Hours: Saturdays, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. 

Jacksonville Farmers Market 

1810 West Beaver St., 


Hours: Daily, 7 a.m. - 6 p.m. 

Riverside Arts Market 

Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, 

under the Fuller Warren Bridge 

riversideartsmarket.com 

Hours: Saturdays, 

10 a.m. - 4 p.m., March through 

December 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Fernandina Farmers Market 

North 7th St., Fernandina Beach 

32034 

904-491-4872, 

fernandinafarmersmarket.com 

Hours: Saturdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. 


Nocatee Farmers Market 

245 Little River Road, Ponte Vedra, 

32081 

Hours: Every third Saturday, 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

Old City Farmers Market 

St. Augustine Ampitheatre, 1340C 

A1A S., St Augustine 32080 

staugustinefm.com 

Hours: Saturdays, 

8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

The Wednesday Market 

50 A1A Beach Blvd., 

St Augustine Beach 32080 

thewednesdaymarket.com 

Hours: Wednesdays, 

8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Authorized & Exclusive retailer of 

Lillian West and Sincerity and Mariell Bridal Jewelry 

Authorized retailer of Mary’s Bridal 

Service Bridal Gowns, Quinceañera Gowns, 

Flower Girl, MOB, and Bridesmaid Dresses 

3837 Southside Blvd #5, Jacksonville 

904.374.2825 

Tue- Fri Noon-6 p.m., Sat 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. 


ENTERTAINMENT 


The Beaches Oktoberfest, an annual event at the Jacksonville Beach SeaWalk Pavilion, 

includes live entertainment, a food truck village, Dogtoberfest and a 95-foot-tall ferris 

wheel. 

Attractions A to Z 

There’s no shortage of places to visit: From 

Adventure Landing to the Jacksonville Zoo and 

Gardens, there’s an experience for everyone. 

CLAY COUNTY 

Bestbet Orange Park (Orange Park Kennel Club) 

455 Park Ave., Jacksonville 32073 

904-646-0001, bestbetjax.com 

Bestbet Orange Park has plenty of action for 

accomplished players as well as beginners. With 40 

tables of your favorite poker games including Texas 

Hold ‘em, Seven Card Stud and Omaha, along with 

daily tournaments. Bestbet Orange Park is also home 

to exciting, fast paced Greyhound racing just a few 

steps from the tables. 

DUVAL COUNTY 

Adventure Landing (2 locations) 

• 1944 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-246-4386, adventurelanding.com 

Features Shipwreck Island Waterpark, go-karts, 

miniature golf, Area 51 Laser Tag, arcade, batting 

cages, Wacky Worm roller-coaster, Frog Hopper, 3D 

Max Flight coaster simulator, teddy bear factory, 

candy shop and party facilities. 

• 4825 Blanding Blvd., Jacksonville 32210 

904-771-2804, adventurelanding.com 

Features arcade, go-karts, laser tag and mini-golf. 

Anheuser-Busch Brewery 

111 Busch Drive, Jacksonville 32218 

904-696-8373, anheuser-busch.com 

Free beer-making tour. Guided tours and enhanced 

attractions also available. 

Autobahn Indoor Speedway 

6601 Executive Park Court N., Jacksonville 32216 

904-425-5005, autobahnspeed.com 

European-style indoor go-karting in an 80,000 

square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. Two Grand Prix 

style tracks offer guests unique racing experiences. 

Bestbet Jacksonville 

201 Monument Road, Jacksonville 32225 

904-646-0001, bestbetjax.com 

The poker room at Bestbet Jacksonville is the largest 

in the state with 70 tables and spreads all poker 

games at all limits. The Poker Room is open from 10 

a.m. to 4 a.m. on weekdays and 24 hours on Saturday 

and Sunday. 

Dave & Buster’s 

7025 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville 32256 

904-296-1525 

Food, drinks and hundreds of arcade games to play, as 

well as TVs available to watch sporting events. 

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 

370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville 32218 

904-757-4463, jaxzoo.org 

The zoo features more than 2,000 rare and exotic 

animals and more than 1,000 plants on display as well 

as educational programs, camps and special events 

throughout the year. Dining, banquet and picnic 

facilities are also available. 

Kingsley Plantation 

11676 Palmetto Ave., Jacksonville 32226 

904-251-3537, nps.gov/timu/learn/ 

historyculture/kp.htm 

Fort George Island site has plantation and kitchen 

houses, interpretive garden, barn, and ruins of 25 

slave cabins. 

Riverside Arts Market 

715 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville 32204 

904-389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com 

This open-air market features live musical 

entertainment, street performers, food vendors and 

a fresh produce market. Located under the Fuller 

Warren Bridge. Admission and parking are free. 

Sweet Pete’s Candy 

400 N Hogan St., Jacksonville 32202 

904-376-7161, sweetpetescandy.com 

Candy shop, dessert bar and entertainment venue 

located in a three-story historic building in downtown 

Jacksonville. Watch from the observation deck as they 

create all-natural, gluten-free and vegan sweets in 

their on-site candy factory. They offer candy-making 

demos, hands-on classes, parties and field trips. 


ENTERTAINMENT 


The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens’ 20 year-old male lion lies in a beam of morning light in 

the Mahali Pa Simiba one-acre lion exhibit. 

Tree Hill Nature Center 

7152 Lone Star Road, Jacksonville 32211 

904-724-4646, treehill.org 

Wildlife preserve offers outdoor education, family 

programs, butterfly and hummingbird gardens, 

animals, hands-on museum, and hiking trails. 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Fort Clinch State Park 

2601 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach 32034 

904-277-7274, floridastateparks.org/fortclinch 

Civil War-era fort features re-enactments and 

campsites. 


Castillo de San Marcos 

1 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine 32084 

904-829-6506, nps.gov/casa 

Oldest remaining European fort in the continental U.S. 

Mission Nombre de Dios and Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche 

27 Ocean Ave., St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-2809, missionandshrine.org 

America’s first mission. A sacred spot for Spanish 

settlers. 

Marineland Dolphin Adventure 

9600 N. Ocean Shore Blvd., St. Augustine 32080 

904-471-1111 or 888-279-9194, marineland.net 

World’s first oceanarium features exhibits and 

interactive programs. 

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 

19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-1606, ripleys.com/staugustine 

Museum of oddities set in an historic castle. More than 

300 exhibits and artifacts in 19 themed galleries. 

St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park 

999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine 32080 

904-824-3337, alligatorfarm.com 

120-year-old park is home to all 23 species of living 

crocodilians plus reptiles, monkeys, wading birds and 

parrots. Other attractions include zip-line and climbing 

wall. The park hosts camps and parties as well. 

St. Augustine Distillery 

112 Riberia St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-825-4962, staugustinedistillery.com 

Working distillery housed in St. Augustine’s first power 

and ice complex, Ice Plant museum and brewery tours, 

retail shop on site. Free tasting tour. 

St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum 

12 S. Castillo Drive, St Augustine 32084 

877-467-5863, thepiratemuseum.com 

Interactive, educational museum experience of 1700s 

Port Royal, Jamaica, the Golden Age of Piracy. Parties, 

tours, camps and field trips available. 

World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame 

1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine 32092 

904-940-4133, worldgolfvillage.com, 

worldgolfhalloffame.org 

World Gold Village is home to exhibits, restaurants, 

shopping and an IMAX Theater. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville’s 

Haskell Atrium unveiled Shaun Thurston’s 

mural to visitors in 2014. 


Beaches Museum and History Center 

381 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-241-5657 

Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens 

829 Riverside Ave. 32204, Jacksonville’s fine art 

museum, 904-356-6857, cummer.org 

Hands on Children’s Museum 

8580 Beach Blvd. 32216 

904- 642-2688, handsonchildrensmuseumjax.com 

Jacksonville Fire Museum 


904-630-0618, jacksonvillefiremuseum.com 

Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville 

333 N. Laura St. 32202 

904-366-6911, mocajacksonville.org 

Mandarin Museum 

11964 Mandarin Road 32223 

904-268-0784, mandarinmuseum.net 

James E. Merrill House 

319 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. 32202, 904-665-0064 

Museums, art, music and more! 

The First Coast has entertainment in every corner — 

from concert headliners to intimate community theater, 

there’s something to experience every week. 

Museums 

CLAY COUNTY 

Black Heritage Hilltop Museum 

Longmire Avenue at Hunter-Douglas Park, Middleburg 

904-282-4168 

Camp Blanding Museum & Memorial Park 

5629 State Road 16, Starke 32091, 904-682-3196 

Clay County Historical and Railroad Museum 

915 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs 32043 

904-540-5447 

The Middleburg Historical Museum 

3912 Section St., Middleburg 32068, 904-282-5357 

Military Museum of North Florida 

1 Bunker Ave. and State Road 16 East, 

Green Cove Springs, 904-410-0781 

militarymuseumofnorthflorida.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 


Alexander Brest Museum 

2800 University Blvd. N. 32211, 

at Jacksonville University, 904-256-7371 

Pre-Columbian artifacts in permanent collection 

Museum of Science and History 

1025 Museum Circle 32207 

904- 396-6674, themosh.org 

Museum of Southern History 

4304 Herschel St. 32210, 904-388-3574 

Obi-Scott-Umunna Museum of African Art and Artifacts 

1658 Old Kings Road 32209, 904-366-2510, ewc.edu 

Rhoda L. Martin Cultural Heritage Center 

376 4th St. South, Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-241-6923 

Ritz Theatre & Museum 

829 N. Davis St. 32202, 904-807-2014 

Veterans Memorial Wall 

1145 E. Adams St. 32202, west side of EverBank Field 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Amelia Island Museum of History 

233 S. Third St. 32034, Fernandina Beach 

904-261-7378, ameliaislandmuseum.org 


Colonial Quarter Complex 

33 St. George St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-342-2857, colonialquarter.com 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Ponte Vedra Concert Hall 

1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach 

32082 

904-209-0399, pvconcerthall.com 

Multipurpose performing arts facility 

Government House, Museum of St. 

Augustine’s History 

48 King St., St .Augustine 32084 

Lightner Museum 

75 King St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-2874, lightnermuseum.org 

Lincolnville Museum Cultural Center 

102 Martin Luther King Ave., 


904-825-1194 or 823-9688 

lincolnvillemuseum.org 

Old Florida Museum 

254-D San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 

32084 

904-824-8874 or 800-813-3208 

oldfloridamuseum.com 

Oldest House Museum Complex 

14 St. Francis St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-287 

saintaugustinehistoricalsociety.org 

Oldest Store Museum 

4 Artillery Lane, St. Augustine 32084 

904-829-9729 

St. Augustine Lighthouse & 

Maritime Museum 

81 Lighthouse Ave., St. Augustine 32080 

904-829-0745, 

staugustinelighthouse.com 

Spanish Quarter Museum 

35 St. George St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-825-6830, historicstaugustine.com 

World Golf Hall of Fame 

1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine 32092 

904-940- 4123, worldgolfhalloffame.org 

Theaters/theater 

companies 

CLAY COUNTY 

Orange Park Community Theatre 

2900 Moody Ave., 


904-276-2599, opct.org 

DUVAL COUNTY 


Alhambra Dinner Theatre 

12000 Beach Blvd. 32246 

904-641-1212 or 800- 688-7469 

alhambradinnertheatre.com 

Atlantic Beach Experimental Theater 

716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach 32233 

904-249-7177, abettheatre.com 

Bold Theatre Group 

Various locations, boldtheatre.com 

FSCJ Artist Series 

Various locations, 904-632-3373 

fscjartistseries.org 

Mad Cowford 

345 E. Bay St. 32202 

904-233-2359, madcowford.com 

Improv group performing comedy, 

trainings, workshops 

Players-By-The-Sea 

106 Sixth St. N., Jacksonville Beach 

32250 

904-249-0289, playersbythesea.org 

Stage Aurora 

5188 Norwood Ave. 32208 

904-765-7372, stageaurora.org 

Studio Theater 


Jacksonville University 

904-256-7345 

The 5 & Dime 

648-B East Union St. 32206 

the5anddime.org 

Theatre Jacksonville 

2032 San Marco Blvd. 32207 

904-396-4425, theatrejax.com 

Theatreworks 

630 May St. 32204 

904-353-3500, theatreworksjax.com 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Amelia Community Theatre 

207/209 Cedar St., 


904-261-6749, 

ameliacommunitytheatre.org 

Fernandina Little Theatre 

1014 Beech St., Fernandina Beach 32034 

904-206-2607, ameliaflt.org 


Limelight Theatre 

11 Old Mission Ave., St. Augustine 32084 

904-825-1164, limelight-theatre.org 

Performance centers 

CLAY COUNTY 

Thrasher-Horne Center for the Arts 

283 College Drive Orange Park 32065 

904-276-6815, thcenter.org 

1,750-seat and 202-seat theaters 

DUVAL COUNTY 


Fine Arts Center of the University 

of North Florida 

1 UNF Drive 32224 

904-620-2878, unf.edu/fineartscenter 

1,300-seat Lazzara Performance Hall; 

700-seat Robinson Theater, 

180-seat recital hall 

Florida Theatre 

128 E. Forsyth St. 32202 

904-355-2787, floridatheatre.com 

Metropolitan Park 


904-630-0837 

10,000 seats (3,000 under canopy); 

boat docking; picnic areas 

Morocco Shrine Auditorium 

3800 Saint Johns Bluff Road S. 32224 

904-642-5200, moroccoshrine.org 

3,800-seat auditorium 

Ritz Theatre 

829 N. Davis St. 32202, 904-807-2010 

427-seat theater 

SeaWalk Pavilion 

75 North First St., 


904-247- 6100, jacksonvillebeach.org 

Oceanfront amphitheater 

Terry Concert Hall 


Jacksonville University 

400-seat hall, 904-256-8000 

Times-Union Center 

for the Performing Arts 

300 Water St. 32202, 904-633-6110 

1,800-seat Jacoby Symphony Hall; 

600- seat Terry Theater 

Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena 

300 A Philip Randolph Blvd. 32202 

904-630-3900, 16,000-seat arena 

Nathan H. Wilson Center for the Arts 

11901 Beach Blvd. 32246, Florida State 

College at Jacksonville South Campus 

904-646-2222, fscj.edu/ 

campusessouth/wilson 

500-seat theater, 150-seat studio 

theater 


Lewis Auditorium 

14 Granada St., St. Augustine 32084 

Flagler College 

800-seat theater, 904-819-6400 

Cultural Center at Ponte Vedra Beach 

50 Executive Way, 


904-280-0614, ccpvb.org 

Claude R. Kirk, Jr. Auditorium 

207 North San Marco Ave., St. 

Augustine, 32084 904-827-2200 

St. Augustine Amphitheatre 

1340C A1A South, St. Augustine 32080 

904-209-0367, staugamphitheatre.com 

Music organizations 

CLAY COUNTY 

Orange Park Chorale 

904-264-0711, orangeparkchorale.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 


First Coast Wind Symphony 

3842 Musket Trail 32277 

904-256-7386, fcwe.org 

All-volunteer organization 

Jacksonville Children’s Chorus 

3947 Boulevard Center Drive, Suite 108 

32207 

904-346-1636, jaxchildrenschorus.com. 

More than 130 singers in four choirs, 

ages 7-16 

Jacksonville Gay Chorus 

24 Market St., #30-B, 904-356-2347 

Jacksonville Harmony Chorus 

904- 350-1609, jaxharmony.com 

Award-winning member of Sweet 

Adelines International 

Jacksonville Masterworks Chorale 

904-262-8444, jaxmasterworks.org 

Volunteer community chorus 

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra 

300 W. Water St., Suite 200 32202 

Symphony: 904-354-5547; Chorus, 

Youth Orchestra: 904-354-5479 

jaxsymphony.org 

Ritz Chamber Players 

904-354-5547, ritzchamberplayers.org 

Riverside Fine Arts Association 

1100 Stockton St. 32204 

904-389-6222, riversidefinearts.org 


First Coast Opera 

904-417-5555, firstcoastopera.com 

Regional repertory opera company 


DINING 

Photo by Michael Persico, courtesy of Sbraga & Company 

Celebrity Chef Kevin Sbraga created a locally influenced seasonal menu for his first 

Jacksonville area restaurant, Sbraga & Company. 

First Coast fine dining 

Want to try the local fare? 

You’ll love these selections 

From fusion to French, Thai bistros to 

Middle-Eastern kabob shops, dining 

opportunities on Florida’s First Coast 

are as diverse as its communities. 

With no shortage of river and oceanview 

dining options, the area is a natural 

for fine seafood and great views. From 

Amelia Island to the Spanish quarter 

in St. Augustine, award-winning 

restaurants offer some of the best food in 

the state. 

Local is the new ‘Ville 

You’ll find a thriving culture of local 

craft breweries, distilleries and coffee 

roasters, many of whom have their own 

retail operations in addition to supplying 

local restaurants and bars. Local farms 

and artisans are seeing their goods come 

to the table at neighborhood restaurants, 

as the slow food movement takes root 

here. Restaurants like 904 in Neptune 

Beach, Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails at the 

St. Johns Town Center, and the Floridian 

in St. Augustine (to mention just a few) 

work with local purveyors to showcase 

the bounty of local, seasonal and 

sustainable ingredients. 

Increasingly, First Coast restaurants 

and chefs are receiving national 

attention, including features on 

Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins 

and Dives,’’ “Guilty Pleasures’’ and 

“Restaurant: Impossible!’’ More recently, 

two of Bravo’s “Top Chef’’ alumni, 

Kenny Gilbert and Kevin Sbraga, have 

opened restaurants here — Gilbert’s 

Underground Kitchen on Amelia Island, 

and Sbraga & Company at 220 Riverside. 

Also new on the scene are scores 

of food trucks that call Jacksonville 

home. On any given day, you can find 

them parked near office buildings, in 

parks and at events. Insiders follow Jax 

Truckies on Twitter or Facebook for a 

daily list of locations. Among the most 

popular are Fusion, serving authentic 

Indian, Thai and Mediterranean dishes, 

and Funkadelic, with its fine-tuned mix 

of American classic street foods with a 

gourmet back-beat. Frequent food truck 

rallies and a Food Truck Food Court on 

Beach Boulevard give diners an option to 

try several trucks at once. 

With all that is new and notable, 

Northeast Florida’s culinary scene 

still hasn’t lost its old Florida charm. 

Southern home-cooking, soul food, fish 

camps and barbecue restaurants are still 

in plentiful supply. We love our barbecue, 

and there are a number of great spots 

to grab a pulled pork plate or a rack of 

perfectly sauced ribs still hot from the 

smoker. 

Local restaurants to try: 

Azurea 

1 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach 32233 

904-249-7402, oneoceanresort.com/dining 

Azurea, the signature restaurant located inside One 

Ocean Resort Hotel & Spa, pulls inspiration from 

its waterfront location for its innovative cuisine. 

Executive Chef Ted Peters creates a new menu each 

season, reflecting regional influences. Dishes like cast 

iron seared jumbo lump crab cake, braised beet and 

chevre salad, and Carolina black grouper with lemon 

and lobster roe butter are complemented by seasonal 

wines and cocktails. 

Bistro Aix 

1440 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville 32207 

904-398-1949, bistrox.com 

Named after the French town Aix-En-Provence, 

Bistro AIX offers seasonally inspired French and 

Mediterranean cuisine. Located in Jacksonville’s 

historic San Marco district, the restaurant is a feast 

for the eyes as well, with exposed brick walls, a 

wood-fired oven, an open chef’s kitchen and raw bar 

creating a warm and buzzing dining environment for 

any occasion. Outdoor dining, take-out service and a 

full bar add to the ambiance. 

Black Sheep 

1534 Oak St., Jacksonville32204 

904-380-3091, blacksheep5points.com 

Black Sheep is a modern American restaurant located 

in the historic Five Points district of Jacksonville’s 

Riverside neighborhood. Lively bar crowd enjoys 

signature cocktails, craft beers and an excellent wine 

list — and a popular rooftop bar and lounge with views 

of Riverside, Downtown and the St. Johns River. Local 

and regionally sourced ingredients are crafted into 

seasonal favorites like Poutine with smoked short rib 

gravy, a toasty Duck Banh Mi, scallops and pork belly 

with creamed collards, and wild Georgia shrimp and 

grits. 

Collage 

60 Hypolita St., Saint Augustine 32084 

904-829-0055, collagestaug.com 

Enjoy an intimate restaurant with a warm, inviting 

atmosphere and a menu that celebrates the eclectic 

personalities of owners Mike and Cindy Stangby. You’ll 

find seasonal favorites such as a grilled rack of New 

Zealand lamb finished with a sherry green peppercorn 

sauce; shrimp and scallops All’ Imperiale, sautéed with 

artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes and peach brandy. 

Costa Brava 

Casa Monica Hotel, 95 Cordova St., 

Saint Augustine 32084 

904-810-6810, casamonica.com/dining 

Architecture isn’t the only reason to visit the Casa 

Monica, a Moorish-revival landmark. The hotel’s 

signature restaurant, Costa Brava, is capable of 

making an impression all on its own. The seasonally 

inspired, Spanish Mediterranean meze-style menu 

features fresh and flavorful coastal cuisine. 


Gilbert's Underground Kitchen 

510 South 8th St., Fernandina Beach 

32034 

904-310-6374, undergroundkitchen.co 

Celebrity Chef Kenny Gilbert’s 

eponymous Fernandina Beach 

restaurant focuses on seasonal 

southern neighborhood dining. Mullet, 

alligator ribs, pork, turkey and more are 

smoking on the patio. Brunswick stew is 

a savory masterpiece. Fernandina hot 

chicken or fish get rave reviews. Dishes 

are served family style and sharing is 

encouraged. 

Marker 32 


904-223-1534, marker32.com 

This casual Intracoastal waterfront 

restaurant offers a nightly slate of 

specials almost entirely prepared from 

fresh, locally gathered seafood and 

produce. Excellent food and service in a 

casual, relaxed atmosphere makes this 

a local favorite for special occasions 

as well. 

Matthew's 

2107 Hendricks Ave., Jacksonville 32207 

904-396-9922, 

matthewsrestaurant.com 

Matthew Medure is the culinary 

giant behind this small, exquisitely 

appointed San Marco restaurant. The 

menu changes seasonally, but look for 

Matthew’s sophisticated flavor profiles 

in dishes like Hudson Valley foie gras 

with sweet onion confit and saffron 

onion marmalade. 

Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails 

4972 Big Island Drive, 


904-998-9744, moxiefl.com 

Chef Tom Gray presides over this 

upscale casual restaurant at the St. 

Johns Town Center. Enjoy lunch, dinner, 

brunch, late night and cocktails, all 

within a stone’s through of some of the 

best shopping in town. Gray’s playful 

and nostalgic menu showcases his 

culinary journey and brings the diner 

along for the ride. 

Orsay 

3630 Park St., Jacksonville 32205 

904-381-0909, restaurantorsay.com 

This Avondale area favorite features 

French bistro classics alongside 

southern American cuisine prepared 

with French techniques. Responsibly 

produced local and regional ingredients 

are always in focus on the seasonal 

food, beer, wine and cocktail menus. 

Orsay is also a popular spot for Sunday 

brunch and weeknight happy hour 

cocktail noshing. 

Ovinte 

10208 Buckhead Branch Drive, 


904-900-7730, ovinte.com 

One of a handful of locally owned and 

operated restaurants at the St. Johns 

Town Center, Ovinte’s bar selection 

includes more than 240 wines, and 

classic and craft cocktails. Deriving 

influences from the cooking styles 

of Italy and Spain, small plates and 

full sized entrees are equally well 

represented. Pappardelle Bolognese, 

a pillowy soft Raviolo del giorno filled 

with the chef’s choice of seasonal 

ingredients, and skewered selections 

like rosemary chicken with Cipollini are 

crowd pleasers. 

Restaurant Medure 

818 N. A1A, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082 

904-543-3797, restaurantmedure.us 

Matthew’s sibling restaurant elevates 

the Beaches’ haute cuisine scene. 

David Medure (brother to Matthew), 

reigns over the kitchen of this 

cosmopolitan-chic yet seductively 

comfortable eatery where dishes range 

from the classic (succulently tender 

escargot with garlic butter), to the 

trendy (chilled king crab custard with 

shaved fennel and crispy fingerlings). 

Slow braised beef short ribs are a 

popular seasonal offering. If you’re in 

the mood to splurge, start with a oneounce 

serving of beluga caviar. A lively 

lounge crowd gathers on weekends, 

enjoying live music, stellar bar 

appetizers and signature cocktails. 

Bold City Best winners 

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 

1201 Riverplace Blvd., 


904-396-6200, ruthschris.com 

814 A1A N., Suite 103, 


904-285-0014, ruthschris.com 

Top grade steaks seared in 

1,800-degree ovens and served on 

500-degree plates are the mainstay at 

this local outpost of the famed steak 

house. The carnivore’s dilemma: filet, 

strip, prime rib, T-bone or porterhouse? 

Of course, one look at the restaurant’s 

5-pound Maine lobsters could sway 

even the most ardent steak fans. Try the 

extraordinary veal osso bucco ravioli 

starter, and a caramelized banana 

cream pie to finish your meal. 

Salt 

The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island 

4750 Amelia Island Parkway, 

Amelia Island 32034 

904-277-1100, ritzcarlton.com 

Salt is the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island’s 

award-winning restaurant. The elegant 

dining room offers sweeping views of 

the Atlantic Ocean at twilight. Let the 

chef choose your culinary experience 

with the four-course Signature Tastings 

Menu, or try a private in-kitchen chef’s 

table dining experience. 

Sbraga & Company 

220 Riverside Ave., Suite 114, 


904-746-0909, sbragadining.com 

DINING 

The 2015 inaugural Bold City Best competition presented by 

Jacksonville.com let locals cast their vote for the best people, 

places and events in 134 categories. With winners ranging from 

Best Art Gallery (Through the Lens of Lee-Margaret) to Best 

Seven-category 

winner Metro Diner 

proudly introduces 

the ‘Bold City Burger’ 

Page 16 

The Inaugural … 

WINNERS 

GUIDE 

boldcitybest.com 

Dive into 

‘That Bold 

City Party’ 

Page 4 

Meet the 

Best of 134 

categories 

Page 5 

TV Anchor (Tom Wills), the list gives 

newcomers an inside look at the very 

best Jacksonville has to offer. 

If it’s the city’s favorite food you crave, 

local eatery Metro Diner might be the 

right place to go. The restaurant took 

home seven awards for its unique take 

on comfort food. For the full list of 

winners, visit BoldCityBest.com. 

Celebrated Chef Kevin Sbraga fills his 

table with the bounty of the South: 

grilled meats and seafood, vegetable 

ceviches, house-made breads, and 

craveable cocktails. Deviled egg toasts, 

blackeyed pea fritters, grilled octopus 

with hot okra are inspired starters. 

Seasonal ingredients and regional flavor 

profiles inspire entrees like country 

captain fried chicken with steamed rice 

and curry, or a whole striped bass with 

scallion sauce and farro succotash. 

Taverna San Marco 

1986 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville 

32207 

904-398-3005, taverna.restaurant 

Modern interpretations of classic 

fare, rustic-chic ambiance and warm 

hospitality are the hallmarks of this 

San Marco classic restaurant. Start with 

Chef Sam Effron’s house-made herbed 

ricotta with fig compote and warm 

grilled ciabatta bread for slathering. 

Open for lunch, dinner and Sunday 

brunch, there is also a takeaway quick 

lunch menu when you only have a short 

window between meetings. 

Typical Peruvian Food 

Come and enjoy the Peruvian flavors 

Sunday-Thursday 11:30 am - 8:00 pm 

Friday-Saturday 11:30 am - 10:00 pm 

P. 904.646.3888 F. 904.646.2549 

4131 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville FL. 32216 

50% OFF 

ANY ENTREE 

when you buy one of equal 

or lesser value 

You must present this coupon at the time of 

purchase. Other restrictions may apply. Can 

not be combined with any other coupons or 

Daily Specials. Expires 12/31/2016. 904.723.4655 

Jacksonville’s ONLY 

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Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner & Catering 


SPORTS 

The Jacksonville Jaguars running back 

T. J. Yeldon slips through the Miami Dolphins 

defenders during a game on Sept. 20, 2015 

at EverBank Field. 


Let the games begin 

With football, golf, soccer, basketball and more — 

there’s plenty to cheer for. 

Professional sports 

Football 

When Shad Khan purchased the 

Jacksonville Jaguars from Wayne Weaver 

on Jan. 4, 2012, one of Khan’s moves 

was to hire Dave Caldwell as general 

manager. In 10 days, Caldwell made his 

first and most significant move by hiring 

defensive coach Gus Bradley away from 

the Seattle Seahawks. 

All three of the Jaguars new leaders 

shared one common theme: Rebuilding 

the 32nd NFL franchise would be a work 

in progress, one that would take years to 

complete before the Jaguars could once 

again be considered a contender in the 

AFC South Division. 

With the signing of half a dozen free 

agents in the offseason and a strong 

college draft led by the first two picks 

defensive end Dante Fowler of University 

of Florida and running back T.J. Yeldon 


of University of Alabama, the 2015 

season brought hope to Jaguar fans. It 

was quickly tempered when Fowler went 

down with a season-ending ACL injury 

during his first off-season practice. 

It didn’t help matters when the Jaguars 

struggled out of the gate and started 1-5 

on the eve of their annual trip to London. 

But, that’s where Jacksonville’s fortunes 

took a turn for the better. An improbable 

34-31 win over the Buffalo Bills brought 

new hope to the team and fans. It was 

followed by a 28-23 loss to the New York 

Jets. 

Then, the Jaguars went into Baltimore 

and to posted a 22-20 win. A return to 

EverBank Field for the first time in five 

weeks brought a second straight win 

when the Jaguars posted a 19-13 win over 

divisional rival Tennessee. 

This was followed by two more 

disappointing losses. Next, was a game 

against the Tennessee Titans, which 

proved to be Jacksonville’s most efficient 

offensive game of the season, but it 

wasn’t enough as the Jaguars fell 42-39. 

With four games remaining in the 2015 

season, it left Jacksonville with a 4-8 

record and in all likelihood, out of the 

playoffs. 

Another professional football team in 

Jacksonville is the Jacksonville Sharks, 

an indoor Arena Football League team. 

In 2011, the Sharks reached the pinnacle 

of arena football when they captured the 

AFL championship. In 2015, the Sharks 

made the playoffs, but San Jose ended 

their title aspirations with a 68-47 win. 

The Dixie Blues, a women’s 

professional football team that started in 

2001, won eight divisional titles and three 

national crowns. In 2014, the Dixie Bluess 

compiled a 6-2 regular season record but 

lost in the first round of the playoffs. 

Golf 

While the Jaguars are the most 

popular team sport within the city, the 

No. 1 sporting attraction each year is The 

Players Championship held at the TPC 

at Sawgrass Stadium Course. A year ago, 

Rickie Fowler won in a three-way playoff 

with Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner. The 

three golfers squared off in a three-hole 

playoff, the first time in history that such 

a format was utilized. 

Baseball & soccer 

Two other professional teams 

competed during the 2015 year, both 

of them playing their home games at 

the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. 

The Jacksonville Suns are the Double-A 

affiliate of the Miami Marlins, and 

while the Suns finished with a losing 

season in 2015. It was the final year of 

Suns ownership by the Bragan family, 

which purchased the team in 1984 and 

provided an affordable and fun means of 

entertainment for Jacksonville fans for 31 

seasons. New Suns owner Ken Babby has 

pledged to continue providing affordable 

and entertaining game experiences. 

In 2015 a new entity hit the ground

SPORTS 

running in the form of the Jacksonville 

Armada FC, a semi-professional soccer 

team that competed in the North 

American Soccer League. The Armada 

struggled in their first season at this 

level, finishing 5-11-4 and in last place in 

the fall season. The team will be under 

the guidance of a new coach, legendary 

U.S. National Team goalie Tony Meola, 

for the 2016 season. 

Fishing 

Fishing is another popular sport and 

one that has several major tournaments 

in this area. The Greater Jacksonville 

Kingfish Tournament is the biggest and 

most noteworthy as anglers go after King 

mackerel in the tourney that spans six 

days every July. It’s the largest kingfish 

tournament in the country. 

College sports 

Football 

A new era in Florida football history 

was ushered in during the 2015 season 

when Jim McElwain was appointed 

head coach of the University of Florida 

Gators, located in Gainesville. Picked to 

finish in the bottom half of the SEC East 

Division, the Gators won their first six 

games before stumbling at LSU. Florida 

rebounded to win its next four games 

before losing to Florida State. 

The Gators finished as East Division 

champions, but were defeated by 

Alabama in the SEC Championship 

game. The Gators earned a berth in 

the Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl in 

Orlando where they met Big 10 opponent 

Michigan on New Year’s Day. 

The Florida State Seminoles were 

crowned National Champions in 2013 

with a 14-0 season. In 2014, they again 

finished the regular season with an 

unblemished 12-0 mark, but Oregon 

beat them in a national semifinal game. 

In 2015, the 10-2 regular-season record 

earned the Seminoles a spot in the 

Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against American 

Athletic Conference champion Houston. 

The Jacksonville University Dolphins 

wrapped up a second-straight 9-2 season, 

but for the second year in a row, were 

ineligible to compete in the playoffs. 

At the end of the season, Jacksonville 

University officials elected not to renew 

the contract of head coach Kerwin Bell 

after nine seasons with the school and 

a 66-35 overall record. They hired Ian 

Shields of Lenoir-Rhyne University to 

replace Bell for the upcoming season. 

Basketball 

University of North Florida made 

the biggest splash on the collegiate 

basketball local scene in 2015. The 

Ospreys won the Atlantic Sun Conference 

regular-season championship, got to 

host three tournament games in their 

conference tournament and won them 

all to earn the school’s first-ever berth 

in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball 

Tournament. UNF couldn’t keep its 

magic running in the NCAA tournament, 

losing to Robert Morris, 81-77, in a firstround 

game. 

The Florida Gators were shut out 

of any NCAA post-season play after 

finishing with a 16-17 overall record, 8-10 

in the SEC. Coach Billy Donovan elected 

to move on to the NBA, accepting an offer 

to coach the Oklahoma City Thunder. He 

was replaced by Mike White. 

Florida State University posted a 

winning record for the 10th consecutive 

season. Jacksonville’s other local 

basketball team, Jacksonville University, 

made a coaching change two years ago, 

bringing in Tony Jasick. In the 2014-2015 

season they posted a 10-22 mark. 

The First Coast is also home to the 

TaxSlayer Bowl. In 2016, Penn State 

and Georgia were matched up in the 

71st annual TaxSlayer Bowl on Jan. 2 at 

EverBank Field. 

Baseball 

Few teams in the country have been 

as successful as the University of Florida 

Gators on a national level in recent 

years. The Gators won 52 games last 

year. University of Florida advanced 

to the College World Series, where 

the Gators came up one game short of 

playing for a national championship. 

With six underclassmen starting in the 

final game, it’s an indication that the 

2016 season could produce similar if not 

better results. 

Florida State University baseball team 

has 182 wins in the last four seasons. 

Once again, the Seminoles look like 

they’ll have a bevy of talent and will 

likely be among the contenders to get to 

Omaha for the College World Series. 

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PROGRESS 


— a bright future ahead 

The First Coast has big brands 

and new housing on the horizon. 

From the addition of pools, cabanas 

and the world’s largest scoreboards 

at EverBank Field to brand-new 

communities that seem to pop up 

overnight, Northeast Florida is 

transforming so quickly, it can be hard to 

keep up. And, the coming years show no 

signs of slowing down. 

Take a look at some of the recent 

additions and upcoming projects: 

Beaches 

As big-name retailers open 

stores in Jacksonville, Atlantic and 

Neptune beaches, the area has seen 

a revitalization of once nearly “dead” 

shopping centers. Trader Joe’s — a 

neighborhood grocery store known 

for selling organic and health foods at 

reasonable prices — officially opened 

in 2014 in Jacksonville Beach. Although 

the grocer offers a variety of products 

(including non-organic merchandise), 

there is clearly a demand at the Beaches 

for health food shops. The area also 

welcomed Native Sun in 2015 and plans 

are in the works to open Whole Foods 

Market in the future. 

In addition to new retail shops and 

restaurants, two high-rise buildings are 

in the works in Jacksonville Beach. The 

eight-story Atlantis is being positioned 

to become a "premier" resort-type 

development that will feature 34 highend 

luxury condominiums and 144 large 

hotel suites. Another proposed high-rise 

is the Beach House development, which 

will be home to 57 high-end luxury 

residential units. 

Downtown 

The historic Elena Flats was originally 

built as a part of city's transformation 

into a vibrant urban center in the decade 

following the devastating Great Fire 

of 1909. The former housing will be 

preserved and restored into multifamily 

housing. 

EverBank Field will be enhanced in 

2016 as the Jacksonville Jaguars and 

the city of Jacksonville move forward 

on an ambitious $90 million makeover 

that includes building an outdoor 

amphitheater next to the stadium. 

The plan calls for the city to spend $45 

million in hotel bed tax money — which 

cannot be spent on basic city services 

like police and fire protection — to help 

build an amphitheater that would seat 

10,000 for concerts and special events, 

Unity Plaza in Brooklyn is a non-profit urban 

park created to uplift and educate residents 

of the area. 


an indoor football practice facility 

outside the stadium, and upgrade its 

luxury seating area. 

In December 2015, City Council 

approved the project. Construction 

starts early January and is expected to be 

completed in July 2016. 

Northside 

Sulzbacher Center, an emergency 

shelter for homeless individuals and 

families that provides health, dental, and 

vision care, as well as case management 

and other services, recently announced 

new plans for a permanent housing 

community for women, children and 

families. “Sulzbacher Village” will 

have 100 units, 70 of which will provide 

permanent, subsidized housing for 

families, while another 30 units will 

be for families in need of short-term 

emergency shelter. 

St. Johns County 

TrailMark, a new housing 

development located off International 

Golf Parkway, has been approved for 

2,278 homes on 1,300 acres. Designed 

to be a secluded community in St. Johns 

County, TrailMark will include oak tree 

hammocks and winding nature trails. 

Town Center 

With 150 of the most well-known 

brands concentrated in an outdoor 

shopping mall, The St. Johns Town 

Center and surrounding areas 

continue to attract global companies 

interested in expansion. In 2016, Topgolf 

entertainment complex is slated to join 

the ranks of fashion and entertainment; 

2017 will bring international furniture 

company IKEA to the nearby intersection 

of Gate Parkway and the Interstate 295 

East Beltway. 

Along with luxury shopping, dining 

and entertainment, Town Center will 

add a Baptist Health/Wolfson Children's 

Hospital Emergency Center. 


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Discover Jacksonville 2016

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