Discover Jacksonville 2018

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

DISCOVER 

JACKSONVILLE 

2018 

Published by The Florida Times-Union 

Visit us at DiscoverJacksonville.com $4.00

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEW HOMETOWN 

WITH ONE OF THE LONG-TIME RESIDENTS. 

Northeast Florida is a great place to live. We should know—we opened our very first branch in Jacksonville in 

1952. There’s a lot to like about living here; world-class neighborhoods, award-winning schools, and convenient 

shopping. Oh, and VyStar, one of the nation’s largest credit unions with more than 585,000 members. We offer 

lower cost loans with local loan decision making and servicing, more than 200 ATMs, 45 full-service branches, 

mobile check deposit, and an exceptional no closing costs mortgage* program. As you explore all that the area 

has to offer, we hope you’ll also take a look at VyStar to handle your financial needs. 

904-777-6000 · 1-800-445-6289 

OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT TODAY. 

vystarcu.org 

*All new accounts and loans are subject to approval. Certain restrictions and limitations apply. No Closing Costs offer available only when obtaining a VyStar Credit Union First Mortgage Loan and is 

not available on VA and FHA Mortgages. Available for purchase or refinance. VyStar will pay borrower closing costs up to a maximum amount of $5,000 excluding origination fee, discount points, private 

mortgage insurance, prepaid interest or funds to establish the member’s escrow account. If the borrower pays off the mortgage within the first 36 months, they will be required to reimburse VyStar for a 

portion of the closing costs paid by VyStar. Offer available for a limited time. Programs, services, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. ©2017 VyStar Credit Union

2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE CONTENTS 

WELCOME 

MEDICAL 

SHOPPING 

Letter from the Times-Union Media President 4 

Letter from the Jacksonville Mayor 6 

Topping the Charts 8 

Living the Good Life 9 

First Coast: Where We Are 10 

Who We Are 11 

Region Rich in History 12 

Discover the Flow of the First Coast 14 

Your Pets as Citizens 15 

Seven Links to the City 16 

HOUSING 

For Sale: New, Historic and Affordable Homes 19 

First Coast Housing by County 20 

A City Surrounded by Water 21 

Homeowners Associations 22 

Property Tax Calculator 23 

COMMUNITIES 

A Hub for Health 62 

Health Care Earns Honors 67 

BUSINESS 

Booming Business 68 

50 Highest-Paying Jobs 69 

Corporate Headquarters on the First Coast 70 

MILITARY 

Honor, Courage, Commitment 71 

TRANSPORTATION 

There’s Plenty in Store for Shoppers 82 

First Coast Slow Food 83 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Places to Play 84 

Museums, Art, Music and More! 86 

DINING 

Feast on Extraordinary Fare 88 

Local Restaurants to Taste 89 

SPORTS 

Let the Games Begin 90 

Finding Your Home on the First Coast 25 

Travel Near and Far 72 

EDUCATION 

ABCs of Learning 45 

Public Schools 46 

Bright Futures 48 

Not by Chance, but by Choice 49 

Florida Residents Can Lock in Cost of College Tuition 54 

Private Schools 55 

Easy Access to College Education 60 

ADVERTISER INDEX 

Dream Finders Homes 

Inside Front 

Vystar Credit Union 1 

Baptist Health System 3 

WildLight 5 

Shearwater 7 

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries 13 

Dream Finders Homes 19 

RECREATION 

A Golfer’s Paradise 76 

Plenty of Golf Courses Just a Chip Shot Away 77 

Fun Starts at Parks 78 

Marinas: Giving Berth 80 

Ramps: Float Your Boat 81 

Coastline Home Mortgage 20 

Native Sun 26 

River Garden 31 

Stonecore 38 

Homes by Deltona 41 

A-Coin & Stamp Gallery, Inc 43 

Bishop Kenny High School 56 

Bishop John J. Snyder High School 59 

Heekin Clinic 63 

PROGESS 

First Coast Marches Forward 92 

BOLD CITY BEST 

2017 Winners 93 

CareerSource Northeast Florida 70 

Boat Florida Rentals 74 

Amelia River Cruises 75 

Peterbrooke Chocolatier 83 

bestbet 85 

Delta Life Fitness 89 

Times-Union Media 96 

Atlantic Self Storage 

Inside Back 

SMG 

Back 

The new Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center in Jacksonville demonstrates the remarkable 

growth resulting from the 2015 partnership formed between MD Anderson Cancer Center, 

the leading cancer center in America, and Baptist Health, Northeast Florida’s most 

preferred and comprehensive health system. Opening Summer of 2018, the new center 

will dramatically expand our ability to provide patients throughout the region with a single 

destination for MD Anderson’s proven model of highly integrated cancer care, close to home. 

Learn more at BaptistMDAnderson.com. 

Appointments Available 

1.844.632.2278 

2 | 2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE 

© Baptist Health 2017

WELCOME 

LOWCOUNTRY 

DIG IN 

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

WE ARE PROUD to bring you the 2018 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. 

JACKSONVILLE 

D I S C O V E R 

2018 

Every effort has been made by our talented writers, photographers and editors to provide you the most 

current and comprehensive resource guide available in Northeast Florida. 

From big decisions like where to live, to everyday choices like 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, consider it an honor to publish Discover Jacksonville! 

Enjoy! 

Mark Nusbaum 

President, Times-Union Media 

P ublished by The Flor ida Times-Union 

V isi t u s a t DiscoverJ ack s on v i le.com $4.00 

ABOUT THE COVER 

The cover photo was taken by 

The Florida Times-Union columnist 

Mark Woods from his standup paddleboard one 

morning in November 2017. He launched from 

Southbank boat ramp near River City Brewing 

Company, stopping to take the photo before 

paddling under the Main Street Bridge. 

For ad inquiries, contact Lana Champion 

at 904-359-4471. 

Visit Discover Jacksonville online at 

DiscoverJacksonville.com 

2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE STAFF 

PRESIDENT 

MANAGING EDITOR OF SPECIALTY AUDIENCE 

VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING 

MARK NUSBAUM 

JOE DESALVO 

LANA CHAMPION 

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS 

VIDEO MARKETING SPECIALIST 

DIGITAL MEDIA MARKETING SPECIALIST 

CAITLYN BROYLES, CHRISTOPHER WRIGHT 

MATT PITTMAN 

SAM CARUSO 

A brand new community designed for playful living 

in the heart of the Florida Lowcountry 

ADVERTISING MANAGERS 

ALLISON DYAL, LIZ BORTEN 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

SAMANTHA ARORA, DON COBLE, BILL DOUGHERTY, 

DIGITAL SALES DIRECTOR 

MARC JENKINS 

MARIE FAZIO, CLAYTON FREEMAN, RONALD L. LITTLEPAGE, DAN MACDONALD, WILLIAM WEBER 

DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER 

JULIE MAYS 

MAP DESIGNER 

STEVE NELSON 

ADVERTISING OPERATIONS COORDINATOR 

DIANNE KNAPP 

PHOTO EDITOR 

DEDE SMITH 

COORDINATOR/STAFF WRITER 

JACQUELINE PERSANDI 

VICE PRESIDENT OF CIRCULATION 

AMY MCSWAIN 

2018 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. 

wildlight.com 


RAY-025a_dig_in_ad_7.375x9.875.indd 1 

11/28/17 2:36 PM

WELCOME 

Find Your Friends 

What makes Shearwater the friendliest new home community in St. Johns 

County? Maybe it’s the award-winning new home designs with front porches, 

walkways, and courtyards that bring neighbors closer together. Or maybe it’s 

the resort-style amenities that play host to exciting events tailored specifically 

for community residents. With new homes starting in the mid $200s to $700s, 

you’re sure to appreciate Shearwater’s exceptional value. 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

LENNY CURRY 

DEAR RESIDENTS: 

Welcome to Jacksonville and Florida’s First Coast! 

As the gateway to Florida, our dynamic city features a wealth of natural resources, a thriving 

arts and cultural scene, exciting sports and entertainment venues, and a vibrant business 

environment that all make Jacksonville not only a wonderful place to vacation and have fun, but 

an even greater place to live, work and play. 

Jacksonville’s abundant natural beauty includes the majestic St. Johns River, miles of pristine 

beaches, and the nation’s largest urban parks system, which offers everything from relaxing 

open spaces to scenic nature trails to recreational opportunities for physical activity for all ages. 

This is also a business-minded city that works hard to create an economic environment where 

both businesses and families can thrive. From entrepreneurs just starting out to executives 

leading major companies, it’s no secret that Jacksonville is a business-friendly city and a 

growing, bustling hub. National media is also taking notice. Jacksonville recently made Forbes’ 

list of “Cities with the Most Vibrant Employment Scene,” Global Trade’s “Cities for Logistics 

Infrastructure,” and Huffington Post’s “5 Secretly Cool Cities.” Jacksonville is open for business 

and remains a city of opportunity for all. 

Again, welcome, and thank you for choosing our corner of Northeast Florida. We’re so 

glad you’re here! 

Sincerely, 

find yourself 

AT SHEARWATER 

Lenny Curry 

Mayor 

Homes from the mid $200s to $700s | ShearwaterLiving.com | 100 Kayak Way, St. Augustine, FL 32092 

Materials are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. All rights in these materials are reserved. All products and company names marked as trademarked () or registered (®) are trademarks of their 

respective holders. Copying, reproduction and distribution of materials without prior written consent of Freehold Communities is strictly prohibited. All information, plans, and pricing are subject to change without notice. 

This information does not represent a specific offer of sale or solicitation to purchase property within Shearwater. Models do not reflect racial preference. 

6 | 2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE

WELCOME 

Topping the Charts 

Jacksonville receives accolades for job 

opportunity, cost of living, and more. 

With a low cost of living and all the 

amenities of a big city, Jacksonville is 

the ideal place to live and work. Wellknown 

publications (like Forbes magazine) see 

Jacksonville’s accomplishments and potential, 

and acknowledge this city as a major player. 

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

In May 2017, Money released a list of the 

“25 Best Cities for Job Seekers Right Now” with 

Jacksonville coming in at No. 7, the third-highest 

Florida city on the list after Miami and Orlando. 

Business Insider’s list of the 10 U.S. 

cities where everyone wants to live right 

now lists Jacksonville as No. 2, right before 

Las Vegas and after Austin, Texas. The 

report was published June 6, 2017. 

Jacksonville ranks No. 2 in the country and 

first in the state when it comes to investing in 

the housing market in 2017, according to Forbes. 

While several cities in Florida made 

the list, Jacksonville was distinguished 

as No. 5 on Forbes’ list of “America's 

Fastest-Growing Cities” in 2017. 


Jacksonville has received many accolades, from one of the 24 best places to live in the South 

to one of America’s fastest-growing cities. With job growth, to leisure activities like boating, 

there are plenty of reasons to call the region home. (Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union) 

Jacksonville was selected as one of the 

Top 50 Best Places to Live in the USA in 

2017 by U.S. News & World Report. The 

report analyzed cities based on quality of life 

and the job market in each metro area, as 

well as the value and desire of living there, 

and referenced Jacksonville’s restaurants, 

shops, entertainment options and beaches. 

Forbes listed Jacksonville as No. 23 of 

“25 Cities Where Your Paycheck Stretches 

the Farthest” in 2016. The ranking takes 

into consideration cost of living, median 

base salary and median home value. 

In 2016, Forbes Travel Guide ranked 

Jacksonville as one of “5 Surprising 

Foodie Cities to Visit Right Now.” The 

guide boasted about Jacksonville’s fresh 

seafood and “melting pot of cuisines” 

that can be found all over the city. 

Business Insider named Jacksonville 

No. 16 of “the 24 best places to live in the 

South — the region that's becoming the 

best place to live in America” in 2016. 

In March 2016, Business Insider named 

Jacksonville as No. 34 in “The 50 best 

places to live in America.” It called attention 

to Jacksonville’s beach-adjacent location, 

prime golf courses and nearby parks. 

A study conducted by the University 

of Southern California Marshall School 

of Business found Jacksonville is more 

conducive to startup business success 

than many cities such as Moscow, 

Miami, Atlanta and Tel Aviv, Israel. 

The Airports Council International (ACI), 

which represents airport interests with 

governments and international organizations, 

announced its expanded 2015 Airport Service 

Quality Award winners in 2016, ranking airports 

around the world based on more than 550,000 

surveys. Jacksonville ranked at No. 2 for Best 

Airport by Region: North America Category. 

In 2015, the Huffington Post named 

Jacksonville No. 1 of five top secretly cool cities 

where you can still get in on the ground floor. 

Forbes 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 self-employed (17.1 percent). 

In CBRE Group, Inc.’s “North America Ports 

Logistics Annual Report,” Jacksonville ranked 

among the top 15 North American ports based 

on port infrastructure capabilities and strength 

of industrial real estate market in 2015. 

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 2017 

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 

5.8 percentage points below the average. 

COST OF LIVING INDEX COMPARISON 

0 50% 100% 150% 200% 250% 

NEW YORK (MANHATTAN), NY 242.9 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 191.8 

CHICAGO, IL 123.5 

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 119.8 

CHARLESTON, SC 103.6 

PITTSBURGH, PA 100.4 

ATLANTA, GA 99.3 

HOUSTON, TX 98.1 

NASHVILLE-MURFREESBORO, TN 96.3 

AUSTIN, TX 96.2 

RALEIGH, NC 96.1 

RICHMOND, VA 96.0 

CHARLOTTE, NC 95.6 

PHOENIX, AZ 95.1 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 94.2 

TAMPA, FL 91.7 

KANSAS CITY, MO 91.4 

BIRMINGHAM, AL 90.9 

COLUMBUS, OH 89.2 

TEMPERATURE DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (2000-2017) 

10 IN. 

8 IN. 

6 IN. 

4 IN. 

2 IN. 

0 IN. 

79.5°F 

JACKSONVILLE’S 

AVERAGE HIGH/LOW 

100 

90 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

57.9°F 

JAN 

65.3 

41.5 

FEB 

68.1 

44 

MARCH 

74.3 

49.8 

WEATHER TO EXPECT 

APRIL 

80 

55.6 

MAY 

85.8 

62.9 

4.21 IN 

AVERAGE MONTHLY 

RAINFALL IN JACKSONVILLE 

TEMPERATURE IN JACKSONVILLE 

MONTHLY AVERAGE HIGH 

MONTHLY AVERAGE LOW 

JUNE 

89.8 

70.1 

JULY 

91.5 

72.4 

AUG 

90.8 

73 

SEPT 

86.7 

69.9 

OCT 

80.8 

60.3 

NOV 

73.4 

50.2 

NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION IN JACKSONVILLE 

DEC 

68 

45.1 

2.77 2.93 3.22 2.45 3.63 7.5 6.43 6.57 7.91 2.94 1.56 2.66 

JAN FEB MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUG SEPT OCT NOV DEC 

Source: National Weather Service Forecast Office (Stats based on 2000-2017) 

WELCOME 

2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE | 9

WELCOME 

First Coast: Where We Are 

Olustee 

Eddy 

McNeil 

Baxter 

Taylor 

Sanderson 


Nassau 

Baker Duval 

Clay St.Johns 

Macarde 

Glen 

St. Mary 

Sapp 

Bessent 

Macclenny 

La Buena 

Boulogne 

Kingsley 

Beach 

Keystone 

Heights 

Baldwin 

Middleburg 

Hilliard 

Crawford 

Lake 

Asbury 

Penney 

Farms 

Callahan 

Doctors 

Inlet 

Orange 

Park 

Mandarin 

West 

Tocoi 

Yulee 

Fruit 

Cove 

St. Johns 

Switzerland 

Green Cove 

Springs 

AVERAGE DRIVING TIME DURING “MODERATE” TRAFFIC FROM 

FIRST COAST AREAS TO DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE IN MINUTES: 

AMELIA ISLAND 40 

ARLINGTON 7 

ATLANTIC BEACH/ 

NEPTUNE BEACH 28 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH 29 

CALLAHAN 31 

DEERWOOD/BAYMEADOWS 16 

DAMES POINT 15 

FERNANDINA BEACH 47 

FLEMING ISLAND 31 

FRUIT COVE 33 

GARDEN CITY/DINSMORE 18 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS 44 

HILLIARD 42 

JULINGTON CREEK 21 

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 68 

LORETTO 19 

MACCLENNY 33 

MANDARIN 26 

MAYPORT 31 

MIDDLEBURG 42 

MONCRIEF 8 

NOCATEE 29 

NORMANDY/HYDE GROVE 12-14 

ORANGE PARK 24 

ORTEGA 16 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH 25 

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE/ 

MURRAY HILL 6-10 

ST. AUGUSTINE 45 

ST. NICHOLAS 6 

SAN MARCO 10 

SOUTHSIDE 15 

SPRINGFIELD 4 

WORLD GOLF VILLAGE 31 

YULEE 27 

Orangedale 

Palmo 

Picolata 

Tocoi 

Riverdale 

Hastings 

Nassauville 

Spuds 

Fernandina 

Beach 

American 

Beach 

Mayport 

Palm 

Valley 

Armstrong 

Flagler 

Estates 

Nocatee 

Atlantic 

Beach 

Neptune 

Beach 

Jacksonville 

Beach 

Ponte 

Vedra 

Beach 

Mickler 

Landing 

South 

Ponte 

Vedra 

Beach 

Usinas 

Beach 

Vilano 

Beach 

St. Augustine 

St. 

Augustine 

Beach 

Crescent 

Beach 

Summer 

Haven 

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 

DRIVING MILEAGE FROM 

JACKSONVILLE TO OTHER U.S. CITIES 

ATLANTA, GA 345 

BIRMINGHAM, AL 464 

BOSTON, MA 1,150 

CHARLESTON, SC 238 

CHICAGO, IL 1,061 

CINCINNATI, OH 795 

DALLAS, TX 995 

DENVER, CO 1,748 

HOUSTON, TX 871 

KANSAS CITY, MO 1,146 

LAS VEGAS, NV 2,221 

Source: MapQuest 

LOS ANGELES, CA 2,419 

NASHVILLE, TN 594 

NEW ORLEANS, LA 547 

NEW YORK, NY 935 

PHILADELPHIA, PA 846 

PHOENIX, AZ 2,046 

PITTSBURGH, PA 829 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 2,798 

SAVANNAH, GA 139 

SEATTLE, WA 3,041 

WASHINGTON, DC 710 

Who We Are 

Here are the latest figures available from 

the U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 American 

Community Survey reported from the 

Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area 

(rounded to the nearest whole number or percent): 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2016 American Community Survey. 

Prepared by: Jerry Heijkoop, Florida Department of Economic 

Opportunity, Bureau of Labor Market Statistics, November 2017. 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

GENDER 

MALE 49% FEMALE 51% 

48.8% 

HOUSEHOLDS 

FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 66% 

NONFAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 34% 

AVERAGE FAMILY SIZE 3.22 PEOPLE 

45.5% 

MARITAL STATUS 

2.6% 

MALE 

FEMALE 

9.3% 

12.3% 

14.9% 

1.6% 

2.3% 

WHITE 

BLACK OR AFRICAN 

AMERICAN 

AMERICAN INDIAN AND 

ALASKA NATIVE 

ASIAN 

NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND 

OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER 

OTHER RACE 

TWO OR MORE RACES 

$150,000 - $199,999 

$100,000 - $149,999 

$75,000 - $99,999 

34.7% 

28.1% 

MARRIED WIDOWED DIVORCED SEPERATED NEVER MARRIED 

HOUSEHOLD INCOME 

$200,000 - MORE 

13.3% 

5% 

13,8% 

$50,000 - $74,999 

5.1% 

19.6% 

30% 

25% 

20% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

0% 

69.8% 

72.6% 

21.3% 

12.7% 

0.2% 

0.8% 

3.6% 

5.4% 

0.1% 

0.2% 

1.6% 

5.1% 

3.4% 

3.2% 

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

DUVAL COUNTY ACTIVE 

REGISTERED VOTERS 

AS OF 12/05/2017 

DEMOCRATS:235,919 REPUBLICANS:216,818 

OTHERS:127,274 

TOTAL:580,011 

6% 

2.7% 

LESS THAN $10,000 

$10,000 - $14,999 

4.3% 

14.5% 

8.9% 

5.4% 

LESS THAN 

9TH GRADE 

9.5% 

RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS 

$15,000 - $24,999 

6.7% 

$25,000 - $34,999 

$35,000 - $49,999 

7.2% 

9TH-12TH, 

NO DIPLOMA 

55 - 59 

45 - 54 

27.5% 

60 - 64 

EDUCATION 

27.2% 

HIGH SCHOOL 

GRADUATE 

(INCLUDES 

EQUIVALENCY) 

65 - 74 

6.8% 

22% 

75 - 84 

6.3% 

13.5% 

35 - 44 

20.6% 

SOME 

COLLEGE, 

NO DEGREE 

JACKSONVILLE 

U.S. 

AGE 

9.3% 

12.7% 

10.4% 

IN YEARS 

3.9% 1.8% 

8.4% 

ASSOCIATE’S 

DEGREE 

85 AND OVER 

25 - 34 

6.2% 

14.5% 

JACKSONVILLE 

U.S. 

20.6% 

6.3% 

19.3% 

6.4% 

6.2% 

BACHELOR’S 

DEGREE 

UNDER 5 

5 - 9 

6.1% 

10% 

WELCOME 

10 - 14 

15 - 19 

20 - 24 

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME 

JACKSONVILLE: $56,840 

U.S.: $57,617 

11.9% 

GRADUATE OR 

PROFESSIONAL 

DEGREE 


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. 

Jacksonville began as a narrow spot on the river that farmers and 

their livestock forged on their way to market. While the city is 

quite different from those days, residents still enjoy the bountiful 

nature of the area. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union) 

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, more 

than 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. 

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. 

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WELCOME 

WELCOME 

Discover the Flow of the First Coast 

Water is the crown jewel — and a way of life. 

By Ronald L. Littlepage 

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 experienced them in 

a kayak, canoe or paddleboard 

riding the outgoing tide past 

wading birds and oyster beds. 

Water is the soul of 

Jacksonville. The beaches 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. 

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-of-the-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 truly 

discover Jacksonville. 

The St. Johns River gives kayakers, canoers and 

paddle boarders a place to spend a day on the 

water. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union) 

Ronald L. Littlepage has been a 

Florida Times-Union columnist 

since 1978. He retired after 39 

years in December 2017. He plans 

to continue traveling, fishing and 

enjoying the area waters. 

Your Pets 

as Citizens 

Here’s how to make certain 

that your animals meet 

code-enforced 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, 

claycountygov.com 

• 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 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 

• Jacksonville Humane Society: 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. 

• 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 



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 

LOCAL NAME: 

Main Street Bridge 

TYPE: 

Steel Truss-Center Lift Span 

DATE OPENED: 

July 18, 1941 

COST: 

$1.5 million 

ANNUAL AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC: 

18,300 

LENGTH: 

1,700 feet 

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. The bridge continues to experience an increase 

in traffic since it is at the merge point of Interstates 95 and 10, necessitating 

more interchange improvements starting in 2017, near the same time the I-95 

Overland Bridge replacement project is finished at the south end of the Fuller 

Warren Bridge. 


Henry Holland Buckman Bridge 

LOCAL NAME: 

Buckman Bridge 

TYPE: 

Steel Multi-Beam Girder 

DATE OPENED: 

May 1, 1970; Expansion opened January 1997 

COST: 

$12.5 million; Expansion $79 million 


131,000 

LENGTH: 

16,300 feet 

MAIN STREET BRIDGE 

John T. Alsop Jr. earned so much respect of the people of 

Jacksonville as a multi-term mayor, 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. From 2016 

to 2017, a $10.8 million project was done to rehabilitate the bridge, 

mainly for electrical and mechanical. The bridge is considered one 

of the most recognizable features in downtown Jacksonville. 


Fuller Warren Bridge 

LOCAL NAME: 

Fuller Warren Bridge 

TYPE: 

Pre-Stressed Concrete Beam 

DATE OPENED: 

Nov. 17, 2002 

COST: 

$97.5 million (estimated) 


155,000 

LENGTH: 

2,533 feet 

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. A protection and rehabilitation 

project was completed in 2016, primarily underneath the bridge. 


St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge 

LOCAL NAME: 

Acosta Bridge 

TYPE: 

Cast-in-Place Segmental 

DATE OPENED: 

Aug. 7, 1994 

COST: 

$95.4 million 


30,000 

LENGTH: 

1,645 feet 

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. The bridge was schedule 

for cleaning and painting in 2017. 


Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge 

LOCAL NAME: 

Dames Point Bridge 

TYPE: 

Cable-Stayed Concrete 

DATE OPENED: 

March 10, 1989 

COST: 

$117 million 


72,000 

LENGTH: 

10,686 feet 

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. The bridge underwent 

maintenance work such as surface protection and 

cable replacement in 2016 and 2017. 

Source: Florida Department of Transportation 

WELCOME 

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. 


John E. Mathews Bridge 

LOCAL NAME: 

Mathews Bridge 

TYPE: 

Cantilever Steel Truss 

DATE OPENED: 

April 15, 1953 

COST: 

$53 million 


67,000 

LENGTH: 

7,375 feet 

DAMES POINT BRIDGE 

The Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge, 

named in honor of Florida’s governor from 1905 

until 1909, is the second longest concrete cablestayed 

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. The bridge underwent 

maintenance work in 2016 and 2017 that included 

work underneath, such as fenders for boating 

traffic and navigational lights. 


Isaiah D. Hart Bridge 

LOCAL NAME: 

Hart Bridge 

TYPE: 

Steel Arch with Suspended Deck 

DATE OPENED: 

Nov. 2, 1967 

COST: 

$8.8 million 


51,500 

LENGTH: 

3,844 feet 



HOUSING 

Consultant Jenni Edwards works on the entrance to a tiny house being 

built by Eco Relics in cooperation with the U. S. Green Building Council 

Monday, October 16, 2017 in Jacksonville. The house will be the first LEED 

certified tiny house in the nation. (Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 

For Sale: New, Historic 

and Affordable Homes 

Historic areas are benefiting from infill 

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. 

Home values are on the rise with the fivecounty 

average of $214,000 – an increase of 

17 percent and above the state average of 

$212,100. Median housing costs by county 

from low to high are $160,700 in Duval; 

$189,500 in Baker; $180,200 in Clay; $253,300 

in Nassau; and $286,300 in St. Johns. 

Analysts often rank Jacksonville high in 

job growth and housing affordability. Based 

on rate of population gains, the U.S. Census 

reported St. Johns as No. 15 on the list 

of the fastest-growing 100 counties in the 

United States. St. Johns County showed 

an increase of 8.4 percent over last year, 

compared to a 2.3-percent average growth 

rate in the five-county area, 1.8-percent rate 

in Florida and a 1.2-percent rate nationwide. 

The U.S. Census also reported Jacksonville 

had the 12th-highest national increase in 

population – a gain of 13,455 people. 

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. 

The Office of Economic and Demographic 

Research estimates that Baker, Clay, Duval, 

Nassau and St. Johns counties have nearly 

630,657 housing units, including singlefamily 

residences, condos, apartments 

and manufactured housing. Nearly 63.8 

percent 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 

$8.5 million, homebuyers have choices. 

Homes in many upscale communities start 

in the high-$100,000s to mid-$200,000 

and run into the millions, depending on 

available 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. 

construction activity. New homes are being 

built on vacant lots or to replace demolished 

houses. Historic areas such as Springfield, 

Riverside, Avondale, Tinseltown, 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. 

New developments also are springing up in 

Bayard, St. Johns, Nocatee, Palencia, Palm 

Valley, Mill Creek and World Golf Village 

areas in northern St. Johns County. 

Recent retail and housing projects along 

Riverside Avenue near downtown have 

added to the area’s residential options. 

Neighborhood Scout lists the Riverside/ 

Brooklyn area as the highest-appreciating 

neighborhood in Northeast Florida. 

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 

Signs of growth are 

obvious in all directions in 

and around Jacksonville. 

HOUSING 

new residential units, a retail grocery story, 

restaurants, specialty shops and an urban 

park. Just across the street from Brooklyn, 

the $22-million, 72,000-square-foot Winston 

Family YMCA opened its doors last summer. 

According to the Index Committee at 

S&P Dow Jones Indices, homes generally 

are sold within 90 days of a listing. 

The low inventory and Hurricane Irmaaffected 

sales of new homes, said Melanie 

Green, communications director for the 

Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. 

“Hurricane Irma certainly impacted 

Northeast Florida’s housing market in 

September. With a hurricane approaching, 

storm preparations take precedence for 

most people, decreasing the likelihood of 

homeowners listing their property or of 

potential buyers looking for a home,” she said. 

The total closed sales in August and 

September was 1,835 – the secondlowest 

in the last 20 months. 


First Coast Housing 

By County 

DUVAL 

NASSAU 

27,937 1.9% POPULATION CHANGE 

HOUSING UNIT 9,622 HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 

BAKERPOPULATION 

MEDIAN VALUE $114,300 78.1% 

(owner-occupied units) 

208,311 8.4% POPULATION CHANGE 


CLAYPOPULATION 

MEDIAN VALUE $153,000 74.8% 


POPULATION 926,255 1.6% POPULATION CHANGE 


MEDIAN VALUE $142,300 59.2% 


POPULATION 80,622 2.7% POPULATION CHANGE 


MEDIAN VALUE $177,100 76.2% 


[ ] 

“Prices are up, mortgage rates are down and, depending 

on who you talk to, the economy is getting better.” 

There were 8,348 available homes 

on the market last April, a decrease in 

inventory of 20.5 percent compared to the 

same timeframe in 2016, Green said. 

Still haunted by the housing bubble 

collapse that started in 2005, builders 

are excited by the upturn in permits while 

remaining prudent about lessons learned. 

“I like where we are now compared to 

2005,” said Chet Skinner, president of the 

Northeast Florida Builders Association. 

“But if you go through what most of us 

went through, especially from 2008 until 

the end of 2013 and beginning of 2104, it 

isn’t that easy for some of us to forget.” 

Another fact is the alarming growth 

of St. Johns County. Builders in the 

area are struggling to keep up with the 

demands for new homes. At the same 

time, the state of Florida also can’t keep 

up with the demands for new schools. 

“People from outside of Florida do their 

homework on the internet,” said former 

NEFAR president Terrell Newberry said. 

“They see St. Johns schools are ranked 

No. 1. They want their kids in those 

schools. It’s hard to keep up with 

those kinds of demands.” 

That’s why nearly 3,000 new homes are 

under construction on State Road 210 and 

on International Golf Parkway in northern St. 

Johns County. There also are three schools 

— an elementary and two kindergartenthrough-eighth 

grade — under construction, 

as well as expansions at several schools. 

“Prices are up, mortgage rates are 

down and, depending on who you 

talk to, the economy is getting better,” 

Newberry said. “Things are good. 

We just need more inventory.” 

Realtors are getting just that. The 

NEFBA said permits for new construction 

in August 2017 for Clay, Duval, Nassau 

and St. Johns counties were 797 – the 

most for an August since 2005. 

“It really is a healthy market,” Skinner 

said. “People ask if it’s a buyer’s market 

or a seller’s market. I say it’s a healthy 

market. I like where we are compared to 

2005. The truth is back in those days it 

wasn’t a sustainable pace. This is a healthy 

pace. It’s important not to get too far out.” 

A City Surrounded 

by Water 

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 2016, Zillow 

published a study that showed the median 

value for a waterfront single-family home in 

Ponte Vedra Beach was $460,000 as compared 

to a non-waterfront home at $334,500. 

Epping Forest on San Jose Boulevard has 

HOUSING 

From lakes to ocean, Jacksonville offers 

choices to enjoy waterfront living. 

a yacht club, access to a private marina and 

residences from $500,000 for a condominium 

to single-homes 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. 

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 

30-unit waterfront townhome community, located 

just off Beach Boulevard. The townhomes 

offer unobstructed views of the Intracoastal 

Waterway and start in the $800,000s. 

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, canoeing, 

kayaking and water skiing. For nature lovers, the 

water offers a view of wildlife in your backyard, 

including birds, turtles, dolphins and manatees. 

ST. JOHNS 

POPULATION 235,087 

HOUSING UNIT 102,289 

3.6% POPULATION CHANGE 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 

MEDIAN VALUE $244,400 75.5% 


TOTAL 

POPULATION 1,478,212 

POPULATION CHANGE 2.1% 

HOUSING UNIT 630,657 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 65.1% 

MEDIAN VALUE (owner-occupied units) 

$161,842 

FLORIDA 

U.S.A 

POPULATION 21,022,678 POPULATION 324,459,463 

POPULATION CHANGE 2.9% POPULATION CHANGE 0.8% 

HOUSING UNIT 8,989,580 HOUSING UNIT 135,697,926 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 65.3% HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 63.9% 

MEDIAN VALUE $159,000 


MEDIAN VALUE $178,600 


Boats docked in Julington Creek at 

the mouth of the St. Johns River. (Will 

Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 


HOUSING 

HOUSING 

A group of beachgoers enjoy the edge of the surf near 

the Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier. Jacksonville Beach 

offers residents a place to enjoy sand, surf, sun and water 

sports of all kinds. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union) 

Homeowners 

Associations 

• 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 on 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. 


Homeowners associations — commonly 

known as HOAs — exist to protect 

property values and ensure the 

consistent, attractive appearance of a 

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 

Restrictions vary but frequently include the following covenants: 

repair items. Nonpayment of dues can lead to 

liens or foreclosure of your home. Violations 

to posted rules can result in daily fines. 

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. 

• 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. 

• Restrictions on fence heights and other 

non-approved changes to the architecture. 

• Create rules for common pool, dog walk and exercise areas. 

• Enforce noise ordinances. 

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 15.4887 

Macclenny 19.0887 

Suwannee River 15.6095 

Clay County 14.8114 

Green Cove Springs 16.3902 

Keystone Heights 19.2405 

Orange Park 18.4672 

Penney Farms 15.0405 

Lake Asbury (water) 15.1515 

Challenger Center MTSU 18.1515 

Duval County (except Beaches, Baldwin) 18.2313 

Jacksonville Beach 18.9353 

Atlantic Beach 18.1691 

Neptune Beach 18.3062 

Baldwin 19.3545 

Nassau County 15.3904 

Callahan 16.5032 

Amelia Island (outside city limits) 15.1388 

Piney Island (with mosquito control) 15.2883 

Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island 19.9307 

Hilliard 13.9654 

St. Johns County 14.3995 

Hastings 22.3917 

Ponte Vedra Beach. 14.7745 

South Ponte Vedra and U.S. 1 area 14.4633 

St. Augustine 17.3625 

St. Augustine South lighting (no port) 14.6095 

St. Augustine South lighting (with port) 14.6733 

St. Augustine Beach 14.4633 

St. Augustine Beach (outside city limits) 14.4633 

Marineland area 14.4633 

Northridge Lakes CDD 14.4633 

Julington Creek (municipal) 14.3995 

Julington Creek Plantation CDD 14.3995 

Marshall Creek CDD 14.4633 

Sampson Creek CDD 14.3995 

Elkton drainage 14.3995 

Hastings drainage (in city limits) .22.3917 

Hastings drainage (outside city limits) 14.3995 

Flagler Estates road and drainage district 14.3995 

Maderia (in COSA) 20.4933 

Maderia (outside COSA) 14.4633 

Meadow View at Twin Creek 14.3995 

Creekside at Twin Creek 14.3995 

Rivers Edge 14.3995 

Bannon Lakes 14.3995 

Vilano Beach lighting 14.5133 

St. Johns Forest 14.3995 

Brandy Creek 14.3995 

Durban Crossing, Aberdeen 14.3995 

World Commerce, Sandy Creek 14.3995 

Heritage Landing, Lake Beluthahatchee 14.3995 

Tolomato, Turnbull Creek, Main Street 14.3995 

Sweetwater, Glen St. Johns, Treaty Oaks 14.3995 

Las Calinas, Rivers Edge 14.3995 

Moultrie Creek 14.3995 

Isles of Bartram Park, Flagler Estate 14.3995 

Six Mile Creek 14.3995 

Sandy Creek 14.3995 

Bartram Springs 14.3995 

Trout Creek 14.3995 

Southaven CDD 14.3995 

Marshall Creek 14.3995 

Heritage Park 14.4633 

Antiqua at St. Augustine, Maderia 20.4933 

Deerfield Preserve CDD 14.3995 

Summer Haven 22.9633 


COMMUNITIES 

COMMUNITIES 


Dogs walk their owners at the start of the Strut Your 

Mutt walk Saturday morning, September 30, 2017, at 

Riverside Park in Jacksonville. The benefit raises funds 

for Best Friends Animal Society and helps save the lives of 

homeless pets. (Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 

Finding Your Home on the First Coast 

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. 

T 

his corner of the world may be spread out, 

but an individual or family can find a 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 into the lives of 

the people who live there, work there and raise 

their families there. You’ll find many interesting 

people and places, plus homes in a wide range 

of prices — sometimes in unexpected places. 

You’ll also find 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. St. Mary’s 

Shoals Park, located on 2,568 acres along the 

Florida-Georgia border and flanked by the St. 

Mary’s River on its northern boundary, offers 

fishing ponds, pavilions, restrooms, and water 

access for public usage. There is also public 

access to nearly 2 miles of the tannin-stained 

St. Mary’s River and white sandy shores. 

Macclenny, located in eastern Baker 

County and west of downtown Jacksonville, 

has residents that are diversified in their 

career choices with many commuters to 

neighboring Jacksonville. Other residents 

work for 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 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 $154,900 in Macclenny. 

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. The population of the town 

was 5,644 as of 2016 with a population 

density of 42 people per square mile. 

Homes listed on Zillow in Sanderson 

range from less than $100,000 to the 

mid-$400s. Home buyers are drawn to 

the area because they can typically get a 

larger house and more property for less 

money than they would elsewhere. 

BAKER COUNTY 

NEIGHBORHOODS 


COMMUNITIES 

CLAY COUNTY 

FLEMING ISLAND 

(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 was to have a proper chapel on the 

grounds. Construction on the church in the 

Carpenter Gothic style began in 1875 and 

was 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. 

Located 21 miles southwest of downtown 

Jacksonville on the western side of the St. 

Johns River, Fleming Island is a popular 

place for families commuting to work or 

play in downtown Jacksonville. 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. 

Home prices in popular developments 

such as Eagle Harbor, Pace Island, Hibernia 

Plantation and Romeo Point range from 

the $200,000s up to the millions, with the 

majority of homes in the $350,000-to- 

$500,000 range. The median home value 

for all Fleming Island is $258,800. 

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 in disrepair or burned down. 

The city experienced renewed development 

in the 1940s with the war-time construction 

of Benjamin Lee Field, a 1,500-acre air 

auxiliary complex, by the U.S. Navy. After 

craving amazing 

U N IQUELY BETTER . 

WHEN YOU’RE 

est D. 1997 

ORGANIC GROCERY, DELI, AND JUICE BAR + DEDICATED GLUTEN-FREE BAKERY 

NATIV ESUN J A X.COM 

10000 San Jose Blvd. | 11030 Baymeadows Rd. | 1585 3rd Street North 

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. 

Today, Green Cove Springs is the County 

Seat of Clay County. It has a population 

of 7,666, and is located on the eastern 

border of Clay County. It is home to the 

Clay County Historical Museum and the 

Military Museum of North Florida. 

Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club, a 

gated golf, tennis and country club off U.S. 

Highway 17, is one of the most well-known 

communities within the area. Club members 

enjoy exclusive access to the onsite amenities, 

including no parallel fairways so golfers enjoy 

a scenic view of the 1,000-acre community 

that is abundant with wildlife including wild 

turkeys, deer, hawks, alligators, water fowl, 

snakes, turtles and an occasional bald eagle. 

There is a mix of old homes and new 

construction in Green Cove Springs. 

The average home price is $135,600, 

with an expected 7 percent increase 

next year, according to Zillow.com. 

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 

TO THE MOON AND BACK 

Keystone Heights is a community 

found at the southern tip of Clay County 

amid numerous sand-bottomed 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 

re-entry were germinated by the U.S. Forest 

Service. Known as the “moon trees,” the 

resulting seedlings were planted throughout 

the U.S 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 

many family-owned businesses. The 

average home price is $113,000. 

There are numerous recreational 

opportunities, including a beach with 

bathhouses and shaded picnic tables, public 

boat ramps, lighted tennis courts, nature trails 

and the former Keystone Heights golf course, 

renamed Lakeside Links Golf Club in 2015. 

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 

St. Vincent’s 

Medical Center 

Clay County 

St. Johns 

River State 

College 

Orange Park 

Medical Center 

Kindred 

Hospital 

North 

Florida 

CLAY COUNTY 

NEIGHBORHOODS 

Baptist & Wolfson 

Children’s 

Emergency Center 

COMMUNITIES 

Visitors walk in the shade of the trees as they 

check out a variety of food, art, clothing and other 

area vendors at the Orange Park Farmer’s & Arts 

Market. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union) 

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. 

Decades ago, dirt roads were common. 

Visitors rarely saw a street sign, and most 

residents came to Middleburg 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 square-mile 

area in Clay County and had a little more than 

13,000 residents in 2017. It is located 26 miles 

southwest of downtown Jacksonville and 16 

miles northwest of Green Cove Springs. 

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. 

The community is still considered somewhat 

rural, but new homes are being built quicker 

than ever. Potential buyers have numerous 

choices, from manufactured housing to 

million-dollar properties. The average home 

price throughout Middleburg has climbed up 

5.3 percent in the last year to $203,450. 



COMMUNITIES 

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 

8,783 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. 

Many choose to purchase a home in 

the area because of its reasonable real 

estate prices in a quality neighborhood. 

The average home value is $199,900. 

OAKLEAF PLANTATION 

BI-COUNTY HOMETOWN 

OakLeaf is a family subdivision that is 

somewhat unique because it is located 

in both Clay and Duval counties. Most 

of the 6,400-acre property is in Clay, 

southwest of Jacksonville and adjacent to 

the 20,000-acre Jennings State Forest. 

OakLeaf Plantation is home to two athletic 

centers that offer recreation, club houses, 

fitness centers, soccer and baseball fields, 

basketball and tennis courts, and playgrounds. 

It also has water parks that include spray 

grounds, lagoon pools and a lap pool. 

Golfers enjoy Eagle Landing at OakLeaf 

Plantation, an 18-hole golf course adorned 

by towering oaks and shimmering lakes. 

The community offers singlefamily 

homes, multifamily homes and 

apartments, ranging from less than 

$100,000 to more than $500,000. 

PENNEY FARMS 

A HAVEN FOR RETIREES 

The town’s name is, indeed, from 

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 self-sufficient 

town of about 820 (with most residents age 

60 and older). Some residents live in the 

Penney Retirement Community, while others 

live in single-family homes. 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 Farms has a full continuum 

of health care services, 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. 

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, three parks, walking trails, a recreation 

center for homeowners, a pool, a kids’ pool, 

tennis courts, volleyball court, basketball 

court, baseball field and a covered pavilion 

that residents enjoy on a daily basis. A white 

gazebo on scenic Twin Lakes is a popular 

place for residents’ parties and weddings. 

The median home value in Argyle 

Forest is $137,100. Argyle Forest home 

values have gone up 7.9 percent over 

the past year and Zillow predicts they will 

rise 3.7 percent within the next year. 

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 $91,700. 

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 small-town 

atmosphere with easy access to the ocean. 

Stretching only about 25 blocks 

from north to south, Atlantic Beach 

is a closed-end community of nearly 

13,500 with a neighborhood feeling. The 

town center, near One Ocean Resort 

and Spa, is a popular gathering point 

with many 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 

Adele Grage Cultural Center houses the 

Atlantic Beach Experimental Theater. 

The median home value in Atlantic Beach 

is $374,200. Atlantic Beach home values 

have gone up 11.6 percent over the past year 

and Zillow predicts they will rise 4.2 percent 

within the next year. The median list price 

per square foot in Atlantic Beach is $264, 

which is higher than the Jacksonville Metro 

average of $127. The median price of homes 

currently listed in Atlantic Beach is $645,990. 

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 Farmers Market, the 

annual Dancin’ in the Street festival in 

May, yoga and meditation classes, and a 

local art walk on Thursday evenings. 

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 1,440 in extreme western 

Duval County north of Interstate 10 about 

20 miles west of Jacksonville, was named 

for Dr. A.S. Baldwin, who led the successful 

fight to bring the railroad to the area. 

When Duval County decided to 

become consolidated, Baldwin voted to 

remain an independent town. Baldwin is 

managed by a Mayor-councilman, four 

Councilmembers and a Town Clerk. 

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. 

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 single-family 

older homes. The mean price for all housing 

units, including detached, townhomes/condos 

and other attached housing, mobile homes 

and occupied mobile residences is $102,200. 

BAYARD 

QUAINT AREA ON THE UPSWING 

Bayard, off U.S. Highway 1 at 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. 

While it still features a popular antique 

village perfect for shoppers who crave garage 

sale-type bargains, the area has seen a recent 

influx in commuters. The I- 295 loop around 

Jacksonville connects to U.S. 1 by Bayard, and 

9B also connects to U.S. 1 just south of Bayard, 

making it a higher traffic area than before. 

A new subdivision, Copperleaf, has 

added homes to the area. The builder, 

KB Homes, is developing the 35.3-acre 

subdivision with homes now available, 

priced from $240,990 to $296,990. 

Also close to the area is Baptist Medical 

Center South, a high-tech state-of-theart 

hospital at the southeast corner 

of I-95 and St. Augustine Road. 

BAYMEADOWS 

MIXING IT UP 

On any given day in Baymeadows, you might 

find families looking for starter homes, emptynesters 

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 tie-ups). Nearby are 

The Avenues mall, Deerwood Village and St. 

COMMUNITIES 

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 single-family homes. The 

median home value in Baymeadows is 

$108,500. Baymeadows home values have 

gone up 9 percent over the past year and 

Zillow predicts they will rise 3.6 percent within 

the next year. The median price of homes 

currently listed in Baymeadows is $118,490. 

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, treelined 

neighborhood conveniently located 

with easy access to greater Jacksonville. 

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 $340,900. 

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 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 

Neptune Beach is a popular summer destination for residents 

and vacationers looking to escape the heat and cool down in 

the Atlantic Ocean. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union) 


COMMUNITIES 

shopping areas; proximity to I-295 allows 

residents to easily access 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. 

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, an organization focused 

on impacting 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, Brentwood Golf Course earned 

the PGA Excellence Award for its outstanding 

performance in growing the game of golf. 

In 2005, the Jacksonville Housing 

Authority completed Brentwood Lakes, a 

high rise apartment building for seniors 

consisting of 100, one-bedroom units. 

This community also has one-, two- and 

three-bedroom units and offers affordable, 

as well as, public housing apartments. 

While the area still has a higher than 

average crime rate, there are some amenities 

that residents enjoy. Catherine Hester McNair 

Park, also known as Brentwood Park, is 

16 acres in size and is located north of the 

20th Street Expressway. The park offers 

adult-lighted baseball and softball fields, 

basketball courts, tennis courts, shuffleboard 

and a variety of playground equipment. 

The median home value in Brentwood 

is $62,100. Brentwood home values 

have gone up 12.5 percent over the 

past year and Zillow predicts they will 


BROOKLYN 

A TRENDY NEW SPOT 

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. 

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 Plaza, 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 community classes. The 

developers of 220 Riverside and Unity Plaza 

will construct a hotel and more apartments, 

tentatively called 200 Riverside, which 

should take about two years to complete. 

Across Riverside Avenue, the Winston 

Family YMCA has undergone its own 

renaissance. In August 2016, the new 

72,000-square-foot branch, which overlooks 

the St. Johns River, opened. 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 was completed in 2017. 

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 long-standing 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. The 

median home values are $102,400 in 

Cedar Hills, $179,100 in Confederate Point, 

and $126,500 in Jacksonville Heights. 

Residents are a short drive from the Cecil 

Field Commerce Center, an area of growing 

industry and several recreational facilities. 

DAMES POINT 

A GROWING COMMUNITY 

This area in Jacksonville offers an 

abundance of waterfront property and 

pristine views of the St. Johns, Trout and 

Broward rivers, and Dunn Creek. It is an 

area where industry and nature coexist. 

Although the area was once 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. 

The area has space to expand with 

waterfront land available, and offers 

homebuyers more land and home for the price 

of many other neighborhoods in Jacksonville. 

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 a short drive. 

The median home value in Deerwood is 

$190,900. Deerwood home values have gone 

up 2.4 percent over the past year and Zillow 

predicts they will rise 1.3 percent within the 

next year. The median list price per square 

foot in Deerwood is $131, which is higher than 

the Jacksonville average of $111. The median 

rent price in Deerwood is $1,295, which is 

higher than the Jacksonville median of $1,195. 

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 other developments 

in the area, such as Old Mill Branch off 

Gate Parkway, has single-family 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. 

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COMMUNITIES 

COMMUNITIES 

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. By the 1980s, Durkeeville 

struggled with urban blight, poverty and crime 

associated inner city neighbor-hoods. A 

number of the remaining long-term residents 

formed the Durkeeville Historical Society and 

collaborated with city officials to revitalize 

this historic section of Jacksonville. Decaying 

structures were replaced, and services and 

resources were created, and in 1992, the 

housing project was replaced with a new 

housing complex — The Oaks at Durkeeville. 

The Durkeeville Historical Society is 

still active in the area, and focused on its 

main goal and original mission to collect 

and promote the history of Durkeeville, a 

historically African American neighborhood 

in Jacksonville, and serve as a cultural 

literacy and resource center for all members 

of all the communities in Jacksonville. 

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, with hip roof-top 

restaurants frequented by both residents 

and guests from all over Jacksonville. 

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. 

Popular housing developments in the 

area include Waterleaf, The Preserves 

at St. Johns Landing, Kernan Forest and 

Summerbrook. The median home value 

in Fort Caroline is $255,700. Fort Caroline 

home values have gone up 4.6 percent 

over the past year and Zillow predicts they 

will rise 2.4 percent within the next year. 

Although new homes continue to be built, 

hundreds of acres in Fort Caroline will remain 

untouched because of its historic standing. 

GARDEN CITY AND DINSMORE 

QUIET LIFESTYLE ON 

CITY OUTSKIRTS 

Located on the outskirts of Jacksonville, 

the communities of Dinsmore and 

Garden City retain the rural small-town 

appeal they have held for decades. 

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 median home price is $160,600 in 

Garden City and $165,900 in Dinsmore. 

GATEWAY AND TALLYRAND 

PREPARING FOR RESURGENCE 

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 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, 209-unit highrise 

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. 

Also located in the area is the widely 

discussed Shipyards. While historically 

mired in lawsuits, bankruptcy, grand jury 

investigations and broken contracts, the 

Downtown Investment Authority selected a 

company controlled by Jacksonville Jaguars 

owner Shad Khan to be master developer for 

70 acres of riverfront property stretching from 

The Shipyards to Metropolitan Park in 2017. 

Khan’s vision entails more than $500 

million of private investment. At full build-out, 

there would be 300 to 500 condominiums 

and 300 to 500 apartments, plus 300,000 

to 500,000 square feet of office space. It 

would have 150,000 to 250,000 square feet 

for stores and restaurants, and 200 to 500 

hotel rooms. A marina would have 250 to 

450 boat slips, though final design could 

boost the number of boat slips to 525. 

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 $200,000 to 

upwards of $3 million for estate properties and 

waterfront homes with magnificent views. 

West of what residents call “The Ditch” 

was once 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. 

Homes in the region between Butler 

Boulevard along Hodges and Kernan 

roads to Atlantic Boulevard appeal to home 

buyers in every income level. 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 University of North Florida 

campus and the St. Johns Town Center, 

an upscale super-regional open-air mall 

with a variety of shops and restaurants. 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH 

BY THE BEAUTIFUL SEA 

What was once known as the beach 

commercial center, Jacksonville Beach 

is now home to a mix of everything from 

$1 million-plus oceanfront homes to 

the area’s most affordable housing. 

Of course, the resort and laid-back 

lifestyle is Jacksonville Beach’s biggest perk. 

The area is 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. 

A lifeguard watches over Jacksonville Beach 

swimmers on Monday, October 16, 2017. 

(Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union) 

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 as part of the Beaches Fine Arts Series and 

see a production 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. 

The median home value in Jacksonville 

Beach is $345,100. Jacksonville Beach home 

values have gone up 11.1 percent over the 

past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 4.1 

percent within the next year. The median list 

price per square foot in Jacksonville Beach 

is $252, which is higher than the Jacksonville 

Metro average of $127. The median price 

of homes currently listed in Jacksonville 

Beach is $419,900. The median rent price in 

Jacksonville Beach is $2,100, which is higher 

than the Jacksonville Metro median of $1,350. 

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 mediumsized 

(three or four bedrooms) to small 

(studio to two bedrooms) single-family 

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, wellestablished 

and built between 1940 and 1969. 

A number of residences were built before 

1940, but it was primarily developed after the 

Jacksonville Naval Air Station boom in the 

1940s. The average home price is $104,700. 

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 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 

mostly commercial, an affordable housing 

development on Bay and Lee streets began 

construction last year. Lofts at LaVilla, a 

130-unit, four-level housing development 

at Bay and Lee Streets, offers an array 

of studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom 

lofts equipped with amenities including 

contemporary kitchens, stylish appliances, 

impressive floor plans and spectacular views. 

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. 



COMMUNITIES 

COMMUNITIES 

and the beaches about 40 minutes away. 

The median home value is $100,700. Hyde 

Park home values have gone up 17.9 percent 


will rise 6.9 percent within the next year. The 

median list price per square foot is $80, which 

is lower than the Jacksonville average of $112. 

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 with new construction 

still underway. The area continues to grow 

with more residents moving in monthly. The 

median home value in Oceanway is $195,100. 

Home values have gone up 9.4 percent 


will rise 3.3 percent within the next year. 

Industry in Oceanway is alive and well. 

Industrial parks blend in with the landscape. 

Companies along busy Busch Drive include 

Anheuser-Busch and Bacardi Bottling 

Corp. River City Marketplace, an openair 

shopping complex along Interstate 

95 at Duval Road, includes retail shops, 

restaurants and a movie theater. 

Nature-based recreation is popular in this 

area with access to many water sources. 

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 colonialstyle 

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, a collection of 

restaurants and shops, 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 

The Keeler Property is located on Normandy 

Boulevard. near Maxville and US 301. 

(Bruce Lipsky/The Florida Times-Union) 

The median home value in Loretto is 

$160,100. Home values have gone up 9.5 

percent over the past year and Zillow predicts 

they will rise 3.4 percent within the next 

year. The median list price per square foot 

in Loretto is $128, which is higher than the 

Jacksonville average of $112. The median 

price of homes currently listed is $184,500. 

Loretto is popular, too, because of 

all its nearby amenities. Just about 

every merchant, service or restaurant 

imaginable is on San Jose Boulevard. 

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, family-focused lifestyle in an area 

that is quaint, charming and filled with history. 

Named for the Mandarin orange in 1830, 

this neighborhood on the St. Johns River was 

once described as “a tropical paradise” by 

Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of Uncle 

Tom’s Cabin. Both Harriet Beecher Stowe, 

and painter Lee Adams once lived here. 

Mandarin is characterized by its magnificent 

oak trees hung with dramatic Spanish moss 

and boasts some of the best views of the St. 

Johns River in greater Jacksonville. Once an 

important river port for shipping oranges and 

other citrus fruit northward, today Mandarin is 

known as a family-friendly area with a blend 

of residential areas and shopping centers. 

There are plenty of choices for home 

buyers with prices ranging from $150,000 to 

more than $3 million for a riverfront home. 

The median real estate value is $304,600. 

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 $119,400. 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 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 

Super Market Division Office and Michaels 

Distribution Center are off Beaver Street; 

the Westside Industrial Park is just north 

of Marietta; and the Cecil Commerce 

Center also is convenient to the area. 

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. It is the site of Naval Station 

Mayport, which is one of three major Navy 

installations in the Jacksonville area. 

Mayport is the most northern of the 

Jacksonville beaches, and home to delicious 

seafood restaurants, offering their freshest 

catch. Residents and visitors can dine on 

freshly caught seafood, including the local 

specialty, Mayport shrimp, and enjoy nature at 

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, the northernmost 

beach on the south side of the St. Johns River. 

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 6,500 

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. 

New residential development is 

anticipated due to Maxville’s proximity to 

the Cecil Commerce Center, an indicator 

that more businesses and people are 

probably on their way. Of existing homes, 

the average price is $129,500. 

MONCRIEF 

COMMUNITY ON THE NORTHSIDE 

The neighborhood known as Moncrief is 

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. 

Moncrief residents enjoy quick access 

to the downtown area, the airport, retail 

shopping centers and the core of the city. 

The median home value in Moncrief 

Park is $53,200. Moncrief Park home 

values have gone up 27 percent over the 

past year and Zillow predicts they will 


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 

soft-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. 

Homes range from small bungalows and 

brownstones to larger two-story homes, and 

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 median home value in Murray Hill is 

$115,300. Home values have gone up 15.4 


they will rise 5.2 percent within the next 

year. The median list price per square foot 

in Murray Hill is $117, and the median price 

of homes currently listed is $130,000. The 

median rent price in Murray Hill is $895. 

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. 

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. The average home 

price is $392,500, 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. 

Some neighborhoods, like Riverwood, a 

55-plus community by Pulte Del Webb, and 

Coastal Oaks by Toll Brothers, have houses 

for sale beginning in the mid-$200,000s 

and going up to $1 million or more. 

Nocatee is home to more than 5,000 

acres of connecting parks, protected 

wildlife corridors, and wetlands preserves. 

Residents enjoy bike, fitness and electric 

cart trails located throughout the area. 

One of the most well-known recreational 

amenities in Nocatee is the Splash 

Waterpark, which opened in 2010. The 

waterpark is home to the tallest waterslide 

in Northeast Florida. The Nocatee Spray 

Park, a four-story interactive water 

spray ground, is set to open in 2018. 

Located within the community is Nocatee 

Town Center. The retail space provides a 

central location for residents to take care 

of all their personal needs, from filling 

their gas tank before a long work week, 

to eating a sit-down meal at one of the 

many onsite restaurants. It also boasts 

the largest Publix in Northeast Florida. 

The turndown in the economy initially 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, 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, 



A young boy swings under Christmas 

lights near the St. Johns River in Avondale. 

(Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 

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 $378,800. 

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 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-to-do, 

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 Wrightinspired 

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 on Saturdays March 

through December. Based on a concept Dr. 

Wayne Wood, local historian, brought back 

to Jacksonville from Oregon, the location 

under the Fuller Warren Bridge provides 

protection from the weather and features 

local artists in a number of media, baked 

goods, entertainment, a farmers 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. Kickbacks, Carmine’s Pie 

House, and Lola’s Burrito and Burger Joint are 

interspersed with smaller local offerings and 

longtime favorites, such as Whiteway Deli, 

which has been around since the 1920s. 

The area has homes in every price 

range from bungalows up to millions of 

dollars for estates on the St. Johns River. 

The average home price is $228,300. 

ST. NICOLAS 

(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. 

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 

School of Jacksonville and Bishop Kenny 

High School 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 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. 

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. 

a home in San Jose, giving it an eclectic 

appeal. The median home value in San Jose 

is $164,900. Home values have gone up 10.7 


they will rise 4.3 percent within the next year. 

Contributing to the community’s 

good looks and overall allure are its 

sweeping trees and many parks. 

The central location is minutes from 

downtown or Southpoint and well 

within a half-hour of Jacksonville’s 

beaches. Fine restaurants and good 

shopping 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 

River City 

Marketplace 

COMMUNITIES 

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, Telfair Stockton and his 

plans for an 80-acre subdivision called San 

Marco came to the area. Streets were curved 

to show off trees and scenic vistas and Lake 

Marco was formed out of an old brickyard. 

B 


COMMUNITIES 

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. 

Homes can cost more than $1 million, 

but the average value is $291,600. 

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, 

9100 Philips Highway • www.stonecore.co 

904.296.0558 

Exclusive Dealer of ISOKERN Products 

has very affordable homes, with 

an average price of $131,100. 

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-$200,000s. Neighborhood 

offerings range from working class, singlefamily 

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 is in close proximity to the 

University of North Florida and the Florida 

State College at Jacksonville’s South Campus. 

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 historic-looking 

homes, some of the area’s authentic homes, 

with rich histories behind them, are capturing 

Jacksonville’s largest display of Outdoor Living environments including: 

patios, pavers, fire-pits, fireplaces, pergolas, outdoor kitchens and patio furniture! 

Mention this ad for $100 off! 

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. 

The median home price in Springfield 

is $153,800, but large renovated 

homes can go much higher. 

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 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-hundredthousands. 

On the river, of course, prices 

can reach $1 million-plus. The average 

home price in the area is $200,800. 

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. 

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 

with the median home value listed as $84,300. 

Home values in Wesconnett have gone up 17.4 


they will rise 6 percent within the next year. 

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 U.S. 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 that is still thriving today. 

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. The 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 bed-and-breakfast destinations. 

The island is a national resort destination. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, operates 

an AAA-rated, five-diamond resort and 

restaurant, and has a golf course on the 

COMMUNITIES 

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. 

Amelia Island is also home to the Concours 

d’Elegance, a renowned automotive 

charitable event held each March, featuring 

significant cars, drivers and concepts. 

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 $328,100; 

however 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 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 (with 

public access and walkovers) are available, 

as well as several golf courses. Fort Clinch 

FSCJ Nassau 

Center 

Fernandina 

Beach Municipal 

Airport 

NASSAU COUNTY 

NEIGHBORHOODS 

Baptist 

Medical 

Center 

Nassau 



COMMUNITIES 

State Park, at the north end of the island, 

preserves 1,121 acres of beaches, dunes, 

nature trails, salt marshes and ponds. 

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 average home price is $328,100, 

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 old-fashioned 

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 

family-oriented 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 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 $165,000. 

Callahan residents are proud of a beautifully 

restored railroad depot. Flags fly in front of 

many businesses and homes, local high 

school football games are attended even 

by those with no children in the school and 

churches ae full on Sunday mornings. The 

median home price in Callahan is $198,700. 

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 early- to 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 crossstate 

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 12,700, 

Yulee consists primarily of residential 

neighborhoods and 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. The median home value in Yulee 

is $191,000. Home values have gone up 3.5 


they will rise 3.5 percent within the next year. 

The median list price per square foot in Yulee 

is $116, which is lower than the Jacksonville 

Metro average of $128. The median price 

of homes currently listed is $230,775. 


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 Park & 

Community Center, just across the street from 

the town office, provides a venue for children’s 

fun and organized sporting events. The 

average home price in the area is $131,000. 

JULINGTON CREEK 

CROSSING BRIDGE TO PARADISE 

Northwest St. Johns County — Fruit Cove, 

Switzerland and Orangedale — has been 

experiencing growth for quite some time. 

The area is home to Julington Creek 

Plantation, which encompasses 4,119 

acres, with more than a dozen distinctive 

neighborhoods. Among the top 10 masterplanned 

communities in Florida, Julington 

Creek Plantation offers recreational facilities, a 

large selection of homes and price ranges and 

a great location — 30 minutes to downtown 

Jacksonville and 30 minutes to St. Augustine. 

The median home value in Julington Creek 

is $252,800. Home values have gone up 

3.6 percent over the past year and Zillow 

predicts they will rise 2 percent within the 

next year. The median list price per square 

foot in Julington Creek is $138, which is 

higher than the Jacksonville average of 

$112. The median price of homes currently 

listed in Julington Creek is $349,450. 

Compared to many areas of Florida, 

Julington Creek has a young residence 

base, with families flocking to the area 

because of the high-rated school system 

and close proximity to major super markets, 

pharmacies, top-ranked restaurants, golf 

courses, and numerous office parks. 

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. 

PALM VALLEY 

A MIX OF MODERN AND CLASSIC 

For a community with an evergreen name, 

Palm Valley has been through plenty of 

changes. Once home to only Native Americans 

and later Spanish settlers, in 1908 a canal 

was dug through the area (then called Diego 

Plains) connecting the San Pablo River to 

the north with the Tolomato River near St. 

Augustine to the south. This intracoastal canal 

made access much easier for the residents 

that had settled in this area. Residents raised 

cattle, farmed and logged. The plentiful 

palms prompted residents to change the 

name from Diego Plains to Palm Valley. 

Prohibition turned some of the valley 

residents to another source of income – 

moonshine. The abundant water supply 

and deep woods helped conceal illegal 

whiskey distilling. The moonshine industry 

thrived even after the Volstead Act was 

repealed in 1933, but the rising price of sugar 

finally brought the industry to an end. 

The expansion of the beaches has grown 

Palm Valley from a quiet community into a 

luxurious land to live on. Today, most farms in 

the valley have disappeared, and waterfront 

properties along Roscoe Boulevard sell 

for at least $1 million to several million. 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH 

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 U.S. 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 


NEIGHBORHOODS 

Racetrack Road 

Roscoe Blvd 

Palm 

Valley 

Nocatee Parkway 

Nocatee 

Mickler’s 

Landing 

Flagler 

Hospital 

COMMUNITIES 

Northeast 

Florida 

Regional 

Airport 



COMMUNITIES 

home price for Ponte Vedra Beach is 

$481,400, 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 U.S. still gives 

residents a taste of small-town charm 

more than 450 years after its founding. 

St. Augustine, 35 miles south of Jacksonville 

beside Matanzas Bay, was established by 

Spanish Admiral Don Pedro Menendez de 

Aviles Sept. 8, 1565. 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 

year-round 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 offers a shopping experience 

with antique shops, 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 are visited by locals and 

by visitors. The city is also known for its 

fine eateries. Restaurants in St. Augustine, 

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. 

The median home value for the area 

is $348,200. Golf course communities, 

oceanfront homes, Intracoastal Waterway 

spreads, marsh front properties and homes in 

the city’s historic district command top dollar. 

VILANO BEACH 

REBUILDING COMMUNITY 

Residents in the seaside community of 

Vilano Beach enjoy Oceanside living with 

a small-town feel. The community really 

started to develop in 1995 when the small 

bridge connecting Vilano Beach to the 

mainland was torn down and the Francis 

and Mary Usina Bridge, a graceful arch 

of steel and concrete, was opened. 


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 beachside community was affected 

by two hurricanes, Matthew in 2016 and 

Irma in 2017, which caused extensive 

damage to homes on the ocean. But, 

the tight-knit community is working to 

rebuild. The median listing price of a 

home in Vilano Beach is $549,495. 

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 self-contained 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 

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, 

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 continuing-care community 

for retirees, The Neighborhoods of World 

Golf Village blends many different ages, 

incomes and lifestyles. The price of homes 

begins in the $250,000s for patio homes and 

ranges to $2 million-plus for estate homes. 

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. 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. 

The PLAYERS Championship, a golf tournament on the PGA Tour, is held annually at the 

Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union) 

Serving Jacksonville for 40 years 

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NAMES, BRANDS, AND MODELS, MENTIONED IN THIS AD ARE USED FOR IDENTIFICATION PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE THE SOLE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE TRADEMARKED OWNERS.

EDUCATION 

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 20th largest school 

district in the nation, according to 2017 data, 

and the sixth largest school district in Florida. 

The First Coast has a tradition of creating 

opportunity for all students. Stanton Prep in 

Duval County was ranked No. 6 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 No. 191. 

In 2017, the Washington Post named area 

schools as America’s most challenging high 

schools based on a number of collegelevel 

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. 

9; Paxon School for Advanced Studies, No. 

27; Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, No. 

173; Creekside; and Allen D. Nease, No. 260. 

Located just west of Jacksonville is 

Baker County, an area comprised of several 

rural communities with more than 27,000 

residents. Baker County High School is 

the only public high school, serving nearly 

1,300 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). 

The Duval County School District was the 

recipient of the 2017 Sunshine Medallion 

Award for their excellence in public relations, 

earned for its broadcast T.V. program 

and “Quality Education for all Fund.” 

In St. Johns County, 18 high school seniors 

and one home school student qualified, 

based on their scores on the PSAT test taken 

as a junior, as National Merit Semifinalists 

EDUCATION 

for 2017, and are eligible to advance to the 

finalist competition to compete for nearly 7,500 

scholarships that are worth more than $33 

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 and Creekside High School. 

Currently, St. Johns County boasts 

a graduation rate of 90.5 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: Duval Choice. This 

program allows 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, 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, up-to-date 

information available to educate and inform 

members. For more information, visit fpea.com. 

Students made their way to Atlantic Beach 

Elementary School to start the 2017 school 

year. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union) 

Safety patrol members at Atlantic Beach Elementary 

School raise the American flag to get the school 

day started. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union) 


EDUCATION 

Public Schools (BY COUNTY) 

GROVE PARK 

BAKER COUNTY 1643 Miller St. 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS Orange Park 32073 

MACCLENNY 

904-336-1275 

One Wildkitten Drive KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 

Macclenny 32063 335 SW Pecan St. 

904-259-2551 

Keystone Heights 32656 

WESTSIDE 

352-473-4844 

One Panther Circle LAKE ASBURY 

Glen St. Mary 32040 2901 Sandridge Road 

904-259-2216 

Green Cove Springs 

32043 

MIDDLE SCHOOLS 

904-336-1525 

KELLER INTERMEDIATE 

LAKESIDE 

420 South Eighth St. 

2752 Moody Ave. 

Macclenny 32063 

Orange Park 32073 

904-259-4244 

904-336-1675 

BAKER COUNTY 

MCRAE 

211 Jonathan St. 

6770 County Road 315 C 



904-259-2226 

352-336-2125 

HIGH SCHOOL 

MIDDLEBURG 

BAKER COUNTY 3958 Main St. 

One Wildcat Drive Middleburg 32068 

Glen St. Mary 32040 904-336-1875 

904-259-6286 

MONTCLAIR 


CLAY COUNTY 


ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 904-336-1975 

ARGYLE 

OAKLEAF VILLAGE 

2625 Spencer Plantation 410 Oakleaf Village 

Blvd., Orange Park 32073 Parkway 

904-336-0375 


CHARLES E. BENNETT 904-291-5458 

One South Oakridge Ave. ORANGE PARK 

Green Cove Springs 1401 Plainfield Ave. 

32043 


904-336-0475 

904-336-2275 

CLAY HILL 

PATERSON 

6345 County Road 218 5400 Pine Ave. 

Jacksonville 32234 Fleming Island 32003 

904-336-0775 

904-336-2575 

CLAY VIRTUAL PLANTATION OAKS 

ACADEMY 

4150 Plantation Oaks 

2306 Kingsley Ave., Bldg. Blvd. 

20, Orange Park 32073 Orange Park 32065 

904-336-9875 

904-214-7474 

COPPERGATE 

RIDEOUT 

3460 Copper Colts Ct. 3065 Apalachicola Blvd. 

Middleburg 32068 Middleburg 32068 

904-336-0675 

904-336-2875 

DOCTORS INLET RIDGEVIEW 

2634 County Road 220 421 Jefferson Ave. 

Middleburg 32068 Orange Park 32065 

904-336-0975 

904-213-5800 

FLEMING ISLAND S. BRYAN JENNINGS 

4425 Lakeshore Drive 215 Corona Drive 

Fleming Island 32003 Orange Park 32073 

904-336-1075 

904-336-3175 


SHADOWLAWN 

2945 County Road 218 

Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-336-3375 

SWIMMING PEN CREEK 

1630 Woodpecker Lane 

Middleburg 32068 

904-336-3475 

THUNDERBOLT 

2020 Thunderbolt Road 

Fleming Island 32003 

904-336-3675 

TYNES 

1550 Tynes Blvd. 


904-336-3850 

W.E. CHERRY 

420 Edson Drive 


904-336-3975 

WILKINSON 



904-336-6175 


GREEN COVE SPRINGS 

1220 Bonaventure Ave. 

Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-336-5175 

LAKE ASBURY 

2851 Sandridge Road 

Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-2336-5375 

LAKESIDE 



904-213-1800 

OAKLEAF 


Blvd. 


904-213-5500 

ORANGE PARK 

1500 Gano Ave. 


904-336-5975 

WILKINSON 

5025 County Road 218 W. 


904-336-6175 

HIGH SCHOOLS 

CLAY 

2025 State Road 16 W. 


32043 

904-529-3000 


2233 Village Square 

Parkway, Fleming Island 

32003 

904-336-7500 

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 

900 Orchid Ave. 


352-473-2761 

MIDDLEBURG 



904-336-8075 

OAKLEAF 


Blvd. 


904-213-1900 

ORANGE PARK 

2300 Kingsley Ave. 


904-336-8675 

RIDGEVIEW 

466 Madison Ave. 


904-336-8975 

ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS 

PACE CENTER FOR 

GIRLS, CLAY 

1241 Blanding Blvd., 

Suite 5, Orange Park 

32065 

904-458-0840 

AMI KIDS @ CLAY HIGH 

2025 State Road 16 


32043 

904-529-3057 

FLORIDA YOUTH 

CHALLENGE ACADEMY 


Starke 32091 

904-682-4036 

BANNERMAN LEARNING 

CENTER 

608 Mill St., Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-336-4975 

DUVAL COUNTY 

(Jacksonville unless 

otherwise noted) 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 

ABESS PARK 

12731 Abess Blvd. 32225 

904-220-1260 

ALIMACANI 

2051 San Pablo Road 

32224 

904-221-7101 


298 Sherry Drive 

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 Road W. 

32257 

904-739-5226 

BRIDGE TO SUCCESS 

ACADEMY AT WEST 

JACKSONVILLE 

2115 Commonwealth 

Ave. 32209 

904-630-6592 

BROOKVIEW 

10450 Theresa Drive 

32246 

904-565-2720 

CEDAR HILLS 

6534 Ish Brant Road 

32210, 904-573-1050 

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 Road 

32257 

904-260-5808 

DON BREWER 

3385 Hartsfield Road 

32277 

904-745-4990 

ENTERPRISE LEARNING 

ACADEMY 

8085 Old Middleburg 

Road 32222 

904-573-3260 

GREENLAND PINES 

5050 Greenland Road 

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 Drive 


904-247-5996 

KERNAN TRAIL 

2281 Kernan Blvd. S. 

32246 

904-220-1310 

KINGS TRAIL 

7401 Old Kings Road S. 

32217 

904-739-5254 

LOUIS SHEFFIELD 

13333 Lanier Road 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 Road 

32257 

904-260-5820 

MERRILL ROAD 

8239 Merrill Road 32277 

904-745-4919 

NEPTUNE BEACH 

1515 Florida Blvd. 

Neptune Beach 32266 

904-247-5954 

NEW BERLIN 

3613 New Berlin Road 

32226 

904-714-4601 

NORMANDY VILLAGE 

8257 Herlong Road 

32210 

904-693-7548 

PARKWOOD HEIGHTS 

1709 Lansdowne Drive 

32211 

904-720-167 

RAMONA BOULEVARD 

5540 Ramona Blvd. 

32205 

904-693-7576 

RUTH N. UPSON 

1090 Dancy St. 32205 

904-381-7485 

SABAL PALM 

1201 Kernan Blvd. N. 

32225 

904-221-7169 

SADIE T. TILLIS 

6084 Morse Ave. 32244 

904-573-1090 

SEABREEZE 

1400 Seabreeze Ave. 

Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-247-5900 

SOUTHSIDE ESTATES 

9775 Ivey Road 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 

Drive 32256 

904-538-0238 

WATERLEAF 

450 Kernan Blvd. N. 

32225 

904-565-8000 

WESTVIEW K-8 

SCHOOL 

5270 Connie Jean Road 

32210, 904-573-1082 

WHITEHOUSE 

11160 General Ave. 

32220 

904-693-7542 


ARLINGTON 

8141 Lone Star Road 

32211 

904-720-1680 

FLETCHER 

2000 N. Third St. 

Jacksonville Beach 

32250 

904-247-5929 

J. E. B. STUART 

4815 Wesconnett Blvd. 

32210 

904-573-1000 

JEFFERSON DAVIS 

7050 Melvin Road 

32210 

904-573-1060 

KERNAN 

2271 S. Kernan Blvd. 

32246 

904-220-1350 

LANDMARK 

101 N. Kernan Blvd. 

32225 

904-221-7125 

MANDARIN 

5100 Hood Road 32257 

904-292-0555 

OCEANWAY 

143 Oceanway Ave. 

32218 

904-714-4680 

TWIN LAKES 

8050 Point Meadows 

Drive 32256 

904-538-0825 

WESTVIEW 

5270 Connie Jean Road 

32210 

904-573-1082 

HIGH SCHOOLS 

ATLANTIC COAST 

9735 R.G. Skinner 

Parkway 32256 

904-538-5120 

EDWARD H. WHITE 

1700 Old Middleburg 

Road 32210 

904-693-7620 

ENGLEWOOD 

4412 Barnes Road 

32207 

904-739-5212 

FIRST COAST 

590 Duval Station Road 

32218 

904-757-0080 

FLETCHER 

700 Seagate Ave. 


904-247-5905 

SANDALWOOD 

2750 John Prom Blvd. 

32246 

904-646-5100 

TERRY PARKER 

7301 Parker School 

Road 32211 

904-720-1650 

WESTSIDE 

5530 Firestone Road 

32244 

904-573-1170 

NASSAU COUNTY 

PRIMARY/ 

ELEMENTARY 

SCHOOLS 

BRYCEVILLE (K-5) 

6504 Church Ave. 

Bryceville 32009 

904-266-9241 

CALLAHAN (PK2- 2) 

449618 U.S. Highway 

301 

Callahan 32011 

904-879-2121 

CALLAHAN 

INTERMEDIATE (3-5) 

34586 Ball Park Road 


904-879-1114 

EMMA LOVE HARDEE 

(3-5) 

2200 Susan Drive 

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 

WILDLIGHT 

550 Curiosity Ave. 

32097 

904-225-3053 

YULEE (3-5) 

86063 Felmor Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-5192 

YULEE PRIMARY 

(PREK-2) 

86426 Goodbread Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-9711 


CALLAHAN (6-8) 

450121 Old Dixie 

Highway 


904-879-3606 


(6-8) 

315 Citrona Drive 


32034 

904-491-7938 

HILLIARD MIDDLE- 

SENIOR HIGH (6-12) 

One Flashes Ave. 

Hilliard 32046 

904-845-2171 

YULEE (6-8) 

85439 Miner Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-5116 

HIGH SCHOOLS 


435 Citrona Drive 


32034 

904-261-5713 

WEST NASSAU 

COUNTY (9-12) 

One Warrior Drive 


904-879-3461 

YULEE (9-12) 

85375 Miner Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-8641 


ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 

JOHN A. CROOKSHANK 

1455 North Whitney St. 

St. Augustine 32084 

904-547-7840 

CUNNINGHAM CREEK 

1205 Roberts Road 

St. Johns 32259 

904-547-7860 

DURBIN CREEK 

4100 Race Track Road 


904-547-3880 

W. D. HARTLEY 

260 Cacique Drive 


904-547-8400 

HICKORY CREEK 

235 Hickory Creek Trail 


904-547-7450 


2316 Racetrack Road 


904-547-7980 

KETTERLINUS 

67 Orange St. 


904-547-8540 

MILL CREEK 

3750 International Golf 

Parkway 


904-547-3720 

OCEAN PALMS 

355 Landrum Lane 

Ponte Vedra Beach 

32082 

904-547-3760 

OSCEOLA 

1605 Osceola 

Elementary Road, St. 

Augustine 32084 

904-547-3780 

OTIS A. MASON 

207 Mason Manatee 

Way 


904-547-8440 

PALENCIA 

355 Palencia Village 

Drive, St. Augustine 

32095 

904-547-4010 

PICOLATA CROSSING 

2675 Pacetti Rd. 32092 

904-547-4160 

PV/PV – RAWLINGS 

610 A1A North, Ponte 

Vedra Beach 32082 

PV/PV: 904-547-3820; 

Rawlings: 904-547- 

8570 

R. B. HUNT 

125 Magnolia Drive 


904-547-7960 

SOUTH WOODS 


West Elkton 32033 

904-547-8610 

TIMBERLIN CREEK 

555 Pine Tree Lane 


904-547-7400 

WARDS CREEK 



904-547-8730 

THE WEBSTER 

SCHOOL 

420 North Orange St. 


904-547-3860 

K-8 Schools 

LIBERTY PINES 

ACADEMY 

10901 Russell 

Sampson Road, St. 

Johns 32259 

904-547-7900 

PATRIOT OAKS 

ACADEMY 

475 Longleaf Pine 

Parkway, St. Johns 

32259 

904-547-4050 

VALLEY RIDGE 

ACADEMY 

105 Greenleaf Drive 

Ponte Vedra 32081 

904-547-4090 


ALICE B. LANDRUM 

230 Landrum Lane, 

Ponte Vedra Beach 

32082 

904-547-8410 

FRUIT COVE 

3180 Race Track Road 


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 


904-547-3840 

EDUCATION 

SWITZERLAND POINT 

777 Greenbriar Road 


904-547-8650 

HIGH SCHOOLS 

ALLEN D. NEASE 

10550 Ray Road 


904-547-8300 

BARTRAM TRAIL 

7399 Longleaf Pine 

Parkway, St. Johns 

32259 

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 Road 


904-547-7350 

ST. AUGUSTINE 

3205 Varella Avenue 


904-547-8530 

ST. JOHNS TECHNICAL 

2980 Collins Avenue 


904-547-8500 

ALTERNATIVE 

SCHOOLS 

GAINES ALTERNATIVE 

AND TRANSITION 

SCHOOLS 

AT THE EVELYN B. 

HAMBLEN CENTER 

One Christopher St. 


904-547-8560 


EDUCATION 

The Duval County Public Schools’ expo features an array of educational options for the 2017-2018 school year, reflecting the district’s initiatives for all 

schools and programs. (Bob Mack/The Florida Times-Union) 

Bright Futures 

Students can earn one 

of four scholarships 

toward education. 

Students must apply in order to 

receive a 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. 

FOUR 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 

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 and Math 440; ACT English 17, Reading 19 and 

Math 19; or PERT scores Reading 106, Writing 103 and Math 114. 

Applicants must also take at least three full credits in a single Career 

and Technical Education program and achieve the required minimum 

3.5 GPA in the career education courses. 

4. Gold Seal Cape Scholars (GSC): Requires a minimum of five postsecondary 

credit hours through CAPE industry certifications which 

articulate for college credit; 30 service hours. 

Students are also required to submit 

Proof of Dependency, a Declaration of 

Florida Residency, documentation of service 

hours and official high school transcripts. 

For more information about the requirements 

for the Bright Futures scholarships, 

visit floridastudentfinancialaid.org. 

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 Choice program. Duval County boasts 

the magnet programs in more than 50 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. 

Duval County Public Schools hosts its annual 

School Choice Expo, typically in January, at the 

Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. Following 

the expo, 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. Choice schools were designated 

to give students the opportunity to transfer 

from their assigned school. As of 2017-2018, 

all traditional elementary and middle schools 

are part of Duval Choice. These transfers can 

only occur during the Special Transfer Option 

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 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 PROGRAMS 

These schools 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, 

Julia Landon, Kirby-Smith, LaVilla School of 

the Arts, Frank H. Peterson, Paxon School 

for Advanced Studies, A. Philip Randolph 

and Stanton College Preparatory 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. The programs include 

Advanced International Certificate of 

Education (AICE), AP Honors, Early College 

and International Baccalaureate. 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 toward “highly 

motivated, academically exceptional students” 

attending high school. The program sponsors 

a “flexible, wide-ranged, two year program 

for upperclassmen,” and the University of 

Cambridge International Examinations hosts it. 

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 

three on a five-point scale on a comprehensive 

exam the College Board created. 

Early College, sometimes referred to 

as a “school within a school,” is a small 

community of students that have a curriculum 

of both high school and college courses. 

This program allows students to earn a high 

school diploma and credits toward 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 seeking 

a challenging curriculum based on college 

preparation. The purpose of the program is 

to promote students who recognize world 

citizenship to create a better world. 

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. The Duval 

County Health Department’s Immunization 

Center can be reached at 904-253-1420. 

Students entering, attending, or 

transferring into seventh, eighth or ninth 

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 seventh, eighth 

and ninth 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 904-348-7800 


EDUCATION 

How to Apply 

CHOICE SCHOOLS 

Choice applications can be 

found online at duvalschools.org/ 

schoolchoice in the “forms” section. 

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 a lottery that is based on supply 

and demand. Priority is given to students whose 

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH ACADEMIES 

ALFRED I. DUPONT MIDDLE 

ANDREW A. ROBINSON ELEMENTARY 

ANDREW JACKSON HIGH 

BALDWIN MIDDLE/HIGH 

BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY 

CARTER G. WOODSON ELEMENTARY 

CENTRAL RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY 

CHIMNEY LAKES ELEMENTARY 

CRYSTAL SPRINGS ELEMENTARY 

DARNELL COOKMAN MIDDLE/HIGH 

DINSMORE ELEMENTARY 

DOUGLAS ANDERSON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 

EDWARD H. WHITE 

ENGLEWOOD ELEMENTARY 

FISHWEIR ELEMENTARY 

FORT CAROLINE MIDDLE 

FRANK H. PETERSON ACADEMIES 

GREENFIELD ELEMENTARY 

HENRY F. KITE ELEMENTARY 

HIGHLANDS MIDDLE 

HOLIDAY HILL ELEMENTARY 

J. ALLEN AXSON ELEMENTARY 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH ELEMENTARY 

JAMES W. JOHNSON COLLEGE PREP MIDDLE 

JEAN RIBAULT HIGH 

JEAN RIBAULT MIDDLE 

JOHN E. FORD K-8 

JOHN STOCKTON ELEMENTARY 

JOSEPH STILWELL MIDDLE 

JULIA LANDON COLLEGE PREPARATORY 

& LEADERSHIP 

KIRBY-SMITH MIDDLE 

LAKE FOREST ELEMENTARY 

LAKE SHORE MIDDLE 


parent is employed at the school they are 

applying for, along with dependents of recently 

transitioned active-duty military members. 

Applicants will also receive priority If they have 

a sibling enrolled at the school who can attend 

again the next school year, or if the principal of 

the school signs the application. Families are 

notified mid-June. 

MAGNET PROGRAMS 

Families can either apply on paper or 

online, and the deadline is the same for both 

options. If someone is currently enrolled in a 

Duval County public school, his or her name 

will be recognized in the system and they 

can see which priorities have an effect on 

their choices. Applicants will need the 10-digit 

Duval County Magnet Schools 

SCHOOL NAME 

ADDRESS 



1157 Golfair Blvd. 32209 

2710 Dupont Ave. 32217 

101 W. 12th St. 32206 

3816 N. Main St. 32206 

291 Mills St. W 32234 

3750 Springfield Blvd. 32206 

2334 Butler St. 32209 

2555 Gilmore St. 32204 

9353 Staples Mills Drive 32244 

1200 Hammond Blvd. 32221 

1701 N. Davis St. 32209 

7126 Civic Club Drive 32219 

2445 San Diego Road 32207 

1700 Old Middleburg Rd. N. 

4359 Spring Park Road 32207 

3977 Herschel St. 32205 

3787 University Club Blvd. 32277 

7450 Wilson Blvd. 32210 

6343 Knights Lane N. 32216 

9430 Lem Turner Road 32208 

10913 Pine Estates Road E. 32218 

6900 Altama Road 32216 

4763 Sutton Park Court 32224 

315 10th St. S, Jacksonville Beach 32250 

13276 Norman E Thagard Blvd. 32254 

3701 Winton Drive 32208 

3610 Ribault Scenic Drive 32208 

1137 Cleveland St. 32209 

4827 Carlisle Road 32210 

7840 Burma Road 32221 

1819 Thacker Ave. 32207 

2034 Hubbard St. 32206 

901 Kennard St. 32208 

2519 Bayview Road 32210 

GRADE 

PK, 6-12 

6-8 

PK-5 

9-12 

6-12 

KG-5 

PK-5 

PK-5 

PK-5 

PK-5 

PK, 6-10 

KG-5 

9-12 

9-12 

KG-5 

PK-5 

6-8 

9-12 

KG-5 

KG-5 

6-8 

PK-5 

PK-5 

KG-5 

6-8 

9-12 

6-8 

PK-8 

KG-5 

6-8 

6-8 

6-8 

PK-5 

6-8 

PHONE 

904-924-3011 

904-739-5200 

904-630-6550 

904-630-6950 

904-266-1200 

904-630-6630 

904-924-3004 

904-381-7495 

904-573-1100 

904-693-7645 

904-630-6805 

904-924-3126 

904-346-5620 

904-693-7620 

904-739-5280 

904-381-3910 

904-745-4927 

904-573-1150 

904-739-5249 

904-924-3031 

904-696-8771 

904-720-1676 

904-992-3600 

904-720-1663 

904-630-6640 

904-924-3092 

904-924-3062 

904-630-6540 

904-381-3955 

904-693-7523 

904-346-5650 

904-630-6600 

904-924-3024 

904-381-7440 

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 applicants only apply to a program 

the student really wants. If an applicant uses 

the paper form and the student is eligible for 

program continuity to the next school level, 

he or she must make sure they mark that 

selection on the application or, if they are filling 

out a blank form, they must fill in the box. 

For more information on how to apply to all 

of the programs listed, or for more information 

about schools that have possible openings 

to both magnet and non-magnet Choice 

schools, refer to the website duvalschools.org/ 

schoolchoice, where all applications and the 

School Choice Reference Guide can be found. 

MAGNET SPECIALTY 

Technology 

International Business & World Language Academy 

STEM 

Early College; Engineering Academy 

Information technology 

Visual and performing arts 

Medical arts 

Gifted and academically talented 

International studies 

Business and entrepreneurship 

Medical arts 

Science 


Military Leadership 

Literacy and technology 

Performing arts 

International Baccalaureate; Middle years Spanish 

Technology 

STEM 

International studies 

Aviation; Military sciences 

Gifted 

Montessori 

Gifted 

Gifted 

JROTC – Marine Corps 

Early high school 

Montessori; Spanish Montessori 

Math, science and technology 

Military Leadership 

Gifted; Leadership 



IB; Early years Spanish 

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 

SCHOOL NAME 

LAVILLA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 

LONE STAR ELEMENTARY 

LORETTO ELEMENTARY 

MANDARIN HIGH 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ELEMENTARY 

MATTHEW W. GILBERT MIDDLE 

MAYPORT ELEMENTARY 

MAYPORT MIDDLE 

NORTH SHORE ELEMENTARY 

ORTEGA ELEMENTARY 

PAXON SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES 

PINEDALE ELEMENTARY 

PINE FOREST ELEMENTARY 

R. V. DANIELS ELEMENTARY 

RICHARD L. BROWN ELEMENTARY 

ROBERT E. LEE HIGH 

RUFUS E. PAYNE ELEMENTARY 

SALLYE B. MATHIS ELEMENTARY 

SAMUEL W. WOLFSON HIGH 

SAN JOSE ELEMENTARY 

SAN MATEO ELEMENTARY 

SAN PABLO ELEMENTARY 

SOUTHSIDE MIDDLE 

SPRING PARK ELEMENTARY 

STANTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY 

SUSIE E. TOLBERT ELEMENTARY 

THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY 

VENETIA ELEMENTARY 

WEST RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY 

WILLIAM M. RAINES HIGH 

WINDY HILL ELEMENTARY 

WOODLAND ACRES ELEMENTARY 

YOUNG MEN’S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 

YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 

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 

ADDRESS 



501 N. Davis St. 32202 

10400 Lone Star Road 32225 

3900 Loretto Road 32223 

4831 Greenland Road 32258 

8801 Lake Placid Drive E. 32208 

1424 Franklin St. 32206 

2753 Shangri-La Drive, Atlantic Beach 32233 

2600 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach 32233 

5701 Silver Plaza 32208 

4010 Baltic St. 32210 

3239 Norman E. Thagard Blvd. 32254 

4229 Edison Ave. 32254 

3929 Grant Road 32207 

1951 W. 15th St. 32209 

1535 Milnor St. 32206 

1200 S. McDuff Ave. 32205 

6725 Hema Road 32209 


7000 Powers Ave. 32217 

5805 St. Augustine Road 32207 

600 Baisden Road 32218 

801 18th Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach 32250 

2948 Knights Lane E. 32216 

2250 Spring Park Road 32207 

1149 W. 13th St. 32209 

1925 W. 13th St. 32209 

8233 Nevada St. 32220 

4300 Timuquana Road 32210 

2801 Herschel St. 32205 

3663 Raines Ave. 32209 

3831 Forest Blvd. 32246 

328 Bowlan St. N. 32211 

900 Acorn St. 32209 

900 Acorn St. 32209 

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 M - DTO 

3787 University Club Blvd. 

904-745-4927 

GARDEN CITY - QEA 

2814 Dunn Ave. 32218 

904-924-3130 

GEORGE W. CARVER - QEA 

2854 West 45th St. 32209 

904-924-3122 

GRADE 

6-8 

KG-5 

PK-5 

9-12 

KG-5 

6-8 

PK-5 

6-8 

KG-5 

KG-5 

9-12 

KG-5 

KG-5 

KG-2 

KG-5 

9-12 

PK-5 

PK-5 

9-12 

PK-5 

KG-5 

KG-5 

6-8 

PK-5 

9-12 

3-5 

KG-5 

KG-5 

KG-5 

9-12 

PK-5 

PK-5 

6-8 

6-8 

PHONE 

904-633-6069 

904-565-2711 

904-260-5800 

904-260-3911 

904-924-3027 

904-630-6700 

904-247-5988 

904-247-5977 

904-924-3081 

904-381-7460 

904-693-7583 

904-381-7490 

904-346-5600 

904-630-6872 

904-630-6570 

904-381-3930 

904-924-3020 

904-924-3086 

904-739-5265 

904-739-5260 

904-696-8750 

904-247-5947 

904-739-5238 

904-346-5640 

904-630-6760 

904-630-6860 

904-693-7500 

904-381-3990 

904-381-3900 

904-924-3049 

904-565-2700 

904-720-1663 

904-630-6900 

904-630-6900 

EDUCATION 

GREGORY DRIVE 

- DTO 

7800 Gregory Drive 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 

MAGNET SPECIALTY 



Technology 

Cambridge Secondary 2 

Foreign language, academics & music enrichment 

Middle years exploration w/tech 

Coastal sciences 

Coastal sciences 

Science 

Museum studies 

College prep; IB; Diploma Programme 

STEM 


Gifted 

IB; Primary years 

Early College; Engineering 

IB; Primary years Chinese 

STEM 

Business; Finance; Law 

Dual language – Spanish 

Accelerated Academy of Learning 

Science 

IB; Middle years Spanish 

IB; Primary years Spanish 

IB; Diploma Programme 

Gifted 

Multiple intelligences 

Medical arts 

Dual language – Spanish 

Info. technology; arts 

Leadership 

Medical arts 

Leadership and tech. 

Leadership and tech. 


EDUCATION 

HYDE PARK - DTO 

5300 Park St. 32205 

904-381-3950 

JEAN RIBAULT M - DTO 

3610 Ribault Scenic Dr. 

32208 

904-924-3062 

JOHN E. FORD - QEA 

1137 Cleveland St. 

32209 

904-630-6540 

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 Road 

32277 

904-745-4916 

LONG BRANCH - QEA 


904-630-6620 


MARTIN LUTHER KING 

- QEA 

8801 Lake Placid Drive E. 

32208 

904-924-3027 

MATTHEW GILBERT 

- QEA 


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 

Charter Schools 

(BY COUNTY) 

DUVAL COUNTY 



BISCAYNE HIGH 

SCHOOL 

1680 Dunn Ave. 

32218 

904-423-8855 

BRIDGEPREP ACADEMY 

K-8 

6400 Atlantic 

Blvd. 32211 

904-342-6466 

DUVAL CHARTER 

SCHOLARS ACADEMY 

100 Scholars 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 CENTER 

12755 Flagler 

Center Blvd. 32258 

904-899-1010 

DUVAL CHARTER 

AT MANDARIN 

5209 Shad Road 

32257 

904-440-2901 

DUVAL CHARTER 

AT SOUTHSIDE 

8680 AC Skinner 

Parkway 32256 

904-423-5348 

DUVAL CHARTER 

AT WESTSIDE 

9238 103rd St. 32210 

904-421-0250 

FLORIDA CYBER 

CHARTER ACADEMY 

9143 Philips Highway 

32256, Suite 590 

904-247-3268 

GLOBAL OUTREACH 

ACADEMY 

9570 Regency 

Square Blvd. 32225 

904-551-7104 

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 


904-924-3092 

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 

KIPP JACKSONVILLE 

K-8 

1440 N. McDuff 

Ave. 32254 

904-683-6643 

KIPP IMPACT 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 


Ave. 32254 

904-683-6643 

KIPP VOICE 

ELEMENTARY 


Ave. 32254 

904-683-6643 

LONE STAR HIGH 

SCHOOL 

8050 Lone Star 

Road 32211 

904-725-5998 

MYCROSCHOOL FOR 

INTEGRATED 

TECHNOLOGIES 

1584 Normandy 

Village Parkway 

Suite 25, 32221 

904-783-3611 

RIVER CITY SCIENCE 

ACADEMY 

ELEMENTARY 

7555 Beach Blvd. 

32216 

904-565-0065 


ACADEMY 


32216 

904-855-8010 


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 

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 


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 

counties is that they have more freedom 

from many of the guidelines that are present 

in traditional public schools. Duval and St. 

Johns counties have charter schools serving 

many grade levels. Below you will find the 

charter schools in the two counties, their 

locations and their contact information. 

SEACOAST CHARTER 

ACADEMY 

9100 Regency Square 

Blvd. N. 32211 

904-562-4780 

SEASIDE COMMUNITY 

CHARTER 

2630 State Road 

A1A 32233 

904-853-6287 

SOMERSET ACADEMY 

ELEMENTARY- 

EAGLE CAMPUS 


Road 32211 

904-551-3292 

SOMERSET ACADEMY 

MIDDLE-EAGLE 

CAMPUS 


Road 32211 

904-551-3292 

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 

WAVERLY ACADEMY 

5710 Westconnett 

Blvd. 32244 

904-647-8552 

WAYMAN ACADEMY 

OF THE ARTS 

1176 LaBelle 

St. 32205 

904-695-9995 


ST. JOHNS 

COMMUNITY 

CAMPUS (ARC) 

62 Cuna St., St. 


904-209-6842 

THERAPEUTIC 

LEARNING CENTER 

2109 Arc Drive, St. 


904-824-8932 

ST. AUGUSTINE 

PUBLIC MONTESSORI 

7 Williams St., St. 


904-342-5350 

CLAY COUNTY CAREER ACADEMIES 

SCHOOL 

CLAY HIGH SCHOOL 

FLEMING ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL 

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL 

MIDDLEBURG HIGH SCHOOL 

OAKLEAF HIGH SCHOOL 

ORANGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL 

RIDGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL 

SCHOOL 

ALLEN D. NEASE 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 

ACADEMIES 

“Bartram Trail, Ponte Vedra and Creekside high schools also have 

advanced academic programs for students who live within their school 

zones only,” according to the school district’s website. 

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 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; VyStar Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship 

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

Service; Cambridge AICE Academy; STEM Academy 

Academy of Business and Leadership; Academy of Engineering, Manufacturing and Design; Orange Park 

Medical Center Academy of Health; Academy of Family and Consumer Services 

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

Design; Academy of Technology and Innovation 

ST. JOHNS COUNTY CAREER ACADEMIES 

ACADEMIES 

PROGRAMS OF CHOICE 

ACCELERATION ACADEMIES 

There are three acceleration academies in St. Johns County: 

SCHOOL 


PEDRO MENENDEZ 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; 

Academy of Information Technology 

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 

PROGRAM 

International Baccalaureate 

Program (IB) 

International Baccalaureate 

Program (IB) 

Advanced International 

Certificate of Education (AICE) 

ROTC PROGRAMS 

“The Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is a program of choice 

designed to focus on leadership development, problem solving, 

strategic planning, and professional ethics," according to the school 

district’s website. 

SCHOOL 


BARTRAM TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL 


PROGRAM 

Navy JROTC 

Air Force JROTC 

Army JROTC 


EDUCATION 

EDUCATION 

Private Schools 

(BY COUNTY) 

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 the school name. 

Northeast Florida is home to many institutes of higher education, including 

Jacksonville University. Here, the JU Honors String Quartet plays for 

the school’s President, Tim Cost. (Bob Mack/Florida Times-Union) 

Florida Residents Can Lock in 

Cost of College Tuition 

Florida Prepaid College and 529 

Savings Plans are great ways 

to save for the future. 

The Florida Prepaid College Board’s 

investment program lets parents pay for 

tuition, fees and dorm housing for 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. 

The 529 Savings Plan, named 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. 

The Florida Prepaid College Plan, allows 

parents to select from options with specific 

costs, payment schedules and benefits. The 

largest difference between the two is that 

the 529 plan has the possibility to fluctuate 

due to financial markets, whereas the other 

is guaranteed by the state of Florida. 

The 529 option allows for families to pay as 

much as they would like, as often as they would 

like. On the other hand, the prepaid option 

has its first payment due April 20, 2018. 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. 

Taking Advantage of Prepaid College 

Number of children enrolled in the Florida 

Prepaid College Plan by county: 

Duval: 36,794 

Baker: 701 

Clay: 9,938 

Nassau: 2,800 

St. Johns: 14,444 

= 1,000 Children 

For more information about how to sign up for 

Florida Prepaid or to learn more about the different 

plans, visit myfloridaprepaid.com. 

BAKER COUNTY 

UNITED CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-12 

590 N. Seventh St. 


unitedchristianmacclenny.com 

904-259-1199 

CLAY COUNTY 

ANNUNCIATION CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 

1610 Blanding Blvd. 


annunciationcatholic.org 

904-282-0504 

CALVARY CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-12 

1532 Long Bay Road 


ccjra.com 

904-282-2068 

CENTER ACADEMY SPECIAL 

PROGRAM EMPHASIS 6-12 



centeracademy.com 

904-276-3552 

CHRISTIAN HOME ACADEMY 

ALTERNATIVE SCH. K-12 

16 College Drive 


christianhomeacademy.info 

904-276-3339 

CITIZENS’ HIGH SCH. 9-12 

188 College Drive 

P.O. Box 66089 


citizenshighschool.com 

904-276-1700 

EAGLE HARBOR PKWY 

KINDERCARE NS-PK 

1735 Eagle Harbor Parkway 


kindercare.com 

904-278-7710 

FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

PK-12 



fcaflorida.com 

904-276-1300 

GRACE EPISCOPAL DAY 

SCH. PK-8 



geds.net 

904-269-3718 

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 1-12 

4325 US Highway 17 


hcafi.info 

904-343-1561 

HIGHPOINT CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY SPECIAL 

PROGRAM EMPHASIS 7-12 

84 Knight Boxx Road 


highpointchristianacademy. 

com/academy 

904-272-7949 

MADEIRA CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-9 



904-291-1875 

ORANGE PARK 

KINDERGARTEN 



opkinc.org 

904-264-9959 

PINEWOOD CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-8 

198 Knight Boxx Road 


pcaknights.org 

904-272-6408 

PRIMROSE SCH. OF 

FLEMING ISLAND K 

Alternative School 

2031 Town Center Blvd. 


primroseschools.com/ 

schools/fleming-island 

904-298-3938 

SEAMARK RANCH K-12 

3631 Seamark Ranch Road 

Green Cove Springs 32043 

seamarkranch.com 

904-529-1951 

SEVEN BRIDGES SCH. 3-11 

Special Education School 

402 Loring Ave. 


albertseducationcenter.com 

904-269-7377 

ST. JOHNS COUNTRY DAY 

SCH. PK-12 

3100 Doctors Lake Drive 


sjcds.net 

904-264-9572 

FREE 2 BE ME 

[ORANGE PARK] KG-12 


772 Foxridge Center Drive, 


broachschool.com 

904-264-2522 

WONDERWORKS PK-K 

2036 Reed St. 


904-264-7330 

DUVAL COUNTY 

FIRST AVENUE MONTESSORI 

SCH. PK-K 

617 1st Ave. N. 

firstavenue 

montessorischool.com 


904-246-0433 

A CHILD’S PLACE 

MONTESSORI SCH. NS-5 

3718 Salisbury Road 

Jacksonville 32216 

a-childs-place.com 

904-733-5797 

ACADEMIE DE MONTESSORI 

PK-6 

1216 Lasalle St. 


academie-de-montessori.org 

904-398-3830 

ACADEMY OF SCHOLARS 

6620 Arlington Expressway, 


academyofscholarsinc.org 

904-274-1107 

AL-FURQAN ACADEMY PK-5 

2333 St. Johns Bluff Road S. 


alfurqanacademy.org 

904-645-0810 

AMIKIDS JACKSONVILLE 

ALTERNATIVE SCH. 6-12 



amikids.org 

904-223-1121 

ARGYLE CHRISTIAN PK-K 

6823 Argyle Forest Blvd. 


myacpk.com 

904-778-4838 

ARLINGTON COUNTRY DAY 

SCH. K-12 

5725 Fort Caroline Road 


facebook.com/ 

arlingtoncountryday 

904-762-0123 

ARLINGTON KINDERGARTEN 

PK-KG 

1210 Marcheck St. 


1210 Marcheck Street 

arlingtonkindergarten.com 

904-743-4034 

ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 

2431 Atlantic Blvd. 


assumptionjax.org 

904-398-1774 



#2 Atlantic Court 



904-249-0888 

BAYMEADOWS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-8 

4826 Baymeadows Road 


academy.bbcjx.org 

904-733-3400 

BAYMEADOWS KINDERCARE 

NS-PK 

8401 Baymeadows Way 



904-730-9181 

BEACHES CHAPEL SCH. 

PK-12 



beacheschapelschool.com 

904-241-4211 

BEACHES EPISCOPAL SCH. 

PK-6 

1150 5th St. N. 


beachesepiscopalschool.org 

904-246-2466 

BEVERLEY HILLS 

DEVELOPMENT CENTER 

NS-PK 

3731 Rogers Ave. 


childcarecenter.us 

904-768-3428 

BIBLE BAPTIST ACADEMY 

2-12 

3134 Trout River Blvd. 


jacksonville.bible-baptistchurch.us 

904-765-5111 

BISHOP JOHN J. SNYDER 

HIGH SCH. 9-12 

5001 Samaritan Way 


bishopsnyder.org 

904-771-1029 

BISHOP KENNY HIGH SCH. 

9-12 

1055 Kingman Ave. 


bishopkenny.org 

904-398-7545 

BLESSED TRINITY CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 



blessedtrinitycatholic 

school.org 

904-641-6458 

BROACH SCHOOL OF 

JACKSONVILLE 6-12 


929 McDuff Ave. S. 


broachschool.com/westhome-page.html 

904-389-5106 

BROACH SCHOOL SOUTH 

1-12 


11915 Beach Blvd. #101 


broachschool.com/South- 

Home-Page.html 

904-674-0900 

CEDAR CREEK CHRISTIAN 

SCH. PK-12 

1372 Lane Ave. S. 


cccsjax.org 

904-781-9151 

CEDAR HILLS BAPTIST 

CHRISTIAN SCH. PK-8 

4200 Jammes Road 


chbcs.org 

904-772-0812 



EDUCATION 

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 

SCHOOL [ARLINGTON] 1-12 



lighthousechristian 

school.net 

904-642-4043 


SCHOOL [MANDARIN] 4-12 

3423 Loretto Road 



school.net 

904-288-0673 

LITTLE STAR CENTER INC. PK 


8011 Philips Highway Suite 10 


littlestarjax.com 

904-928-0112 

MARTIN J GOTTLIEB DAY 

SCH. K-8 

Special Program Emphasis 

3662 Crown Point Road 


mjgds.org 

904-268-4200 

MONTESSORI TIDES 

SCH. PK-6 

1550 Penman Road 


montessoritides.com 

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 


morningstar-jax.org 

904-721-2144 

NEW BEGINNING PK-KG 

2804 W Edgeview Ave. 


904-765-2845 

NEW BEGINNINGS 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1-12 

7020 Ramona Blvd. 


nbca.nbccjax.org 

904-786-3178 

NEW DIMENSIONS 

LEARNING CENTER PK-1 

3612 Belfort Road 


ndlcjax.com 

904-739-1062 

Bishop Kenny High School, a private Catholic school 

serving grades 9 through 12, makes sure students 

have the tools and technology they need to succeed. 

(Photo provided by Bishop Kenny High School) 

A Legacy of Catholic Education Since 1952 

, 

For 66 years Bishop Kenny High School 

has been privileged to help young people 

explore their gifts, expand their 

understanding, and grow In God's love. 

“Preparing minds, hearts 

and souls for college and life.” 

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 


www.bishopkenny.org 

CENTER ACADEMY 4-12 


10679 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville 32257 

centeracademy.com 

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 


chappellschools.com 

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 Jacksonville 32210 

childcarecenter.us 

904-854-0100 

CHRIST THE KING CATHOLIC SCH. PK-8 

6822 Larkin Road 


ctkschooljax.com 

904-724-2954 

CHRIST’S CHURCH 

ACADEMY K-12 

10850 Old St. Augustine 

Road, Jacksonville 32257 

ccajax.org 

904-268-8667 

CHRIST (UNITED) 

METHODIST KINDERGARTEN 

PK-K 



christumcnb.org 

904-249-5370 

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE 

ACADEMY KG-8 



chajax.org 

904-733-4722 

CLARKE SCHOOLS FOR 

HEARING & SPEECH PK-KG 

Jacksonville Special 

Education School 

9803 Old St. Augustine Road, 

Suite 7 


clarkeschools.org 

904-880-9001 

COMMUNITY 

PRESBYTERIAN PK-K 

150 Sherry Drive 


cpcab.org 

904- 241-7335 

CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 7-12 



conservative.edu 

904-268-7777 

CORAL RIDGE BAPTIST 

SCH. 6-12 


2967 Huffman Blvd. 


coralridgebaptistministries.net 

904-485-7189 

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN 

SCH. PK-1 



csjax.org 

904-730-5500 

CROSSROADS CHRISTIAN 

SCH. 5-8 




ces-schools.net 

904-254-6428 

DEPAUL SCHOOL OF NE 

FLORIDA 

[GUDAL CAMPUS] 2-8 

3044 San Pablo Road S. 


depaulschool.com 

904-223-3391 

DISCOVERY MONTESSORI 

SCH. K-7 

102 15th St. S. 


dmsonline.org 

904-247-4577 

EAGLE ACADEMY NS 



904-722-9223 

EAGLE'S VIEW ACADEMY 

KG-12 

7788 Ramona Blvd. W. 


evajax.com 

904-786-1411 

EPHESUS JUNIOR ACADEMY 

K-9 

2760 Edgewood Ave. W. 


ephesusjunioracademy.org 

904-765-3225 

EPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF 

JACKSONVILLE 6-12 



esj.org 

904-396-5751 

ESPRIT DE CORPS CENTER 

FOR LEARNING K-12 

9840 Wagner Road 


edccenterforlearning.com 

904-924-2000 

EUNICE CHRISTIAN 

SCH. K-12 


P.O. Box 26157 


eunicechristianprivate 

school.com 

904-351-6610 

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY 

OF JACKSONVILLE KG-8 

600 N. Main St. 


fbcjaxacademy.com 

904-265-7474 

FIRST COAST ACADEMY, 

INC. 9-12 

2725 College St. 


fcahighschool.org 

904-381-1935 

FIRST COAST CHRISTIAN 

SCH. PK-12 



fccsjax.org 

904-777-3040 

FT. CAROLINE 

LEARNING TREE K-6 



learningtreeschools.org 

904-744-0434 

FT. CAROLINE BAPTIST 

ACADEMY NS-PK 



fcbajax.com 

904-642-3210 

GRACE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 

479 Center St. N. 

Baldwin 32234 

gbcbaldwin.org 

904-266-9532 

GRACE LUTHERAN SCH PK-8 



gracelcms.com 

904-928-9136 

GREAT STRIDES 

REHABILITATION PK-K 


12276 San Jose Blvd. 

Suite 508 


greatstridesrehab.com 

904-886-3228 

GREENWOOD SCHOOL 6-12 


9920 Regency Square Blvd., 


greenwoodjax.org 

904-726-5000 

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 

hcsjax.org 

904-997-1882 

HEART TO HEART 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

& CHILDCARE 1-12 

8247 Ramona Blvd. W. 


h2hacademy.com 

904-783-8638 

HIGHLANDS BAPTIST 

WEEKDAY MINISTRY PK-K 

2159 Broward Road 


highlandsbaptist.net 

904-751-3500 

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 

9800-3 Baymeadows Road, 


holyfamilyjax.com 

904-645-9875 

HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 

4920 Brentwood Ave. 


holyrosaryschooljax.org 

904-765-6522 

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCH. 

PK-8 



hscatholicschool.com 

904-642-9165 

HOUSE OF GOD DAY CARE 

CENTER PK-K 

1916 Meharry Ave. 


houseofgod.org 

904-764-4444 

JACKSONVILLE ADVENTIST 

ACADEMY PK-8 

4298 Livingston Road 


jaxaa.org 

904-268-2433 

JACKSONVILLE ASSEMBLY 


6350 Old Kings Road N. 


jaxassembly.org 

904-786-1198 

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 1-12 

11697 Normandy Blvd. 


jcajacksonville.com 

904-783-2818 

JACKSONVILLE COUNTRY 

DAY SCH. NS-6 

10063 Baymeadows Road 


jcds.com 

904-641-6644 

JCA - MICHELE BLOCK GAN 

YELADIM PRESCHOOL & 

KINDERGARTEN NS-K 



jcajax.org 

904-730-2100 

JOSHUA CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-12 

924 Saint Clair St. 


jcacademy.org 

904-388-2227 

KEYSTONE ACADEMY PK-11 


6867 Southpoint Drive N. 


904-619-6071 


SCHOOL [NORTHSIDE] 3-12 


5400 N Pearl St. 



school.net 

904-353-7062 


SCHOOL [WESTSIDE] 4-12 


6800 W. 5th St. 



school.net 

904-854-4599 


EDUCATION 

EDUCATION 

ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY 9-12 



sjaweb.org 

904-824-0431 

THE VILLAGE ACADEMY PK-1 

145 Lewis Point Road 


village-academy.com 

904-797-5909 

TRINITY EARLY LEARNING CENTER K 

215 Saint George St. 


acswebnetworks.com 

904-824-2876 

TURNING POINT CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-6 



tpcalvary.com 

904-829-9795 

VICTORY PREPARATORY SCH. K-9 

110 Masters Drive 


victoryprep.org 

904-810-0534 

NEW LEAF SCHOOL FOR 

CHANGE 1-12 


407 3rd St. 


newleafschool.com 

904-246-9100 

NORTH FLORIDA 

EDUCATIONAL 

INSTITUTE K-8 

6803 Arques Road 


nfei.org 

904-574-8059 

NORTH FLORIDA 

EDUCATIONAL 

INSTITUTE 9-12 

580 Lawton Ave. 


www.nfei.org 

904-764-0084 

NORTH FLORIDA SCHOOL 

OF SPECIAL EDUCATION 

KG-12 


223 Mill Creek Road 


northfloridaschool.org 

OAK HILL CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-6 

7876 Gregory Drive 


904-771-9599 

OLD PLANK CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 

8964 Old Plank Road 


oldplankca.com 

904-783-4888 

OLD ST. AUGUSTINE ROAD 


4310 Barkoskie Road 



904-262-3034 

PABLO ACADEMY PRIVATE 

SCH. INC. K-12 

P.O. Box 350009 


pabloacademy.org 

904-412-3362 

PARSONS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 



pclions.org 

904-745-4588 

PARSONS’ LITTLE 

SCHOLARS PK-6 

6505 Ft. Caroline Road 


parsonslittlescholars.com 

904-744-3221 

PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF 

ST. JOHNS FOREST PK-KG 

180 Gateway Circle 


primroseschools.com 

904-824-1100 

PROMISE LAND ACADEMY 

K-7 

3990 Loretto Road 


promiselandschools.org 

904-268-2422 

PROVIDENCE SCH. PK-12 

2701 Hodges Blvd. 


prov.org 

904-223-5270 

RESURRECTION PARISH 

SCH. PK-8 

5710 Jack Road 


resurrectionschooljax.com 

904-744-1266 

RIVERSIDE PRESBYTERIAN 

DAY SCH. NS-6 

830 Oak St. 


rpds.com 

904-353-5511 

SACRED HEART SCH. PK-8 



sacredheartcatholicjax.com 

904-771-5800 

SAFE HARBOR ACADEMY 

9-12 

All-boys Alternative School 

4772 Safe Harbor Way 


safeharboracademy.com 

904-757-7918 

SAN JOSE CATHOLIC GRADE 

SCH. PK-8 

3619 Toledo Road 


sanjosecatholicschool.com 

904-733-2313 

SAN JOSE EPISCOPAL DAY 

SCH. NS-6 



sjeds.org 

904-733-0352 

SEACOAST CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-5 

861 Townsend Blvd. 


seacoastchristian 

academy.com 

904-421-3900 

SEACOAST CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 6-12 

8057 Arlington Expressway 


seacoastchristian 

academy.com 

904-722-1738 

SHEPHERD OF THE 

WOODS LUTHERAN SCH. 

[MANDARIN] PK-7 

6595 Columbia Park Court 


sotwjax.com 

904-641-8385 

ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL 

SCHOOL PK-5 



standrewsjax.com 

904-725-6566 

ST. JOHN’S PRESBYTERIAN 

KINDERGARTEN PK-K 

4275 Herschel St. 


sjpk.org 

904-389-8191 

ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC 

SCH PK-8 



stjosephcs.org 

904-268-6688 

ST. MARK’S EPISCOPAL 

DAY SCHOOL NS-6 

4114 Oxford Ave. 


stmarksdayschool.org 

904-388-2632 

ST. MATTHEW CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 



stmatthewscs.com 

904-387-4401 

ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 

1429 Broward Road 


stpatrickjacksonville.org 

904-768-6323 

ST. PAUL CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 

428 Second Ave. N. 


stpaulscatholicschool.com 

904-249-5934 

ST. PAUL’S CATHOLIC 

ELEMENTARY SCH. 

[RIVERSIDE] PK-8 

2609 Park St. 


spsjax.org 

904-387-2841 

ST. PIUS V CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 

1470 W. 13th St. 


stpiusjax.com 

904-354-2613 

ST. STEPHEN CHILD CARE & 

LEARNING CENTER NS-K 

1525 N. Davis St. 


saintstephenamec.com 

904-358-2799 

TEMPETTE LEARNING 

ACADEMY K-12 

1766 W. 17th St. 


templecollegeprep.com 

904-598-0078 

THE BEACHES SCH. PK-9 



thebeachesschool.com 

904-249-0905 

THE BEVERLY INSTITUTE 

6-12 

5310 Lenox Ave., Suite 13 


thebeverlyinstitute.org 

904-394-0877 

THE BOLLES SCH. PK-12 

Day & Boarding 



bolles.org 

904-256-5030 

THE FOUNDATION 

ACADEMY PK-12 

Special Program Emphasis 



foundationacademy.com 

904-493-7300 

THE JERICHO SCHOOL FOR 

CHILDREN WITH AUTISM 

PK-12 

1351 Sprinkle Drive 


thejerichoschool.org 

904-744-5110 

THE KEYSTONE ACADEMY UG 


6867 Southpoint Drive 

Suite 103 


Keystonebehavioral.com 

904-619-6071 

THE LITTLE COUNTRY 

SCH. PK-11 

862 Baisden Road 


littlecountryschool.com 

904-757-8200 

THE NOBLE STREET 

SCH. 6-12 



Suites 2&3 


nobleschooljax.org 

904-803-3260 

THE POTTER’S HOUSE 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY K-8 



phcalions.org 

904-786-0028 

THE POTTER’S HOUSE 


1150 S. Lane Ave. 


phcalions.org 

904-695-2837 

THE SEASIDE PLAYGARDEN K 

Waldorf Inspired Program 

223 8th Ave. S. 


seasideplaygarden.org 

904-241-3259 

TORAH ACADEMY OF 

JACKSONVILLE NS-8 



torah-academy.com 

904-268-7719 

TRINITY CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 

800 Hammond Blvd. 


tcajax.org 

904-596-2400 

UNIVERSITY CHRISTIAN 

SCH. NS-12 

5520 University Blvd. W. 


ucsjax.com 

904-737-6330 

WEST JACKSONVILLE 

BAPTIST DAYCARE K 



westjaxbaptist.org 

904-781-4321 

WEST MEADOWS BAPTIST 

ACADEMY KG-12 



wmbcjax.org 

904-786-2711 

ZAREPHATH LEARNING 

CENTER K-12 

1028 E. 10th St. 


zarephathacademy.com 

904-632-1330 

NASSAU COUNTY 

AMELIA ISLAND 

MONTESSORI SCH. PK-6 

1423 Julia St. 

Fernandina Beach 32034 

ameliaislandmontessori.com 

904-261-6610 

FAITH CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-8 

96282 Brady Point Road 

fcaangels.com 


904-321-2137 

SONSHINE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-12 

45082 Frank Brookins Drive, 


sonshinechristian.com 

904-879-1260 

ST. MICHAEL’S ACADEMY PK-8 

228 N. Fourth St. 


smacad.org 

904-321-2102 

THE OGBURN SCHOOL 2-12 


1411 S. 14th St., Unit H 


ogburn.org 

904-491-6233 


BEACON OF HOPE CHRISTIAN SCH. 

PK-12 

1230 Kings Estate Road 


beaconeagles.net 

904-797-6996 

BIBLE BAPTIST SCH. 5-8 

2485 Old Moultrie Road 


bbcstaugustine.org 

904-797-3999 

CATHEDRAL PARISH SCH. K-8 

259 Saint George St. 


thecathedralparishschool.org 

904-824-2861 

CHRIST EPISCOPAL PRESCHOOL 

NS-K 

400 San Juan Drive 

Ponte Vedra Beach 32082 

christepiscopalchurch.org 

904-285-6371 

CROSSWATER CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-PK 

211 Davis Park Road 


crosswaterchurch.net 

904-824-0086 

JULINGTON CREEK KINDERCARE 

NS-PK 

200 North Ridgecrest Lane 



904-287-3211 

LIVING WATERS PRESCHOOL NS-PK 


Switzerland 32259 

livingwaterspreschool.net 

904-287-2883 

MATANZAS ACADEMY 2-12 

4255 U.S. Route 1 S., Suite 18 


matanzasacademy.com 

904-794-1623 

MEMORIAL LUTHERAN CHAPEL 

SCH. K-3 

3375 U.S. Route 1 S. 


lutheranchapelschool.org 

904-797-8777 

PALMER CATHOLIC ACADEMY PK-8 

4889 Palm Valley Road 


pcapvb.org 

904-543-8515 

PONTE VEDRA KINDERCARE NS-PK 

12000 Sawgrass Village Drive, Ponte 

Vedra Beach 32082 


904-285-9054 

SAN JUAN DEL RIO CATHOLIC SCH. 

PK-8 



sjdrparish.org 

904-287-8081 

ST. GERARD CAMPUS 8-12 

All-girls 

1405 U.S. 1 S. 

St Augustine 32084 

904-829-5516 

ST. JOHN'S ACADEMY PK-8 

1533 Wildwood Drive 


stjohnsacademy.com 

904-824-9224 

ST. JOHNS GRAMMAR SCH. K-9 

2353 State Road 13 N. 


sjgs.net 

904-287-8760 

The Values of a Catholic Education 

Learn how a Catholic education can benefit your son or daughter by 

visiting Bishop John J. Snyder High School. Our college-preparatory 

curriculum provides students of all faiths with the academic 

opportunities needed to gain admission to the college of their 

choice. Athletics, fine arts, and Campus Ministry service opportunities 

provide extra-curricular experiences that make high school 

rewarding, fun and memorable. 

We welcome you for a personal tour of our campus so you 

may see first-hand the benefits of a Catholic education. 

5001 Samaritan Way Jacksonville, FL 32210 • 904-771-1029 • www.bishopsnyder.org 



EDUCATION 

Located in Duval County, University of North Florida offers majors 

in five colleges ranging from business to health, along with various 

minors in each college. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union) 

Easy Access to College Education 

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. It was initially 

named “Brown Theology Institute.” Edward 

Waters College awards bachelor’s degrees 

in eight academic major courses throughout 

arts, science and business administration. 

Flagler College is located in downtown St. 

Augustine and has been ranked No. 2 in the 

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Colleges 

guide for the best regional colleges in the south. 

It also ranked No. 6 in the category for best 

value. It is a four-year college that offers more 

than 30 majors and 40 minors that combine 

classroom and real-world experiences. 

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 ABAaccredited 

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. 

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-plus degree and 

technical certificates, offer real, hands-on 

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) 

offers majors in five colleges ranging from 

business to health, along with 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. 

Anyone with a car or a 

computer can go to college. 

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, along 

with more than 30 Associate in Science 

degrees and 31 college credit certificates. 

The college also offers three baccalaureate 

degrees, including one for registered nurses 

who want to advance their education. 

EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE 

1658 Kings Road, 


904-470-8000 

ewc.edu 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TUITION: $13,525 

FLORIDA COASTAL SCHOOL OF LAW 

8787 Baypine Road Jacksonville 32256 

904-680-7700 

fcsl.edu 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TUITION: 

FULL-TIME STUDENTS $46,068 

PART-TIME $37,362 

FLAGLER COLLEGE 

74 King St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-819-6220 

flagler.edu 


FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE 

AT JACKSONVILLE 

Visit fscj.edu for more information on 

locations in Duval and Nassau counties 

904-633-8100 *contact for Downtown campus 

fscj.edu 


JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY 

2800 University Blvd. Jacksonville 32211 

904-256-8000 

ju.edu 


ST. JOHNS RIVER STATE COLLEGE 

Visit sjrstate.edu for more information 

on locations 

904-808-7400 *contact for St. Augustine campus 

sjrstate.edu 


UNIVERSITY OF NORTH FLORIDA 

1 University of North Florida Drive, 


904-620-1000 

unf.edu 


Other Education Opportunities 

AAA CONSTRUCTION SCHOOL 


904-722-9994 

aaaconstructionschool.com 

ALLIANCE BUSINESS SCHOOLS 

Ponte Vedra 

904-825-4934 

floridacamtraining.webs.com 

ALPHA SCHOOL OF MASSAGE 


904-389-9117 

alphaschoolofmassage.com 

ALTIERUS CAREER COLLEGE 

Orange Park 

904-264-9122 

altierus.edu 

FIRST COAST ACADEMY 

online high school 

800-658-1180 

aiilearn.com 

COLUMBIA COLLEGE 


904-338-9150 

ccis.edu 

CONCORDE CAREER INSTITUTE 


904-725-0525 

concorde.edu 

CONSERVATIVE THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY 


904-262-8275 

conservative.edu 

DEVRY UNIVERSITY 


904-367-4942 

devry.edu 

FIRST COAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE 

St. Augustine 

904-547-3282 

fctc.edu 

FLORIDA AVIATION CAREER 

TRAINING, INC. 

St. Augustine 

904- 824-9401 

florida-aviation.com 

FLORIDA BEACON COLLEGE 

& SEMINARY 


904-786-5033 

floridabeacon.org 

LOCAL LIBRARIES 

Books and more are easily accessible to all residents. 

Each county in Northeast Florida has access 

to a local library. In Duval County, residents 

can check out books, movies and music from 

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. 

HEALTH, WELLNESS & FITNESS 

PROFESSIONALS,INC. 


904-323-9913 

hwfitness-pros.com 

JONES TECHNICAL INSTITUTE 


877-447-0442 

jtech.org 

JACKSONVILLE THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY 


904-786-5383 

jts.edu 

KEISER UNIVERSITY 


904-296-3440 

keiseruniversity.edu 

LOGOS UNIVERSITY 


800-776-0127 

logos.edu 

NATIONAL HEAVY EQUIPMENT 

OPERATORS SCHOOL 

Orange Park 

904-272-4000 

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 

Remington College 

Online 

800-208-1950 

remingtoncollege.edu 

REVELATION MESSAGE 

BIBLE SCHOOL 


904-744-9773 

rmbcjax.com 

EDUCATION 

ROADMASTER DRIVERS SCHOOL 


904-783-3333 

roadmaster.com 

SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY 

Orange Park 

352- 588-5700 

saintleo.edu 

ST. THOMAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY 


904-389-5592 

greateducation.com 

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY 

at NAS Jacksonville 


904-771-4258 

siu.edu 

STRAYER UNIVERSITY 


904-538-1000 

strayer.edu 

TRINITY BAPTIST COLLEGE 


904-596-2451 

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 

St. Augustine 

800-241-1027 

usa.edu 

WEBSTER UNIVERSITY 


904-268-3037 

webster.edu/jack 

ZOE UNIVERSITY 


904-743-6166 

zoeuniversity.org 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL 

LIBRARIES, VISIT EACH COUNTY’S WEBSITE. 

BAKER COUNTY: newriverlibrary.org/etpl 

CLAY COUNTY: claycountygov.com/departments/library 

DUVAL COUNTY: jaxpubliclibrary.org 

NASSAU COUNTY: nassaureads.com 

ST. JOHNS COUNTY: sjcpls.org 


MEDICAL 

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 soughtafter 

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 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 robotic-assisted da 

Vinci Surgical System.This was the first area hospital to offer Gamma 

Knife surgery, a non-invasive treatment of brain tumors. The mission of 


Baptist Medical Center neurosurgeons are training 

Brazilian residents in techniques they use for strokes and 

aneurysms. (Bruce Lipsky/The Florida Times-Union) 

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. A new tower will open in mid-2018, adding 

138 patient beds, expanded surgical space, additional Labor and 

Delivery rooms and increased radiology services. 

• Baptist Medical Center Beaches provides the only hospitalbased, 

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 

recently added a 1,000-square foot expansion that includes 

upgraded patient rooms, a renovated and expanded 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 acute-care 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-theart 

hospital is the core of Baptist Health’s top-ranked heart and 

vascular program with more than 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 specialty care. Centers of Distinction at Wolfson Children’s 

include the Behavioral Health Center, C. Herman and Mary Virginia 

Terry Heart Center, Cancer Center, Diabetes and Endocrinology 

Institute, Gastroenterology Center and the Walter and Michelle Stys 

Neuroscience Institute. More than 90,000 children of all ages are 

seen at Wolfson annually. The hospital is recognized year after year 

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 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 Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center is focused on adult cancer 

care, providing an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach to 

care that addresses 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. The Baker Rural Health Clinic, owned and operated by 

BCMS, offers medical services at a discounted rate, accepting Medicare, 

Medicaid and uninsured patients of all ages. 

Flagler Hospital is a 335-bed, acute-care facility that has operated 

as a not-for-profit health care institution in St. Augustine since its 

founding in 1889. The hospital provides various medical services, 

including psychiatric services in the outpatient behavioral health clinic. 

The independent Leapfrog Group recently gave Flagler an ‘‘A’’ grade for 

patient safety, and for nearly a decade, the hospital has consistently 

ranked among the top 5 percent in the nation for clinical excellence and 

patient safety. 

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. 

Kindred Hospital North Florida, located in Green Cove Springs, 

is an 80-bed fully accredited transitional care hospital long-term acute 

care facility. The hospital offers a range of services for medically 

MEDICAL 


MEDICAL 

MEDICAL 

Haven Hospice has served the community since 1979 and is North 

Florida’s expert in end-of-life and palliative care, serving high-quality 

home health and hospice services to patients and families in 19 Florida 

counties. Haven Hospice formed an affiliation with the Visiting Nurse 

Association & Hospice of the Florida Keys (VNAHFK) in 2015. Haven 

is an affiliate of SantaFe HealthCare, a not-for-profit organization 

serving Floridians at all stages of life through AvMed Health Plans, 

SantaFe Senior Living, Haven Hospice and VNA/HFK. Haven has been 

the recipient of the Circle of Life Award from the American Hospital 

Association for its excellence and innovation, and recognized as a Florida 

Pacesetter for its leadership in promoting advance directives. 

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. 

complex patients who require continued care 

and extended recovery time with 24/7 care. 

Mayo Clinic’s campus in Jacksonville is 

the premier medical destination center in the 

Southeast, and was recently named the No. 

1 hospital in Florida in U.S. News & World 

Report’s rankings of best hospitals in America. 

The campus 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 areas such 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; its nationally 

ranked cancer program has received the National 

Cancer Institute’s highest designation as one 

of only two comprehensive cancer centers in 

Florida. 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 full-service 

emergency department, open to everyone. 

Memorial Hospital has been serving 

Northeast Florida for more than 45 years. 

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 more than 10,000 patients annually, Bone 

and Joint Center, Spine Clinic and Memorial’s 

maternity center — Special Beginnings. The 

Emergency Department at Memorial treats more 

than 100,000 patients each year for a variety 

of minor and major ailments, using the most 

advanced technology available. The 33-bed 

emergency room features comfortable treatment 

rooms, kid-friendly rooms and advanced patient 

monitoring equipment. Located across the 

parking lot from the main ER is Memorial’s 

ExpressCare, designed to rapidly treat minor 

illnesses and injuries, and ExpressKids, a 

special area designed to treat children with 

minor ailments and less severe emergencies. 

Memorial recently received an ‘‘A’’ from the 

Leapfrog Group for hospital safety. 

Naval Hospital Jacksonville is located 

in Jacksonville and is the Navy’s third-largest 

hospital that provides medical care and support 

to our nation’s heroes and their families. In 

addition to the main hospital in Jacksonville, 

care is provided to its four branch clinics in 

Albany, Ga.; Key West; Kings Bay, Ga.; and 

Mayport. The private medical treatment facility 

offers comprehensive health care from urgent 

care to preventive and routine, using a wholeperson 

approach to wellness. 

Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, 

Jacksonville is an 11-story clinic on the 

south bank of the St. Johns River that provides 

comprehensive, family-focused care in more 

than 30 medical specialties for kids, newborns 

to age 18. 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 is one of only two pediatric 

oncology programs in the country recognized 

for outstanding achievement by the American 

College of Surgeons and among a select few 

blood and bone marrow transplant programs 

accredited by the Foundation for Accreditation 

of Cellular Therapies (FACT). The facility also 

includes the nationally accredited Cystic 

Fibrosis Care Center and has been certified 

as a Center of Excellence by the American 

Diabetes Association (ADA). 

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 317 inpatient beds. The hospital 

provides medical care to Clay County and the 

surrounding communities. The hospital has 174 

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, 20-bed inpatient rehabilitation unit and 20 

intensive care unit (ICU) beds. The hospital also 

offers rehabilitation services and emergency 

services. The hospital recently received an ‘‘A’’ 

grade from Leapfrog Group for hospital safety. 

St. Vincent’s HealthCare, part of 

Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and 

non-profit health system, is a faith-based, 

not-for-profit health system that has served the 

people of Jacksonville and the surrounding 

communities since 1873. 

• St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside 

was founded by the Daughters of Charity 

in 1916 to provide health services to the 

sick and poor of North Florida. The facility 

currently has a 528-bed hospital and is 

home to the largest cardiovascular program 

between Orlando and Atlanta. In 2016, St. 

Vincent’s partnered with the Mayo Clinic 

Cancer Center at St. Vincent’s Riverside. 

• St. Vincent’s Medical Center 

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 Southside is home 

to the only all-private neonatal intensive care 

rooms in the area. St. Vincent’s Riverside 

and St. Vincent’s Southside have both 

repeatedly received ‘‘A’’ grades in hospital 

safety from the Leapfrog Group. 

• St. Vincent’s Medical Center Clay 

County, a 106-bed hospital, opened its 

doors to the community in 2013 and began 

an expansion to double in size in 2015. The 

expansion added maternity and women’s 

services, 30 inpatient beds, 13 treatment 

rooms in the emergency department and a 

shell to add 30 additional beds. 

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 North Central Florida 

and Southeast Georgia. 

• 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 services, 

neurology, cancer, heart and vascular, 

orthopedics, rehabilitation and pediatrics 

among others. Separate from the emergency 

department is UF Health TraumaOne, the 

only adult and pediatric Level 1 trauma center 

in the region. TraumaOne began in 1983 as 

Florida’s first trauma program. 

• UF Health North opened in February 2015 

and is the only outpatient medical complex 

in North Jacksonville. The facility houses a 

full-service adult and pediatric emergency 

department, birth center, pediatrics, women’s 

services, outpatient surgery, radiology and 

rehabilitation services among others. UF 

Health North opened its 92-bed hospital 

in 2017. The hospital has all-private rooms, 

including 12 large labor and delivery suites 

and is home to the region’s first open-MRI. 

• UF Health Emerson Medical Plaza is 

a multi-service outpatient center located on 

Jacksonville’s Southside. 

The center offers a wide variety of 

specialty services, including general 

medicine, advanced imaging, women’s 

services rehabilitation, orthopedics and 

more. As 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. Nearly 250 physicians are 

on staff to assist with care at the 107-bed facility. 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, addiction treatment, 

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 each individual, and provides specialized care designed to facilitate 

healing and recovery. 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 has offered 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 since 1979. Community 

Hospice has a team of physicians, nurses, social workers, home health 

aides, grief experts and trained volunteers. 

The newly opened Baptist North Medical Campus, 

featuring a new YMCA, Y Healthy Living Center, 

and physician offices is located on Dunn Avenue in 

Jacksonville. (Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 



HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER PROFILES 

BAKER COUNTY 

DOPSON FAMILY 

MEDICAL CENTER 



904-259-7815, bcmedsvcs.com 

Type of care: specialty care 

Total staffed beds: 0 

ED FRASER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 



904-259-3151, bcmedsvcs.com 

Type of facility: Short-term acute care 


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. 


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, 



Type of care: acute care 


BAPTIST MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER 

1235 San Marco Blvd. 



Type of care: specialty care 


BAPTIST MEDICAL 

CENTER BEACHES 

1350 13th Ave. S. 





BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER JACKSONVILLE 

800 Prudential Drive 





(including Baptist South, 

Wolfson’s and Baptist Heart) 

BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH 

14550 Old St. Augustine Road 





BROOKS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL 



904-345-7600, brooksrehab.org 

Type of facility: Rehabilitation 


MAYO CLINIC 



904-346-2000, mayoclinic.org 



MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 



904-399-6111 

memorialhospitaljax.com 



NAVAL HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE 

2080 Child St., Jacksonville 32214 

904-542-7300, med.navy.mil 

Type of facility: 

Short-term acute care 

Total staffed beds:56 

NEMOURS CHILDREN’S SPECIALTY CARE, 

JACKSONVILLE 

807 Children's Way, 


904-697-3600, nemours.org 

Type of facility: Children’s specialty clinic 


RIVERPOINT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 

6300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville 32216 

904-724-9202, riverpointbehavioral.com 



SPECIALTY HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE 

4901 Richard St., Jacksonville 32207 

904-737-3120, specialtyhospitaljax.com 

Type of facility: Long-term acute 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 

904-244-0411, ufhealthjax.org 

Type of facility: specialty care 


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 


Type of facility: Children’s 


NASSAU COUNTY 

BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER NASSAU 

1250 S. 18th St., 






FLAGLER HOSPITAL 

400 Health Park Blvd., 


904-819-5155, flaglerhospital.org 



Health Care 

Earns Honors 

Local hospitals and medical 

centers receive recognition 

for outstanding services. 

The Jacksonville area offers a plethora 

of quality health care. 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 

specialties, nine adult procedures and 

conditions and 10 pediatric specialties. 

According to U.S. News & Health Report, 

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is ranked No. 1 overall 

in both the state of Florida and the Jacksonville 

region. In terms of national rankings, Mayo 

Clinic is No. 7 in gastroenterology and 

GI surgery, No. 26 in geriatrics, No. 31 in 

neurology and neurosurgery, and No. 18 in 

cancer treatment. Baptist Medical Center 

is ranked No. 7 in the state of Florida 

and No. 2 in the Jacksonville area. 

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 received 

Healthgrades’ Patient Safety Excellence 

Award in 2017 include: Baptist Medical Center 

Beaches, 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 are in the top 10 percent in the nation 

for patient safety. Hospitals in the area are 

also recognized by Healthgrades for high 

performance in specialties. Baptist Medical 

Center Jacksonville received America’s 50 Best 

A ribbon cutting was held on Monday, Febrary 27, 2017, to celebrate the opening 

of the new Baptist North Medical Campus. (Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 

Hospitals for Vascular Surgery Award 2015 

and 2016 and the Pulmonary Care Excellence 

Award in 2017 and 2018. The hospital was 

also awarded the Coronary Intervention 

Excellence Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

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. The hospital was awarded the 

Vascular Surgery Excellence Award in 2016, 

the Pulmonary Care Excellence Award in 

2017 and 2018 and Coronary Intervention 

Excellence Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

Memorial hospital received both the 

Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award and the 

General Surgery Excellence Award for 2018. 

Orange Park Medical Center was awarded 

the Labor and Delivery Excellence Award 

in 2015, 2016 and 2017; the Obstetrics and 

Gynecology Excellence Award 2015, 2016 

and 2017; the Cardiac Surgery Excellence 

Award in 2017 and 2018; and the Critical 

Care Excellence Award for 2018. The 

hospital was awarded America’s 100 Best 

Hospitals for Cardiac Care Award for 2018. 

Flagler Hospital St. Augustine also 

received a number of awards, including: 

Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical 

Excellence 2015, 2016 and 2017; America’s 

100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care Award in 

2016 and 2017; America’s 100 Best Hospitals 

for General Surgery Award 2016, 2017 and 

2018; Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award 

2016, 2017 and 2018; Excellence Award 2016, 

2017 and 2018; America’s 100 Best Hospitals 

Award for General Surgery Excellence Award 

2016, 2017 and 2018; Gastrointestinal Care 

Excellence Award 2017 and 2018; Joint 

Replacement Excellence Award 2016, 2017 

and 2018; Orthopedic Surgery Excellence 

Award 2016, 2017 and 2018; and Pulmonary 

Care Excellence Award 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

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 2016 and 2017; Patient 

Safety Excellence Award in 2016 and 2017; 

America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Critical Care 

Award 2016; America’s 100 Best Hospitals for 

Gastrointestinal Care Award 2016, 2017 and 

2018; America’s 100 Best Hospitals for General 

Surgery Award 2016, 2017 and 2018; America’s 

100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement 

Award 2016, 2017 and 2018; America’s 100 

Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award for 

2018; Cardiac Care Excellence Award 2016 

and 2017; Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence 

Award 2016, 2017 and 2018, Orthopedic 

Surgery Excellence Award 2016; and Stroke 

Care Excellence Award 2016 and 2017; Critical 

Care Excellence Award 2016, 2017 and 2018; 

Neurosciences Excellence Award 2017; and 

Vascular Surgery Excellent Award in 2017. 

Mayo Clinic and Baptist Medical 

Center Beaches received the Outstanding 

Patient Experience Award 2016 from 

Healthgrades. The Mayo Clinic received 

the distinction again in 2017. The award 

recognizes hospitals that provide an overall 

outstanding patient experience. Healthgrades 

evaluates patient experience performance 

by applying a scoring methodology to 10 

patient experience measures, using data 

collected from the 32-question survey of 

the hospital’s own patients. Hospitals in 

the top 15 percent with the highest overall 

patient experience scores are recognized as 

Outstanding Patient Experience hospitals. 


BUSINESS 

Booming Business 

When you think of Northeast Florida, 

you typically think of sunny beaches, 

world-class golf courses and soft 

sand. However, it’s not all vacation here. We 

know how to get down to business, too. 

Jacksonville is great for local businesses 

and international headquarters. It’s actually 

home to four Fortune 1000 and three Fortune 

500 company headquarters. Businesses 

flock to the region because of the young, 

educated workforce, including a median 

age lower than most areas in Florida, and 

public and private universities that continually 

produce an eager, educated workforce. 

In 2016, St. Johns County commissioners 

unanimously approved drafting an 

agreement that awarded $426,141 in 

economic development incentives to 

Burkhardt Distributing Company. The 

beer distributor built an $11 million, 

113,000-square-foot office/warehouse in 

the county to serve as its headquarters 

and distribution center. The county said 

its cost-analysis revealed an estimated 

$971,849 benefit over the next 20 years. 

Another company expanding on the First 

Coast is Safariland, which makes body 

armor, holsters and other equipment for 

Mayo Clinic is one of the top employers with 

headquarters in Jacksonville. It has 6,000 employees 

from the area. (Photo provided by Mayo Clinic) 

Companies big and small find 

success in Northeast Florida. 

military and law enforcement. The company 

confirmed it will add 152 jobs to its plant near 

the Jacksonville International Airport by the 

end of 2018. According to the city’s records, 

52 of the jobs will average $44,065 and the 

other 100 will average $33,000 annually. 

Amazon recently opened its two fulfillment 

centers – one off Pecan Park Road, the 

other on 103rd Street, leading to as many 

as 2,500 new jobs. Amazon also obtained 

building permits for a new sortation center 

on Bulls Bay Highway in the Westside 

Industrial Park and Cabot Commerce Circle 

in the Alta Lakes Commerce Center. Both 

are expected to open later in 2018. 

Another 250 people were hired to work at 

the new IKEA that opened at Gate Parkway 

and Interstate 295 in November 2017. 

In 2016, a study conducted by the 

University of Southern California Marshall 

School of Business found Jacksonville is 

more conducive to start-up business success 

than many well-known cities, such as Miami, 

Atlanta, Moscow and Tel Aviv, Israel. 

Based on reviews, interaction and 

other data, Yelp ranked Jacksonville 

second nationally for its economic 

opportunities for a new business. 

“What we do know about Jacksonville is 

that the Riverside neighborhood seems to be 

the most-improved area for new businesses to 

locate to,” said Yelp’s data editor, Carl Bialik. 

In May 2017, Money released a list 

of the 25 Best Cities for Job Seekers 

Right Now with Jacksonville coming in 

at No. 7, the third highest Florida city 

on the list after Miami and Orlando. 

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 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 

has a partnership with JAXUSA to promote 

Northeast Florida’s regional economic 

development. According to the chamber’s 

website, the non-profit organization works 

for creation and retention of quality jobs 

and significant capital investment, resulting 

in a higher standard of living and better 

quality of life in Northeast Florida. 

JAXUSA said it’s helped generate 62,000 

jobs and more than $5.3 billion in capital 

investment in Duval, St. Johns, Baker, 

Nassau, Clay, Putnam and Flagler counties. 

The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce 

also supports 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. The Chamber also offers 

a host of mentoring, entrepreneurial education, 

consulting and networking opportunities 

through its Small Business Center. For more 

resources and information, visit myjaxchamber. 

com/doing-business/small-business-center. 

50 Highest-Paying Jobs 

Northeast Florida is growing all 

around us. From roadways and 

single-family homes, to new 

family-owned businesses, it’s easy to 

see Jacksonville expand and create 

a greater economic footprint. 

1. Chief Executives: $181,020 

2. Financial Managers: $134,170 

3. Judges, Magistrate Judges, and Magistrates: $133,110 

4. Architectural and Engineering Managers: $121,110 

5. Computer and Information Systems Managers: $119,720 

6. Purchasing Managers: $117,580 

7. Compensation and Benefits Managers: $111,960 

8. Sales Managers: $111,820 

9. Marketing Managers: $107,530 

10. Personal Financial Advisors: $107,530 

11. General and Operations Managers: $107,320 

12. All Other Managers: $104,510 

13. Public Relations and Fundraising Managers: $103,640 

14. Postsecondary Education Administrators: $101,360 

15. Other Education Administrators: $100,810 

16. Industrial Production Managers: $100,590 

17. Human Resources Managers: $100,160 

18. Medical and Health Services Managers: $97,740 

19. Computer and Information Research Scientists: $97,290 

A report by the Northeast Florida Regional 

Council (NEFRC) states that from July 1, 

2016 to June 30, 2017, there were more 

than 3,770 direct, permanent jobs created in 

Jacksonville, and it’s projected that another 

3,465 indirect, permanent jobs will come. 

The report, based on an economic simulation 

20. Administrative Services Managers: $95,680 

21. Training and Development Managers: $92,830 

22. Advertising and Promotions Managers: $92,670 

23. Elementary and Secondary School 

Education Administrators: $91,670 

24. Transportation, Storage, and 

Distribution Managers: $88,220 

25. Materials Engineers: $81,900 

26. Construction Managers: $78,460 

27. Postsecondary Economics Teachers: $77,360 

28. Postsecondary Chemistry Teachers: $77,280 

29. Natural Sciences Managers: $71,400 

30. Management Analysts: $71,230 

31. Credit Analysts: $68,630 

32. Loan Officers: $68,520 

33. Sound Engineering Technicians: $68,440 

34. Financial Analysts: $68,080 

35. Logisticians: $67,150 

36. Other Material Moving Workers: $65,540 

Amazon continues to expand in Jacksonville with 

two fulfillment centers leading to as many as 2,500 

jobs. (Deremer Studios Jacksonville Commercial 

Photography for Amazon.com, deremerstudios.com) 

Jacksonville is certainly a city on 

the rise in economic growth. 

scenario using the Regional Economic 

Models, Inc. (REMI) model, anticipates a 

$319 million annual increase in personal 

income in the Jacksonville community. 

With so much potential in the area, 

it begs the question: What are the 

highest-paying jobs in town? 

Top 50 Highest-Paying Jobs in Jacksonville and Average Annual Salary: 

37. Budget Analysts: $65,210 

38. Claims Adjusters, Examiners, and Investigators: $64,750 

39. Financial Examiners: $64,460 

40. Social and Community Service Managers: $63,800 

41. Other Business Operations Specialists: $63,210 

42. Compliance Officers: $62,140 

43. Wholesale and Retail Buyers, Except 

Farm Products: $61,900 

44. Accountants and Auditors: $61,540 

45. Insurance Underwriters: $61,030 

46. Auto Damage Insurance Appraisers: $60,250 

47. Purchasing Agents, Except Wholesale, 

Retail, and Farm Products: $60,150 

48. Food Service Managers: $59,980 

49. Compensation, Benefits, and 

Job Analysis Specialists: $59,820 

50. Market Research Analysts and 

Marketing Specialists: $58,280 

Source: Usawage.com, computed from data published 

by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2017 

68 | 2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE 2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE | 69

Corporate Headquarters on the First Coast 

Jacksonville is home to three Fortune 

500 companies, including CSX, Fidelity 

National Financial and FIS. Major 

companies flock to the area because of the 

competitive cost of living and doing business, 

lack of a personal income tax, as well as a 

diverse and educated workforce. Look at 

some of the major employers in the area. 

The Top Employers with Headquarters on the First Coast 

(number of employees) 

MILITARY 

MILITARY 

1. Duval County Public Schools (11,876) 

2. Baptist Health (10,500) 

3. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch (8,000) 

4. Florida Blue (6,700) 

5. Mayo Clinic (6,000) 

6. Southeastern Groceries (5,700) 

7. Citi (4,000) 

8. JPMorgan Chase and Co. (3,900) 

9. CSX Corporation (3,600) 

10. UF Health (3,600) 

11. Wells Fargo (3,600) 

12. St. Vincent’s Healthcare (3,000) 

13. Walmart stores (3,200) 

14. AT&T (2,600) 

15. Black Knight Financial (2,400) 

16. UPS (2,300) 

17. Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (2,000) 

18. Deutsche Bank (1,800) 

19. Memorial Hospital (1,800) 

20. Flagler Hospital (1,800) 

21. Aetna (1,700) 

22. Orange Park Medical Center (1,640) 

23. Brooks Rehabilitation (1,600) 

24. One Call Care Management (1,500) 

25. Fanatics (1,500) 

26. EverBank (1,400) 

27. Vystar Credit Union (1,300) 

28. GuideWell Source (1,300) 

29. Flightstar Aircraft Services (1,300) 

30. Comcast (1,200) 

31. Rayonier Advanced Materials (1,200) 

Source: JAX Chamber 


APPS 

Honor, Courage, Commitment 

There are three major naval installations in the area. 

On its two bases in Jacksonville, 

the service employs almost 

30,000 active-duty 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, who 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 celebrated their 70th anniversary. 

Today, more than 100 tenant commands make 

up the multi-mission base. Mayport Naval 

Station was commissioned in December 1942, 

decommissioned at the end of World 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. 

Rear Admiral Mary Jackson is piped aboard as the outgoing 

Commander of Navy Region Southeast. A change of 

command for the Commander of Navy Region Southeast 

was held at the Jacksonville Naval Air Station on February 

23, 2017. (Bruce Lipsky/The Florida Times-Union) 

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 




Travel Near and Far 

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 expands, 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 forms the suburban 

beltway loop around the Jacksonville 

metropolitan area. The loop is split between 

the West Beltway and East Beltway 

(formerly Florida 9A). The West Beltway 

carries the original 35 miles of I-295 from 

I-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. 

• STATE ROAD 9B is a planned fourlane 

divided highway that will connect 

Duval and St. Johns County from the 

I-295 East Beltway to County Road 

2209 (St. Johns Parkway). The road was 

planned in three phases. Construction 

JTA Skyway, a 2.5-mile elevated monorail 

system, offers service to downtown patrons and 

employees. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union) 

on Phase 1 began in summer 2010. The 

northbound lanes of the new roadway 

from Philips Highway to the I-295 East 

Beltway opened to traffic Sept. 19, 2013. 

Southbound lanes opened Sept. 20, 2013. 

• Construction began on Phase 2 in 

2013. Phase 2 of State Road 9B is from 

Interstate 95 to Philips Highway (U.S. 

1). Construction began Sept. 8, 2015 on 

Phase 3, the final phase of State Road 

9B, from I-95 to County Road 2209 (St. 

Johns Parkway) in St. Johns County. It is 

scheduled to be complete in summer 2018. 

• The Florida Department of Transportation 

(FDOT) completed a project to improve the 

I-95/Butler Boulevard interchange. It added 

a flyover bridge for southbound I-95 traffic 

exiting onto eastbound Butler Boulevard, 

along with about 10 other improvements. 

• Tampa Bay to Northeast Florida Corridor 

is a proposed new toll road that would 

connect Tampa to Jacksonville. The 

highway concept could extend Suncoast 

Parkway further north and east to 

meet Interstate 75 somewhere around 

Ocala, Gainesville or Lake City. 

• Construction on the first phase of First Coast 

Expressway that will connect Blanding 

Boulevard in Clay County to Interstate 10 

in Duval County will be completed in early 

2018. The FCE segment is comprised of 

three projects currently under construction: 

US 90 (Beaver Street) Extension, I-10 to 

Argyle Forest, and Argyle Forest to SR 21. 

The combined construction cost of these 

three initial FCE projects is approximately 

$208 million. Some traffic shifts occured 

in 2017 as sections were completed. An 

in-depth public awareness campaign will 

start months in advance of the toll system’s 

activation so commuters will have plenty 

of advance notice and time to purchase 

their SunPass transponders. The central, 

second segment of the FCE project involves 

new roadway from Blanding Boulevard/ 

SR 21 in Middleburg running south and 

then east through Green Cove Springs 

and includes a new bridge over Black 

Creek near the Byron Road/Lake Asbury 

community. The right-of-way acquisition on 

this second planned FCE segment (SR 21 

in Middleburg to south of SR 16 in Green 

Cove Springs near the St. Johns River) is 

going well. This means construction on this 

part of the FCE project may start as early as 

January 2019. This segment in Clay County 

is part of the FDOT’s 5-Year Plan with 

combined funding of approximately $507 

million. The southeastern, third segment 

of the FCE (new bridge over the St. Johns 

River where Shands Bridge currently 

stands and connection to I-95 in St. Johns 

County) is not part of the FDOT 5-Year 

Plan and construction funding is pending. 

THREE WAYS TO RIDE: BUSES, TROLLEY 

AND SKYWAY 

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority 

(904-630-3181; jtafla.com) plans, designs 

and builds highway projects. It also runs 

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 fare collection system and 

it makes use of hard-plastic smart cards and 

smart paper tickets. The system features 

ticket vending machines and “Simply Tap 

And Ride” card readers on buses, trolleys, 

Community Shuttles and paratransit vehicles. 

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 people who have the 

ability to use a fixed route and are Americans 

with Disabilities Act paratransit eligible. 

CONNEXION, JTA’s paratransit service, is 

a comparable service under the Americans 

with Disabilities Act for people with disabilities 

who are functionally unable to use regular 

fixed route bus services 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 

monorail system, offering service to downtown 

patrons and employees. The free system 

currently consists of two routes that serve 

eight stations and cross the St. Johns River 

on the Acosta Bridge. The Skyway operates 

Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 

p.m., and trains arrive every three to eight 

minutes. The Skyway is also open until 

9:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each 

month for First Wednesday Art Walk. 

JTA also offers the RIVERSIDE AVONDALE 

NIGHT TROLLEY (riversideavondalenighttrolley. 

com), which is a service from the 

Jacksonville Landing to Five Points. The 

trolley runs every Friday and Saturday from 

6 p.m. to 2 a.m., and the cost is $1.50 per 

ride. Patrons can also pay $4 using the 

MyJTA app for Androids and iPhones to 

receive unlimited rides for the evening. 

THE BEACHES TROLLEY (jtafla.com/ 

schedules/the-beaches-trolley) runs Friday 

and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to 2:30 

a.m., taking passengers to and from the 

South Beach Regional Shopping Center 

and Atlantic Boulevard. It runs every 

20 minutes and costs $1.50 to ride. 

FLY IN THE SKY 

THE JACKSONVILLE AIRPORT 

AUTHORITY, (904-741-2000; jaxactionline@ 

flyjax.com) owns and operates Jacksonville 

International Airport. The airport’s system 

serves the commercial, business and 

recreational aviation needs of Northeast 

Florida and Southeast Georgia. 

The organization encompasses four central 

airports: Jacksonville International Airport, 

Cecil Airport, Jacksonville Executive Craig 

Airport and Herlong Recreational Airport. 

THE JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIONAL 

AIRPORT (flyjax.com; 904-741-4902) is 18 miles 

north of downtown. It is a commercial service 

airport with approximately 200 flights per day. 

The airport includes an art gallery, lactation 

suite, meditation room, live entertainment, 

onsite restaurants and an information desk. 

THE CECIL AIRPORT (904-573-1611) 

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. 

JACKSONVILLE EXECUTIVE CRAIG 

AIRPORT (904-641-7666), located just 

minutes from downtown, serves the needs of 

general aviation enthusiasts and corporate 

passengers. JAXEX is ideally located 

with quick access to the city’s beaches 

and the downtown business district. 

HERLONG RECREATIONAL AIRPORT 

(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,” 

according to Flyjacksonville.com. 

THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL 

AIRPORT in St. Augustine is centrally located 

north of downtown, and it’s within two hours 

of 4.4 million residents. In addition to being 

home for corporate and private flights, Via Air 

offers roundtrip flights to Charlotte, N.C., with 

options to continue to three different locations 

in West Virginia. The airfield also is home to 

Atlantic Aviation, Southeast Aero Services, Old 

City Helicopter Sales, Jacksonville Aviation, 

Roberts Aviation, Florida Aviation Career 

Training, Florida Flyers European U.S. Flight 

School and St. Augustine Biplane Rides. 

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 with 

about 21,000 route miles. 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, 

(904-538-6100; fecrwy.com) is a freight 

railroad that extends from Jacksonville to 

Miami. It operates 351 miles of mainland 

track along the east coast of Florida with 

direct rail access to South Florida’s ports. 

For rail passengers, Jacksonville’s AMTRAK 

station (904-766-5110; amtrak.com) offers the 

Silver Star or Silver Meteor route to New York 

City, Miami, Tampa and destinations in between. 

BIG PORTS OF CALL 

JAXPORT (904-357-3000; jaxport.com) 

is a 1,500-acre, 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 several railroads. 

The port owns, maintains and markets three 

cargo terminals, a passenger cruise terminal 

and an intermodal rail terminal along the St. 

Johns River: Blount Island Marine Terminal, 

Dames Point Marine Terminal, Talleyrand 

Marine Terminal, the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal 

and the JAXPORT Intermodal Container 

Transfer Facility. JAXPORT and its maritime 

partners handle a variety of cargo, including 

containers, automobiles, Ro/Ro (recreational 

boats and construction equipment), dry and 

liquid bulks, breakbulk, as well as oversized, 

heavy lift, military and specialty cargoes. 




The JAXPORT Cruise Terminal is home to Carnival Cruise Line’s 

Elation. The 2,130-passenger Elation offers year-round sailing to the 

Bahamas from JAXPORT’s North Jacksonville Cruise Terminal. 

The port’s public seaport terminals achieved record growth 

in containers, vehicles and overall cargo volumes during 

Fiscal Year 2017. JAXPORT moved more than 1 million 20- 

foot equivalent units (or TEUs, the industry standard for 

measuring containers), a 7-percent increase over 2016, which 

was also a record year in container volumes for the port. 

When combined with the containers handled through 

private terminals, more than 1.3 million containers move 

through the Port of Jacksonville annually, making it 

Florida’s largest container port complex. JAXPORT is also 

one of the nation’s busiest vehicle handling ports. 

The federal project to deepen the Jacksonville shipping 

channel to 47 feet to accommodate more cargo aboard the 

largest ships is set to begin construction by early 2018. 

TOTE MARITIME (877-775-7447 or 904-855-1260; 

totemaritime.com), formerly known as Sea Star Line LLC, 

is headquartered in Jacksonville and operates terminals 

in Florida, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

In 2016, TOTE Maritime launched Isla Bell, the world’s first 

container ship powered by liquefied natural gas. More than 40 

LNG-ready or LNG-fueled container ships have been ordered or are 

under construction worldwide, according to the company’s website. 

HORIZON TERMINAL SERVICES (904-479-3194; 

horizonterminals.com) began operating on Blount Island in late 

2016. It sits on nearly 30 acres and its president, Per Folkesson, 

said he expected the company to move at least 80,000 cars in 2017. 

Among other services, the company offers vehicle processing, 

equipment processing and storage, according to its website. 

TRAILER BRIDGE INC. (800-554-1589 

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

Jacksonville, provides weekly sailings between Jacksonville 

and San Juan, Puerto Rico, along with trips from Jacksonville 

to the Dominican Republic. It also offers weekly inter-island 

service between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. 

“Our customers depend on Trailer Bridge to deliver 

many of the products that sustain and drive the Puerto 

Rico and Dominican Republic economies — from 

foodstuffs and furniture, to appliances and automobiles, 

and everything in between,” according to its website. 

THE PORT OF FERNANDINA (904-261-0753; 

portoffernandina.org) “provides terminal service to numerous 

pulp and paper producers located throughout Florida 

and the Southeast, and provides steel export services 

to several steel companies with mills in the Southeast,” 

according to the Florida Ports Council website. 

THE CLAY COUNTY PORT (Reynolds Park; 904-284-3676; 

reynoldspark.com) is a 1,700-acre complex located on the St. 

Johns River in Green Cove Springs. With a close proximity to the 

interstate, service from the CSX railroad company, 1.1 miles of 

bulkhead and 13 piers, the complex works by land, air, sea and rail. 

A CARGO CONNECTION 

Jacksonville-based LANDSTAR (904-398-9400, landstar. 

com) is a global transportation system with more than 

1,100 agents, 9,000 leased owner operators, 14,000 

trailers and 44,000 approved capacity providers. 

Other haulers based in Jacksonville are PATRIOT 

TRANSPORTATION HOLDING INC. (877-704-1776, patriottrans. 

com) and its subsidiary, FLORIDA ROCK & TANK LINES INC. 

(floridarockandtanklines.com), which 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 and other liquid and dry bulk commodities. 

SUDDATH TRANSPORTATION (888-799-5033, 

suddath.com) does office relocation, and it makes 35,000 domestic 

and 17,000 international corporate and consumer moves each year. 

It also transports products as a third-party logistics partner. 

TRAVEL BY BUS 

GREYHOUND LINES has a 24-hour main bus terminal located in 

downtown Jacksonville, along with branches throughout the Jacksonville 

area. Greyhound offers assistance for customers with disabilities 

(800-752-4841 or 904-356-9976), free Wi-Fi and 

individual power outlets at nearly every seat. 

MEGABUS (us.megabus.com) has routes from Jacksonville to Orlando 

and Atlanta. The stop for all arrivals and departures in Jacksonville is 

located at the Jacksonville Skyway Convention Center Station. The station 

is located at 1100 W. Forsyth St. The stop is at the last loading 

Discover Amelia River Cruises! 

10 AM & 2:30 PM tours 

available year round 

10% discount on 

Family Friendly Sunset Tour 

available March-November only 

As Jacksonville continues to grow, so do the everchanging 

roads. Many projects are in the works to 

add more lanes and congestion relief to populated 

areas. (Bob Self/The Florida Times-Union) 


bay, which is closest to Johnson Street. Megabus customer parking is 

located in the lot across the street on West Forsyth in spaces 438 to 447. 

RENTAL SERVICES 

The Jacksonville area has various taxi, limo, shuttle and rental 

services. Taxi fares are about $2 to start and another $1.85 for each 

mile. Please keep in mind rates differ between taxi companies. 

Fares from Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) are about $35 

to downtown Jacksonville; $50 to the Beaches or Amelia Island; 

and $105 to St. Augustine. Shuttle fares from JIA to downtown are 

about $24 one way, and private black cars cost about $45. The 

popular ride apps Uber and Lyft are also available in Jacksonville. 

A unique way to travel within downtown Jacksonville is 

hopping aboard one of four ST. JOHNS RIVER TAXIS 

(904-860-8294, jaxrivertaxi.com) that cross the St. Johns River 

from The Jacksonville Landing, Friendship Fountain, the Doubletree 

by Hilton hotel, the Lexington Hotel and Conference Center, and 

the Metropolitan Park Marina. The marina is only a designated 

water taxi stop when events are taking place at EverBank Field. 

The company now offers a sunset cruise on Thursdays, 

Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The one-hour trip leaves from 

Friendship Park at 6:30 p.m. and includes live music. 

A HISTORIC RIDE 

THE ST. JOHNS RIVER FERRY (904-241-9969, 

stjohnsriverferry.com) is for vehicles and passengers and its 

history dates back to 1874. The St. Johns River Ferry Commission 

was created to keep the ferry in service, and it still runs every 

day between Mayport Village and Fort George Island. The 

service’s main vessel, which was named after French explorer 

Jean Ribault and launched in 1996, can hold 40 cars. 

Use code: DISCJAX 

or mention this ad 



RECREATION 

A Golfer’s Paradise 

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

courses, Northeast Florida is the perfect place to putt. 

t should be no secret golf is a popular 

sport in Florida. The state is known for 

I being home to more golf courses than any 

other with nearly 1,500 courses. With that 

many places to putt, it’s 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, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, 

Tom Watson, Bobby Weed, Robert Trent Jones 

Jr., Mark McCumber and the late Arnold Palmer. 

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 World Golf Village — 

located north of St. Augustine — has become a 

destination attraction. 

Golf Magazine rated TPC Sawgrass as 

Florida’s No. 1 public course, and the iconic No. 


17 island green is one of the most-recognizable 

holes in the world. 

In addition to having the King and Bear Golf 

Course and Slammer and Squire Golf Course, 

World Golf Village also is home to the World 

Golf Hall of Fame. 

Golf Magazine also lists Ponte Vedra Inn and 

Club, World Golf Village and the Omni Amelia 

Island Plantation Resort as Silver Medal winners 

in its premier resort rankings. Hyde Park Golf 

Club was ranked by the magazine as the state’s 

best bargain. 

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,” according to 

its website. 

Its signature course, the Brentwood Golf 

Course, offers a quality nine-hole course with 

Webb Simpson on the 15th fairway during the second 

round of The PLAYERS Championship golf tournament 

at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra 

Beach. (Gary Lloyd McCullough/The Florida Times-Union) 

a challenging layout: three par 3s, five par 

4s and one par 5. It also offers a full practice 

facility, including a driving range, and putting 

and chipping green. 

Golf lovers now have a haven to beat the 

heat during the brutal summer months. Topgolf 

opened one of its golf entertainment centers in 

Jacksonville at the St. Johns Town Center. 

The complex features a high-tech driving 

range with targets that range from 25 yards 

to more than 200 yards. Each target reads a 

microchip inside each golf ball, allowing various 

measurements of distance and accuracy. The 

location also includes several bars, a full-service 

restaurant and more than 200 TVs. 

And for those who don’t want to lug a heavy 

golf bag, New World Disk Golf, Springfield Disk 

Golf Course, Ed Austin Regional Park, Bent 

Creek Golf Course, Henry J. Klutho Park and 

Fore Palms DGC have layouts designed for 

Frisbee enthusiasts. 

Plenty of Golf Courses Just a Chip Shot Away 

NAS JACKSONVILLE THE GOLF CLUB OF 

GOLF CLUB 

AMELIA ISLAND 

GOLF CLUBS AND COURSES 

809 Mustin Road 

4700 Amelia Island Parkway 


Amelia Island 32034 

904-542-3249 

904-277-8015 

CLAY COUNTY 

navymwrjacksonville.com golfclubofamelia.com 

RIVER BEND GOLF LINKS 

659 Leonard C. Taylor 

Parkway 


904-284-8777 

riverbendgolflinks.com 

EAGLE HARBOR 

GOLF CLUB 

2217 Eagle Harbor Parkway 


904-269-9300 

eagleharboronline.com 

THE GOLF CLUB AT 


2260 Town Center Blvd. 


904-269-1440 

solegolf.com 

LAKESIDE LINKS 

GOLF CLUB 

294 SE 43rd St. 


352-473-4540 

lakesidelinksgolfclub.com 

MAGNOLIA POINT GOLF 

& COUNTRY CLUB 

3670 Clubhouse Drive 


904-269-9276 

magnoliapointgolfclub.com 

COUNTRY CLUB OF 

ORANGE PARK 

2525 Country Club Blvd. 


904-276-7664 

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 

7816 McLaurin Road N. 


904-363-1604 

deercreekclub.com 

DEERFIELD LAKES 

GOLF CLUB 

54002 Deerfield Country 

Club Road, Callahan 32011 

904-879-1210 

jacksonvillegolf.com 

DEERWOOD CLUB 

10239 Golf Club Drive 


904-641-6400 

deerwoodclub.com 

FIDDLER’S GREEN 

13715 Lake Newman St. 


904-778-5245 


GLEN KERNAN GOLF 


4590 Glen Kernan 

Parkway E. 


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 


3985 Hunt Club Road 


904-223-5555 

jaxgcc.com 

BLUE SKY GOLF CLUB 

1700 Monument Road 


904-446-2899 

golfbluesky.com 

PABLO CREEK GOLF CLUB 



904-992-6900 


QUEEN’S HARBOUR YACHT 


1131 Queens Harbour Blvd. 


904-220- 2118 

clubcorp.com 

SAN JOSE COUNTRY CLUB 



904-733-2020, sjccjax.com 


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, 

Bldg. 1981 

Mayport 32228 

904-270-5328 

windyharborgolf.com 

NASSAU COUNTY 

OMNI AMELIA ISLAND 

PLANTATION 

39 Beach Lagoon Road 


904-277-5907, omnihotels.com 


GOLF CLUB 

2800 Bill Melton Road 


904- 310-3175 

fernandinabeachgolfclub.com 


NORTH HAMPTON 

22680 N. Hampton Club Way 


904-548-0000 

hamptongolfclubs.com 

AMELIA RIVER GOLF CLUB 

4477 Buccaneer Trail 


904-491-8500 

golfclubameliariver.com 

AMELIA NATIONAL 

95211 Clubhouse Road 


904-652-0660 

amelianationalgolf.com 



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 


SOUTH HAMPTON 

315 S. Hampton Club Way 


904-287-7529 

golfsouthhampton.com 

MARSH CREEK 

COUNTRY CLUB 

169 Marshside Drive 


904-461-1101 

marshcreek.com 

MARSH LANDING 

COUNTRY CLUB 

25655 Marsh Landing 

Parkway 


904-285-6514 

marshlandingcc.com 

PALENCIA CLUB 

600 Palencia Club Drive 


904-599-9040 

palenciaclub.com 

PLANTATION AT PONTE 

VEDRA BEACH 

101 Plantation Drive 


904-543-2999 

theplantationpvb.com 

RECREATION 

PONTE VEDRA GOLF & 

COUNTRY CLUB 

254 Alta Mar Drive 


904-285-5552 

thepontevedragolfandcc.com 

PONTE VEDRA INN & CLUB 

200 Ponte Vedra Blvd. 


888-839-9145 

pontevedra.com 

ROYAL ST. AUGUSTINE 

GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 

301 Royal St. Augustine 

Parkway 


904-824-4653 

royalstaugustinegolf.com 

ST. AUGUSTINE SHORES 

707 Shores Blvd. 


904-794-4653 

capstonegolf.net 

ST. JOHNS GOLF CLUB 

4900 Cypress Links Blvd. 

Elkton 32033 

904-209-0350, sjgc.com 

ST. JOHNS GOLF 


205 St. Johns Golf Drive 


904-940-3200 

stjohnsgolf.com 

SAWGRASS 

COUNTRY CLUB 

10034 Golf Club Drive 


904-273-3700 

sawgrasscountryclub.com 

TPC AT SAWGRASS PLAYERS 

STADIUM COURSE 

110 Championship Way 


904-273-3235, tpc.com/ 

sawgrass 

WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME 

ONE WORLD GOLF PLACE 


904-940-4000, golfwgv.com 

DRIVING RANGES 

STANDALONE FACILITIES IN 

THE AREA: 

UNF GOLF COMPLEX AT THE 

HAYT LEARNING CENTER 

One UNF Drive, Building 48, 

904-620-2050 

WESTSIDE GOLF CENTER 

2301 Parrish Cemetery 

Road, 904-786-1999 

MASTERFIT GOLF TEACHING 

AND FITTING 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 

ANASTASIA STATE PARK 

300 Anastasia Park Rd., 

St. Augustine; the 1,600-acre 

park is rich with ecosystems 

and abundant wildlife. Selfguided 

tours include Coquina 

Quarry, the archaeological 

site where coquina rock 

was mined to construct the 

nearby Castillo de San Marcos 

National Monument. Visitors 

also are invited to hike, swim, 

ride bicycles, beachcomb and 

bird-watching. 

CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS 

1 S. Castillo Dr., St. Augustine; 

as the oldest masonry fort 

in the continental U.S., it is a 

popular attraction to explore 

and it’s the focal point of the 

busy historic district 

FORT MOSE HISTORIC 

STATE PARK 

15 Fort Mose Trail, St. 

Augustine; this U.S. National 

Historic Landmark is located 

on the edge of a salt marsh 

that separates the mainland 

from the coastal barrier 

islands. It was created in 

1738 by the Spanish governor 

of Florida as a settlement 

for people escaping slavery 

from English colonies in the 

Carolinas. The park offers 

educational tours featuring 

information on wildlife and 

history, canoeing and kayaking 

HERITAGE PARK VILLAGE 

102 S. Lowder St., Macclenny 

32063; includes storefronts 

from the 1930s and 1950s, 

along with 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 

Located in Osceola National 

Forest, four miles from Olustee 

Battlefield Park 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 

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 

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 

ball field, horse riding trails 

and playground 

HUNTER-DOUGLAS PARK 

4393 Longmire Road, 

Middleburg 32068; a 10-acre 

park with a picnic pavilion, 

softball field, basketball court, 

tennis court, playground and 

community meeting room 

ISLAND FOREST PARK 

6183 Bermuda Drive, Fleming 

Island 32003; a 2.8-acre park 

with a playground, picnic 

areas, pavilions, volleyball and 

basketball courts 

JENNINGS STATE FOREST 

1337 Long Horn Road, 

Middleburg 32068; more than 

23,000 acres with swimming, 

hiking, bicycling, canoeing, 

horseback riding and wildlife 

viewing, The forest is open 

to regulated hunting and 

fishing, and closed to all other 

recreation activities during 

hunting periods 

KEYSTONE BEACH 

565 S. Lawrence Blvd., 

Keystone Heights 32656; 

picnicking, volleyball, 

playground and pavilion 

KINGSLEY LAKE PARK 

6110 Kingsley Lake Drive, 

Kingsley Lake 32091; tennis 

court, picnic area with covered 

pavilion and playground 

LITTLE RAIN LAKE PARK 

6725 Little Rain Blvd., 

Keystone Heights 32656; a 34- 

acre park with a football field, 

baseball fields, basketball court 

and tennis courts 

MASTER SGT. JOHN E. HAYES 

MEMORIAL PARK 

3788 Main St., Middleburg 

32068 (next to Main Street boat 

ramp); the 5-acre park includes 

a picnic area, playground, 

825-foot boardwalk and two 

fishing piers 

MOCCASIN SLOUGH 

4393 Raggedy Point Road, 

Fleming Island 32003; a 255- 

acre parcel with two walking 

trails, eight fitness stations, 

a playground and a shaded 

picnic station; one of the 

largest undeveloped tracts on 

the river between Jacksonville 

and Palatka 

OMEGA COMMUNITY PARK 

4319 County Road 218, 

Middleburg 32068; a 16-acre 

park with baseball, football 

and softball fields, along with 

tennis courts, a concession 

area and a playground 

PAUL C. ARMSTRONG PARK 


Doctors Inlet 32068; an 18- 

acre park with softball and 

soccer fields, tennis courts, a 

basketball court, a playground 

and covered picnic pavilions 

RONNIE VAN ZANT PARK 

2760 Sandridge Road, Lake 

Asbury 32068; an 85-acre 

park with basketball and tennis 

courts, soccer and softball 

fields, picnic pavilions, a 

playground, a volleyball court, 

Frisbee golf, nature trails and a 

fishing pond with piers 

SPRING PARK 

In Green Cove Springs along 

the St. Johns River and next to 

City Hall; featuring playground 

equipment, picnic facilities, a 

gazebo, spring-fed pool and 

500-foot pier with 12 boat slips 

THEME PARK 

555 S. Lawrence Blvd., 

Keystone Heights 32656; tiny 

tot play area, picnicking, and 

tennis and basketball courts 

TWIN LAKES PARK 

6065 Twin Lakes Road, 

Keystone Heights 32656; a 

50-acre park with a 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 

3593 Fortuna Drive, Orange Park 

32065; a 3.25-acre park with two 

tennis courts, a covered picnic 

area and a 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. For more information, 

contact the Jacksonville Parks and 

Recreation Department at 

904-630-2489 or coj.net. 

All parks are located in Jacksonville 

unless otherwise noted. 


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 Blvd.; 

completely accessible and 

barrier-free recreational 

complex for the physically 

disabled; includes nature trail 

boardwalks, 20-acre stocked 

fishing lake, picnic facilities, 

cabins and a lodge 

BLUE CYPRESS PARK 

4012 University Blvd. N.; a 

119-acre park on the south 

bank of the St. Johns River; 

includes a nine-hole golf 

course, fishing pier, boardwalk, 

community center and 

swimming pool 

BRUCE PARK 

6549 Arlington Road; 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, ball 

fields, basketball court, lighted 

tennis courts, golf course and 

two pedestrian docks 

CRADLE CREEK PRESERVE 

Fairway Lane and S. 15th Street, 

Jacksonville Beach; the 43.3-acre 

preserve along the Intercoastal 

Waterway has nature trails and 

elevated boardwalks 

CRYSTAL SPRINGS ROAD PARK 

10151 Crystal Springs Road; 

lighted tennis courts, nature 

trails, picnic tables, grills, 

playground, and baseball field 

CUBA HUNTER 

SKATEBOARD PARK 

4380 Emerson Blvd.; in 

addition to the skateboard 

course, there is a nature trail 


ED AUSTIN REGIONAL PARK 

11751 McCormick Road; 

features golf course with 

tournaments available, along 

with lighted baseball fields, 

soccer fields, walking trail, 

community center, playground 

and picnic area 

DUTTON ISLAND PARK 

AND PRESERVE 

793 Dutton Island Road W., 

Atlantic Beach 32233; this park 

lies along the Intracoastal 

Waterway and includes a 

dock, canoe launch, picnic 

area, trail, fishing and wildlife 

observation posts 

HUGUENOT PARK 

3rd Street South between 

16th and 19th Aves. South, 

Jacksonville Beach; there is a 

3-acre fishing pond, boardwalk, 

tennis and basketball courts 

and a playground 

JARBOE PARK 

301 Florida Blvd., Neptune 

Beach 32266; two free beach 

volleyball courts, tennis courts, 

a baseball field, jogging trail, 

basketball court, playground 

and picnic area 

KATHRYN ABBEY HANNA PARK 

500 Wonderwood Drive; this 

park, located on a 1.5-mile 

stretch of the Atlantic Ocean, 

has a 60-acre freshwater lake, 

water playground, hiking 

trails, single-track biking 

trails, picnic shelters and is 

close to 300 campsites with 

shower facilities; $5 entrance 

fee per vehicle 

KONA SKATE PARK 

8739 Kona Ave.; courses for 

skateboards and BMX bicycles, 

plus camps, contests, lessons 

and equipment rental 

LANNIE ROAD PARK 

3461 Lannie Road; a 215- 

acre park with 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; covered 

pavilion with picnic tables, 

workbenches, clubhouse, 

playground equipment and 

athletic fields 

LARRY M. CARROLL 

MEMORIAL PARK 

850 Center St. North, Baldwin; 

skate park with a playground, 

hiking trail and two covered 

picnic areas 

LONNIE C. MILLER SR. 

REGIONAL PARK 

7689 Price Lane; this 126- 

acre park has a playground, 

volleyball area, paved trails, 

restrooms and picnic pavilions 

MANDARIN PARK 

14780 Mandarin Road; the 

park has a small pond, short 

trails, a nature discovery 

center, picnic pavilions 

with grills, a 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 Drive; 23-acre 

waterfront park with outdoor 

concerts and events, picnic 

shelters, docking facilities and 

a playground 

OCEANFRONT PARK 

1st St. between 5th and 6th 

Aves. South, Jacksonville 

Beach; in addition to a 2-acre 

oceanfront park, there is a 

sheltered picnic area, beach 

volleyball courts, playground, 

dune walkovers and a 

handicap-accessible ramp 

PAWS DOG PARK 

468 Penman Rd. South, 

Jacksonville Beach; the 

membership off-leash 

playground has separate areas 

for large and small dogs, 

watering bowls and benches 

RINGHAVER PARK 

5198 118th St.; athletic 

fields, covered picnic area, 

playground and canoe launch 

on the Ortega River 

ROTARY PARK 

Behind Beach Marine, 

Jacksonville Beach; the park 

has a playground, boat ramp, 

fishing pier and picnic tables 

SOUTH BEACH PARK AND 

SUNSHINE PLAYGROUND 

Osceola Avenue and South 

Beach Parkway, Jacksonville 

Beach; this large facility has a 

children’s playground, skate 

park, splash pad, fitness trail, 

basketball court, all-purpose 

field, tennis court, six picnic 

shelters, two grills and three 

volleyball courts 

TALL PINES PARK 

9th Avenue, west of North 

Penman Road, Jacksonville 

Beach; this 1.5-acre park has 

a picnic pavilion with a grill, 

playground and basketball court 

TREATY OAK AT JESSIE BALL 

DUPONT PARK 

1207 Prudential Drive; this 

3-acre park is centered by the 

more than 200-year-old Treaty 

Oak tree 

TREE HILL NATURE CENTER 

7152 Lone Star Road; a 50- 

acre forest with an indoors 

nature center, interactive exhibits, 

wildflower gardens and nature 

trails; admission is $4 for adults, 

$3 for students and seniors, $2 

for children 17 and under, and 

free to Tree Hill members 

WALTER JONES HISTORICAL PARK 

11964 Mandarin Road; 

the park is significant for 

its historic buildings and 

centuries-old oak and cypress 

trees, along with its museum 

highlighting post-Civil War 

Mandarin and its boardwalk on 

the St. Johns River. 

WILLIAM F. SHEFFIELD 

REGIONAL PARK 

3659 New Berlin Road; the 

385-acre former dairy site 

contains soccer, softball and 

baseball fields, community 

center, pool, skateboard park 

and trails 

TILLIE K. FOWLER REGIONAL PARK 

7000 Roosevelt Blvd.; 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 


Nassau County Parks and 

Recreation Department at 904- 

530-6120 or nassaucountyfl.com. 


ATLANTIC RECREATION CENTER 

2500 Atlantic Ave., Jacksonville 

32207; community center, 

pool, baseball field and 

basketball court 

BIG TALBOT ISLAND STATE PARK 

State Road A1A North, 

Jacksonville 32226; five 

hiking trails through dunes, 

hammocks and beach 

CENTRAL PARK 

1200 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina 

Beach 32034; tennis courts, 

basketball court, playground 

and baseball/softball complex 

MAIN BEACH PARK 

32 N. Fletcher Ave., Amelia 

Island 32034; picnic tables, 

sand volleyball, playground 

and multipurpose court 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. 

RECREATION CENTER 

1200 Elm St., Fernandina 

Beach 32034; playground, 

picnic area, baseball practice 

field and the Martin Luther 

King Jr. Center Pools 



St. Johns County Parks and 

Recreation Office at 904-209-0333 

or co.st-johns.fl.us. 


AL WILKIE PARK 

6150 S. Main St., Hastings 

32145; playground, picnic 

shelter, tennis courts, 

basketball courts, baseball field 

and community center 

ALPINE GROVES PARK 

2060 State Road 13, 

Fruit Cove 32259; a 55-acre 

park with historical structures, 

hiking trails, picnic areas 

and a playground 

COLLIER-BLOCKER-PURYEAR 

PARK 

10 North Holmes Blvd., 

St. Augustine 32084; the 

park includes volleyball and 

basketball courts, along with 

a tennis court, softball field, 

picnic area and playground 

CORNERSTONE PARK 

1046 A1A N., Ponte Vedra 

Beach 32082; the park includes 

a multi-purpose field and 

picnic shelter, along with 

baseball fields, tennis courts 

and basketball courts 

DAVENPORT PARK 

174 San Marco Ave., St. 

Augustine 32084; includes 

the area’s only carousel, and a 

playground and picnic area 

DAVIS PARK 

210 Davis Park Road, 

Ponte Vedra Beach 32082; 

the park includes soccer, 

football, softball and baseball 

complexes, along with a picnic 

shelter and playground; home 

to one of the county’s three 

Paw Parks, which includes a 

large off-leash play area 

FRANK BUTLER PARK WEST 

399 Riverside Blvd., St. 

Augustine 32080; the park 

includes a boat ramp, picnic 

shelters and grills, along with 

a view of the Intracoastal 

Waterway 

HAMILTON UPCHURCH 

SKATE PARK 

1020 Anastasia Blvd., St. 

Augustine 32080; facility 

dedicated to skateboarders with 

several turns and high banking 

LIGHTHOUSE PARK/ J. EDWARD 

COX RECREATIONAL FACILITY 

442 Ocean Vista Ave., St. 

Augustine 32080; a lighthouse, 

RECREATION 

fishing pier, boat ramp, 

playground and grills 

NORTH BEACH PARK 

3721 Coastal Highway, St. 

Augustine 32084; beach 

access, playground, showers 

and grills 

PALENCIA PARK 

405 Palencia Village Dr., St. 

Augustine; the multi-use park 

has a pirate ship-themed 

playground, three baseball 

fields, picnic pavilion and 

basketball court 

PONCE DE LEON’S FOUNTAIN 

OF YOUTH APPRECIATION PARK 

11 Magnolia Ave., St. 

Augustine; the 16th-century 

Spanish settlement has historic 

village sites and cannons 

RON PARKER PARK 

607 Old Beach Road, St. 

Augustine Beach 32080; 

playground, softball field and 

lighted tennis, paddle tennis 

and basketball courts 


OCEAN PIER 

350 A1A Beach Blvd., St. 

Augustine Beach 32080; 

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 

are $2 for residents and $3 for 

non-residents 

TREATY PARK 

1595 Wildwood Drive, St. 

Augustine 32086; playground, 

picnic shelter, 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 

32092; 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 

RECREATION 

Marinas: Giving Berth 

CLAY COUNTY 

St. Johns River 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS MARINA 

851 Bulkhead Road 


gcsmarina.com 

HOLLAND MARINE 

1011 Bulkhead Road 


hollandmarineboatyardcom 

RUDDER CLUB 

8533 Malaga Ave. 


rudderclub.com 

DOCTORS LAKE MARINA 

3108 U.S. Highway 17 S. 


doctorslakemarina.com 

FLEMING ISLAND MARINA 

3027 U.S. Highway 17 


904-269-0027 

DUVAL COUNTY 




ARLINGTON MARINA 

5137 Arlington Road 32211 

arlingtonmarina.com 

CLAPBOARD CREEK MARINA 

6220 Heckscher Drive 32226 

904-757-1135 

DAMES POINT MARINA AND BAR 

4542 Irving Road 32226 

904-619-9498 

EPPING FOREST YACHT CLUB 

1830 Epping Forest Dr. 32217 

efyc.com 

FLORIDA YACHT CLUB 

5210 Yacht Club Road 32210 

thefloridayachtclub.org 

MORNINGSTAR MARINAS 

AT MAYPORT 

4852 Ocean St. 32233 

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 


(Julington Creek) 

THE MARINA AT 


12807 San Jose Blvd. 32223 

904-268-5117 

MANDARIN HOLIDAY MARINA 

12796 San Jose Blvd. 32223 

mandarinholidaymarinajaxfl.com 


(Ortega River) 

THE MARINA AT 

ORTEGA LANDING 

4240 Lakeside Drive 32210 

ortegalanding.com 

SADLER POINT MARINA 

4669 Roosevelt Blvd. 32210 

sadlerpoint.com 

LAMB’S YACHT CENTER 

3376 Lake Shore Blvd. 32210 

lambsyachtcenter.com 

LAKESHORE DRY STORAGE 

3326 Lake Shore Blvd. 32210 

lakeshoredrystorage.com 


(Trout River) 

SEAFARERS MARINA 

455 Trout River Drive 32208 

seafarersmarina.com 

Intracoastal Waterway 

BEACH MARINE 



jaxbeachmarine.com 

MARINA SAN PABLO 

YACHT CLUB 

4388 Marina San Pablo Place 

32224 

aphoracoachhomes.com 

PALM COVE MARINA 

14603 Beach Blvd. 32250 

palmcovemarina.com 

QUEEN’S HARBOUR YACHT 


1131 Queens Harbour Blvd. 

32225 

qhycc.com 

NASSAU COUNTY 

(Fernandina Beach unless 


AMELIA ISLAND YACHT BASIN 

251 Creekside Drive 32034 

aiyb.net 

Full-service marinas take care of all your boating needs. 

FERNANDINA HARBOR MARINA 

Three S. Front St. 32034 

fhmarina.com 

OLDE TOWNE MARINA 

1420 N. 14th St. 32034 

oldetownemarinafla.com 

TIGER POINT MARINA 

& BOAT WORKS 

997 Egan’s Creek Lane 32034 

tigerpointmarina.com 


(St. Augustine unless 


ENGLISH LANDING MARINA 

509 South Ponce de Leon Blvd. 

32084 

englishlanding.net 

HIDDEN HARBOR MARINA 

10 Prawn St. 32084 

hiddenharbor.biz 

INTERCOASTAL MARINA 

200 Nix Boat Yard Road 32084 

intercoastalmarinainc.blogspot.com 

RIVER’S EDGE MARINA 

65 Lewis Blvd. 32084 

29riversedgemarina.com 

ST. AUGUSTINE MARINA 

245 Vilano Road 32084 

staugustinemarina.net 

ST. AUGUSTINE YACHT CLUB 

442 Ocean Vista Ave. 32080 

staugustineyachtclub.com 

TROUT CREEK MARINA 

6550 Sate Road 13 32092 

904-342-2471 


CAMACHEE COVE 

YACHT HARBOR 

3070 Harbor Drive 32084 

camacheeisland.com 

ST. AUGUSTINE MUNICIPAL 

MARINA 

111 Avenida Menendez 32084 

staugustinegovernment.com 

SALT RUN (BETWEEN CONCH 

& ANASTASIA ISLANDS) 

Conch House Marina Resort 

57 Comares Ave. 32080 

conch-house.com/marina 

San Sebastian River 

OASIS BOATYARD 

256 Riberia St. 32084 

oasisboatyardandmarina.com 

The Metro Marina with dozens of boats docked in 

anticipation of the 2017 Florida-Georgia football 

game. (Drew Dixon /The Florida Times-Union) 

Ramps: Float Your Boat 

There are plenty of places to launch 

a day on the water. 

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 

Keystone Heights 


LAKE SHORE (DOCTORS 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 

GOVERNOR’S CREEK 

Off U.S. 17 next to Clay County 

Parks and Recreation at 1300 

N. Orange Ave., Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

OLD SHAND’S BRIDGE PIER 

(SHALLOW WATERS) 

4051 Old Shands Bridge Boat 

Launch, Green Cove Springs 

32043 

WHITEY'S FISH CAMP 


Fleming Island 32003; $5 

weekend; $3 weekday 

DUVAL COUNTY 


ALIMACANI 

At Huguenot Memorial 

Park off A1A; unimproved 

sand-and-shell ramp suitable 

only for small craft; limited 

parking; picnic area, grills, 

portable restroom 

TALBOT ISLAND STATE PARK 

Sawpit Creek at A1A bridge 

over Nassau River; singlelane 

ramp with good surface; 

restrooms; $3 charge on 

honor system 

JIM KING PARK 

Off Heckscher Drive; doublewide 

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, rippledsurface 

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 off-site parking 

St. Johns River and 

Tributaries 

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; parking 

T.K. STOKES 

Ribault River on Riverview 

Avenue off Lem Turner Road; 

limited parking; Not suitable 

for boats more than 22 feet 

in length 

ARLINGTON LION’S CLUB 

At Lion’s Club Park off 

University Boulevard; good 

parking, nature trails, picnic 

areas, restrooms 

ARLINGTON ROAD 

At the end of Arlington Road, 

north of Mathews Bridge; 

single-wide ramp; limited 

parking 

ST. JOHNS MARINA 

Last ramp going south on 

the St. Johns River in Duval 

County, directly behind River 

City Brewing Company; wide 

and well-surfaced; 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 Blvd.; 

adequate parking; restrooms 

HOOD LANDING 

Julington Creek at the end of 

Hood Landing Road at Clark’s 

Fish Camp; singlewide ramp 

with no dock; ramp offers 

only ready access to St. Johns 

River from east bank between 

downtown Jacksonville and St. 

Johns County 

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 

MANDARIN PARK 

14780 Mandarin Road, 


PALMS FISH CAMP 

6359 Heckscher Drive, 


NASSAU COUNTY 

HOLLY POINT PARK 

Off Old Nassauville Road 

at 3336 Winterberry Ave.; 

restrooms; picnic area; 

floating dock 

FERNANDINA HARBOUR 

MARINA 

One N. Front St., Fernandina 

Beach; good surface, picnic 

tables and restrooms 

DEE DEE BARTELS 

(NORTH END BOAT RAMP) 

97177 Pogy Place, Fernandina 

32034; ample parking, picnic 

tables, restrooms, good access 

to St. Marys River entrance 

WILSON NECK 

85006 Faye Road, south of 

Yulee off U.S. 17; limited 

parking, good surface, new 

ramp with floating dock 

EGANS CREEK MARINA 

1620 N. 14th St., Fernandina 

Beach 32034 

GOFFINSVILLE NASSAU 

RIVER PARK 

95001 Goffinsville Road, 


MELTON NELSON PARK 

463540 State Road 200, 

Yulee 32097 

NASSAU LANDING 

436 Edwards Road, 

Yulee 32907 

St. Marys River 

KING’S FERRY 

49127 Bill Johnson Road, 

Hilliard 32046; single lane, 

floating dock 


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; two 

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, 



PARK/USINA 

611 Euclid Ave., 


ST. JOHNS RIVER 

PALMO COVE 

Palmo Fish Camp Road, off 

County Road 13; shallow ramp, 


TROUT CREEK 

6795 Collier Road, St. 

Augustine 32092; good 

access to St. Johns; adequate 

parking; tables, grills and fish 

cleaning station 

PACETTI’S MARINA 

6550 State Road 13 N., 

St. Augustine 32092; $10 fee 



SHOPPING 

There’s Plenty in Store for Shoppers 

Residents can shop everything from big-name retailers 

to small consignment shops on the First Coast. 

The Jacksonville area might be spread 

out, but shopping is always close at 

hand — from major malls to one-of-akind 

designers to antique malls to thrift shops. 

Most neighborhoods have everything nearby, 

including grocery stores. Major markets 

include Winn-Dixie and Publix, 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 and 

FreshJax offer organic and gourmet fare. 

Department store shopping is available 

at such mainstays as Dillard’s, Belk, 

Sears, JCPenney, Kohl’s and Stein Mart, 

as well as discounters Walmart and 

Target. 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, 


Shoppers share an umbrella as they walk down the sidewalk at 

St. Johns Town Center, an outdoor lifestyle center with more than 

150 brand name retailers. (Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 

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. 

The area also embraces commercial 

shopping centers. The St. Johns Town Center, 

an outdoor lifestyle center, is home to more 

than 150 brand name retailers, many exclusive 

in the market, including Nordstrom, Apple and 

Pottery Barn. In development is Durbin Park, 

which will encompass 2.4 million-square-feet of 

retail when completed. Set to open in phases 

beginning in 2018, Durbin Park is the first retail 

power center in North St. Johns County. 

TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT SOME OF THE 

MAJOR RETAIL AREAS ON THE FIRST COAST: 

CLAY COUNTY 

Orange Park Mall 

1910 Wells Road, Orange Park 32073 

orangeparkmall.com 

This mall features 116 specialty stores 

and department stores, including Dillard’s, 

Belk and Sears, along with a food court, 

restaurants and an AMC 24-screen megaplex. 

DUVAL COUNTY 

The Avenues 

10300 Southside Blvd., Jacksonville 32256 

simon.com/mall/the-avenues 

The Avenues is Jacksonville's premier 

fashionable family shopping destination. A 

multi-level indoor center offering 1.1 million 

square-feet of shopping, The Avenues is home 

to five major department stores, including 

Belk, Dillard’s, Forever 21, JCPenney and 

Sears, plus more than 150 of the most exciting 

specialty retailers in Northeast Florida. 

Retailers include Aldo, Banana Republic, 

BareMinerals, Build-A-Bear Workshop, 

Charming Charlie, Express, Francesca’s 

Collections, H&M, LOFT, LUSH Fresh 

Handmade Cosmetics, MAC Cosmetics, New 

York & Company, Teavana, Victoria's Secret 

and more. 

Gateway Town Center 

5000-7 Norwood Ave., Jacksonville 32208 

gatewaytownctr.com 

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 

jacksonvillelanding.com 

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 and a nightclub. Weekly events 

include live weekend entertainment in the 

center courtyard. 

Regency Square Mall 

9501 Arlington Expressway, 


regencysquaremall.com 

This enclosed shopping mall features a 

Dillard’s Clearance Center, JC Penney and 

other shops 

First Coast 

Slow Food 

CLAY COUNTY 

Keystone Heights Farmers Market 

State Road 21, south of SR 100 

in Keystone Heights 

keystoneheightsfarmersmarket. 

blogspot.com 

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

Orange Park Farmers Market 

2042 Park Ave., Orange Park 

32073 

Hours: First and third Sunday, 

Dec. to June, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 

DUVAL COUNTY 

Atlantic Beach Mid-Week Market 

Bull Park, 7th St. and East Coast 

Drive, Atlantic Beach 32233 

Hours: Wednesdays, 

3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 

Beaches Green Market 

Jarboe Park, intersection of 

A1A and Florida Boulevard 

In Neptune Beach 

Discover Jax Ad 2018 - Peterbrooke.indd 1 

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. 

beacheslocalfoodnetwork.org 

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

Rain or Shine. 

Jacksonville Farmers Market 

1810 West Beaver St. 


jaxfarmersmarket.com 

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

Riverside Arts Market 

under the Fuller Warren Bridge 

715 Riverside Ave. 


ram.riversideavondale.org 

Hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 3 

p.m., March through December. 

Rain or Shine. 

NASSAU COUNTY 

Fernandina Farmers Market 

North 7th St. 


fernandinafarmersmarket.com 

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

OVER 14 AREA LOCATIONS 


Nocatee Farmers Market 

245 Little River Road 


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 

Saint Johns County Pier Park 

350 A1A Beach Blvd. 

St. Augustine Beach 32080 

thewednesdaymarket.com 

Hours: Wednesdays, 

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

12/4/2017 3:17:46 PM 

River City Marketplace 

13000 City Station Drive, 


rgpt.com/property/river-city-marketplace 

The marketplace features 72 stores, 

numerous restaurants and a movie 

theater. It's the largest outdoor shopping 

center on Jacksonville’s Northside. Stores 

include Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond, 

Walmart and PetSmart. 

Roosevelt Square 

4535 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville 32210 

Roosevelt Square is located at the corner 

of San Juan Avenue and Roosevelt 

Boulevard. This community center has 

about 50 stores and restaurants, including 

one of the locals’ favorite hangouts, Metro 

Diner. Roosevelt Square is anchored by 

Stein Mart and Publix. 

St. Johns Town Center 

4663 River City Drive, Jacksonville 32246 

simon.com/mall/st-johns-town-center 

St. Johns Town Center represents 

the heart of shopping and dining in 

Jacksonville. Home to Northeast Florida’s 

only Nordstrom, the outdoor lifestyle 

center offers more than 150 brand name 

retailers, many exclusive in the market, 

including Dillard’s, Apple and Pottery 

Barn, as well as shops in the Luxury 

Collection like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co. 

and Mayors. As much a shopping hotspot 

as a dining destination, the diverse palate 

is represented by exciting options like The 

Cheesecake Factory, The Capital Grille 

and Cantina Laredo. 


St. Augustine Outlets 

500 Outlet Mall Blvd., 


staugoutlets.com 

The St. Augustine Outlets have 75 brandname 

discount outlet stores, a food court 

and free trolley service. Fully renovated 

in 2015, the St. Augustine Outlets is 

anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th 

and features Bealls Outlet, Kenneth Cole, 

Michael Kors and more. 

St. Augustine Premium Outlets 

2700 State Road 16, St. Augustine 32092 

premiumoutlets.com/outlet/st-augustine 

St. Augustine Premium Outlets features 

an envious collection of 85 name brand 

outlet stores with everyday savings of 

up to 65 percent off. The outdoor center 

features some of the most sought after 

brands, including Adidas, J.Crew Factory, 

Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour, Skechers 

and more. Join the VIP Shopper Club 

at premiumoutlets.com/VIP for instant 

access to an exclusive online Savings 

Passport containing hundreds of dollars 

in savings!

ENTERTAINMENT 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Places to Play! 

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. The venue offers 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. 

DUVAL COUNTY 

ADVENTURE LANDING 

(3 LOCATIONS) 

• 1944 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville 

Beach 32250, 904-246-4386 

adventurelanding.com 

The Beach Boulevard location features 

Shipwreck Island Waterpark, go-karts, 

miniature golf, 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, 904-771-2803 


The Blanding Boulevard location 

features an arcade, go-karts, laser tag 

and miniature golf. 

• 2780 State Road 16, St. 

Augustine 32092, 904-827-9400 


The St. Augustine location features a 

mega arcade, go-karts, miniature golf 

and batting cages. 

ANHEUSER-BUSCH BREWERY 

111 Busch Drive, Jacksonville 32218 

904-751-0700, anheuser-busch.com 


Brewery features complimentary selfguided 

tours, in-depth guided tours and 

enhanced programs such as “Beer School.” 

AUTOBAHN INDOOR SPEEDWAY 

6601 Executive Park Court N., 

Jacksonville 32216, 904-425-5005 

autobahnspeed.com 

Autobahn is 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. 

CATTY SHACK RANCH WILDLIFE 

SANCTUARY 

1860 Starratt Road, Jacksonville 32226 

904-757-3603, cattyshack.org 

The nonprofit organization's focus is 

to rescue endangered big cats from 

serious situations and provide a safe, 

loving, forever home, as well as educate 

the public about cats’ plight in the wild 

and captivity. 

DAVE & BUSTER’S 

7025 Salisbury Road, 


daveandbusters.com/jacksonville 

Dave & Buster’s offers food, drinks and 

hundreds of arcade games to play, as 

well as TVs to watch sporting events. 

JACKSONVILLE ZOO AND GARDENS 

370 Zoo Parkway, Jacksonville 32218 

904-757-4463, jacksonvillezoo.org 

The zoo features more than 2,000 

rare and exotic animals and more 

From Topgolf to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 

Jacksonville has an attraction for everyone. 

than 1,000 plants on display as well 

as educational programs, camps and 

special events throughout the year. 

INTUITION ALE WORKS 

929 E. Bay St., Jacksonville 32202 

904-683-7720, intuitionaleworks.com 

Intuition Ale Works is a local beer 

maker with a tap room specializing in 

small-batch handcrafted ales. Intuition’s 

mission is to create quality, flavorful and 

creative beers in a wide range of styles. 

KINGSLEY PLANTATION 

11676 Palmetto Ave., Jacksonville 

32226, 904-251-3537, nps.gov/timu/ 

learn/historyculture/ kp.htm 

This Fort George Island site has 

plantation and kitchen houses, an 

interpretive garden, a barn and the 

ruins of 25 slave cabins. 

REBOUNDERZ 


Jacksonville, 32258, 904-300-0070, 

rebounderz.com/location/jacksonville 

The “extreme fun center” offers a ninja 

warrior course, laser tag, bowling and a 

café, not to mention a large open jump 

trampoline space. 

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. RAM is located 

under the Fuller Warren Bridge. Free 

admission and parking is available. 

SWEET PETE’S CANDY 

400 N Hogan St., Jacksonville 32202 

904-376-7161, sweetpetescandy.com 

The candy shop, dessert bar and 

entertainment venue, located in 

a historic building in downtown 

Jacksonville, offers all-natural, 

Tommy Rowe hits a ball at Topgolf, the new sports, 

entertainment and food complex on Brightman 

Boulevard near St. Johns Town Center. 


gluten-free and vegan sweets in its 

on-site candy factory. Also available: 

candy-making demos, hands-on 

classes and parties. 

TOPGOLF 

10531 Brightman Blvd., 


topgolf.com/us/jacksonville 

This sprawling entertainment venue 

features a high-tech driving range and 

swanky lounge with food, drinks 

and games. 

TREE HILL NATURE CENTER 

7152 Lone Star Road, 


904-724-4646, treehill.org 

This nonprofit organization and wildlife 

preserve offers outdoor education, 

family programs, butterfly and 

hummingbird gardens, animals, a 

hands-on museum and hiking trails. 

NASSAU COUNTY 

FORT CLINCH STATE PARK 

2601 Atlantic Ave., Fernandina Beach 

32034, 904-277-7274 

floridastateparks.org/fortclinch 

The Civil War-era fort features 

reenactments and campsites, as well 

as nature trails, fishing, mountain 

biking, canoeing, kayaking, swimming 

and surfing. 


CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS / MATANZAS 

11 S. Castillo Drive, St. Augustine 

32084, 904-829-6506, nps.gov/casa 

Castillo de San Marcos is the oldest 

remaining European masonry fort in the 

continental U.S. Ranger programs and 

self-guided tours are offered daily and 

historic weapons demonstrations are 

performed on weekends. 

MISSION NOMBRE DE DIOS AND SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF LA LECHE 

27 Ocean Ave., St. Augustine 32084, 904-824-2809 

missionandshrine.org 

As America’s first mission, it was 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 

Marinelane was the world’s first oceanarium. The facility offers exhibits and 

interactive dolphin encounters to educate visitors about marine mammals 

and their environments. 

RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! 

19 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-1606, ripleys.com/staugustine 

This museum of oddities set in an historic castle offers 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 

This 120-year-old park is home to all 24 currently known species of 

living crocodilians plus reptiles, monkeys, wading birds and parrots. 

Other attractions include zip-line and climbing wall. The park also hosts 

camps and parties. 

ST. AUGUSTINE DISTILLERY 

112 Riberia St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-825-4962, staugustinedistillery.com 

This award-winning distillery is housed in St. Augustine’s first power and 

ice complex and includes an Ice Plant museum, brewery tours and retail 

shop on site. 

ST. AUGUSTINE PIRATE & TREASURE MUSEUM 

12 S. Castillo Drive, St Augustine 32084 

877-467-5863, thepiratemuseum.com 

The museum is an interactive, educational experience of 1700s Port 

Royal, Jamaica, the Golden Age of Piracy. Parties, tours, camps and field 

trips are available. 

WORLD GOLF VILLAGE AND WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME 

1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine 32092 

904-940-4123, worldgolfvillage.com, worldgolfhalloffame.org 

World Golf Village is home to exhibits, restaurants, shops and 

an IMAX Theater. 

Intuition Ale Works is a local beer maker with a tap room specializing 

in small-batch handcrafted ales. Intuition’s mission is to create quality, 

flavorful and creative beers in a wide range of styles. 


come play 

Poker Room Hours: 

Monday - Thursday 10am-4am 

Weekends: Friday 10am - Monday 4am 

www.bestbetjax.com | 904.646.0001 

Find Us on Twitch for 

LIVE Streamed Events! 

twitch.tv/bestbetlive 

ENTERTAINMENT 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Museums, Art, Music and More! 

The First Coast has entertainment in every corner — 

from concert headliners to intimate theaters, there’s 

something to experience each week. 

MUSEUMS 

CLAY COUNTY 

CAMP BLANDING MUSEUM & MEMORIAL PARK 

5629 State Road 16 W., Building 3040, Starke 32091 

904-682-3196 

CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL AND RAILROAD MUSEUM 

915 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs 32043 

904-278-4780 

THE MIDDLEBURG HISTORICAL MUSEUM 

3912 Section St., Middleburg 32068, 904-282-5924 

MILITARY MUSEUM OF NORTH FLORIDA 

1 Bunker Ave. and State Road 16 East, Green Cove 

Springs 32043, 904-410-0781 

DUVAL COUNTY 

(Jacksonville unless otherwise noted) 

BEACHES MUSEUM AND HISTORY CENTER 

381 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-241-5657, beachesmuseum.org 

CUMMER MUSEUM OF ART & GARDENS 

829 Riverside Ave. 32204 904-356-6857, cummer.org 

HANDS ON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 

8580 Beach Blvd. 32216 904-642-2688 

handsonchildrensmuseumjax.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 

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

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 

museumsouthernhistory.com 

RITZ THEATRE & MUSEUM 

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

ritzjacksonville.com 

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 32034 

904-261-7378, ameliamuseum.org 

Visitors to the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens 

walk past a display of Andy Warhol silkscreens on 

display from the museum’s permanent collection. 

(Bob Self/Florida Times-Union) 


COLONIAL QUARTER 

33 St. George St., St. Augustine 32084 

888-991-0933, colonialquarter.com 

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, MUSEUM OF 

ST. AUGUSTINE’S HISTORY 

48 King St., St. Augustine 32084 906-825-5034 

LIGHTNER MUSEUM 

75 King St., St. Augustine 32084 904-824-2874 

lightnermuseum.org 

LINCOLNVILLE MUSEUM & CULTURAL CENTER 

102 Martin Luther King Ave. St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-1191 lincolnvillemuseum.org 

OLD FLORIDA MUSEUM 


904-824-8874 or 800-813-3208 

oldfloridamuseum.com 

OLDEST HOUSE MUSEUM COMPLEX 

14 St. Francis St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-824-2872 saintaugustinehistoricalsociety.org 

OLDEST STORE MUSEUM 


904-829-3800 

ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MARITIME MUSEUM 

81 Lighthouse Ave., St. Augustine 32080 

904-829-0745 staugustinelighthouse.com 

WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME 

One World Golf Place, St. Augustine 32092 

904-940-4000 worldgolfhalloffame.org 

THEATERS/THEATER COMPANIES 

CLAY COUNTY 

ORANGE PARK COMMUNITY THEATRE 

2900 Moody Ave., Orange Park 32073 

904-276-2599, opct.info 

DUVAL COUNTY 


ALHAMBRA DINNER THEATRE 

12000 Beach Blvd. 32246, 904-641-1212 

alhambrajax.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, 904-632-5000 

fscjartistseries.org 

MAD COWFORD IMPROV 

Various locations, 904-874-3995, madcowford.com 

PLAYERS-BY-THE-SEA 

106 Sixth St. N., Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-249-0289 playersbythesea.org 

STAGE AURORA 

Various locations, 904-765-7373, stageaurora.org 

STUDIO THEATER 

Jacksonville University 2800 University Blvd. N. 

32211, 904-256-7345 

THE 5 & DIME 

112 East Adams St. 32202, 904-637-5100 

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 

209 Cedar St., Fernandina Beach 32034 

904-261-6749 ameliacommunitytheatre.org 


APEX THEATRE STUDIO 

5150 Palm Valley Road, Ste. 205, 

Ponte Vedra Beach 32082, apextheatrejax.com 

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 


1904 MUSIC HALL 

19 N Ocean St 32202, 904-434-3475 

1904musichall.com 

Live music venue with a capacity of 300 

FINE ARTS CENTER OF THE UNIVERSITY 

OF NORTH FLORIDA 

One UNF Drive 32224 904-620-1895, 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, 1,900 capacity 

JACK RABBITS 

1528 Hendricks Ave 32207, (904) 398-7496 

non-smoking live music venue open to all ages 

METROPOLITAN PARK 

1410 Gator Bowl Blvd. 32202 904-630-3690 

metropolitanpark.org 

10,000 seats (3,000 under canopy) 

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 

ritzjacksonville.com 

426-seat theater 

SEAWALK PAVILION 

75 North First St. Jacksonville Beach 32250 

904-247- 6236, jacksonvillebeach.org 

Oceanfront amphitheater 

TERRY CONCERT HALL 

Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N. 

32211, 904-256-7345 

400-seat hall 

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 

jacksonvilleveterans.memorialarena.com 

16,000-seat arena 

NATHAN H. WILSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS 

Florida State College at Jacksonville South Campus 

11901 Beach Blvd. 32246 904-646-2222, fscj.edu 

500-seat theater, 150-seat studio theater 


LEWIS AUDITORIUM 

14 Granada St., St. Augustine 32084 Flagler College 

904-826-8600, flagler.edu, 800-seat theater 

CULTURAL CENTER AT PONTE VEDRA BEACH 

50 Executive Way, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082 

904-280-0614, ccpvb.org 

Multipurpose art gallery 

PONTE VEDRA CONCERT HALL 

1050 A1A North, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082 

904-209-0399 pvconcerthall.com 

Multipurpose performing arts facility 

ENTERTAINMENT 

ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE 

1340C A1A South, St. Augustine 32080 

904-209-0367, staugamphitheatre.com 

4,092-seat amphitheater 

MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS 

CLAY COUNTY 

ORANGE PARK CHORALE 

410-9 Blanding Blvd, #243, Orange Park 32073 

904-264-0711, orangeparkchorale.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 


FIRST COAST WIND SYMPHONY 

3842 Musket Trail 32277 904-774-9090, fcwe.org 

All-volunteer organization 

Jacksonville Children’s Chorus 

225 E. Duval St., 32207 904-353-1636 

jaxchildrenschorus.com. 

More than 350 singers in five choirs, ages 7-16 

JACKSONVILLE HARMONY CHORUS 

904- 531-4032, jaxharmony.com 

Award-winning member of Sweet Adelines 

International. Northeast Florida's premiere a 

cappella women's chorus. 

JACKSONVILLE MASTERWORKS CHORALE 

904-262-8444, jaxmasterworks.org 

Volunteer community chorus 

JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY 

300 Water St., Suite 200, 32202 

Symphony: 904-354-5547 Chorus, 

Youth Orchestra: 904-354-5479, jaxsymphony.org 

A Jacksonville staple since 1949, the organization is 

ranked among the nation’s top regional orchestras 

RITZ CHAMBER PLAYERS 

904-472-4270, ritzchamberplayers.org 

Award winning chamber music group that aims 

to bring diverse music appreciation through 

performances and educational outreach. 

RIVERSIDE FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION 

1100 Stockton St. 32204 904-389-6222 

riversidefinearts.org 

Group provides an annual concert series. 


FIRST COAST OPERA 

904-417-5555, firstcoastopera.com 

Regional repertory opera company 

Ritz Theatre & Museum, located in the LaVilla neighborhood of Jacksonville, is considered 

“the mecca for African-American culture and heritage” in Florida. (Bob Mack/Florida Times-Union) 


DINING 

Feast on Extraordinary Fare 

A 

s one of the largest cities land-wise in the 

U.S. at 885 square miles, Jacksonville covers 

a lot of area. Add the neighboring tourist 

destinations of Amelia Island and St. Augustine, 

and it makes for plenty of territory to explore. 

The advantage of such massive acreage is 

that the greater Jacksonville area has an ample 

diversity of dining. The disadvantage is that it 

is spread all over God’s green earth. To put 

it in perspective, from the Beach to Philips 

Highway, J. Turner Butler Boulevard is the 

same length of the island of Manhattan, what 

some consider the nation’s dining Mecca. 

That’s just a sliver of Jacksonville. 

Considering the state’s strict DUI laws, 

taxis and ride-sharing services have become 

increasingly popular as Jacksonville has 

exploded with brew pubs, draft houses and 

distilleries. A beer drinker’s paradise is found on 

King Street in Avondale. Early entrants in the 

craft brew craze, Intuition Ale Works and Bold 

City Brewing, have downtown locations. 

Jacksonville provides a dichotomy of cuisine. 

In its older sections of town, it remains true to 

the roots of barbecue, soul food and Southernstyle 

cooking. In more upscale areas, trained 

chefs give a modern take on the traditional. 

Clark’s and Whitey’s fish camps serve 

catfish on the bone, the smaller the sweeter. 

At the same time, Palm Valley Fish Camp, 

North Beach Fish Camp and Julington Creek 

Fish Camp provide upscale and inventive 

versions of seafood. 

Traditional soul food is served cafeteria 

style at Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro. 

Celebrity Chef Kenny Gilbert opened Gilbert’s 

Underground Kitchen in Fernandina Beach 

and his latest restaurant Gilbert’s Social on 

Southside Boulevard, serving interesting takes 

on soul food and barbecue. 

Jacksonville has many large regional chain 

barbecue restaurants as well as locally owned 

Pig Barbecue, Jenkins Quality Barbecue, and 

Monroe’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Q. These compete 

with the Bearded Pig Barbecue on Kings Street 

that serves quality meats and interesting sides, 

expertly paired with both wine and craft beers. 

Jacksonville has no Little Italy or Chinatown. 

Because of the city’s size, instead, we have 

restaurant regions where nearly anything you want 

can be found. Look to Tinseltown, St. Johns Town 

Center, the Beaches or the city’s newest dining 

destination, Brooklyn, to find a conglomeration of 

chain and locally owned restaurants. 

The restaurant scene has exploded at 

St. Johns Town Center, with about 20 new 

restaurants opened or opening in the near 

future, ranging from Taco Bell to two Brazilian 

steakhouses. We’re sure to see even more 

selection as construction begins on Durbin Park, 

Black Sheep, located in the historic Five Points district 

of Jacksonville’s Riverside neighborhood, is a modern 

American restaurant with a popular rooftop bar and 

lounge with views of Riverside, downtown and the 

St. Johns River. (Photo provided by Black Sheep) 

Jacksonville brings a lot 

to the table. 

Northeast Florida’s next retail mecca, located on 

Racetrack Road near Bartram Park. 

Last year was a good year for steak lovers. In 

2017, Morton’s The Steakhouse, which closed 

its location on the Southbank little more than 

five years ago, reopened in Hyatt Regency 

Jacksonville Riverfront. Also, the long-awaited 

Cowford Chophouse opened at 101 E. Bay 

Street. Owner and Jacksonville native Jacques 

Klempf purchased the building at an auction 

in 2014. In a statement released to The Florida 

Times-Union following the purchase, Klempf 

stated that his goal was “to restore the building 

so the community can enjoy a piece of our city’s 

history and to promote economic development 

in Downtown Jacksonville.” 

An emphasis on revitalizing downtown and 

new construction is bringing both new corporate 

restaurant chains to our area and opening new 

venues for sous chefs ready to branch out on 

their own. What was once a wasteland of drivethrough 

and chains, Jacksonville now has a 

cuisine that offers appetizing food for every price 

point. From chicken wings to Coq a Vin, diners 

can find whatever they desire if they’re willing to 

travel 10 to 20 miles in any direction. 

Local Restaurants to Taste: 

AQUA GRILL 

395 Front Street, Ponte Vedra 

Beach 32082, 904-285-3017 

aquagrill.net 

Established in 1988 and reinvented 

in 2016, Aqua Grill offers a 

contemporary open floorplan 

located directly on the lake in 

the renovated Sawgrass Village 

shopping center. Enjoy cuisine 

from an eclectic, multi-ethnic menu 

featuring fresh local ingredients 

prepared to order. The restaurant 

features a fully covered lakefront 

deck with climate control, and a 

lively full-service bar. 

BLACK SHEEP 

1534 Oak St., Jacksonville 32204 

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 crispy duck confit and 

wild Georgia shrimp and grits. 

COLLAGE 

60 Hypolita St., 


904-829-0055, 

collagestaug.com 

Enjoy an intimate restaurant with 

an inviting atmosphere and a 

menu that celebrates the eclectic 

personalities of owners Mike and 

Cindy Stangby. You’ll find favorites 

such as a grilled rack of New 

Zealand lamb 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., St. Augustine 32084 

904-810-6810 

casamonica.com/dining 

Architecture isn't the only reason to 

visit the Casa Monica, a Moorishrevival 

landmark. The hotel’s 

signature restaurant, Costa Brava, 

FREE CHILD 

SUPERVISION 

ALL 

WOMEN 

30-MINUTE 

CLASSES 

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 Beach hot 

chicken gets rave reviews. Dishes 

are served family style and sharing 

is encouraged. 

MARKER 32 

14549 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville 

32250, 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 

bites and cocktails, all within a 

BURN UP TO 900 CALORIES FROM ONE 30-MINUTE CLASS 

TRY US FREE 

4570 St. Augustine Rd. Jacksonville, FL 32207 904.580.3480 southjax@deltalifefitness.com 

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. 

OLIO 

301 E. Bay Street, 


904-356-7100, oliomarket.com 

Located in "The elbow," downtown 

Jacksonville's entertainment 

district, Olio is a favorite weekday 

breakfast and lunch spot. The 

restaurant was was featured on the 

Travel Channel's "Adam Richman's 

Best Sandwich in America" for its 

Duck Grilled Cheese. It offers a 

casual, yet upscale atmosphere, 

and a variety of soups, salads, 

sandwiches, entrees and a full 

breakfast menu. 

RESTAURANT 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. 

PALM VALLEY FISH CAMP 

299 Roscoe Blvd N. Ponte Vedra 

Beach 32082, 904-285-3200 

palmvalleyfishcamp.com 

The owners of the fine-dining spot 

Marker 32, Ben and Liza Groshell, 

opened the Palm Valley Fish 

Camp near Ponte Vedra Beach. 

Located on the Intracoastal, Palm 

Valley Fish Camp is the result of 

the Groshell’s vision to create a 

restaurant with a neighborhood 

feel, the freshest seafood, amazing 

views, and old favorite entrees 

with creative, new twists. If you’re 

in another part of town, visit the 

restaurants two sister locations 

North Beach Fish Camp in Atlantic 

Beach, and Julington Creek Fish 

Camp in Julington Creek. 

ROY’S 

2400 3rd Street South, 


904-241-7697 

roysrestaurant.com/locations/fl/ 

jacksonville-beach 

Recently renovated and 

conveniently located along 

State Road A1A between Butler 

Boulevard and Beach Boulevard, 

Roy's combines classic techniques 

with adventurous Pacific Rim 

flavors. Created by Culinary 

pioneer Roy Yamaguchi as fusion 

cuisine at his original Roy's in 

Honolulu in 1988, each menu is 

specially prepared by local chefs, 

infusing their own creativity and 

inspiration. Try the Hawaiian Tuna 

and Salmon Poke, Hand Carved 

Filet Mignon, and any one of the 

DINING 

menu’s specialty cocktails for a 

romantic night out. 

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK 

HOUSE 

1201 Riverplace Blvd., 

Jacksonville 32207, 

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. 

SALT 

The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island 

4750 Amelia Island Parkway, 


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. 

TAVERNA SAN MARCO 

1986 San Marco Blvd., 


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. The menu changes 

seasonally, but offers a variety of 

gourmet pizza, pastas and classics 

diners are sure to love. Open for 

lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, 

there is also a takeaway quick 

lunch menu when you only have a 

short window between meetings. 

WINE CELLAR 

1314 Prudential Drive, 


904-398-8989 

winecellarjax.com 

Wine Cellar has been a landmark 

restaurant on the First Coast since 

1974. Located on the Southbank of 

downtown Jacksonville, diners can 

experience the old world charm of 

a French countryside as they dine 

beneath the shade of a majestic 

oak tree in the brick-paved garden, 

or enjoy Classic Continental 

Cuisine in one of the three intimate 

dining rooms. 



SPORTS 

Let the Games Begin 

With football, golf, soccer, basketball and more — 

there’s plenty to cheer for. 

t the heart of Jacksonville’s sports 

atmosphere is the National Football 

A League’s Jacksonville Jaguars, the 

city’s first franchise in one of the traditional 

major leagues of American sports. In their 

23rd season of competition, the Jaguars were 

founded on Nov. 30, 1993, and play their games 

at EverBank Field in downtown Jacksonville. 

The team is part of the AFC South division. 

The Jaguars’ most success occurred the 1996 

and 1999 seasons, when the franchise reached 

the AFC Championship game. Since then, they 

have also made playoff appearances in 2007 and 

2008, although the team has struggled since. 

In 2017, the club rehired original architect Tom 

Coughlin as executive vice president of football 

operations and Doug Marrone as head coach in 

a bid to recapture the glory days of the past. 

The 2017 team signed free agents A.J. Bouye, 

Calais Campbell and Barry Church to upgrade 

the defense, moves that quickly paid dividends. 

By October, the swarming pass rush — called 

“Sacksonville’’ by hometown fans — had 

become just the third team in NFL history to 

Northeast Florida is home to the National Football League’s 

Jacksonville Jaguars. The team plays home games at 

EverBank Field in downtown Jacksonville. 

(Gary Lloyd McCullough/The Florida Times-Union) 

register two 10-sack games. With its defense 

strengthened, and rookie running back Leonard 

Fournette of LSU carrying the ball on offense, 

the Jaguars’ early showing gave hope that they 

could once again make noise in the AFC South. 

The most widely attended sporting event 

in the Jacksonville area each year is THE 

PLAYERS Championship, held at the TPC 

Sawgrass Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra 

Beach. Often called golf’s “fifth major” by 

fans, the tournament regularly attracts a field 

considered the deepest and strongest in 

professional golf, all gathering to negotiate 

challenges like the Island Green at the 17th 

hole on the Pete Dye-designed course in 

pursuit of the richest purse on the PGA Tour. 

THE PLAYERS also draws enormous crowds. 

In recent years, that has meant a combined 

attendance of more than 180,000 during the 

course of the four-day competition in May. The 

tournament will move to March in 2019. 

The 2017 tournament featured a surprise 

championship for Si Woo Kim, who became 

the youngest winner in THE PLAYERS history. 

The 21-year-old from South Korea overcame an 

experienced international field, defeating former 

British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen and 

Ian Poulter by three strokes. He joined a list of 

winners at THE PLAYERS that also includes 

golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Phil 

Mickelson and Tiger Woods. 

The city’s oldest professional team is the 

Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, founded in 1962 

as the Jacksonville Suns. The baseball club 

competes in the Double-A Southern League, 

two steps below Major League Baseball, and 

is affiliated with the Miami Marlins. Its home 

has been the Baseball Grounds in downtown 

Jacksonville, one block west of EverBank Field, 

since the ballpark’s completion for the 2003 

season. Over the years, the team has fielded 

hundreds of future MLB players, including 

Hall of Fame pitcher Randy Johnson, 14-time 

All-Star infielder Alex Rodriguez and current 

Marlins slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Following 

the 2016 season, the franchise, under new 

owner Ken Babby, launched a major rebranding 

as the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp in November. 

The team said the new name is designed to 

celebrate Jacksonville amid the water that is the 

natural geography of the River City. The Jumbo 

Shrimp won the Southern League second-half 

title before losing to the Pensacola Blue Wahoos 

in the playoffs. 

The Jaguars aren’t the only football team in 

town. In the indoor game, the Jacksonville 

Sharks compete in arena football, playing their 

games at the Veterans Memorial Arena. Founded 

in 2010, the Sharks previously won the sport’s 

championship by capturing the ArenaBowl in 

2011. The Sharks moved to the newly formed 

National Arena League for the 2017 season and 

stormed through the season with only one loss, 

winning the league’s inaugural title by defeating 

the Columbus Lions 27-21. 

The city’s professional soccer franchise, 

the Jacksonville Armada, competes in the 

North American Soccer League, which was 

designated as a Division 2 league for 2017 

by the United States Soccer Federation. The 

Armada began play in 2015, setting a league 

attendance record and scoring 12 seconds 

into its inaugural game. The team plays at the 

University of North Florida’s Hodges Stadium. 

The Armada experienced its strongest season 

to date in 2017, posting its first winning record 

and scoring the most goals in club history, but 

missed out on the playoffs on the last day. 

Jacksonville’s newest pro sports franchise 

is the Jacksonville IceMen, which returned 

professional hockey to Northeast Florida after a 

nine-year absence. The IceMen, affiliated with 

the National Hockey League’s Winnipeg Jets, 

compete in the East Coast Hockey League. The 

team wrote the first chapter of its history on Oct. 

14, drawing a crowd of 8,956 fans to Veterans 

Memorial Arena for an overtime clash against 

the in-state-rival Orlando Solar Bears. 

Jacksonville has a long and prominent 

running tradition, highlighted by the Gate River 

Run, officially recognized by USA Track and 

Field as the nation’s 15-kilometer championship. 

Each year, more than 20,000 runners participate 

in events during the race weekend, which has 

attracted Olympic medalists, including Meb 

Keflezighi, Joan Benoit and Deena Kastor. The 

route winds through downtown Jacksonville, San 

Marco and St. Nicholas before crossing the Hart 

Bridge — the punishing “Green Monster” — and 

finishing next to EverBank Field. The 2017 races 

were won by U.S. Olympian Leonard Korir and 

Jordan Hasay, who went on to place third at the 

Boston Marathon. 

In February, thousands of runners take to the 

streets for the 26.2 With Donna, the nation’s 

largest marathon created specifically to raise 

funds for the fight against breast cancer. First 

held in 2008, the race has raised $5 million for 

breast cancer research and support. The 2018 

event, which takes runners across Ponte Vedra 

Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach, 

will be the 11th in the event’s history. 

The city also holds another competition at 

the longest of the standard running distances, 

the annual Jacksonville Marathon. The winter 

event takes runners on a 26.2-mile run through 

the Mandarin and Beauclerc areas, just a 

short distance east of the St. Johns River. The 

December 2017 competition will be the 35th in 

race history. In January 2016, the race drew its 

strongest field to date, including 41 runners who 

qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. 

Jacksonville’s sports activity isn’t confined 

to land. The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish 

Tournament, held annually in July, ranks among 

the biggest kingfish tournaments in the United 

States. Based at Jim King Park and Boat Ramp 

along Sisters Creek on the north side of the St. 

Johns River, the tournament includes not only 

king mackerel that sometimes tip the scales at 

40 pounds or more, but also food, music and 

Si Woo Kim shakes hands with fans after 

winning The PLAYERS Championship in 

Ponte Vedra Beach on Sunday, May 14, 2017. 

(Terry Dickson/Florida Times-Union) 

boat exhibitions. The 2018 tournament, set for 

July 16-21, will be the 38th. 

In addition to the city’s professional 

franchises, Jacksonville has two Division I 

sports programs within the city and two major 

programs a relatively short distance away. 

Jacksonville University, located in Arlington on 

the east side of the St. Johns River, competes 

in several Division I sports as part of the Atlantic 

Sun Conference. The school’s biggest athletic 

moment occurred in 1970, when the men’s 

basketball team, led by center Artis Gilmore, 

advanced to the NCAA championship game. 

Today’s JU team has also shown signs of 

improvement under fourth-year coach Tony 

Jasick. The Dolphins also compete in the 

Pioneer Football League, playing their home 

games at D.B. Milne Field on the JU campus. 

The Dolphins started the 2017 season above 

.500 under coach Ian Shields, setting a school 

rushing record in September. 

The University of North Florida, on the 

city’s Southside, also participates in athletics 

as part of the Atlantic Sun Conference. The 

Ospreys have enjoyed particular success of late 

in men’s basketball. The team qualified for its 

first-ever NCAA tournament in 2015. Under head 

coach Matthew Driscoll, the Ospreys’ basketball 

program has become a perennial contender in 

the Atlantic Sun. UNF also has an elite facility 

for track and field in Hodges Stadium, which has 

served as the host for multiple NCAA and USA 

Track and Field events. 

In addition to the two Division I universities 

in town, both Florida State University in 

Tallahassee and the University of Florida 

in Gainesville are located within easy driving 

distance of Jacksonville, and both play 

occasional events on the First Coast. The two 

schools compete in an annual spring baseball 

series at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. 

The Seminoles and Gators have produced 

dozens of future major leaguers, including 

SPORTS 

Buster Posey and J.D. Drew (Florida State) and 

David Eckstein and Darren O’Day (Florida). 

Florida State has also become a regular 

contender in football, building a championship 

tradition over the past three decades that began 

under Seminoles legend Bobby Bowden and 

has continued under his successor, Jimbo 

Fisher. Florida State’s football program won the 

national championship in 2013. The Seminoles’ 

basketball team also set a school record with 26 

wins in the 2016-17 season. 

Florida has also won national football 

championships in recent times, capturing 

the title in the 2006 and 2008 seasons. The 

Gators also take part in a classic Jacksonville 

event, the Florida-Georgia (or, if one prefers, 

Georgia-Florida) game. Each year, the Gators 

meet the rival Georgia Bulldogs at EverBank 

Field in an annual tradition that dates back to 

1933, attracting more than 80,000 fans (tickets 

are equally divided) to the stadium for game day. 

Under former coach Jim McElwain, Florida’s 

football program won back-to-back SEC East 

titles in 2015 and 2016. The Florida basketball 

team, which won NCAA championships in 

2006 and 2007, also plays occasional games 

in Jacksonville at the Veterans Memorial Arena 

downtown. The Gators played a November 2017 

exhibition at Jacksonville University to benefit 

Hurricane Irma recovery efforts. 

Jacksonville’s sports year ends with the 

TaxSlayer Bowl, a college football bowl 

game held annually since 1946 and played 

at EverBank Field. Originally called the Gator 

Bowl, the game is the sixth-oldest continuously 

contested bowl. The current format matches a 

school from the Southeastern Conference against 

an opponent from the Big Ten or Atlantic Coast 

Conference. Last year, the Georgia Tech Yellow 

Jackets won the bowl for the fourth time, defeating 

the Kentucky Wildcats 33-18 on Dec. 31. 



PROGRESS 

First Coast Marches Forward 

More retail and housing on the horizon. 

F 

rom the grand opening of big-name retailers 

like IKEA at the St. Johns Town Center, 

to a $90 million stadium makeover at 

EverBank Field, it seems as though Northeast 

Florida always has a new project to boast 

about. This year proves to be no exception. 

Take a look at some of the latest projects 

planned for the greater Jacksonville area. 

DOWNTOWN 

The District is a community concept designed 

to promote optimal health for its residents 

whether they walk, run, bicycle, kayak or do 

yoga. It is described as “a place where people 

can get the most out of life, mind, body and 

soul,” according to its website. 

The project, with a proposed location on the 

Southbank of the St. Johns River, includes up to 

1,170 resident units, 200 hotel rooms; 285,500 

square feet of commercial/retail space; 200,000 

square feet of office space; and a 125-slip 

marina. It would be built over three phases. 

The plan received design approval from the 

Downtown Development Review Board and was 

approved by the Downtown Investment Authority 

and City Council. Partner Michael Munz says 

the developers are shooting for an early spring 

ground breaking. 

Another downtown housing project is in the 

works as Vestcor wants to build a 132-unit 

apartment building next to the Lofts at LaVilla. 

In 2017, The Downtown Investment Authority 


backed up to $3.4 million in city assistance for 

the planned apartments, which would be in a city 

block near the Prime Osborn Convention Center. 

Also downtown, EverBank Field and the 

surrounding area continue its multi-million dollar 

makeover. In May, the Jacksonville Jaguars and 

the city of Jacksonville opened a 5,500-seat 

amphitheater and covered flex field adjacent 

to EverBank Field. The venue is called Daily’s 

Place as the Jacksonville-based convenience 

store company purchased the naming rights. 

The amphitheater has hosted concerts from 

such legendary acts like Jethro Tull, the Doobie 

Brothers, Journey, the Zac Brown Band, 

Foreigner and Cheap Trick. 

The flex field is located behind the stage. The 

football field runs east-to-west. The south side of 

the flex field has fabric suspended from a series 

of steel trusses that can be opened and closed. 

ST. JOHNS TOAWN CENTER 

The company that developed Palencia and 

owns the Markets at Town Center has paid $20 

million for about 70 acres on Gate Parkway for 

a new mixed-use development. The property is 

just a few hundred yards north of where IKEA 

opened in early November its 46th store at the 

Gate exit on Interstate 295 East Beltway. 

The developer originally said it planned a 

105-acre project, but does plan to buy more 

property there. It’s been approved for a maximum 

of 350,000 square feet of office space, 

Fans listen to the Tedeschi Trucks Band during the 

inaugural concert at Daily's Place amphitheater 


103,500 square feet of commercial space, up to 

950 single homes and apartments, 180 units of 

condos and townhomes, and up to 16 acres of 

neighborhood trails and park space. 

NORTHSIDE 

On the Northside, a new apartment complex 

is being built next to River City Marketplace. 

Lakeview at River City is going in at 12900 

Broxton Bay Drive, just past two other 

complexes. It’s a 324-unit, $40 million project 

with 14 three-story residential buildings. 

Developed by RCM Acquisitions and being 

built by LandSouth Construction, the project is 

expected to be completed by March 2018. 


Durbin Park, a 1,624-acre, mixed-use 

development near the Duval County line, is 

being called “the next Town Center” by media 

outlets. The property, located along Interstate 

95 near the new Florida 9B-County Road 2209 

interchange, constitutes the largest contiguous 

area in St. Johns County planned for intensive 

commercial development. 

A development like Durbin Park had been 

sought after by the county because it’s largely 

a commercial endeavor that will expand the tax 

base without generating as much demand for 

services such as schools. 

The plan for Durbin Park includes an estimated 

2.4 million square feet of retail, 2.8 million square 

feet of office space, 999 multifamily units and 350 

hotel rooms once completed. 

Phase 1A of the project began on a 

247-acre parcel of land south of Race Track 

Road and west of I-95, along the future Florida 

9B extension. It will connect to County Road 

2209, Race Track Road and the future West 

Peyton Parkway. 


2017 Winners 

In July 2017, Jacksonville.com’s Bold City Best 

competition let First Coast residents vote for their 

favorites in more than 170 categories. This list is 

your go-to guide for all the best Jacksonville has to 

offer. Each section gives insight into your neighbors’ 

favorite things to do and places to be in our Bold 

City. Don’t take our word for it; find out what the 

Bold City considers the best! See the full list at 

boldcitybest.com. 

AUTOS & MORE 

BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP 

Tom Bush Family of 

Dealerships 

Jax: Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville 

32225 (VW, Mazda, BMW, 

MINI, Collision Center) 

OP: Blanding Blvd., 


(Mazda, BMW) 

(904) 725-0911 

(904) 779-0600 

tombush.com 

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP 

Tom Bush Family of 

Dealerships 

Jax: Atlantic Blvd., 


(VW, Mazda, BMW, MINI, 

Collision Center) 

OP: Blanding Blvd., 


(Mazda, BMW) 

(904) 725-0911 

(904) 779-0600 

tombush.com 

BEST BOAT DEALERSHIP 

North Florida Yacht Sales 

8940 San Jose Blvd., 


(904) 733-7502 

nfys1.com 

BEST RV DEALERSHIP 

Travelcamp RV Sales, Service, 

Parts & More 


32216 and 7505 Blanding 

Blvd., Jacksonville 32244 

(888) 902-7353 & 

(904) 512-5977 

travelcamp.com 

BEST MOTORCYCLE 

DEALERSHIP 

Adamec Harley-Davidson 

Multiple locations 

adamecharley.com 

BEST AUTO INSURANCE 

AGENCY 

Brightway Insurance 

3733 University Blvd. West, 

Suite 100,Jacksonville 32217 

(904) 764-9554 

brightway.com 

THINGS TO DO 

& PLACES TO BE 

BEST ART GALLERY 

Cummer Museum of Art and 

Gardens 

829 Riverside Ave., 


(904) 356-6857 

cummermuseum.org 

Topgolf, located near the St. Johns Town Center, won Best 

New Business in Jacksonville.com’s 2017 Bold City Best 

competition. (Photo by Architectural Photography by Michael 

Baxter, Baxter Imaging LLC) 

BEST GOLF COURSE 

TPC Sawgrass 

110 Championship Way, 


(904) 273-3235 

tpc.com/sawgrass 

BEST MARINA 

Julington Creek Marina 



(904) 268-5117 

marinaatjulingtoncreek.com 

BEST LOCAL CHARITY 

The BairFind Foundation 

8777 San Jose Blvd., Suite 

803, Jacksonville 32217 

bairfind.org 

BEST LIVE THEATER 

Alhambra Theatre & Dining 

12000 Beach Blvd., 


(904) 641-1212 

alhambrajax.com 

BEST MOVIE THEATER 

AMC Regency 24 

9451 Regency Square Blvd., 


(904) 725-0885 

amctheatres.com/movietheatres/jacksonville/ 

amcregency-24 

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE 

St. Augustine Amphitheatre 

1340C A1A South, 


staugamphitheatre.com 

(904) 209-3746 

BEST CONCERT/EVENT 

OF 2016/2017 

St. Augustine Celtic Music & 

Heritage Festival 


celticstaugustine.com 

BEST KIDS’ ENTERTAINMENT 

Town of Orange Park Kids Fest 


32073, opkidsfest.com 

BEST SUMMER CAMP 

First Coast YMCA Summer Camp 

40 East Adams St., Suite 210, 


(904) 265-1775 

firstcoastymca.org/programs/camp 

BEST FARMERS MARKET 

Riverside Arts Market 

715 Riverside Ave., 


(904) 389-2449 

riversideartsmarket.com 

BEST FLEA MARKET 

Beach Boulevard Flea & 

Farmers Market 



(904) 930-4149 

jaxfleamarket.com 

BEST TRIVIA NIGHT 

Dick’s Wings & Grill 


dickswingsandgrill.com 

BEST MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO 

Pak’s Karate 



(904) 384-1111 

pakskarate.com 

BEST YOGA STUDIO 

Yoga Den Studio 

Multiple Locations 

yoga-den.com 

BEST FITNESS CENTER/GYM 

Orangetheory Fitness 


orangetheoryfitness.com 

BEST PILATES STUDIO 

Pilates on 3rd 

319 10th Ave N., Jacksonville 

Beach 32250 

(917) 664-2972 

pilatesonthird.com 

BEST DANCE STUDIO 

Mark Spivak Institute 

3740 San Jose Place, 


(904) 268-9136 

markspivak.com 

BEST WATER SPORTS 

Amelia Island Kayak 

Excursions 

Amelia Island, Fernandina 

Beach 32034 

(904) 557-5307 

ameliaislandkayak.com 


CUISINE & 

COCKTAILS 

BEST ALL YOU CAN EAT 

Golden Corral 


goldencorral.com 

BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK 

RESTAURANT 

Metro Diner 


metrodiner.com 

BEST-KEPT SECRET 

RESTAURANT 

The Lucky Penny Eatery 

8286 Western Way Circle, 

Suite C-1, Jacksonville 32256 

(904) 731-1242 

theluckypennyeatery.com 

BEST OUTDOOR DINING 

River City Brewing Company 

835 Museum Circle, 


(904) 398-2299 

rivercitybrew.com 

BEST ROMANTIC 

RESTAURANT 

Restaurant Orsay 

3630 Park St., Jacksonville 

32205 

(904) 381-0909 

restaurantorsay.com 

BEST SPECIAL OCCASION 

RESTAURANT 

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 


(904) 396-6200 

BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT 

Metro Diner 



BEST FARM TO TABLE/ 

LOCALLY SUPPLIED 

RESTAURANT 

Kitchen on San Marco 



(904) 396-2344 

kitchenonsanmarco.com 

BEST SOUTHERN CUISINE 

The Potter’s House Soul Food 

Bistro, Multiple locations 

thesoulfoodbistro.com 

BEST BAR/PUB 

Fionn MacCool’s Irish 

Pub & Restaurant 

2 Independent Drive, Suite 


(904) 374-1547 

fionnmacs.com 

BEST LOCAL BREWERY 

Intuition Ale Works 

929 E. Bay St., 


(904) 683-7720 

intuitionaleworks.com 

BEST HAPPY HOUR 

Ruth’s Chris Steak House 


(904) 396-6200 

BEST SPORTS BAR 

The Mudville Grille 


(904) 398-4326 

themudvillegrill.com 




BEST MARTINI 

Bonefish Grill 


bonefishgrill.com 

BEST MARGARITA 

La Nopalera Mexican 

Restaurant 


BEST BEER SELECTION 

Brewz 

1011 Atlantic Beach Blvd., 


(904) 372-9297 

brewz.beer 

BEST WINE LIST 

Taverna 



(904) 398-3005 


BEST SOMMELIER 

David Bridda at Capital Grille 

5197 Big Island Drive, 


(904) 997-9233 

thecapitalgrille.com 

BEST TACOS 

TacoLu 



(904) 249-8226, tacolu.com 

BEST BURRITO 

Moe’s Southwest Grill 


(904) 220-9090 

moes.com 

BEST BURGER 

M Shack 


mshackburgers.com 

BEST SANDWICH 

Daily’s Dash 


dailys.com/dash 

BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT 

Daruma Japanese Steak House 



(904) 821-9817 

BEST CRAB CAKES 

Barbara Jean’s Restaurant 


barbarajeans.com 

BEST PANCAKES 

Metro Diner 



BEST SALADS 

The Lucky Penny Eatery 

8286 Western Way Circle, 

Suite C-1, Jacksonville 32256 

(904) 731-1242 

theluckypennyeatery.com 

BEST HEALTHY EATING 

Native Sun Natural 

Foods Market 


(904) 260-2791 

nativesunjax.com 

BEST WINGS 

V Pizza 

1406 Hendricks Ave., 


(904) 527-1511 

vpizza.com 


BEST BREAKFAST 

Metro Diner 



BEST BRUNCH 

Metro Diner 



BEST PIZZA 

V Pizza 

1406 Hendricks Ave., 


(904) 527-1511 

vpizza.com 

BEST COFFEE SHOP 

Bold Bean Coffee Roasters 


boldbeancoffee.com 

BEST DESSERT 

Biscottis Restaurant 

+ Catering + Bar 

3556 St. Johns Ave., 


(904) 387-2060 

biscottis.net 

BEST FOOD TRUCK 

The Happy Grilled Cheese 

thehappygrilledchees.wix.com/ 

grilledcheese 

BEST SMOOTHIE 

Planet Smoothie 


planetsmoothie.com 

BEST BAKERY 

Cinotti’s Bakery 

1523 Penman Road, 


(904) 246-1728 

cinottisbakery.com 

BEST DELI 

Pinegrove Market and Deli 

1511 Pinegrove Ave., 


(904) 389-8655 

pinegrovemarket.com 

BEST BARBECUE 

Monroe’s Smokehouse 

BBQ & Catering 


(904) 387-4545 

monroessmokehousebbq.com 

BEST SUSHI 

Kazu Japanese Restaurant 

9965 San Jose Blvd., Suite 35, 


(904) 683-9903 

kazujapaneserestaurant.com 

BEST DINER 

Metro Diner 



BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT 

5th Element 

9485 Baymeadows Road, 


(904) 448-8265 

my5thelement.com 

BEST THAI RESTAURANT 

Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine 

13475 Atlantic Blvd., Suite 32, 


(904) 723-1300 

blueorchid.menu 

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT 

Enza’s Italian Restaurant 

10601 San Jose Blvd., Suite 


(904) 268-4458, enzas.net 

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT 

Chef Chan Asian Cuisine 

9802 Baymeadows Road, 

Suite 3,Jacksonville 32256 

(904) 645-7333 

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT 

La Nopalera Mexican 

Restaurant 


BEST AMERICAN 

RESTAURANT 

Metro Diner 



BEST GREEK 

Taverna Yamas 

9753 Deer Lake Court, 


(904) 854-0426 

tavernayamas.com 

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 

Safe Harbor 


safeharborseafoodmayport.com 

BEST LOCAL CHOCOLATIER 

Peterbrooke Chocolatier 


(904) 482-1900 

peterbrooke.com 

BEST NEW RESTAURANT 

South Kitchen & Spirits 

3638 Park St., 


(904) 475-2362 

south.kitchen 

BEST CHEF 

Sam Efron from Taverna 



(904) 398-3005 


BEST RESTAURANT OVERALL 

Taverna 



(904) 398-3005 


HOMES & FINANCE 

BEST HOME BUILDER 

KB Home 

10475 Fortune Parkway, 

Suite 100, 


(904) 596-6813, 

kbhome.com 

BEST REAL ESTATE 

BROKER/AGENCY 

EXIT Real Estate Gallery 


exitrealestategallery.com 

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT 

The Cole Slate Team at EXIT 

Real Estate Gallery 

2845-104 County Road 210 

W., St. Johns 32259 

(321) 438-3753 

facebook.com/ 

TheColeSlateTeam 

BEST BANK/CREDIT UNION 

VyStar Credit Union 



(904) 777-6000 

www.vystarcu.org 

BEST ACCOUNTANT/CPA 

Susan Carter CPA, P.A. 

590 Wells Road #4, Orange 

Park 32073, (904) 213-7743 

susancartercpa.com 

BEST HOME 

COMMUNITY/DEVELOPMENT 

Nocatee 

245 Nocatee Center Way, Ponte 

Vedra 32081, (904) 924-6863 

nocatee.com 

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY 

Sharp Mortgages, Inc. 

8785 Perimeter Park Blvd., 


(904) 997-1093 

sharpmortgages.com 

BEST LOCAL HOME BUILDER 

(builds only in these counties: Duval, 

St. Johns, Clay, Nassau or Flagler) 

SEDA New Homes 

2120 Corporate Square Blvd., 


(904) 394-5300 

SEDAnewhomes.com 

BEST HOME INSURANCE 

AGENCY 

Brightway Insurance 



(904) 764-9554 

brightway.com 

HEALTH & WELL BEING 

BEST DOCTOR 

Dr. Leonard Shvartzman 

1550 Riverside Ave., Suite A, 


(904) 923-6647 

precisiondermjax.com 

BEST PEDIATRIC PRACTICE 

Angel Kids Pediatrics 


(904) 224-5437 

myangelkids.com 

BEST DENTAL PRACTICE 

Doctors Lake Family Dental 

1665 Eagle Harbor Parkway, 


(904) 637-4451 

doctorslakefamilydental.com 

BEST ORTHODONTIC 

PRACTICE 

Lazzara Orthodontics 

436 Jacksonville Drive, 


(904) 270-8750 

BEST DERMATOLOGY 

PRACTICE 

Precision Dermatology and 

Skin Surgery 

1550 Riverside Ave., Suite A, 


(904) 923-6647 

precisiondermjax.com 

BEST EYE CARE PRACTICE 

Florida Eye Specialists 


(904) 564-2020 

floridaeyespecialists.com 

BEST MEDICAL SPA 

Lash Spa Studio 

7645 Merrill Road, Jacksonville 

32277, (904) 234-0960 

lashspastudio.com 

BEST COSMETIC 

SURGERY PRACTICE 

Ponte Vedra Plastic Surgery 

209 Ponte Vedra Park Drive, 


(904) 273-6200 

pvps.com 

BEST ORTHOPEDIC PRACTICE 

Jacksonville Orthopaedic 

Institute and Jacksonville 

Orthopaedic 

Institute Rehab 



(904) 564-2000, joionline.net 

BEST PODIATRIST/FOOT 

COMFORT SPECIALIST 

JE Foot & Ankle Associates 


Suite C, Fleming Island 32003 

(904) 278-5112 

jefootandankle.com 

BEST VETERINARY PRACTICE 

St. Bernard’s Animal Hospital 



(904) 677-4430 

stbernardsanimalhospital.com 

BEST CHIROPRACTIC 

PRACTICE 

Pierce Chiropractic 

& Rehabilitation 

8773 Perimeter Park Court, 


(904) 724-5443 

piercechirojax.com 

BEST HEARING AID 

PROFESSIONAL 

Florida Medical 

Hearing Centers 

4765 Hodges Blvd., 


(904) 579-3704 

floridamedicalhearing.com 

BEST WEIGHT LOSS CENTER 

Metabolic Research Centers 

of Greater Jacksonville 


(904) 674-8188 

emetabolic.com 

BEST URGENT CARE 

Avecina Medical 

1633 Racetrack Road, 


(904) 230-6988, avecina.com 

BEST REHABILITATION 

CENTER/PHYSICAL THERAPY 

Jacksonville Orthopaedic 

Institute and Jacksonville 

Orthopaedic Institute Rehab 



(904) 564-2000, joionline.net 

BEST HEALTH/LIFE 

INSURANCE AGENCY 

Aetna 


(904) 386-2593 

aetnamedicare.com 

BEST SENIOR/ASSISTED 

LIVING FACILITY 

HarborChase of Jacksonville 

3455 San Pablo Road South, 


(904) 821-8030 

harborchase.com/senior-living/ 

fl/jacksonville/harborchase-ofjacksonville 

HOME & PROFESSIONAL 

SERVICES 

BEST AIR CONDITIONING/ 

HEATING SERVICE 

Snyder Heating and Air 

Conditioning 

3401 Southside Blvd., 


(904) 641-0600 

snyderac.com 

BEST CARPET CLEANING 

COMPANY 

Julington Creek Carpet Care 

(904) 230-0678 

BEST CLEANING 

/MAID SERVICE 

Molly Maid 

108 Kingsley Ave., Suite 1, 


(904) 269-5505 

mollymaid.com 

BEST FLOORING STORE 

The Flooring & Cabinet Store 



(904) 778-1583 

flooringstorejacksonville.com 

BEST LANDSCAPING 

COMPANY 

Earth Works Landscape 

and Garden Center 



(904) 996-0712 

earthworksjax.com 

BEST LAWN SERVICE 

Peninsular Pest 

Control Services 

2609 Phyllis St., Jacksonville 

32204, (904) 389-3491 

crittergitter.com 

BEST PLUMBER 

Rolland Reash Plumbing 

11606 Columbia Park Dr. E., 


(904) 260-7059 

plumberinjax.com 

BEST PEST CONTROL 

Peninsular Pest 

Control Services 

2609 Phyllis St., Jacksonville 

32204, (904) 389-3491 

crittergitter.com 

BEST PAINTING SERVICE 

ProStar Painting 

5110 W 12th St., Jacksonville 

32254, (904) 753-8767 

prostarpaint.com 

BEST POOL SERVICE 

AND CARE 

Pinch A Penny 


pinchapenny.com 

BEST CAR WASH/ 

DETAIL SERVICE 

Charles and George’s Car Wash 


(904) 387-1846 

charlesandgeorgescarwash.com 

BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP 

RPM Automotive 


rpmautomotive.com 

BEST WINDOW 

TINTING SERVICE 

Tint Authority 

4104 Lenox Ave, Suite 4, 


(904) 470-9892 

tintauthority.com 

BEST TATTOO SHOP 

GrimmWerks Studios Tattoos 

and Body Piercings 



(904) 370-1117 

BEST FLORIST 

Kuhn Flowers 


32207, (800) 458-5846 

(904) 398-8601 

kuhnflowers.com 

BEST DRY CLEANERS 

Grove Park Cleaners 

1560B Grove Park Blvd., 


(904) 374-4138 

BEST CATERER 

A1 Catering 

3520 Saint Johns Bluff Road 

South, Suite 4, 


(904) 327-7496 

a1cateringjax.com 

BEST NAIL SALON 

Zimmiz Hair Designers, Inc. 

282 Solano Road, Ponte Vedra 

Beach 32082 

(904) 285-0503 

zimmizhairdesigners.com 

BEST HAIR SALON 

For Your Eyes Only 

Salon & Spa 



(904) 262-4116 

fyeohairsalon.com 

BEST PET SITTING SERVICE 

Bad to the Bone Pet Care 

6112 Maggie’s Circle Suite 


(904) 624-5394 

badtothebonepetcare.com 

BEST PET BOARDING 

Pet Paradise 

5140 University Blvd. W., 


(904) 396-7529 

petparadise.com 

BEST PET GROOMING 

Bathhouse Pet 

Grooming & Spa 

384 15th Ave. South, 


(904) 241-3293 

bathhousepetgrooming.com 

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER 

Through The Lens of 

Lee-Margaret 

4224 Herschel St., Jacksonville 

32210, (904) 387-8710 

throughthelensoflee-margaret.com 

BEST WEDDING PLANNER 

Make My Day - 

Wedding & Event Planning 


(918) 510-3611 

mmdplanning.com 

BEST LAW FIRM 

Farah and Farah 

10 West Adams St., 


(904) 396-5555 

farahandfarah.com 

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER 

Decorator Girl 

1836 Commodore Point Drive, 


(904) 476-6460 

decoratorgirl.com 

BEST CHILD CARE FACILITY 

Chappell Schools 


(904) 739-1279 

chappellschools.com 

BEST STORAGE FACILITY 

Atlantic Self Storage 


1 (877) 937-8673 

atlanticselfstorage.com 

BEST ROOFER 

Quality Discount Roofing 

3481 St. Augustine Road, 


(904) 396-5000 

qualitydiscountroofing.com 

BEST TRANSPORTATION 

SERVICE (TAXI/CAR/LIMO) 

Riverplace Limousine 

1401 Riverplace Blvd., 


(904) 444-7983 

riverplacelimo.com 

BEST HOME IMPROVEMENT/ 

REPAIR SERVICE 

Mr. Handyman Serving 

Greater Jacksonville 


32073, (904) 579-1010 

mrhandyman.com/greaterjacksonville 

BEST MUSIC SCHOOL 

Morris Music Academy 

2602 Isabella Blvd., Suite 50, 


(904) 853-5049 

morrismusicacademy.com 

BEST TUTORING SERVICE 

Tutoring Club of Jacksonville 

10131-17 San Jose Blvd., 


(904) 268-8556 

tutoringclub.com/jacksonvillefl 

BEST HOME ORGANIZER 

Tailored Living Featuring 

Premier Garage 

11651 Central Parkway, 


(904) 645-0885 

BEST MOVING COMPANY 

Baymeadows Moving and 

Storage 

6419 Phillips Highway, 


(904) 217-6540 

baymeadowsmovers.com 

SHOPS OF JAX 

BEST ANTIQUE SHOP 

Eco Relics 

106 Stockton St., Jacksonville 

32204, (904) 330-0074 

ecorelics.com 

BEST E-CIG/VAPOR STORE 

All Day Vape 

4195 Southside Blvd., Suite 


(904) 524-8792 

facebook.com/TheAllDayVape 

BEST GARDEN 

SHOP/NURSERY 

Earth Works Landscape 

and Garden Center 



(904) 996-0712 

earthworksjax.com 

BEST FURNITURE STORE 

Ashley HomeStore 


(904) 880-5860 

ashleyhomestore.com 

BEST MATTRESS STORE 

Ashley HomeStore 


(904) 880-5860 

ashleyhomestore.com 

BEST GROCERY STORE 

Publix 


publix.com 

BEST HEALTH FOOD STORE 

Native Sun Natural 

Foods Market 


(904) 260-2791 

nativesunjax.com 

BEST HARDWARE STORE 

Ace Hardware 


BEST JEWELRY STORE 

Global Diamonds 

4870 Big Island Drive, Suite 1, 


(904) 515-5959 

globaldiamondsusa.com 

BEST CHILDREN’S STORE 

Once Upon a Child 


onceuponachildjacksonville.com 

BEST LIQUOR STORE 

Broudy’s Liquors 


broudys.com 

BEST PAWN SHOP 

Wild West Guns & Gold 

1233-27 Lane Ave. South, 


(904) 693-0777 

wildwestgunsandgold.com 

BEST SHOE STORE 

Foot Solutions 

4126 3rd St. S., 


(904) 247-0460 

footsolutions.com/ 

jacksonvillebeach 

BEST THRIFT STORE 

BEAM Thrift 

318 7th Ave. N., 


(904) 853-6246 

jaxbeam.org/beamthrift 

BEST UNIQUE SHOP 

Eco Relics 

106 Stockton St., 


(904) 330-0074 

ecorelics.com 

BEST BOUTIQUE 

Sweet Repeats 

Consignment Shop 



(904) 730-7782 

shopsweetrepeats.com 

BEST FORMAL 

WEAR/BRIDAL SHOP 

French Novelty 

3520-4 Blanding Blvd., 


(904) 779-9000 

frenchnovelty.com 

BEST BICYCLE SHOP 

Open Road Bicycles 

3544 St. Johns Ave., 


(904) 388-9066 

openroadbicycles.com 

BEST MALL/ 

SHOPPING CENTER 

St. Johns Town Center 

4663 River City Drive, 


(904) 998-7156 

simon.com/mall/st-johnstown-center 

BEST VINTAGE SHOP 

Eco Relics 

106 Stockton St., 


(904) 330-0074 

ecorelics.com 

BEST GUN SHOP 

Green Acres Sporting Goods 

8774 Normandy Blvd., 


(904) 786-5166 

jaxgreenacres.com 

BEST GIFT SHOP 

Avondale Gift Boutique 

3650 St Johns Ave., 


(904) 387-9557 

agbjax.com 

PEOPLE & FACES 

OF JAX 

BEST TV ANCHOR 

Tom Wills, 

WJXT-TV, NEWS4JAX 

4 Broadcast Place, 




BEST RADIO PERSONALITY/HOST 

Melissa Ross 

BEST NEWSPAPER REPORTER/ 

COLUMNIST 

Mark Woods 

BEST LOCAL CELEBRITY 

Tim Tebow 

BEST VISIONARY OF JACKSONVILLE 

Shad Khan 

BEST PERSON IN PUBLIC OFFICE 

Lenny Curry 

City of Jacksonville 

117 W. Duval St., Suite 400, 


(904) 630-3404 

COJ.net 

BEST LOCAL SPORTS HERO 

Tim Tebow 

BOLDEST PERSON OF 

JACKSONVILLE’S PAST 

Jake Godbold 

BOLDEST PERSON OF 

JACKSONVILLE’S PRESENT 

Shad Khan 

BEST PLACE TO WORK — SMALL 

(LESS THAN 25 EMPLOYEES) 

Doctors Lake Family Dental 



(904) 637-4451 

doctorslakefamilydental.com 

BEST PLACE TO WORK — 

MEDIUM (25-99 EMPLOYEES) 

Corporate Traffic Logistics 

6500 Bowden Road, Suite 202 


(904) 727-0051 

corporate-traffic.com 

BEST PLACE TO WORK — 

LARGE (100+ EMPLOYEES) 

The Suddath Companies 

815 South Main St., 


(904) 390-7100 

suddath.com/Jacksonville 

BEST NEW BUSINESS 

Topgolf 

10531 Brightman Blvd., 


(904) 328-2002 

topgolf.com/us 

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL — 

PRIMARY EDUCATION 

San Jose Episcopal Day School 



(904) 733-0352 

sjeds.org 

BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL — 

SECONDARY EDUCATION 

Episcopal School of Jacksonville 

4455 Atlantic Blvd., 


(904) 396-5751 

esj.org 

BEST CHARTER SCHOOL 

Duval Charter School 

100 Scholars Way, 


(904) 724-1536 

duvalcharter.org 

The 3rd annual 

WINNERS 

GUIDE 

Keep on cruisin’ 

Tom Bush Family Dealerships 

is a double-winner for the 

third year in a row Page 20 

boldcitybest.com 

The boldest and 

best of 2017 

Find out who won in all 

117 categories Page 6 

Trust your 

intuition 

The Bold City Best Party 

is back! Page 5 

PREMIER 

MEDIA AND 

MARKETING 

IN GREATER JACKSONVILLE 

We can help you reach real customers. 

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