Discover Jacksonville 2019

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

DISCOVER 

JACKSONVILLE 

2019 

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION 

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2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE CONTENTS 

WELCOME 

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 

Finding Your Home on the First Coast 25 

EDUCATION 

ABCs of Learning 45 

Public Schools 46 

Bright Futures 48 

Not by Chance, but by Choice 49 

Private Schools 54 

Easy Access to College Education 60 

MEDICAL 

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 

Travel Near and Far 72 

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 

SHOPPING 

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 

PROGRESS 

First Coast Marches Forward 92 

BOLD CITY BEST 

2017 Winners 93 

ADVERTISER INDEX 

Dream Finders Homes 

Inside Front 

Vystar Credit Union 1 

Beachwalk 3 

Watson 5 

Baptist Health 7 

A-Coin & Stamp Gallery, Inc 13 

Wildlight 20 

2 | 2019 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE 

Marina at Ortega Landing 28 

Cecil Pines 28 

Rivertown 31 

Sharon Mills 41 

Shearwater 43 

Bishop Kenny High School 56 

Holy Family Catholic School 59 

Certified Marijuana Doctors 62 

SMG 64 

CareerSource Northeast Florida 70 

Florida Boat Rentals 74 

bestbet 85 

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries 

Inside Back 

Jacksonville Jaguars 

Back

WELCOME 

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

TIMES-UNION MEDIA takes tremendous pride in presenting the 2019 edition of our award-winning 

Discover Jacksonville resource guide. Inside these pages, you’ll find the most up-to-date and 

comprehensive information available to enjoy our magnificent First Coast area. 

Straightforward decisions like where to grab a great cup of coffee, play an exhilarating round of golf 

or catch first-rate entertainment can be anything but simple if you don’t know where to look. And 

complicated choices like picking your child’s school or choosing an area of town to call home can 

be even more daunting. But we’ve got you covered with all the details you’ll need to make those 

decisions easier. 

Our beautiful beaches, rich history and bustling commerce make Northeast Florida a superb place 

to live and prosper. As the city’s information leader, The Florida Times-Union and Jacksonville.com, 

along with GateHouse Media, are honored to present Discover Jacksonville 2019. 

Enjoy! 

Bill Offill 

Group Publisher, Times-Union Media 

ABOUT THE COVER 

Four WWII-era SNJ 

training aircraft 

from the GEICO 

Skytypers fly over 

the St. Johns River 

and downtown 

Jacksonville with two F/A-18s 

from the Blue Angels - the U.S. 

DISCOVER 

JACKSONVILLE 

2019 

Navy flight demonstration team - 

in a rare joint-formation flight on 

Oct. 25, 2018, leading up to the 

2018 NAS Jax Air Show. 

(Photo by Stephan Seville, courtesy of GEICO 

Skytypers Air Show Team) 

For ad inquiries, contact Liz Borten 

at 904-359-4099. 

Visit Discover Jacksonville online at 

DiscoverJacksonville.com 

PUBLISHED BY THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION 

VISIT US AT DISCOVERJACKSONVILLE.COM $6.00 

2018 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE STAFF 

GROUP PUBLISHER 

BILL OFFILL 

ADVERTISING OPERATIONS COORDINATOR 

DIANNE KNAPP 

MANAGING EDITOR OF SPECIALTY AUDIENCE 

JOE DESALVO 

GRAPHIC DESIGNER 

CAITLYN BROYLES 

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING 

JANE KATONA 

COORDINATOR/WRITER 

PHILLIP MILANO 

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR 

LIZ BORTEN 

VIDEO MARKETING SPECIALIST 

MATT PITTMAN 

ADVERTISING MANAGER 

DAVID SANDEEN 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

DON COBLE, MARIE FAZIO, RONALD L. LITTLEPAGE 

DIGITAL ADVERTISING MANAGER 

PETER KELLERES 

DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR 

JOHN NAUGHTON 

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. 

4 | 2019 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE

YOU’RE MOVING 

– NOW WHAT? 

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GREETINGS! 

Thank you for being a part of our vibrant Jacksonville community. 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

Jacksonville is both a great place to vacation and an even greater place to live, work and play. Our 

city – with its wealth of natural resources, thriving arts and cultural offerings, diverse and exciting 

sports teams, expansive entertainment venues and a bustling business environment – continues 

to grow and generate new attractions for residents and tourists alike. 

With new and sustained development, a friendly business and military environment, and 

thousands of new jobs across a variety of globally recognized industries and sectors, our city 

remains one of endless opportunities. We also boast world-class healthcare facilities and are 

proud to be home to the third-largest military presence in the nation. 

You will also discover that Jacksonville is fortunate to have an abundance of amazing natural 

amenities: the majestic St. Johns River; miles of spectacular beaches; and the nation’s largest 

urban parks system, which offers a wide variety of scenic and recreational opportunities for all 

ages to enjoy. 

LENNY CURRY 

Whether you are here to spend a day or a lifetime, you will discover much to love about our city. 

Thank you for choosing our corner of Northeast Florida. We’re so glad to host you here! 

Sincerely, 

Lenny Curry 

Mayor 


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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) 

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 2018, Jacksonville ranked No. 6 

in Yelp’s Local Economic Outlook, which 

calculates the percentage net growth in new 

businesses to show the chance businesses 

in a city have to stay open or thrive. 

Forbes put Jacksonville at No. 3 on its list 

of “Where to Invest in Housing in 2018,” citing 

3-year population growth of 5.9 percent and a 

3-year home price growth forecast of 20 percent. 

Lonely Planet praised Jacksonville as the 

ninth-best travel value worldwide for 2018, 

gushing over its miles of beautiful beaches, 

surfing, art and live music. Finding plenty 

of low-priced craft beers and the lowest 

hotel rates in Florida didn’t hurt, either. 

Jacksonville was distinguished as 

No. 16 on Forbes’ list of America’s 

Fastest-Growing Cities in 2018. 

In 2018, Jacksonville was selected among 

the Top 50 Best Places to Live in the USA 

and ranked 23rd among the 100 Best Places 

to Retire 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. 

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 in 2017. 

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. 

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. 

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 May 2018 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 

6.5 percentage points below the average 

COST OF LIVING INDEX COMPARISON 

0 50% 100% 150% 200% 250% 

NEW YORK (MANHATTAN), NY 245.4 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 195.7 

CHICAGO, IL 124.1 

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 118.7 

CHARLESTON, SC 103.7 

NASHVILLE-MURFREESBORO, TN 99.6 

ATLANTA, GA 99.0 

PITTSBURCH, PA 98.4 

AUSTIN, TX 97.6 

CHARLOTTE, NC 97.3 

HOUSTON, TX 96.9 

PHOENIX, AZ 96.0 

KANSAS CITY, MO 95.3 

RICHMOND, VA 95.3 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 93.5 

RALEIGHT, NC 91.2 

BIRMINGHAM, AL 91.1 

COLUMBUS, OH 90.1 

TAMPA, FL 90.1 

TEMPERATURE DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (2000-2018) 

10 IN. 

8 IN. 

6 IN. 

4 IN. 

2 IN. 

0 IN. 

79.4°F 

JACKSONVILLE’S 

AVERAGE HIGH/LOW 

100 

90 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

57.8°F 

JAN 

65.1 

41.5 

FEB 

68.5 

44.6 

MARCH 

74.2 

49.6 

WEATHER TO EXPECT 

APRIL 

80.0 

55.6 

MAY 

85.7 

63.1 

4.22 IN 

AVERAGE MONTHLY 

RAINFALL IN JACKSONVILLE 

TEMPERATURE IN JACKSONVILLE 

MONTHLY AVERAGE HIGH 

MONTHLY AVERAGE LOW 

JUNE 

89.8 

70.2 

JULY 

91.5 

72.4 

AUG 

90.8 

73.0 

SEPT 

86.7 

69.9 

OCT 

80.8 

60.3 

NOV 

73.4 

50.2 

NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION IN JACKSONVILLE 

DEC 

68 

45.1 

2.81 2.87 3.16 2.60 3.75 7.62 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 2000-2018) 

WELCOME 

2019 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 49 

ARLINGTON 9 

ATLANTIC BEACH/ 

NEPTUNE BEACH 32 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH 29 

CALLAHAN 37 

DEERWOOD/BAYMEADOWS 16 

DAMES POINT 24 

FERNANDINA BEACH 47 

FLEMING ISLAND 39 

FRUIT COVE 38 

GARDEN CITY/DINSMORE 19 

GREEN COVE SPRINGS 44 

HILLIARD 48 

JULINGTON CREEK 28 

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS 75 

LORETTO 24 

MACCLENNY 39 

MANDARIN 32 

MAYPORT 31 

MIDDLEBURG 42 

MONCRIEF 11 

NOCATEE 29 

NORMANDY/HYDE GROVE 14-18 

ORANGE PARK 28 

ORTEGA 16 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH 25 

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE/ 

MURRAY HILL 6-10 

ST. AUGUSTINE 53 

ST. NICHOLAS 6 

SAN MARCO 6 

SOUTHSIDE 15 

SPRINGFIELD 5 

WORLD GOLF VILLAGE 31 

YULEE 32 

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 235 

CALLAHAN 22.3 

CLEARWATER 220 

COCOA 153 

CORAL GABLES 350 

DAYTONA BEACH 89 

FERNANDINA BEACH 36 

FORT LAUDERDALE 324 

FORT MYERS 321 

GAINESVILLE 71 

KEY WEST 502 

MIAMI 343 

MELBOURNE 175 

NAPLES 356 

OCALA 101 

ORLANDO 140 

PALATKA 63 

PANAMA CITY 268 

PENSACOLA 359 

PORT ST. LUCIE 234 

ST. AUGUSTINE 40 

ST. PETERSBURG 221 

SARASOTA 251 

TALLAHASSEE 164 

TAMPA 199 

TITUSVILLE 134 

VERO BEACH 211 

WEST PALM BEACH 283 

DRIVING MILEAGE FROM 

JACKSONVILLE TO OTHER U.S. CITIES 

ATLANTA, GA 345 

BIRMINGHAM, AL 464 

BOSTON, MA 1,158 

CHARLESTON, SC 238 

CHICAGO, IL 1,061 

CINCINNATI, OH 795 

DALLAS, TX 990 

DENVER, CO 1,748 

HOUSTON, TX 871 

KANSAS CITY, MO 1,146 

LAS VEGAS, NV 2,220 

Source: MapQuest 

LOS ANGELES, CA 2,419 

NASHVILLE, TN 594 

NEW ORLEANS, LA 547 

NEW YORK, NY 947 

PHILADELPHIA, PA 846 

PHOENIX, AZ 2,046 

PITTSBURGH, PA 829 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 2,798 

SAVANNAH, GA 140 

SEATTLE, WA 3,038 

WASHINGTON, DC 710 


Who We Are 

Here are the latest figures available 

from the U.S. Census Bureau, 

2017 American Community 

Survey reported for the Jacksonville 

Metropolitan Statistical Area: 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 American Community Survey 

1-Year Estimates. 

GENDER 

MALE 48.6% FEMALE 51.4% 

HOUSEHOLDS 

$150,000 - $199,999 

$100,000 - $149,999 

WHITE 

BLACK OR AFRICAN 

AMERICAN 

AMERICAN INDIAN AND 

ALASKA NATIVE 

ASIAN 

NATIVE HAWAIIAN AND 

OTHER PACIFIC ISLANDER 

OTHER RACE 

TWO OR MORE RACES 

HOUSEHOLD INCOME 

$200,000 - MORE 

5.5% 

4.9% 

69.1% 

72.3% 

21.5% 

12.7% 

0.3% 

0.8% 

0.0% 

0.2% 

6.6% 

4.2% 

5.6% 

1.8% 

5.1% 

3.1% 

3.3% 

DUVAL COUNTY ACTIVE 

REGISTERED VOTERS 

AS OF NOVEMBER 2018 

DEMOCRATS:249,505 40.81% 

REPUBLICANS:222,715 36.43% 

OTHERS:139,146 22.76% 

TOTAL:611,366 

LESS THAN $10,000 

3.7% 

RACIAL DEMOGRAPHICS 

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

$10,000 - $14,999 

$15,000 - $24,999 

55 - 59 

45 - 54 

60 - 64 

65 - 74 

6.7% 

13.0% 

75 - 84 

6.2% 

35 - 44 

AGE 

9.1% 

JACKSONVILLE 

U.S. 

12.6% 

IN YEARS 

4.6% 1.9% 

85 AND OVER 

25 - 34 

6.1% 

13.8% 

6.2% 

6.5% 

6.7% 

UNDER 5 

6.6% 

5 - 9 

WELCOME 

10 - 14 

15 - 19 

20 - 24 

13,4% 

8.7% 

FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 67.3% 

NONFAMILY HOUSEHOLDS32.7% 

AVERAGE FAMILY SIZE 3.19 PEOPLE 

13.4% 

$75,000 - $99,999 

18.8% 

$50,000 - $74,999 

14.2% 

9.8% 

$25,000 - $34,999 

$35,000 - $49,999 

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME 

JACKSONVILLE: $58,709 

U.S.: $60,336 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

MARITAL STATUS 

EDUCATION 

15 YEARS OLD AND OVER 25 YEARS OLD AND OVER 

30% 

MALE 

FEMALE 

25% 

20% 

15% 

10% 

JACKSONVILLE 

U.S. 

10% 

0% 

50.1% 

46.3% 

2.7% 

8.2% 

11.4% 

14.4% 

1.6% 

2.1% 

34.2% 

29.1% 

MARRIED WIDOWED DIVORCED SEPERATED NEVER MARRIED 

5% 

0% 

2.6% 

5.1% 

LESS THAN 

9TH GRADE 

7.0% 

6.9% 

9TH-12TH, 

NO DIPLOMA 

28.4% 

27.1% 

HIGH SCHOOL 

GRADUATE 

(INCLUDES 

EQUIVALENCY) 

21.2% 

20.4% 

SOME 

COLLEGE, 

NO DEGREE 

10.1% 

8.5% 

ASSOCIATE’S 

DEGREE 

20.2% 

19.7% 

BACHELOR’S 

DEGREE 

10.5% 

12.3% 

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

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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) 

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. 

Ronald L. Littlepage is a former 

Florida Times-Union columnist, 

retiring in December 2017 after 

39 years with the newspaper. He 

continues to enjoy spending time 

on the water. 


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 four months or older; 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 three 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. 

• Mandatory spay and neuter upon impound 

or prior to redemption from Animal Services; 

one-time exemption if a $500 fine is paid. 

• Animal Services: 904-269-6342, 

animalcontrol@claycountygov.com, 

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. 

• It is unlawful to artificially color any animal, 

in order to protect the animal from being 

harmed from the coloration process and 

to prevent misrepresentation of the color 

to a potential buyer. 

• Leash law: no dog or cat is allowed to be at 

large; exemption for dogs if in a legal hunt 

or training procedure, 

• 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, cats and ferrets 

four months of age or older, renewed 

annually at Nassau County Animal Services 

(904-530-6150); proof of rabies vaccination 

required. Licenses: $10 per altered dog/cat/ 

ferret, $23 non-altered. City of Fernandina 

Beach only: Licenses: $5 per altered 

dog/cat, $100 non-altered; verification 

of sterilization required. 


and ferrets; rabies tag display required. 

• Leash law for dogs only; must be 

contained by leash or carrier when 

not on personal property 

• Nassau Humane Society (adoptions): 

904-321-1647, nassauhumane.org 

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 each September. 

WELCOME 

To register an animal, the owner must present 

a 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 (unspayed) $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 from 7:30 a.m. to 

5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the 

Customer Service Center, 50 Bridge St., 

St. Augustine, 904-825-1037 


and ferrets four months or older; rabies tag 

display required. 

• Leash law for dogs and cats. 

• Animal control: 904-209-0746; officer on-call 

for emergencies from 4:30 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily. 

• St. Augustine 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 because it is at the merge point of Interstates 95 and 10, 

necessitating more interchange improvements that started in 2017, near the 

same time the I-95 Overland Bridge replacement project was nearly 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 from the people of 

Jacksonville as a multi-term mayor that the Main Street Bridge was 

renamed in his honor nearly 16 years after it opened. Alsop, who 

came to Florida as one of Teddy Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, served 

14 consecutive years before leaving office in 1937 (he returned 

four years later). He died at 83, about a month after the bridge was 

renamed for him on April 12, 1957. 

In 2014, the Florida Department of Transportation put $11.1 million 

into a project to make maintenance and safety repairs. From 2016 

to 2017, a $10.8 million project rehabilitated 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 fastestgrowing 

area in Duval County. In September 2013, a 

Military Sealift Command ship collided with the bridge 

and caused enough damage to close it until October 

2013. The bridge underwent cleaning and painting 

starting 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 Northbank 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 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 cable-stayed 

bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The name 

Dames Point originated in the mid-1800s, when 

the wives of seafaring men would gather at the 

site to welcome home their husbands after months 

of separation. Maintenance work in 2016 and 

2017 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 

Dream Finders Homes is a Jacksonville-based national home builder 

committed to helping buyers have a unique experience by personalizing 

each home to fit their lifestyle. This Mableton model is from the 

TrailMark community in St. Johns County. (Dream Finders Homes)

For Sale: New, Historic 

and Affordable Homes 

Signs of growth are obvious in all 

directions in and around Jacksonville. 

HOUSING 

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 

five-county average at $205,000 – an 

increase of 10.3 percent and catching the 

state average of $224,600, according to 

Zillow.com. Median home values between 

2012-16 by county were $108,600 in Baker, 

$157,600 in Clay, $146,400 in Duval, $192,600 

in Nassau and $259,900 in St. Johns, 

according to the U.S. Census Bureau. 

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. 22 on the list 

of the fastest-growing 100 counties in the 

United States. St. Johns County showed 

an increase of 3.74 percent over last year, 

compared to a 1.27 percent average growth 

rate in the five-county area, 1.56 percent rate 

in Florida and a 1.6 percent rate nationwide. 

The U.S. Census also reported Jacksonville 

had the 13th-highest national increase in 

population – a gain of 11,169 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 

643,584 housing units, including singlefamily 

residences, condos, apartments 

and manufactured housing. Nearly 63.3 

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. 

Historic areas are benefiting from infill 

construction activity. New homes are being 

built on vacant lots or to replace demolished 

houses. Historic areas such as Springfield, 

Riverside, Avondale, 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 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 in 2016. 

According to the Northeast Florida 

Association of Realtors, home prices continue 

to move upward in the region, and the pace 

at which homes are selling continues to 

accelerate: The median home sales price 

for August 2018 was $220,000, up 7.3 

percent from a year earlier, and the average 

time for a home to go under contract was 

59 days in August 2018, compared with 65 

days for the same month a year earlier. 

The low inventory and Hurricane Irma 

affected sales of new homes a year ago, but 

developers currently are working feverishly 

to make up the difference, said Melanie 

Green, communications director for the 

Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. 

“Demand is clearly outpacing 

inventory, but there’s a lot of new 

construction, especially in the northern 

part of St. Johns County,” she said. 

There were 8,348 homes available on the 

market in April 2017, compared to 9,237 in 

August 2018, Green said. In all, there were 

a record 28,824 homes sold in the fivecounty 

area in 2017, NEFAR reported. 

“Demand by buyers is still strong, with 2,673 

pending sales in the wings in August,” NEFAR 

President Ben Bates said. “A shortage in 

available inventory for sale is still the element 

having the most impact on the housing market.” 

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, former 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 demand 

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. “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 

have been built or are under construction 

on Florida 210 and on International Golf 

Parkway in northern St. Johns County. 

There also are three schools — an 

elementary and two kindergarten-througheighth 

grade — under construction, as 

well as expansions at several schools. 

SilverLeaf is an 8,000-acre community 

planned for 10,700 homes between State 

Roads 210 and 16, west of Interstate 95. 

The demand to find housing in 

northern St. Johns County has made 

it a seller’s paradise, Green said. 

“Usually we like to have five to six months 

of saleable inventory on hand, but right 

now there’s only three,” Green said. “That’s 

affecting pricing. With demand being there 

and inventory not being there, there’s a lot of 

interesting bidding going on. Prices are going 

up. We’ve actually seen homes being sold for 

10 to 15 percent higher than the asking price.” 

The NEFBA said 3,094 home construction 

permits were issued in St. Johns County 

from January through August 2018, 

compared to 2,564 for the much larger 

Duval County during that same period. 

“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.” 


First Coast Housing 

By County 

28,283 1.3% POPULATION CHANGE 

HOUSING UNIT 9,940 HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 

BAKERPOPULATION 

MEDIAN VALUE $108,600 79.3% 

(owner-occupied units) 

212,230 1.9% POPULATION CHANGE 


CLAYPOPULATION 

MEDIAN VALUE $157,600 74.8% 


DUVAL 

NASSAU 

ST. JOHNS 

POPULATION 937,934 1.3% POPULATION CHANGE 


MEDIAN VALUE $146,400 80.5% 


POPULATION 82,721 2.6% POPULATION CHANGE 


MEDIAN VALUE $192,600 76.1% 


POPULATION 243,812 

HOUSING UNIT 106,530 

3.6% POPULATION CHANGE 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 

MEDIAN VALUE $259,900 76.1% 


TOTAL 

POPULATION 1,504,980 

POPULATION CHANGE 1.8% 

HOUSING UNIT 643,584 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 78.8% 

MEDIAN VALUE (owner-occupied units) 

$157,600 

FLORIDA 

U.S.A 

POPULATION 20,984,400 POPULATION 325,719,178 

POPULATION CHANGE -0.2% POPULATION CHANGE 0.4% 

HOUSING UNIT 9,441,153 HOUSING UNIT 137,403,406 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 64.8% HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 63.6% 

MEDIAN VALUE $166,800 


MEDIAN VALUE $184,700 

(owner-occupied units)

A City Surrounded 

by Water 

HOUSING 

From lakes to ocean, Jacksonville offers 

choices to enjoy waterfront living. 

In Northeast Florida, homes on the 

Atlantic Ocean and Intracoastal Waterway 

provide upscale waterfront living. Rivers 

such as the St. Johns, St. Marys, Trout, 

Ortega, Nassau, Guana and Tolomato form 

a network throughout the area that is ideal 

for boaters, birdwatchers, kayakers, paddle 

boarders and nature lovers. In addition to 

natural waterways, numerous subdivisions 

have manmade lakes for recreation. 

Nationally, waterfront homes are worth more 

than double the value of homes overall. Florida 

is reported to have some of the lowest prices 

for waterfront homes. Zillow.com published a 

recent study that showed the median value 

for a waterfront single-family home in Ponte 

Vedra Beach was $492,200 compared to 

a non-waterfront home at $350,500. 

Epping Forest on San Jose Boulevard has 

a yacht club, access to a private marina and 

residences from $525,000 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 on its 

tributaries start at $200,000 for smaller 

homes on the Northside of Jacksonville 

or much farther south toward Palatka. 

To get a St. Johns riverfront home 

with deep-water access and stretching 

views, prices start at $460,000 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 just off Beach Boulevard. The 

townhomes offer unobstructed views of the 

Intracoastal Waterway and start at $765,000. 

You don’t need the river or ocean to enjoy 

water in Northeast Florida. Beachwalk is a 

development in northern St. Johns County 

with five communities built around a 14- 

acre fresh water lagoon. This kind of luxury 

starts at $400,000 for a basic floorplan. 

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. 

Boats docked in Julington Creek at 

the mouth of the St. Johns River. (Will 

Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 


HOUSING 

Homeowners Associations 

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 is incorporated 

into the purchase transaction. The private 

organizations are backed by Florida law. 

Residents pay monthly dues for landscaping, 

pool maintenance, taxes, power costs, 

and other maintenance and repair items. 

Nonpayment of dues can lead to liens or 

foreclosure of your home. 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. 

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 

the average HOA fee is $396 a year. HOA 

home values generally are 0.54 percent 

higher – about an extra $934 for the 

average homeowner on the First Coast – 

than a home without HOA guidelines. 

Restrictions vary but frequently include the following covenants: 

• Garbage cans must be concealed on non-trash-pickup days. There 

are 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. 

• Established rules limit how many and types of animals are 

permitted, in addition to leash laws and clean-up rules. 

• Set hours, rules and restrictions exist for common 

areas like playgrounds, pools and clubhouses. 

• Houses may not be used to breed animals. 

• Neighborhood home colors must be approved. 

• Vehicles must be parked in the garage, not in the driveway. 

• Restricted hours for contract labor (lawn maintenance, plumber, 

construction, etc.) to be allowed into the community. 

• Mailboxes and “For Sale’’ signs must be a certain 

type for consistent look in community. 

• Restrictions on fence heights and other 

non-approved changes to the architecture. 

• Rules for common pool, dog walk and exercise areas. 

• Enforced noise ordinances. 


HOUSING 

Convenient to Jacksonville and St. Augustine, RiverTown is 

an active, highly amenitized social community with access to 

the best Northeast Florida has to offer. It’s situated along the 

St. Johns River, and just minutes from Interstate 95 access 

and world-class shopping and dining. (Mattamy Homes) 

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 15.1230 

Macclenny 18.7230 

Suwannee River 15.2533 

Clay County 14.5382 

Green Cove Springs 15.7769 

Keystone Heights 18.7173 

Orange Park 18.8539 

Penney Farms 14.4272 

Lake Asbury (water) 14.5382 

Challenger Center MTSU 17.5382 

Duval County (except Beaches, Baldwin) 18.0231 

Jacksonville Beach 18.7271 

Atlantic Beach 17.9609 

Neptune Beach 18.2324 

Baldwin 19.3124 

Nassau County 16.5856 

Callahan 17.0668 

Amelia Island (outside city limits) 16.3423 

Piney Island (with mosquito control) 16.4835 

Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island 20.3245 

Hilliard 16.0330 

St. Johns County 14.1233 

Hastings 14.1233 

Ponte Vedra Beach. 14.2371 

South Ponte Vedra and U.S. 1 area 14.1871 

St. Augustine 20.1533 

St. Augustine South lighting (no port) 14.3333 

St. Augustine South lighting (with port) 14.3971 

St. Augustine Beach 14.1871 

St. Augustine Beach (outside city limits) 14.1871 

Marineland area 14.1872 

Northridge Lakes CDD 14.4633 

Julington Creek (municipal) 14.1233 

Julington Creek Plantation CDD 14.1233 

Marshall Creek CDD 14.1871 

Sampson Creek CDD 14.1233 

Elkton drainage 14.1233 

Hastings drainage (in city limits) .14.1233 

Hastings drainage (outside city limits) 14.1233 

Flagler Estates road and drainage district 14.1233 

Maderia (in COSA) 20.2171 

Maderia (outside COSA) 14.1871 

Meadow View at Twin Creek 14.1233 

Creekside at Twin Creek 14.1233 

Rivers Edge 14.1233 

Bannon Lakes 14.1233 

Vilano Beach lighting 14.2371 

St. Johns Forest 14.1233 

Brandy Creek 14.1233 

Durban Crossing, Aberdeen 14.1233 

World Commerce, Sandy Creek 14.1233 

Heritage Landing, Lake Beluthahatchee 14.1233 

Tolomato, Turnbull Creek, Main Street 14.1233 

Sweetwater, Glen St. Johns, Treaty Oaks 14.1233 

Las Calinas, Rivers Edge 14.1233 

Moultrie Creek 14.1233 

Isles of Bartram Park, Flagler Estate 14.1233 

Six Mile Creek 14.1233 

Sandy Creek 14.1233 

Bartram Springs 14.1233 

Trout Creek 14.1233 

Southaven CDD 14.1233 

Marshall Creek 14.1233 

Heritage Park 14.1871 

Antiqua at St. Augustine, Maderia 20.2171 

Deerfield Preserve CDD 14.1871 

Summer Haven 22.6871 


COMMUNITIES 

With its many-tiered fountain and wrought iron sculpture 

a centerpiece, the San Marco shopping district located 

at Atlantic and San Marco boulevards thrives as a home 

to an eclectic collection of trendy shops, theaters and 

restaurants. (Bruce Lipsky/Florida Times-Union) 


COMMUNITIES 

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. 

This 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 who 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 that 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 the area’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 booming 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 median home values of $174,400 

in Macclenny, according to real estate 

marketplace website Zillow.com. 

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 estimated 

at 5,767 as of 2016, according to the U.S. 

Census Bureau’s 2012-2016 American 

Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 

Homes listed on Zillow in Sanderson 

ranged 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. For entertainment, the 

area boasts the New Vision Theatres Fleming 

Island 12, and has many organized activities 

for people of all ages. There is an active 

55-plus group, a number of championshipquality 

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 $268,500. 

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 

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 had an estimated 

population of 7,205 as of 2016, 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. Trendy new establishments like 

Red’s Wine Bar on Walnut Street have 

added ambience to the downtown area. 

Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club, a 

gated golf, tennis and country club off U.S. 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 median home price is $197,000, 

with an expected 5.9 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 Lawrence Boulevard 

and Orchid Avenue in Keystone Heights. 

Today, Keystone Heights is a small, 

peaceful, family-oriented town, with an 

estimated population of 1,472 as of 2017. It 

has many family-owned businesses, and 

the median home value is $149,600. 

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. It even provides 

operational support for the Direct TV and 

Goodyear blimps that hover over the region’s 

major sporting events. The Airpark Authority 

also leases wildlife area to a sportsman’s club. 

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 an estimated 

• Active Independent 

Senior Living 

Community 

• Inspiring Natural 

setting within a 

gated community 

• Maintenance-free lifestyle with complete 

home and yard maintenance 

• In-Home emergency response system... 

and much more! 

FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 

904-771-8839 • www.cecilpines.org • 6008 Lake Cove Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32221 


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) 

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 

13,511 residents in 2016. It is 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, 

and the St. Vincent’s Medical Center. 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, including at Two 

Creeks and the major Oakleaf Plantation north 

of town. Potential buyers have numerous 

choices, from manufactured housing to 

million-dollar properties. The median 

home value in Middleburg has climbed 9.8 

percent in the last year, to $192,300. 

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 an estimated 

8,705 residents in 2017. Orange Park sits on 

a high and dry area featuring beautiful oak 

trees and splendid vistas along the St. Johns 

River. It is convenient to interstates 10, 95 


COMMUNITIES 

and 295, and many residents work elsewhere 

and raise their families in this community. 

Wells Road has been dubbed 

“Restaurant Row” for all of its dining 

options, including at nearby Orange Park 

Mall. 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. 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 median home value is $186,800. 

OAKLEAF PLANTATION 

BI-COUNTY HOMETOWN 

OakLeaf is a family subdivision 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, and is home to the large Epic 

Theatres at Oakleaf with Epic XL. 

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 with an estimated 811 residents (most 

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 starting 

on 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 $153,900. Argyle Forest home 

values have shot up 13.3 percent over 

the past year and Zillow predicts they will 

rise 4.7 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 the 

recent media home listing price at $129,900. 

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 closedend 

community with an estimated 2017 

population of 13,608, 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 $381,900. Atlantic Beach home values have 

gone up 6 percent over the past year, and 

Zillow predicts they will rise 3.1 percent within 

the next year. The median list price per square 

foot in Atlantic Beach is $274, which is higher 

than the Jacksonville Metro average of $134. 

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 1,466 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. 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. 1 at the south 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 $244,990 to $300,990. 

Also close to the area is Baptist Medical 

Center South, a high-tech, state-ofthe-art 

hospital at the southeast corner 

of I-95 and St. Augustine Road. 

To the north of Bayard and primarily 

east of I-295 and Florida 9B, The PARC 

Group announced in 2018 it is developing 

eTown for the Davis family, a nearly 1,500- 

acre community focused on a “quality 

of life enhanced by thoughtful design 

focused on convenience, technology and 

sustainability,” according to its website. 

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. 

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 

$117,400. Baymeadows home values have 

gone up 11.5 percent over the past year and 

Zillow predicts they will rise 9.9 percent within 

the next year. The median price of homes 

currently listed in Baymeadows is $128,250. 

Many neighborhoods include amenities such 

as tennis courts, playground equipment, pools, 

security gates, soccer fields and parks. 

COMMUNITIES 

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 

at $340,600. 

The area’s larger lots translate to 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. Beauclerc is centrally 

located to 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 

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 

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 

affecting 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-thanaverage 

crime rate, there are some amenities 

residents enjoy. Catherine Hester McNair Park, 

also known as Brentwood Park, is 16 acres and 

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 

rise 3.4 percent within the next year. 

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 plan to complete 

the 10-story Vista Brooklyn apartment and 

retail development next door, with a planned 

308 apartments; rooftop pool and beer garden; 

dog park on the parking deck; and first-floor 

retail, restaurant and entertainment space. 

Across Riverside Avenue the Winston Family 

YMCA has undergone its own renaissance. 

In August 2016, the new 72,000-squarefoot 

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, and they 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 price listing is $131,150 in 

Cedar Hills, with median homes values 

of $183,200 in Confederate Poin, and 

$140,000 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 

$206,600. Deerwood home values have gone 

up 5.6 percent over the past year and Zillow 

predicts they will rise 6.5 percent within the 

next year. The median list price per square foot 

in Deerwood is $134, which is higher than the 

Jacksonville average of $119. The median rent 

price in Deerwood is $1,400, which is higher 

than the Jacksonville median of $1,250. 

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. 

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 high 

crime. A number of the remaining long-term 


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COMMUNITIES 

residents formed the Durkeeville Historical 

Society and collaborated with city officials to 

revitalize this historic section of Jacksonville. 

Decaying structures were replaced, 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 of less than 

15 square miles east of downtown 

Jacksonville on the southern shore of the 

St. Johns River, 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 visitors 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 the large Fort 

Caroline Shores area is $269,600. Fort 

Caroline Shores home values have gone up 6.1 

percent over the past year and Zillow predicts 

they will rise 5.2 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 $170,400 in 

Garden City and $171,700 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 St., the 22-story, 209-unit 

high-rise tower has many amenities, including 

a swimming pool, private parking garage 

with rooftop tennis courts, a sun deck and 

gardens. The building features Mediterranean 

architecture and lush landscaping. 

Also in the area is the site of the widely 

discussed Shipyards project, between 

downtown and the Sports Complex. 

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s 

Iguana Investments has proposed redeveloping 

the area, with a $450 million Phase 1 

including a convention center and hotel. 

Khan’s overall vision for the Shipyards 

and abutting riverfront area 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. 

Meanwhile, the Jaguars have also unveiled a 

$2.5 billion redevelopment plan for the Sports 

Complex site itself. It would entail building 

a hotel, live arena, office space and more. 

In a competing vision, Jacobs Project 

Management Co. has proposed a nearly 

$600 million project for construction of a new 

convention center, hotel and parking garage 

on the site of the former county courthouse 

and city hall annex, located along Bay Street 

near the Hyatt Regency Riverfront Hotel. 

Still other developers, Barrington 

Development, have announced a $150 million 

plan for the partly built Berkman II site on 

the Northbank to include a 340-room hotel, 

Family Entertainment Center, 200-foot-tall 

Ferris wheel, water park and parking garage. 

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 UNF 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. 

The SeaWalk Pavilion is the focal point of 

beach festivals, which bring everything from 

blues legends to Latin bands to the stage.

COMMUNITIES 

A new Greyhound bus station opened in April 2018 as part of the first phase of JTA’s 

plans to consolidate public transportation options in the LaVilla area. Phase 2 calls 

for new JTA offices connected to the existing Skyway line and a new central JTA bus 

facility that will replace the existing Rosa Parks Transit Station. The final plan calls for 

adding a station for Amtrak and light rail service. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union) 

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 $366,500. Jacksonville Beach home 

values have gone up 2.9 percent over the 

past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 1.8 

percent within the next year. The median list 

price per square foot in Jacksonville Beach 

is $261, which is higher than the Jacksonville 

Metro average of $134. The median price 

of homes currently listed in Jacksonville 

Beach is $430,900. The median rent price in 

Jacksonville Beach is $2,300, which is higher 

than the Jacksonville Metro median of $1,395. 

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 owneroccupied. 

Many of the residences in the Lake 

Shore neighborhood are older, well-established 

and built between 1940 and 1969. A number 

of residences were built before 1940, but it 

was primarily developed after the Jacksonville 

Naval Air Station boom in the 1940s. The 

median home listing price is $130,000. 

Because of its major road access — 

Blanding Boulevard, Cassat Avenue and 

Roosevelt Boulevard cross the area — 

Lake Shore residents are a quick drive 

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 opened 

in late 2017. 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. It and other housing has 

begun to attract millennials to the district. 

The $20 million, 108-unit Lofts at Monroe, 

another similar community, opened this 

past fall. The Lofts at Jefferson Station on 

Water Street will have 133 units and a fitness 

center, computer cafe and dog walking 

area. That is expected to be completed by 

late 2019. All three Lofts projects are being 

developed by The Vestcor Companies. 

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. 


One of the most well-known recreational amenities in Nocatee is 

the Splash Waterpark, which is home to the tallest waterslide in 

Northeast Florida. The Nocatee Spray Park, a four-story interactive 

water spray ground, opened in 2018. (Provided by the PARC Group). 

The median home value in Loretto is $174,300. 

Home values have gone up 7.9 percent 

over the past year and Zillow predicts they 

will rise 7.7 percent within the next year. 

The median list price per square foot in 

Loretto is $133, which is higher than the 

Jacksonville average of $119. The median 

price of homes currently listed is $184,900. 

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 home value is $326,200. 

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 $120,500. New development, too, 

satisfies those looking for a good combination 

of rural community and modern homes. 

Many move to Marietta because they have 

animals. It’s not uncommon to see cows, 

horses or other farm animals. 

The Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail also 

winds through Marietta. The trail, converted 

from the roadbeds of abandoned railroad lines 

to paved or graveled restricted thoroughfares, 

Rails to Trails, offers a pathway for bicyclists, 

skaters and walkers/hikers as well as 

horseback riders. The 14.5-mile trail runs 

through an area of industrial developments, 

farms with grazing cows, and horses 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, including Mayport shrimp. Residents 

also enjoy nature at Kathryn Abbey Hanna 

Park on the St. Johns River. Plans are afoot to 

revitalize Mayport Village with a commercial 

fish processing plant, restaurants and 

shopping. In addition, $2 million is being sought 

for a new Mayport Community Center, and 

$360,000 for new docks by the St. Johns River 

Ferry. Jacksonville University, meanwhile, 

may move its OCEARCH shark consortium 

research vessel to Mayport and join developers 

in building a top-tier shark education center. 

MAXVILLE 

A LITTLE CORNER OF THE WORLD 

Maxville, a community at U.S. 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 

are that homes have lots of land and its 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 median value is $120,500. 

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. 

With completion of the 14,600-square-foot 

North Point Town Center Phase I retail project, 

North Point Town Center Phase II is planned 

for the District of Soul, a commercial corridor 

at Myrtle Avenue and Moncrief Road. The 

23,800-square-foot project will include a nearly 

17,000-square-foot grocery store and 7,000 

square feet of retail spaces.

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 price in Murray Hill is 

$149,900. The median list price per square foot 

is $135, which is higher than the Jacksonville 

average of $119. The median rent price in 

Murray Hill is $1,025. 

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. 

Ernest Hemingway spent time there (with 

photos to prove it), and 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. Median home 

value is $418,300, 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, recently opened as well. 

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 

COMMUNITIES 

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. 

Master developer Hillwood plans two 1.5 

million-square-foot warehouses at Cecil 

Commerce Center, one near Amazon.com and 

the other along POW-MIA Memorial Parkway. 

Part of the draw to Normandy/Hyde Park 

is its location with easy access to Interstates 

295 and 10 and only a 10-minute drive to 

downtown. Jacksonville International Airport 

and shopping are 15 to 30 minutes away, 

and the beaches about 40 minutes away. 

The median list price per square 

foot in Hyde Park is $89, which is lower 

than the Jacksonville average of $119. 

The median price of homes currently 

listed in Hyde Park is $122,700. 

OCEANWAY 

A RURAL FIXTURE 

Amid the major development in Oceanway, 

the rural aspects 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 $204,000. Home 

values have gone up 9.7 percent over the 

past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 5.2 

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 open-air 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 


A young boy swings under Christmas 

lights near the St. Johns River in Avondale. 

(Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 

hours before a midnight police raid in 1933. 

Present-day Ortega is defined by its rivers, treeshaded 

home sites and parks, and an eclectic 

collection of spectacular architectural styles. 

Mediterranean Revival homes sit side-by-side 

with colonial-style frame houses. Grand Tudors 

are alongside cedar-shingle homes. 

Perhaps the most obvious characteristic of 

today’s Ortega is its stability. It is well-known 

as a place to raise a family and to remain 

even after the children are grown and have 

left home. Roosevelt Square, 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 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 $379,400. 

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE 

PRESERVING OUR ROOTS 

In 1868, Confederate veteran Miles Price 

sold 500 acres of his property, known as 

Dell’s Bluff, to Northerner 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 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

Saturdays. Based on a concept that 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, morning Yoga, 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, Lola’s Burrito 

and Burger Joint and Carmine’s Pie House 

with some of the best Chicago-style stuffed 

pizza and Italian beef sandwiches in Florida 

are interspersed with smaller local offerings 

and longtime favorites, such as Whiteway 

Deli & Tavern, which has been around since 

the 1920s and also features live music. 

The area has homes in every price range, 

from bungalows up to millions of dollars for 

estates on the St. Johns River. The median 

price of homes currently listed in Riverside 

is $339,000, and in Avondale is $241,700. 

ST. NICHOLAS 

(Empire Point) 

JOLLY OLD NEIGHBORHOOD 

St. Nicholas’ history began in 1822 when 

the British settled the northern bank of 

the St. Johns River at the narrow crossing 

called the “Cow Ford” and the Spanish 

fortified the Pass de San Nicolas along 

the southern bank, making it an important 

northerly point of defense for St. Augustine. 

The area south of the river near the 

former fort has continued to be known 

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

After the Civil War and through the late 

1800s, the area from the ferry landing to the 

Arlington River, including Empire Point, was 

referred to as the village of St. Nicholas. 

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 home in San Jose, giving it an eclectic 

appeal. The median home value in San Jose 

is $170,400. Home values have gone up 7.7 

percent over the past year, and Zillow predicts 

COMMUNITIES 


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 

in 1872 by Martha Reed Mitchell, sister 

of former Florida Gov. Harrison Reed, it 

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

River. Mitchell’s home was a showplace 

A LOOK AT THE MANY NEIGHBORHOODS 

OF DUVAL COUNTY 

As you can see, Jacksonville has a variety of communities 

spread across its large land mass.Downtown spans the 

Northbank and Southbank at a narrow spot on the 

St. Johns River. Just north of there is Historic 

Springfield. North Jacksonville goes from the 

Trout River to the Nassau County line and 

from New Kings Road on the west to the 

Intracoastal Waterway. Westside 

runs from Riverside Avenue 

west to Baker County and from 

Interstate 10 to Clay County. 

Arlington is bordered by 

the river on the west 

and north and the 

Intracoastal on 

the east. 

River City 

Marketplace 

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

Arlington south to Baymeadows Road and the St. Johns County 

line, includes such diverse areas as San Jose, San Marco and 

the St. Johns Bluff Road area. Mandarin is the area south of 

Baymeadows, bordered by Philips Highway to the west and 

Julington Creek to the south. The Beaches are bordered by the 

Intracoastal and the Atlantic Ocean. 

B 


COMMUNITIES 

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. 

The mix of architectural styles reflected 

residents’ strong interest in the outside world. 

In 1926, the shopping district was laid 

out at 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 $311,200. 

Just north of San Marco, in the Southbank 

area of the St. Johns riverfront, sits River City 

Brewing Co.; Friendship Fountain; Nemours 

and Wolfson’s Children’s hospitals; hotels; 

and office, apartment and condominium 

high-rises. SoBA luxury apartments, a new 

147-unit community developed by Catalyst 

Development Partners, is expected to 

open summer 2019. Two other apartment 

communities by Chance Partners LLC on the 

edge of San Marco are slated to comprise 600 

units, with an investment topping $100 million. 

Meanwhile, in summer 2018, Elements 

of Jacksonville closed on a 30-acre parcel 

owned by JEA for the long-planned, huge 

mixed-use development on the Southbank 

known as The District. On tap are nearly 

1,200 residential units, more than 200,000 

square feet of retail, a 4-acre park, 200,000 

square feet of office space, a 125-slip 

marina and a 200-room hotel. A boardwalk 

and kayak launch are also envisioned. 

SAN MATEO 

FROM ECOLOGICAL ROOTS 

Before 1956, the area known as San Mateo 

was mostly forest with huge oaks laden 

with Spanish moss, wild holly trees and an 

abundance of magnolias, hickories, pines 

and wildflowers. Wildlife was abundant. 

In the winter of 1955-1956, though, 

development found the area and the first 

families began moving in. Now, the area 

is a quiet residential neighborhood of 

50-plus-year-old homes on the northern 

bank of the St. Johns River. The community 

name comes from the Spanish name 

given to the river in the 1560s, Rio de 

San Mateo (River of St. Matthew). 

San Mateo, south of Oceanway, 

has very affordable homes, with a 

median value of $138,400. 

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 close 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 

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 listing in 

Springfield is $229,900. 

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 Venetia area is $214,800. 

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 recent median home values of $84,300. 

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 

a AAA-rated, five-diamond resort and 

restaurant, and has a golf course on the 

property. Amelia Island Plantation offers 

both resort and residential communities 

carefully developed for a complementary 

relationship with native wildlife, secluded 

beaches, maritime forest and tidal marshes. 

Amelia Island is also home to the Amelia 

Island 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 from Jacksonville 

International Airport. Amelia Island has a 

median home price recently listed at $328,100; 

however properties can go into the millions. 

FERNANDINA BEACH 

OLD-TOWN, RELAXED CHARM 

Bordered by parks and 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 

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, wroughtiron 

benches and cobblestone walks lead to 

the marina filled with shrimp boats. 

The 12-mile-long, 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 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 Southeast 

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 median home value is $348,900, but 

intricate mansions and waterfront properties 

can go 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 

COMMUNITIES 

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. 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 residents 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 was recently listed 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 are full on Sunday mornings. The 

median home value in Callahan is $206,200. 

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. 

FSCJ Nassau 

Center 

Fernandina 

Beach Municipal 

Airport 

NASSAU COUNTY 

NEIGHBORHOODS 

Baptist 

Medical 

Center 

Nassau 


COMMUNITIES 

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 12,200, 

Yulee consists primarily of residential 

neighborhoods and commercial 

development along Florida 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 $209,000. Home values have gone up 7.3 

percent over the past year and Zillow predicts 


The median list price per square foot in Yulee 

is $129, which is lower than the Jacksonville 

Metro average of $134. The median price 

of homes currently listed is $239,000. 


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 

median home value in the area is $132,200. 

In late 2017, the Town of Hastings, with about 


640 residents, voted to dissolve itself to help 

lower property taxes and water and wastewater 

utility rates, and to increase service levels. St. 

Johns County took over operations in March 

2018, and the town is now unincorporated. 

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 $269,600. Home values have gone up 

3.5 percent over the past year and Zillow 

predicts they will rise 5 percent within the 

next year. The median list price per square 

foot in Julington Creek is $142, which is 

higher than the Jacksonville average of 

$119. The median price of homes currently 

listed in Julington Creek is $313,450. 

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 

who 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 beachstyle 

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 global 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. The new 187,000-square-foot global 

home of the PGA Tour off Palm Valley Road 

is expected to be completed by late 2020. 

Although synonymous with luxury, 

Ponte Vedra Beach does have affordable 

housing away from the ocean. The median 

home value for Ponte Vedra Beach is 

$492,200, but those elaborate waterfront 

mansions will set you back multi-millions. 

ST. AUGUSTINE AND


NEIGHBORHOODS 

Racetrack Road 

Roscoe Blvd 

Palm 

Valley 

Nocatee Parkway 

Nocatee 

Mickler’s 

Landing 

Sharon Mills, REALTOR ® 

There is No Substitute 

for EXCELLENCE 

COMMUNITIES 

Northeast 

Florida 

Regional 

Airport 

Flagler 

Hospital 

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 is a shopping experience with more 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 Florida 16 are 

visited by locals and 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. 

In 2018, nearby St. Augustine Amphitheatre ranked No. 4 

1416 MOSS CREEK DRIVE 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225 

1228 WINDSOR HARBOR DRIVE 


Sharon Mills Team 

(904) 534-6087 

Your Luxury Real Estate Expert 

sharonmills@watsonrealtycorp.com 

www.sharonmillsteam.com 


COMMUNITIES 

of the Top 50 Worldwide Amphitheatres 

in ticket sales, by Pollster Magazine. 

West of I-95 off County Road 208, 

Southwind Plantation Corp. has begun 

building a 102-acre equestrian residential 

community featuring 20 homesites from 

1.5-2 acres along conservation areas. 

The median home value for the area 

is $248,900. 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 price of a home in Vilano 

Beach was recently listed at $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 World Golf 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. 

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau 2012-2016 American 

Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; U.S. Census 

Bureau 2017 Population Estimates Program; 

real estate marketplace website Zillow.com 

World Golf Village, located north of St. Augustine in St. 

Johns County, celebrated its 20th anniversary in May 2018. 

The centerpiece is the 75,000-square-foot Hall of Fame 

(above) with its historical artifacts, interactive displays and 

IMAX theater. It is surrounded by various neighborhoods 

with homes in every price range. And, of course, there’s 

golf — the Slammer & Squire course, designed by Sam 

Snead and Gene Sarazen, and the Jack Nicklaus-Arnold 

Palmer King & Bear course. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union) 


60+ HOME DESIGNS 

DREAM IT. BUILD IT. LIVE IT. 

Besides the exceptional selection of home styles by seven award-winning builders, 

Shearwater offers resort-style amenities and activities to keep the residents in 

touch with nature, neighbors, and their inner selves. With so many choices, anyone 

can find the lifestyle that fits them best. 

find yourself 

AT SHEARWATER 

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

DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES • LENNAR • RICHMOND AMERICAN HOMES • MASTERCRAFT BUILDER GROUP 

D.S. WARE HOMES • DREES HOMES • DREAM FINDERS HOMES • TOLL BROTHERS 

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.

EDUCATION 

Duval County Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene 

reads to first-graders at Mamie Agnes Jones Elementary 

School in Baldwin during her visit on the first day of the 

2018-19 school year. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union)

ABCs of 

Learning 

Jacksonville is the largest city by 

land area in the continental U.S. 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 nationally 

ranked schools. Stanton College Preparatory 

High School in Duval County was voted No. 

28 out of 20,500 for the nation’s best high 

schools by U.S. News and World Report. Paxon 

School for Advanced Studies ranked 120th. 

Darnell-Cookman School for the Medical Arts 

ranks 190th. All three schools appear annually 

on the list of best schools in the nation. 

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. 

First Coast high schools again scored among 

the top percentage, including: Stanton 

Prep, No. 9; Darnell-Cookman School of 

the Medical Arts, No. 22; Paxon School for 

Advanced Studies, No. 27; Ponte Vedra High 

School, 102; and Creekside, No. 206. 

From kindergarten to 

PHDs, Jacksonville has 

education for all ages. 

The Duval County Public School District 

has 10,000 teachers who educate more than 

129,000 students. The goal of the district is 

to provide educational excellence “in every 

school, in every classroom, for every student, 

every day.” Duval is delivering on this promise 

by offering classes that focus on students’ 

personal interests and aptitudes, which makes 

learning exciting for every child. Students 

can attend a school focused on: Science, 

Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM); 

Liberal Arts; Performing and Visual Arts; Career 

and Technical Education and Certifications; 

College Prep; and Gifted Learning. Children 

with special needs also have opportunities. 

Duval has schools and services dedicated to 

students with exceptionalities, such as learning 

disabilities; Autism Spectrum Disorders; 

hearing, visual or orthopedic impairments; 

and developmental delays. Parents also have 

the option of virtual and home schooling. 

Duval County Public Schools has earned 

a “B” grade for the last three years from the 

Florida Department of Education. The district 

also ranks among the best large school 

districts in the nation, according to the National 

Assessment of Educational Progress. 

Duval County also offers another alternative 

EDUCATION 

to traditional public school: Duval Choice. This 

program allows students to apply to attend a 

school outside of their zoned school, as well as 

apply to multiple charter and magnet schools. 

Located just west of Jacksonville is Baker 

County, with several rural communities 

and more than 27,000 residents. Its school 

district has about 5,000 students, 3,000 

community volunteers and business 

partners in all industries including retail, 

medical, communication, hospitality and 

construction. Baker County High School is 

the only public high school, serving nearly 

1,350 students in grades nine through 12. 

Currently, the St. Johns County School 

District boasts a graduation rate of 90.9 

percent, among the highest in the state. 

For 2018, 22 seniors were named National 

Merit Semifinalists – placing in the top 1 

percent on the PSAT. Its nearly 40,000 

students are from 114 different countries. 

In the 2017-18 Florida State Assessment 

and End-of-Course state rankings, the district 

was first in Reading scores for grades 3-10; 

first in Math for grades 3-6; first in Science 

for grades 5 and 8; and first in EOC Exams 

for Civics and Algebra I. Its students’ average 

2017 SAT score was 1158, above the state 

and national averages of 1010 and 1070, 

respectively. On 2018 AP Exams taken, 

67.3 percent of students received college 

credit, above the state average of 52.6. 

Along with hundreds of public schools 

in the area, the First Coast offers an 

extensive number of private schools. 

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Director of Jazz Studies 

Don Zentz conducts the 21-member DA Jazz Ensemble. The 

group was one of only two high school jazz ensembles invited to 

perform at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra 

Conference in December, (Charlie Patton/Florida Times-Union) 


EDUCATION 

Public Schools (BY COUNTY) 

BAKER COUNTY 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 

MACCLENNY 

One Wildkitten Drive 

Macclenny 32063 

904-259-2551 

WESTSIDE 

One Panther Circle 

Glen St. Mary 32040 

904-259-2216 

MIDDLE SCHOOLS 

KELLER INTERMEDIATE 

420 South Eighth St. 


904-259-4244 

BAKER COUNTY 

211 Jonathan St. 


904-259-2226 

HIGH SCHOOL 

BAKER COUNTY 

One Wildcat Drive 

Glen St. Mary 32040 

904-259-6286 

CLAY COUNTY 


ARGYLE 

2625 Spencer Plantation 

Blvd., Orange Park 32073 

904-336-0375 

CHARLES E. BENNETT 

One South Oakridge Ave. 

Green Cove Springs 

32043 

904-336-0475 

CLAY HILL 

6345 County Road 218 

Jacksonville 32234 

904-336-0775 

CLAY VIRTUAL 

ACADEMY 

2306 Kingsley Ave., Bldg. 

20, Orange Park 32073 

904-336-9875 

COPPERGATE 

3460 Copper Colts Ct. 

Middleburg 32068 

904-336-0675 

DOCTORS INLET 



904-336-0975 


4425 Lakeshore Drive 

Fleming Island 32003 

904-336-1075 


GROVE PARK 

1643 Miller St. 

Orange Park 32073 

904-336-1275 


335 SW Pecan St. 

Keystone Heights 32656 

352-473-4844 

LAKE ASBURY 

2901 Sandridge Road 


32043 

904-336-1525 

LAKESIDE 

2752 Moody Ave. 


904-336-1675 

MCRAE 

6770 County Road 315 C 


352-336-2125 

MIDDLEBURG 

3958 Main St. 


904-336-1875 

MONTCLAIR 



904-336-1975 

OAKLEAF VILLAGE 

410 Oakleaf Village 

Parkway 


904-291-5458 

ORANGE PARK 

1401 Plainfield Ave. 


904-336-2275 

PATERSON 

5400 Pine Ave. 


904-336-2575 

PLANTATION OAKS 

4150 Plantation Oaks 

Blvd. 


904-214-7474 

RIDEOUT 

3065 Apalachicola Blvd. 


904-336-2875 

RIDGEVIEW 

421 Jefferson Ave. 


904-213-5800 

S. BRYAN JENNINGS 

215 Corona Drive 


904-336-3175 

SHADOWLAWN 


Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-336-3375 

SWIMMING PEN CREEK 

1630 Woodpecker Lane 


904-336-3475 

THUNDERBOLT 

2020 Thunderbolt Road 


904-336-3675 

TYNES 

1550 Tynes Blvd. 


904-336-3850 

W.E. CHERRY 

420 Edson Drive 


904-336-3975 

WILKINSON 



904-336-6175 

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS 

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 


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) 


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 

CENTRAL RIVERSIDE 

2555 Gilmore St. 32204, 

904-381-7495 

CHAFFEE TRAIL 

11400 Sam Caruso Way 

32221 

904-693-7510 

CHETS CREEK 

13200 Chets Creek Blvd. 

32224 

904-992-6390 

CHIMNEY LAKES 

9353 Staples Mill Dr., 

32244 

904-573-1100 

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

EDUCATION 

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. 


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 



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 

FREEDOM CROSSING 

ACADEMY 

1365 Shetland Drive, 


904-547-4230 

LIBERTY PINES 

ACADEMY 

10901 Russell 

Sampson Road, St. 

Johns 32259 

904-547-7900 

MILL CREEK ACADEMY 

3750 International Golf 

Parkway, St. Augustine, 

32092, 904-547-3720 

PALM VALLEY 

ACADEMY 

700 Bobcat Lane, 

Ponte Vedra, 32081 

904-547-4201 

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 

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 


The Duval County Public Schools’ annual School Choice Expo is typically held in January at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. The expo offers 

attendees a chance to learn about programs throughout elementary, middle and high schools. (Bob Mack/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) 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 offers an 

array of educational options to meet the 

needs of each student. The goal is to 

ensure every student has the opportunity for 

academic success. That starts by captivating 

young minds and igniting a passion for learning. 

To help students reach academic success, 

DCPS lets families select the school that is right 

for their child. Called School Choice, it includes: 

• Traditional public schools 

• Dedicated magnet schools 

• Non-dedicated magnet schools 

• Special transfer options 

• Accelerated programs 

• Career and technical education programs 

CHOICE SCHOOLS 

With School Choice, each school offers an 

attractor program that might be of interest to a 

student. Many children attend the school within 

their attendance area or apply to participate in 

one of the Duval County Magnet Programs. 

The goal of the magnet school is to 

promote or maintain diversity, provide 

a unique or specialized curriculum or 

approach, improve achievement for all 

students, and stabilize assignment. Magnet 

schools are theme-specific and give 

students a chance to explore an interest or 

talent. For example, the arts, technology 

or career exploration are a few themes. 

The Special Transfer Option allows 

parents to select a school outside of their 

neighborhood/attendance area. Special 

Transfer Option schools can also offer specific 

programs centered on a specific topic, like 

science, leadership, arts or technology. 

Duval County Public Schools hosts its 

annual School Choice Expo in January at the 

Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. School 

representatives talk to families about the great 

things offered at their respective schools. 

Parents can visit each school’s exhibit booth, 

talk to school leadership and students, and 

then decide if they will take advantage of a tour 

opportunity at their school or schools of interest. 

Tours give the family an opportunity to visit 

the school, get an overview of the program, 

take a tour and participate in a question-andanswer 

session. It is a wonderful opportunity 

for the prospective student to get a chance to 

embrace the culture and climate of the school. 

The next step is to complete the online 

application on or before the application deadline. 

A computerized lottery system, generally run 

in April, randomly selects students. Parents 

are able to make up to three selections on 

the application. There is a priority assigned. 

For more information on the priorities, see 

the School Choice Reference Guide. 

If you want your child to attend your 

neighborhood/attendance area school, there 

is no need to apply. Parents can simply enroll 

their child in the school with proof of address. 

Special Transfer Option 

Sometimes families seek prospective schools 

outside their attendance area or “zoned” 

school. Special Transfer Option allows students 

to transfer from their assigned school. All 

traditional elementary and middle schools are 

part of Duval Choice. Families are able to apply 

for a transfer during the Special Transfer Option 

application period, and placement is via lottery if 

seats are available in the school of interest. No 

transportation is provided for students who take 

advantage of the Special Transfer Option. 

MAGNET PROGRAMS 

Magnet programs offer a theme or focus with 

a design that gives students an opportunity to 

explore a special interest, gift, talent or skill. 

A magnet school may feature one or more 

magnet programs. Participating in magnet 

programs does not mean a student gives up 

traditional education; the program enhances 

the educational experience. Every student 

receives instruction in the subject areas 

required for promotion and/or graduation. Some 

magnet schools have special considerations 

for admission, and some have performance 

standards a student must maintain to 

continue program participation. Refer to the 

School Choice Reference Guide or School 

website, or contact the school directly with 

questions about your program of interest. 

ACCELERATION PROGRAMS 

Tcceleration 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. 

The AICE program is an internationally 

recognized system geared toward “highly 

motivated, academically exceptional students” 

attending high school. The program highlights 

a “flexible, wide-ranged, two-year program 

for upperclassmen,” and the University of 

Cambridge International Examinations hosts it. 

The AP Honors program, created to challenge 

students to excel in academic achievement, 

gives students the opportunity to take AP course 

exams across multiple academic areas. The 

classes, taught at an accelerated pace, are 

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. 

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 

record of physical exam if the child has 

never attended a Florida public or private 

school. They must also 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 an up-to-date 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 

Early College. sometimes referred to as a 

“school within a school,” is a small community 

of students who 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 enroll 

full time at Florida State College at Jacksonville 

when they reach their junior and senior year. 

The International Baccalaureate (IB) 

program is also an internationally known 

course of study for students seeking a 

challenging curriculum based on college 

preparation. It is designed to promote 

students who recognize world citizenship to 

create a better world. Duval County provides 

access to high-quality acceleration programs 

in every comprehensive high school. 

How to Apply 

APPLICATIONS 

You can apply online using your Duval 

County Public School Parent Portal Account. 

Paper applications can be found on the School 

Choice website under the Forms link at the 

left of the webpage generally beginning Jan. 

2, 2019. The paper application is a great tool 

or worksheet you can use as you consider 

programs for your child. Information is provided 

to help you complete each step. The deadline 

for the online application is generally Feb. 

28, 2019. Personalized applications will be 

in the FOCUS Portal, and you can use your 

regular parent sign-on for each child. 

If you are not sure if your student has ever 

been issued a DCPS student number, call 

the School Choice Office at (904) 390-2082. 

All new students must have proof of address 

verified by the School Choice Office before 

an online application can be processed. For 

additional questions about choice options for 

your child, contact the Office of School Choice. 

Duval County Magnet Schools 


SCHOOL NAME ADDRESS 


GRADE PHONE MAGNET SPECIALTY 

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 

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 

6-12 

6-8 

PK-5 

9-12 

6-12 

KG-5 

PK-5 

PK-5 

PK-5 

PK-5 

6-12 

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 

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 

Construction Academy 

International Business & World Language Academy 

STEM 

Aviation in Military Sciences (AFJROTC) Sports Medicine 

Communications 

Visual and performing arts 

Medical arts 

Gifted and academically talented 

International studies 

Business and entrepreneurship 

College Preparatory 

Science 

Visual and performing arts 

Military Leadership 

Literacy and technology 

Visual and Performing arts 


Agriculture Bio Technology & Veterinary Assiting Academy 

STEM 

Global Understanding 

Aviation 

Gifted and Academically Talented 

Montessori 



JROTC – Marine Corps 

Early high school 

Montessori 

Math, science and technology 

Military Leadership 


KIRBY-SMITH MIDDLE 

LAKE FOREST ELEMENTARY 

LAKE SHORE MIDDLE 


2034 Hubbard St. 32206 

901 Kennard St. 32208 

2519 Bayview Road 32210 

6-8 

PK-5 

6-8 

904-630-6600 

904-924-3024 

904-381-7440 

Gifted STEM 


Pre-Early College

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 

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 

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 

6-8 

KG-5 

PK-5 

9-12 

KG-5 

6-8 

PK-5 

6-8 

K-6 

K-5 

9-12 

K-6 

KG-5 

KG-5 

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 

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 


SCHOOL NAME ADDRESS 


GRADE PHONE MAGNET SPECIALTY 


Math, science and technology 

Technology 

Cambridge Secondary 2/AICE 


Middle years exploration w/technology 

Coastal Sciences 

Coastal Sciences 

Science 

Museum studies 


STEM 




Early College 

STEM 

STEM 


Dual language – Spanish 

Accelerated Academy of Learning 

Science 

IB; Middle years Programme 

IB; Primary years Programme 


STEM 

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 

Multiple intelligences 

Medical arts 

Dual language – Spanish 

Information Technology (Digital Media Tech) 

Leadership 

Medical arts 

Leadership and technology 

Leadership and technology 


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 

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 

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 

Charter 

Schools 

The purpose of a Charter School is to 

allow for different options as it pertains to 

school choice. These schools are open 

to all students in the districts. However, these 

schools may aim to enroll students based on 

grade level or age. The difference between these 

schools and others in the counties is that they 

have more freedom from many of the guidelines 

that are present in traditional public schools. 

Duval 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. 

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 

SCHOOL AT COASTAL 

12800 Beach Blvd. 

32224, 904-512-6757 


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 

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 


32216, 904-565-0065 


ACADEMY MANDARIN 

10911 Old 

St. Augustine Rd 

32257, 904-855-8010 


ACADEMY M&H 


32216, 904-855-8010 


INNOVATION 

8313 Baycenter Rd 

32256, 904-647-5110 

SALTECH CHARTER 

HIGH SCHOOL 

4811 Payne Stewart 

Drive 32209 

904-328-5001 

SAN JOSE ACADEMY 

4072 Sunbeam Rd 

32257, 904-425-1725 

SAN JOSE 

PREPARATORY 

4072 Sunbeam 

Road 32257 

904-425-1725 

SEACOAST CHARTER 

ACADEMY 

9100 Regency Square 

Blvd. N. 32211 

904-562-4780 

SEASIDE COMMUNITY 

CHARTER 

2630 State Rd 

A1A 32233 

904-853-6287 

SOMERSET ACADEMY 

ELEMENTARY- 

EAGLE CAMPUS 

8711 Lone Star Rd 

32211, 904-551-3292 

SOMERSET ACADEMY 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 

8711 Lone Star Rd 

32211, 904-551-3292 

SOMERSET 

PREPARATORY 

ACADEMY 

1429 Broward Rd 

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 

ACADEMIES 

EDUCATION 

CLAY HIGH SCHOOL 

FLEMING ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL 

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL 

MIDDLEBURG HIGH SCHOOL 

OAKLEAF HIGH SCHOOL 

ORANGE PARK HIGH SCHOOL 

RIDGEVIEW HIGH SCHOOL 

Academy of Criminal Justice 

Academy of Hospitality and Tourism; VyStar Academy of Business and Finance 

Academy of Agriscience 

Design Build Academy; Academy of Health Science; VyStar Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship 

Aerospace Academy; Agriscience Biotechnology Academy 

VyStar Academy of Business and Leadership; Academy of Engineering; Academy of Health Science 

Academy of Broadcast Engineering; Academy of Early Learning 

ST. JOHNS COUNTY CAREER ACADEMIES 

SCHOOL 

ACADEMIES 

ALLEN D. NEASE HIGH SCHOOL Communications Academy; Stellar Academy of Engineering; St. Johns Academy of Hospitality and Tourism 

BARTRAM TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL 

CREEKSIDE HIGH SCHOOL 

PEDRO MENENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL 

PONTE VEDRA HIGH SCHOOL 

ST. AUGUSTINE HIGH SCHOOL 

ST. JOHNS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL 

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

Academy of Engineering and Environmental Sciences; 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 

Academy of Law & Homeland Security; St. Johns County Aerospace Academy; St. Johns County Center 

for the Arts; St. Johns County Academy of Future Teachers 

Academy of Culinary Arts; Academy of Coastal and Water Resources 

PROGRAMS OF CHOICE 

ACCELERATION ACADEMIES 

There are three acceleration academies in St. Johns County: 

SCHOOL 

ALLEN D. NEASE HIGH SCHOOL 

PEDRO MENENDEZ HIGH SCHOOL 

PROGRAM 

International Baccalaureate 

Program (IB) 

International Baccalaureate 

Program (IB) 

ROTC PROGRAMS 

“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 

ALLEN D. NEASE HIGH SCHOOL 

PROGRAM 

Navy JROTC 


Advanced International 

Certificate of Education (AICE) 

BARTRAM TRAIL HIGH SCHOOL 


Air Force JROTC 

Army JROTC 

“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. 


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. 

BAKER COUNTY 

FAITH BAPTIST ACADEMY 

604 W. Macclenny Ave. 


904-259-3230 

facebook.com/ 

FaithBaptistAcademyPatriots 

PATHFINDERS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 

280 Martin Luther King Dr 


904-259-3472 

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 

THE BROACH SCHOOL 

1909 DeBarry Ave. 


broachschool.com 

904-637-0300 

CALVARY CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-12 

1532 Long Bay Road 


calvarycares.net/ 

CalvaryChristianAcademy 

904-282-2068 

CENTERPOINT CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-9 



centerpointchristianacademy. 

weebly.com 

904-291-1875 

CHRISTIAN HOME ACADEMY 

ALTERNATIVE SCH. K-12 

16 College Drive 


christianhomeacademy.info 

904-276-3339 

CITIZENS’ HIGH SCH. 9-12 

1590 Island Lane, Suite 44 


citizenshighschool.com 

904-276-1700 

CROSSROADS CHRISTIAN 

SCHOOL K-12 

1106 N. Orange Ave, 

Green Cove Springs 32043 

ces-schools.net 

904-625-6141 

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 

FREE 2 BE ME KG-12 

THE BROACH SCHOOL 

PARTNER SPECIAL 

EDUCATION SCHOOL 

772 Foxridge Center Drive 


hendersonhaven.org 

904-264-2522 

THE G.I.F.T.ED LEARNING 

CENTER SPECIAL NEEDS 

SCHOOL 

1624 Smith St. 


thegiftedlearningcenter.com 

904-460-4623 

GRACE EPISCOPAL DAY 

SCH. PK-8 



geds.net 

904-269-3718 

HERITAGE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 1-12 

4325 U.S. Highway 17 


hcafi.info 

904-343-1561 

HAILE ACADEMY OF 

HIGHER LEARNING 

1075 Oakleaf Plantation 

Pkwy. #200 


haileacademy.com 

904-881-8524 

HIGHPOINT CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY SPECIAL 

PROGRAM EMPHASIS 7-12 

84 Knight Boxx Road 


highpointchristianacademy.com 

904-272-7949 

LIGHTHOUSE 

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 

3925 Main St. 


lighthousechristian 

school.net 

904-406-4866 

LIGHTHOUSE 

CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 

2156 Loch Rane Blvd. 



school.net 

904-272-2524 

ORANGE PARK 

KINDERGARTEN 



opkinc.org 

904-264-9959 

ORANGE PARK PERFORMING 

ARTS ACADEMY K-6 



oppaa.org 

904-269-0039 

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 

904-278-6886 

SEAMARK RANCH K-12 

3631 Seamark Ranch Road 


seamarkranch.com 

904-529-1951 

SEVEN BRIDGES SCH. 3-11 

Special Education School 

402 Loring Ave. 


sevenbridgesschool.org 

904-269-7377 

ST. JOHNS COUNTRY DAY 

SCH. PK-12 

3100 Doctors Lake Drive 


sjcds.net 

904-264-9572 

SONLIGHT CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 

Special Needs School 


Orange Park FL 32073 

904-660-5348 

WONDERWORKS PK-K 

2036 Reed St. 


orangeparkumc.org/generalinformation 

904-264-7330 

DUVAL COUNTY 

A CHILD’S PLACE 

MONTESSORI SCH. NS-5 

3718 Salisbury Road 


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 

K-11 

5930 Normandy Blvd. 


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 COMMUNITY 

ACADEMY VPK-4 

5900 Fort Caroline Road 


acajax.org 

904-717-1590 

ARLINGTON KINDERGARTEN 

PK-KG 

1210 Marcheck St. 


1210 Marcheck Street 

arlingtonkindergarten.com 

904-743-4034 

ASSUMPTION CATHOLIC 

SCH. PK-8 



assumptionjax.org 

904-398-1774 



#2 Atlantic Court 



904-249-0888 

AUSTIN CHRISTIAN 

VOCATIONAL ACADEMY 

PK-12 

6901 N. Main St. 


austinwarriors.org 

904-647-5065 

BAYMEADOWS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-8 

4826 Baymeadows Road 


bbcjx.org 

904-733-3400 

BAYMEADOWS KINDERCARE 

NS-PK 

8401 Baymeadows Way 



904-730-9181 

BEACHES CHAPEL 

PRESCHOOL VPK/K3-K4 



beacheschapelpreschool.com 

904-372-0858 

BEACHES CHAPEL 

SCH. PK-12 



beacheschapelschool.com 

904-241-4211 

BEACHES EPISCOPAL 

SCH. PK-6 

450 11th Ave. N. 

Jacksonville Beach 32250 

beachesepiscopalschool.org 

904-246-2466 

BELL JOY PREPARATORY 

ACADEMY PK-12 

7255-5 Salisbury Road 


belljoyprepacademy.com 

904-533-6111 

BIBLE BAPTIST ACADEMY 

K-12 

3134 Trout River Blvd. 


http://bbcjaxfl.net 

904-765-5111 


EDUCATION 

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) 

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 



blessedtrinitycatholicschool.org 

904-641-6458 

BROACH SCHOOL OF 

JACKSONVILLE 6-12 


929 McDuff Ave. S., Ste. 101 


broachschool.com/broachwest-directions 

904-389-5106 

BROACH SCHOOL SOUTH 

K-12 


11915 Beach Blvd. #101 


broachschool.com/broachsouth-directions 

904-637-0300 

CEDAR CREEK CHRISTIAN 

SCH. K4-12 

1372 Lane Ave. S. 


cccsjax.org 

904-781-9151 

CEDAR HILLS BAPTIST 

CHRISTIAN SCH. PK-8 

4200 Jammes Road 


chbcs.org 

904-772-0812 

CENTER ACADEMY 4-12 


10679 Old St. Augustine 

Road, Jacksonville 32257 

centeracademy.com 

904-448-1956 

CENTER ACADEMY 

[ST. JOHNS BLUFF] 6-12 


2804 St. Johns Bluff Road S., 

Ste. 103 Jacksonville 32246 

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 

4545-3 Shirley Ave., 


904-854-0100 

CHRIST THE KING 

CATHOLIC SCH. PK-8 

6822 Larkin Road 


ctkschooljax.com 

904-724-2954 

CHRIST’S CHURCH 

ACADEMY K-12 



ccajax.org 

904-268-8667 

CHRIST (UNITED) 

METHODIST 

KINDERGARTEN PK-K 

400 Penman Road 


christumpreschool.com 

904-249-1550 

CHRISTIAN HERITAGE 

ACADEMY KG-8 



chajax.org 

904-733-4722 

CLARKE SCHOOLS FOR 

HEARING & SPEECH PK-KG 


9803 Old St. Augustine Road, 

Suite 7 Jacksonville 32257 

clarkeschools.org 

904-880-9001 

COMMUNITY 

PRESBYTERIAN 

PREKINDERGARTEN VPK 

150 Sherry Drive 


cpcab.org 

904-241-7335 

CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 7-12 



conservative.edu 

904-268-7778 

CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN 

SCH. PK-1 



csjax.org 

904-730-5500 

CROSSROADS CHRISTIAN 

SCH. 5-8 




ces-schools.net/locations/ 

arlington 

904-254-6428 

DANIEL ACADEMY K-7 


3725 Belfort Road 


danielacademyjax.com 

904-296-1055 

DEPAUL SCHOOL OF NE 

FLORIDA [GUDAL CAMPUS] 

2-8 


3044 San Pablo Road S. 


depaulschool.com 

904-223-3391 

DIMENSIONS 3 ACADEMY 

K-12 

440 Lenox Square 

Jacksonvillle 32254 

dimensions3academy.org 

904-389-6166 

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 

EMMANUEL COASTAL 

ACADEMY PK3-12 

4000 Spring Park Road 


emmanuelcoastalacademy.org 

904-619-8071 

EPHESUS JUNIOR 

ACADEMY K-8 

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 


EWING’S LOVE & HOPE PRESCHOOL 

& ACADEMY 

5868 Lenox Ave. 


elhacademy.com 

904-291-1881 

FATHER’S HARBOR ACADEMY 

4519 Beach Blvd. Bldg. 4200 


fathersharboracademy.com 

904-306-9579 

FIRST BAPTIST ACADEMY OF 

JACKSONVILLE K-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 

FLORIDA MILITARY ACADEMY 6-12 

4819 Soutel Drive 


gravelyjames.org 

904-479-3047 

FT. CAROLINE BAPTIST ACADEMY 

NS-PK 

11428 McCormick Road 


fcbajax.com 

904-642-3210 

THE FOUNDATION 

ACADEMY PK-12 



foundationacademy.com 

904-493-7300 

GRACE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

VPK-12 

479 Center St. N. 

Baldwin 32234 

gbcbaldwin.org 

904-266-9532 

GANEINU CHABAD EARLY 

CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT 

CENTER 

11271 Alumni Way 


ganeinu.com 

904-646-4434 

GOOD SHEPHERD CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-5 

1656 W. Edgewood Ave. 

Jacksonville FL 32208 

gscaonline.org 

904-768-1580 

GRACE LUTHERAN 

SCH. PK-8 



gracelcms.com/school 

904-928-9136 

GREAT STRIDES 

REHABILITATION PK-K 


12276 San Jose Blvd. 

Suite 508 Jacksonville 32223 

greatstridesrehab.com 

904-886-3228 

GREENWOOD SCHOOL 6-12 


9920 Regency Square Blvd., 


greenwoodjax.org 

904-726-5000 

GUARDIAN CATHOLIC 

SCHOOL PK3-8 

4920 Brentwood Avenue 


guardiancatholic.com 

904-765-6522 

HARVEST CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY KG-12 

1051 Arlington Road N. 


904-724-8223 

A Legacy of Catholic Education Since 1952 

For 67 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.” 

www.bishopkenny.org 

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 

HARVEST COMMUNITY SCH. PK-12 

2360 St. Johns Bluff Road 


hcsjax.org 

904-997-1882 

HEART TO HEART CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY & CHILDCARE 1-12 

8247 Ramona Blvd. W. 


h2hacademy.com 

904-783-8638 

HIDDEN HILLS LEARNING TREE 

12160 Ft. Caroline Road. 


learningtreeschools.org 

904-645-0240 

HIGHLANDS BAPTIST WEEKDAY 

MINISTRY PK-K 

2159 Broward Road 


highlandsbaptist.net 

904-751-3500 

HOLY FAMILY CATHOLIC SCH. PK-8 

9800-3 Baymeadows Road, 


hfcatholicschool.com 

904-645-9875 

HOLY SPIRIT CATHOLIC SCH. PK-8 



hscatholicschool.com 

904-642-9165 

HOPE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY K-12 

1824 Dean Road 


greaterhopeinc.org 

904-733-8777 

HOPE HAVEN ASSOCIATION INC. 

Specialized Services 



hope-haven.org 

904-346-5100 

IMPACT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY PK-12 



icajax.com 

904-652-1441 

JACKSONVILLE ADVENTIST 

ACADEMY PK-8 

4298 Livingston Road 


jaxaa.org 

904-268-2433 

JACKSONVILLE ASSEMBLY 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1-12 

6350 Old Kings Road N. 


jaxassembly.org 

904-786-1198 

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 1-12 



jcajacksonville.com 

904-783-2818 


EDUCATION 

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 

JACKSONVILLE SCHOOL 

FOR AUTISM 

9000 Cypress Green Dr 


jsakids.org 

904-732-4343 

THE JERICHO SCHOOL 

FOR CHILDREN WITH 

AUTISM 

1351 Sprinkle Drive 


thejerichoschool.org 

904-744-5110 

JOSHUA CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-12 

924 St. Clair St. 


jcacademy.org 

904-388-2227 

KREATIVE MINDS 

ACADEMY VPK-3 

3000 Dunn Ave. Ste. 3 


kreativemindsfl.org 

904-764-8821 

LA CORE CHRISTIAN 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PK-6 

8050-2 Lone Star Road 


lacorechristianacademy.org 

904-574-9870 

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 

SCHOOL [NORTHSIDE] 3-12 


5400 N Pearl St. 


lighthousechristianschool.net 

904-353-7062 


SCHOOL [WESTSIDE] 4-12 


6800 W. 5th St. 



school.net 

904-854-4599 


SCHOOL [ARLINGTON] 1-12 

6801 Merrill Road 



school.net 

904-642-4043 


SCHOOL [MANDARIN] 4-12 

3423 Loretto Road 



school.net 

904-288-0673 

LITTLE COUNTRY 

SCHOOL INC. 

862 Baisden Road 


littlecountryschool.com 

904-757-8200 

LITTLE STAR CENTER 

INC. PK 


8011 Philips Highway 

Suite 10, Jacksonville 32256 

littlestarjax.com 

904-928-0112 

MAINSPRING ACADEMY 


6867 Southpoint Dr. N. Ste. 

103 Jacksonville 32216 

mainspringacademy.org 

904-503-0344 

MARTIN J GOTTLIEB DAY 

SCH. K-8 AND DUBOW 

PRESCHOOL 

Special Program Emphasis 

3662 Crown Point Road 


dubowgottlieb.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 




904-641-1812 

MORNING STAR SCH. K-12 


725 Mickler Road 


morningstar-jax.org 

904-721-2144 

MOSAIC DAY SCHOOL 

PRESCHOOL-2 


6867 Southpoint Dr N. Ste. 

108 Jacksonville 32216 

mosaicdayschool.org 

904-619-6071 

NEW BEGINNING PK-KG 

2804 W Edgeview Ave. 


904-765-2845 

NEW BEGINNINGS 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY K-12 

7020 Ramona Blvd. 


nbca.nbccjax.org 

904-786-3178 

NEW DIMENSIONS 

LEARNING CENTER PK-1 

3612 Belfort Road 


ndlcjax.com 

904-739-1062 

NEW LEAF SCHOOL FOR 

CHANGE 1-12 


407 Third St. 


newleafschool.com 

904-246-9100 

NORTH FLORIDA 

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE 

VPK-6 

6803 Arques Road 


nfei.org, 904-574-8059 

NORTH FLORIDA 

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE 

7-12 

580 Lawton Ave. 


nfei.org 

904-764-0084 

NORTH FLORIDA SCHOOL 

OF SPECIAL EDUCATION 

KG-12 


223 Mill Creek Road 


northfloridaschool.org 

904-724-8323 

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 

ON OUR WAY LEARNING 

CENTER VPK 



facebook.com/oowlc 

904-403-8496 

PABLO ACADEMY PRIVATE 

SCH. INC. K-12 

P.O. Box 350009 


pabloacademy.org 

904-412-3362 

PARKWOOD WEEKDAY 

EARLY EDUCATION CENTER 

PK-K 



facebook.com/ 

parkwoodweec 

904-721-2719 

PARSONS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 



pclions.org 

904-745-4588 

PARSONS’ LITTLE 

SCHOLARS PK-6 

6505 Ft. Caroline Road 


parsonslittlescholars.com 

904-744-3221 

PEARL ACADEMY PK3, 

VPK-1 

450 Busch Dr. 


pearlacademykids.com 

904-619-6419 

PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT 

ST. JOHNS FOREST PK-KG 

180 Gateway Circle 


primroseschools.com 

904-824-1100 

PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF 

JULINGTON CREEK PK-KG 

480 Florida 13 N 


primroseschools.com 

904-230-2828 

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 

REACH ACADEMY K-12 


9857 Old St. Augustine Road 


reachacademyjax.com 

904-268-9111 

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 

ROAD TO SUCCESS 

ACADEMY VPK-2 

6620 Arlington Expressway 


rtsajax.com 

904-743-3131 

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. PK3-6 



sjeds.org 

904-733-0352 

SEACOAST CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-5 

861 Townsend Blvd. 


seacoastchristian 

academy.com 

904-513-2602 

SEACOAST CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 6-12 

8057 Arlington Expressway 


seacoastchristian 

academy.com 

904-513-2602 

SHEPHERD OF THE 

WOODS LUTHERAN SCH. 

[MANDARIN] K-9 

6595 Columbia Park Court 


sotwschool.com 

904-641-3393 

SHEPHERD OF THE 

WOODS LUTHERAN SCH. 

[SOUTHSIDE] PK2-VPK 

7860 Southside Blvd. 


sotwschool.com 

904-641-3393 

SHINING BRIGHT 

PRESCHOOL 

5606 Windermere Dr. 


shiningbrightschool.wixsite.com/ 

shiningbright 

904-743-1375 


EDUCATION 

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. PK3-8 



stmatthewscs.com 

904-387-4401 

ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC SCH. PK-8 

601 Airport Center Drive E.d 


stpatrickjacksonville.org/school 

904-768-6323 

ST. PAUL CATHOLIC SCH. VPK-8 

428 Second Ave. N. 


stpaulscatholicschool.com 

904-249-5934 

ST. PAUL’S CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY 

SCH. [RIVERSIDE] VPK-8 

2609 Park St. 


spsjax.org 

904-387-2841 

ST. STEPHEN CHILD CARE & 

LEARNING CENTER NS-K 

1525 N. Davis St. 


904-358-2799 

SPARC GIRLS PREPARATORY 

SCHOOL K-5 

5710 Wesconnett Blvd. 


girlsprepschool.org 

904-647-8552 

TEMPLE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY K-12 

4200 Georgetown Dr. 


templechristian.net 

904-778-8655 

TEMPLE COLLEGE 

PREPARATORY PK-12 

1766 W. 17th St. 


templecollegeprep.com 

904-598-0078 

THE ARC JACKSONVILLE ON 

CAMPUS TRANSITION 

For students with intellectual 

disabilities 

1 UNF Drive, Building 57, Ste. 2800 


904-620-3890 

www.unf.edu/OnCampusTransition 

THE BOLLES SCH. PK-12 

Day & Boarding 



bolles.org 

904-256-5030 

THE DISCOVERY SCHOOL PK-6 

102 5th St. S. 


thediscoveryschool.org 

904-247-4577 

THE FOUNDATION ACADEMY PK-12 

Special Program Emphasis 



foundationacademy.com 

904-493-7300 

THE LITTLE COUNTRY SCH. PK-11 

862 Baisden Road 


littlecountryschool.com 

904-757-8200 

THE NOBLE SCHOOL 5-12 


419 Fifth Ave. N 


nobleschooljax.org 

904-803-3260 

THE POTTER’S HOUSE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K3/VPK-8 



phcalions.org 

904-786-0028 

THE POTTER’S HOUSE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 9-12 

1150 S. Lane Ave. 


phcalions.org 

904-695-2837 

THE SCIENCE AND MATH 

INSTITUTE K-11 

4151 Old Middleburg Road 


facebook.com/ 

ScienceAndMathInstitute 

904-573-0883 

THE SEASIDE PLAYGARDEN 

PRESCHOOL-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-9 

96282 Brady Point Road (Lower 

School) 


464067 Florida 200 (Upper School) 

Yulee 32097 

fcaangels.com 

904-321-2137 

FERNANDINA BEACH CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-8 

1600 8th St. 


fernandinachristianacademy.com 

904-491-5664 

LINDISFARNE HALL 4-12 

1830 Lake Park Drive 


goodshepherdfernandina.com 

904-491-6082 

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 

541798 US Highway 1 S. 


lighthousechristianschool.net 

904-507-6683 

SONSHINE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-12 

45082 Frank Brookins Drive 


sonshinechristian.com 

904-879-1260 

ST. MICHAEL’S ACADEMY PK-9+ 

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 


ARK CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 

307 Anastasia Blvd. 


arkyouthministries.org 

904-810-2005 

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 

BRIDGEHAVEN ACADEMY 

190 S. Roscoe Blvd. 


bridgehavenacademy.org 

904-687-6072 

COLLAGE DAY SCHOOL NS-6 

171 Canal Blvd. 


collagedayschool.org 

904-900-1439 

CATHEDRAL PARISH SCH. K-8 

259 St. 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 


EDUCATION 

CROSSWATER CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-VPK 

211 Davis Park Road 


crosswateracademy.com 

904-824-0086 

ISLAND PREP PRIMARY 

SCHOOL PK/VPK-2 

4171 A1A S. 


islandprep.com 

904-471-1100 

ISLAND PREP PRESCHOOL 

4001 A1A S. 



904-547-2996 

ISLAND PREP PRESCHOOL 

(WEST) 

150 Blackford Way 



904-770-7134 



200 North Ridgecrest Lane 



904-287-3211 

LIVING WATERS 

PRESCHOOL NS-PK 

2189 Florida 13 

Switzerland 32259 

livingwaterspreschool.net 

904-287-2883 

MATANZAS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 2-12 

4255 U.S. 1 S., Ste. 18 


matanzasacademy.com 

904-794-1623 

MEMORIAL LUTHERAN 

CHAPEL SCH. K-3 

3375 U.S. 1 S. 


lutheranchapelschool.org 

904-797-8777 

MOULTRIE MONTESSORI 

SCHOOL 

37 S. Dixie Highway 


moultriemontessori.com 

904-826-0216 

PALENCIA MONTESSORI 

ACADEMY 18 MOS.-6 

332 Paseo Reyes Drive 


palenciamontessori.com 

904-217-7137 

PALMER CATHOLIC 

ACADEMY PK-8 

4889 Palm Valley Road 


pcapvb.org 

904-543-8515 

PONTE VEDRA KINDERCARE 

NS-PK 

12000 Sawgrass Village Dr 



904-285-9054 

SAN JUAN DEL RIO 

CATHOLIC SCH. PK-8 



sjdrsaints.org 

904-287-8081 

ST. GERARD CAMPUS 8-12 

School for pregnant teens 

and unwed mothers 

1405 U.S. 1 S. 


stgerardcampus.org 

904-829-5516 

ST. JOHN’S ACADEMY PK-8 

1533 Wildwood Drive 


stjohnsacademy.com 

904-824-9224 

ST. JOHNS GRAMMAR 

SCH. K-9 

2353 Florida 13 N. 


904-287-8760 

ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY 9-12 



sjaweb.org 

904-824-0431 

THE PIONEER SCHOOL 6-8 

105 Masters Dr. 


staugustinepioneer.com 

904-209-5891 

THE VILLAGE ACADEMY 

PK-1 

145 Lewis Point Road 


village-academy.com 

904-797-5909 

VILLAGE ACADEMY NORTH 

PRESCHOOL-PK-VPK 

5970 US-1 

St Augustine 32095 

village-academynorth.com 

904-824-7997 

TRINITY EARLY LEARNING 

CENTER K 

215 Saint George St. 


acswebnetworks.com 

904-824-2876 

TURNING POINT 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY PK-8 



tpcalvary.com 

904-824-0744 

VERITAS CLASSICAL 

PRIVATE SCHOOL K-8 



veritasclassicalschool.org 

904-810-1050 

VICTORY PREPARATORY 

SCH. K-9 

110 Masters Drive 


victoryprep.net 

904-810-0535 

WASHINGTON CLASSICAL 

CHRISTIAN SCH. K-6 

2121 U.S. 1 S. 


washingtonccs.com 

904-323-2911 

Holy Family 

Catholic School 

A National Blue Ribbon School 

Faith - Character - Excellence - Family 

Students take part in a game-design class at Andrew Jackson High School. Duval County 

Public Schools has been increasing the career and technology courses available to students, 

which may lead to college credits or industry certifications. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union) 

Enrolling Pre-K3 -8th Grade 

HFCatholicSchool.com 

Scholarships Available 


Florida State College of Jacksonville (FSCJ) has multiple locations in Duval 

and Nassau counties. It offers traditional day classes as well as evening 

and weekend classes, hybrid classes and completely online courses, in 

addition to several accelerated learning programs. (Provided by FSCJ) 

Easy Access to College Education 

Anyone with a car or a 

computer can go to college. 

Jacksonville’s higher-education 

opportunities have grown in program 

offerings and availability. From private 

universities to public universities, to colleges 

that focus on liberal arts or on law, there 

are options for every type of education. 

Edward Waters College was founded in 

1866 and is the oldest private institution of 

higher education in Florida. It was initially 

named “Brown Theology Institute.” Edward 

Waters awards bachelor’s degrees in eight 

academic major courses throughout arts, 

science and business administration. In 2018, 

EWC became only the second historically black 

college or university (HBCU) in the country 

to take the College Promise pledge, and it is 

providing debt-free schooling to 100 students 

with the help of $356,000 in state funding. 

Flagler College is located in downtown St. 

Augustine and in 2018 was again ranked No. 2 

in 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. With a student-faculty ratio of 16:1, it 

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, 

with a full-time staff that represents more than 

50 ABA-accredited law schools. Compared 

to a national law-school average of 65 

percent, 100 percent of FCSL students do 

pro bono legal work prior to graduation. The 

school’s students were National Moot Court 

Champions and have been ranked No. 1 

nationwide for two of the last three years. 

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, handson 

training and comprehensive content. The 

college ranks among the top 25 most affordable 

public, four-year institutions in the nation. FSCJ 

has 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. UNF’s online programs ranked No. 

31 nationwide in U.S. News & World Report’s 

2018 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs list. 

Jacksonville University (JU) boasts seven 

bachelor’s degree programs with more than 

70 majors, programs and concentrations, as 

well as a variety of graduate programs. It is 

also home to OCEARCH, the world’s largest 

shark research collective. After completing 

its $120 million ASPIRE Comprehensive 

Campaign, JU is in the midst of a $175 million 

bond issue to further advance programs 

and facilities at its Arlington campus. 

This includes a new 12,000-square-foot 

Welcome Center under construction. 

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 

CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF 

NURSING JACKSONVILLE 


904-251-8110 

chamberlain.edu 

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 ACADEMY 

Online High School 

800-658-1180 

fcahighschool.org 

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. 

Duval County residents can check out books, 

movies and music from the Main Library and 

20 branch locations throughout Jacksonville. 

Each site offers computers for public use, 

Wi-Fi, photocopiers and printers, and 

most are accessible via public transit. The 

300,000-square-foot Main Library in the heart of 

downtown 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 residents of neighboring counties to 

use their services if they meet specific criteria. 

FORTIS COLLEGE 

Orange Park 

904-269-7086 

fortis.edu 

HEALTH, WELLNESS & FITNESS 

PROFESSIONALS, INC. 


904-476-4849 

hwfitness-pros.com 

JACKSONVILLE THEOLOGICAL 

SEMINARY 


904-786-5383 

jts.edu 

JONES TECHNICAL INSTITUTE 


877-447-0442 

jtech.org 

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 

REVELATION MESSAGE 

BIBLE SCHOOL 


904-744-9773 

rmbcjax.com 

ROADMASTER DRIVERS SCHOOL 


904-783-3333 

roadmaster.com 

SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY 

Orange Park 

352-588-5700 

saintleo.edu 

EDUCATION 

ST. THOMAS CHRISTIAN 

UNIVERSITY 


904-389-5592 

greateducation.com 

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY 

AT NAS JACKSONVILLE 


904-771-7327 

siu.edu 

STRAYER UNIVERSITY 


904-538-1000 

strayer.edu 

TRINITY BAPTIST COLLEGE 


904-596-2451 

tbc.edu 

TULSA WELDING SCHOOL 


855-237-7711 

weldingschool.com 

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HEALTH 

SCIENCE CENTER 


904-244-3131 

ufhealthjax.org 

UNIVERSITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE 

FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 

St. Augustine 

800-241-1027 

usa.edu 

VIRGINIA COLLEGE IN 

JACKSONVILLE 


904-520-7400 

vc.edu/locations/jacksonville 

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 

The Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center offers all the services 

patients need in one facility - diagnosis, treatment planning, treatment, 

support and survivorship. Shown above is radiation therapist 

Jennifer Allen adjusting the Truebeam. (Photo by Dede Smith) 

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. 

Founded in 1955, Baptist Health has served Northeast Florida and 

Southeast Georgia for more than 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, Baptist Heart Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer 

Center. Baptist Health includes seven hospitals: 

• Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville is the central hub of the Baptist 

Health system. Located on the Southbank 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 Jacksonville 

pairs highly advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities with highly 

personalized care. In 2018, the hospital was awarded the Women’s Choice 

Award as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care, Obstetrics, 

Orthopedics and Cancer Care by WomenCertified. The independent 

Leapfrog Group recently gave it an ‘‘A’’ grade for patient safety. 

• 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. In early 2018, the facility opened a fourth eight-story 

tower, which added 138 patient beds and additional Labor and 

Delivery rooms, expanded surgical space, and increased radiology 

services. A five-story parking garage, which holds 1,300 free parking 

spaces, was also added to the grounds. 

• 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. Last June, the facility opened the Wilson 

Farrell Surgical Pavilion, a $32 million project. The 44,000-squarefoot 

expansion includes high-tech operating rooms and state-ofthe-art 

equipment. In 2018, the hospital was awarded the Women’s 

Choice Award as one of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety 

by WomenCertified Inc., as well as one of America’s 100 Best 

Hospitals for Patient Experience. 


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• 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). In 2018, the hospital was awarded 

the Women’s Choice Award as one of 

America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety 

by WomenCertified Inc. The independent 

Leapfrog Group recently gave it an ‘‘A’’ grade 

for patient safety. 

• Baptist Heart Hospital is the 

Jacksonville area’s only freestanding hospital 

for heart and vascular care. This state-ofthe-art 

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. In 2017, the Heart Hospital was 

awarded the Women’s Choice Award as one 

of America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care 

by WomenCertified Inc. 

• 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 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’ experience 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, as well 

as specialty programs, such as brain injury and 

pain rehabilitation, at various locations. 

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 W. Frank Wells 

Nursing Home provides short-term care, 

long-term care and hospice services through 

Community Hospice of Northeast Florida. 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, which is celebrating its 

130th year, 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, and offers 

award winning programs in medical weight 

loss surgery, cardiac care, Obstetrics and 

Gynecology and more. 

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 

educational, psychological and related 

therapeutic services for children, families and 

young adults with special needs, serving more 

than 5,000 families each year. 

Kindred Hospital North Florida 

in Green Cove Springs is an 80-bed fully 

accredited transitional care hospital and longterm 

acute care facility. The hospital offers 

a range of services for medically complex 

patients who require continued care and 

extended recovery time with 24/7 care. 

MEDICAL 

Mayo Clinic’s campus is the premier 

medical destination center in the Southeast, 

and was recently named the No. 1 hospital 

in Florida and in Jacksonville in the 2018- 

19 U.S. News & World Report’s rankings 

of best hospitals in America. In 2018 it was 

awarded the Women’s Choice Award as one 

of America’s Best Hospitals for Patient Safety, 

Heart Care, Orthopedics and Cancer Care by 

WomenCertified Inc., as well as being named 

one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Patient 

Experience. The independent Leapfrog Group 

recently gave it an ‘‘A’’ grade for patient safety. 

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; Special 

Beginnings maternity center; and much more. 

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. 

Naval Hospital Jacksonville is the 


MEDICAL 

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 at its 

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 whole-person approach to wellness. 

Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, 

Jacksonville is an 11-story clinic on the 

Southbank 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’ neurology and neurosurgery and 

cancer (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) in Macclenny has provided mental 

health services to people requiring specialized 

psychiatric treatment since 1959. The facility, 

which is the largest state-owned provider of 

psychiatric care and treatment to civilly committed 

individuals in the state, 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. 

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 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. In 2018 it was awarded 

the Women’s Choice Award as one of 

America’s Best Hospitals for Heart Care and 

Orthopedics by WomenCertified Inc. 

• 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, and is the only community 

hospital in Jacksonville to earn a “babyfriendly” 

designation from the World Health 

Organization and UNICEF. St. Vincent’s 

Riverside and St. Vincent’s Southside have 

both repeatedly received ‘‘A’’ grades in 

hospital safety from the Leapfrog Group. In 

2018 it was awarded the Women’s Choice 

Award as one of America’s Best Hospitals 

for Obstetrics and for Orthopedics by 

WomenCertified Inc. 

• 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 

$33.1 million 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. The independent Leapfrog Group recently gave it an ‘‘A’’ 

grade for patient safety. 

University of Florida Health, a not-for-profit hospital affiliated with 

the University of Florida Health Science Center campuses in Jacksonville 

and Gainesville, 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 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 24/7 adult and pediatric emergency department, birth 

center, pediatrics, women’s services, outpatient surgery, radiology 

and rehabilitation services among others. UF Health North opened a 

92-bed hospital this past summer. 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 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. 

Curahealth Hospital Jacksonville, formerly known as 

Specialty Hospital Jacksonville, was established in 1992 as a 

long-term acute care hospital — one of approximately 450 in the nation. 

The first of its kind in North Florida, Curahealth Hospital Jacksonville 

is for patients in need of extended hospital stays with complex medical 

conditions. Nearly 250 physicians are on staff to assist with care at 

MEDICAL 

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, posttraumatic 

stress 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. 

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 received 

the Circle of Life Award from the American Hospital Association for its 

excellence and innovation, and was 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. 

Baptist Medical Center Beaches opened its new 

state-of-the-art 44,000-square-foot Wilson Farrell 

Surgical Pavilion in June. It includes seven high-tech 

operating rooms. (Provided by Baptist Health) 


HOSPITAL AND MEDICAL CENTER PROFILES 

BAKER COUNTY 

DOPSON FAMILY MEDICAL CENTER 

159 N. Third St., Macclenny 32063 

904-259-7815, bcmedsvcs.com 

Type of care: specialty care 

Total staffed beds: 0 

ED FRASER MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 

159 N. Third St., Macclenny 32063 

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, Fleming Island 32003 

904-516-1000, baptistjax.com 

Type of facility: Emergency Acute Care 


KINDRED HOSPITAL NORTH FLORIDA 

801 Oak St., Green Cove Springs 32043 

904-284-9230, khnorthflorida.com 

Type of facility: Long-term care 


ORANGE PARK MEDICAL CENTER 

2001 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park 32073 

904-639-8500, orangeparkmedical.com 

Type of facility: Short-term Acute Care 


ST. VINCENT’S MEDICAL CENTER CLAY COUNTY 

1670 St. Vincent’s Way, Middleburg 32068 

904-602-1000, jaxhealth.com 



DUVAL COUNTY 

BAPTIST EMERGENCY AT TOWN CENTER 

4085 Town Center Pkwy 

Jacksonville, 32246 

(904) 202-6800, baptistjax.org 

Type of care: acute care 


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 



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 


Total staffed beds: 335

MEDICAL 

Health Care 

Earns Honors 

Local hospitals and medical 

centers receive recognition 

for outstanding services. 

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is ranked No. 1 overall in both Florida and the Jacksonville region by 

U.S. News & World Report. In terms of specialty rankings, the hospital is nationally ranked 

in six categories: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, 

geriatrics, gynecology and neurology and neurosurgery. (Provided by Mayo Clinic) 

The Jacksonville area offers a plethora 

of quality health care. Mayo Clinic 

Jacksonville is internationally recognized, 

but it’s not the only noteworthy medical facility 

in the area. Other hospitals have received 

awards and recognition as well. U.S. News & 

World Report ranks hospitals in performance in 

medical specialties and in common procedures, 

evaluating nearly 5,000 hospitals across 16 

adult specialties, nine adult procedures and 

conditions and 10 pediatric specialties. Rankings 

are based on both data and reputation. 

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is ranked No. 1 

overall in both Florida and the Jacksonville 

region. In terms of specialty rankings, the 

hospital is nationally ranked in six categories: 

cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, 

gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, 

gynecology and neurology and neurosurgery. 

U.S. News & World Report also ranked 

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville No. 7 in 

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 2018 include: Memorial 

Hospital, Baptist Medical Center Beaches, 

St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Clay County, 

and Baptist Medical Center in Nassau County. 

The Patient Safety Excellence Award is 

awarded to hospitals that do an outstanding 

job 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. 

Healthgrades awarded the Outstanding 

Patient Experience Award to both Mayo Clinic 

and Baptist Medical Center Nassau in 2018. 

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. 

Many hospitals in the area were also 

recognized by Healthgrades for high 

performance in specialties. Baptist Medical 

Center Jacksonville earned the Pulmonary Care 

Excellence Award in 2017 and 2018. The hospital 

was also awarded the Coronary Intervention 

Excellence Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and 

the Vascular Surgery Excellence Award in 2016. 

Baptist Medical Center South 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 

recognized with a Distinguished Hospital for 

Clinical Excellence Award. The hospital was 

also awarded the Critical Care Excellence 

Award in 2018; the Labor and Delivery 

Excellence Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018; the 

Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence Award 

2016, 2017 and 2018; the Cardiac Surgery 

Excellence Award in 2017 and 2018; and the 

Critical Care Excellence Award for 2018. The 

hospital also received America’s 100 Best 

Hospitals for Cardiac Care Award for 2018. 

Flagler Hospital St. Augustine also received 

a number of awards, including America’s 100 

Best Hospitals Award this year, which is given 

to the top two percent of hospitals in the nation 

for consistent clinical quality. The hospital was 

additionally awarded: Distinguished Hospital 

Award for Clinical Excellence 2016, 2017 and 

2018; America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Critical 

Care Award in 2017 and 2018; 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; Labor 

and Delivery Excellence Award in 2016 and 

2018; Obstetrics and Gynecology Excellence 

Award in 2016 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. This year, 

Healhtgrades awarded Mayo the prestigious 

America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award. The area 

hospital also received: Distinguished Hospital 

Award for Clinical Excellence 2016, 2017 and 

2018; Patient Safety Excellence Award in 2016 

and 2017; 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 in 

2018; Cardiac Care Excellence Award 2016 and 

2017; Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence Award 

2016, 2017 and 2018, Orthopedic Surgery 

Excellence Award in 2016; and Stroke Care 

Excellence Award in 2017 and 2018; Critical 

Care Excellence Award 2016, 2017 and 2018; 

Neurosciences Excellence Award 2017; and 

Vascular Surgery Excellent Award in 2017. 


BUSINESS 

The Pavilion at Durbin Park, situated in northern St. 

Johns County on Race Track Road near the SR 9B and 

Interstate 95 interchange, will be a major hub for shopping, 

dining and entertainment in 2019. Walmart opened in 

November as an anchor tenant. (Gatlin Development) 

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 there is no state 

income tax and an average cost of living 

that’s 5 percent lower than the national 

average. Other positives include a young, 

educated workforce with a median age 

lower than most areas in Florida, and public 

and private universities that continually 

produce an eager, educated workforce. 

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan 

deepened his roots to Northeast Florida by 

winning the bid to develop the Shipyards in 

and around TIAA Bank Field. The $2.5 billion 

project will include high-rise buildings that 

will be home to hotel, office, residential and 

convention spaces. The first phase will be 

anchored near Lot J near the football stadium. 

“It’s visionary and it’s aspirational,” 

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said. 

Companies big and small find 

success in Northeast Florida. 

“The most important piece of it is 

it’s going to be creating jobs, which 

will be good for Jacksonville.” 

The city also hoped to stir even more 

development with a proposed $1.2 billion 

in capital expenditures, including extensive 

upgrades to solid waste and stormwater 

projects, infrastructure improvements and 

a $2.5 million downtown development fund. 

A large chunk of that money is expected to 

help with Khan’s Shipyards development, 

while the rest will be used to develop 

projects at the site of the former City Hall 

and Duval County Courthouse buildings. 

Meanwhile, Burkhardt Distributing 

Company accepted $426,141 from St. Johns 

County commissioners in 2016 for economic 

development incentives, and the beer 

distributor responded with an $11 million, 

113,000-square-foot office and warehouse to 

serve as its headquarters in St. Augustine. 

Safariland, which makes body armor, 

holsters and other equipment for military 

and law enforcement, added 152 jobs to 

its plant near the Jacksonville International 

Airport. The company said 52 of the 

jobs will average $44,065 and the other 

100 will average $33,000 annually. 

Three companies – CSX, Fidelity National 

Financial and FIS (Fidelity National Information 

Services) – are among the Fortune 500. With 

annual revenues of $10 billion, Southeastern 

Grocers would be on the list, but it doesn’t 

qualify since it’s a privately held company. 

Trucking company Landstar is 

ranked in the Fortune 1000. 

Also, Fanatics, Black Knight, Acosta, Web. 

com, Crowley Maritime, Regency Centers, 

Stein Mart, Rayonier, Firehouse Subs 

and Bubba Foods all base their corporate 

headquarters in Jacksonville. Additionally, the 

PGA Tour is based in Ponte Vedra Beach. 

Amazon recently opened another 

fulfillment center on Pecan Park Road near 

Jacksonville International Airport, bringing 

more than 2,000 new jobs to the Northside. 

Amazon also has fulfillment centers operating 

on 103rd Street, Bulls Bay Highway and 

Cabot Commerce Circle in the Alta Lakes 

Commerce Center. All told, the company 

locally employs more than 4,000 people. 

Durbin Park, a massive commerce complex 

in northern St. Johns County will feature more 

than 20 retail stores and restaurants in its first 


phase – and that means hundreds of new jobs. 

Walmart, which will serve as the anchor of the 

700,000-square-foot, 80-acre parcel, will get 

things started with more than 350 openings. 

Jacksonville was ranked 28th nationally 

– and first among Florida cities – as being 

favorable to entrepreneurs and start-up 

business, Business.org reported. Orlando (31), 

Tampa (34) and Miami (39) also made the list. 

Based on reviews, interaction and 

other data, Yelp ranked Jacksonville 

sixth nationally for its economic 

opportunities for a new business. 

Another thing is clear throughout Northeast 

Florida: people are working. According to the 

U.S. Department of Labor, St. Johns County 

is tied with Okaloosa County for the lowest 

unemployment rate (2.9 percent) in Florida. 

Clay and Nassau (3.3) aren’t far behind, 

followed by Baker (3.4). Duval’s rate (3.7) 

mirrors the national rate. St. Johns added more 

than 4,000 jobs last year, the county reported. 

Entrepreneurs and small businesses on the 

First Coast have a host of support, including 

One Spark, a springtime 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 

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. 

According to the U.S. Department of 

Labor, the number of people employed in 

non-agricultural jobs in the Jacksonville 

Metropolitan Statistical Area rose by 22,100 

between July 2017 and July 2018, to 708,000. 

Unemployment was 3.8 percent in July 2018, 

tied for fourth among all MSAs in the state, 

and lower than the U.S. average of 4.1 percent. 

Almost all of the fastest-growing jobs between 

2017-2025 are predicted to be in the medical 

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 more 

than 100,000 jobs and more than $6 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. 

Jacksonville is certainly a city on 

the rise in economic growth. 

field, including nurse practitioners, physicial 

therapist assistants, physician assistants 

and diagnostic medical sonographers. 

With so much growth 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: 

1. General Pediatricians: $203,590 

2. Psychiatrists: $171,470 

3. Air Traffic Controllers: $134,370 

4. Podiatrists: $124,830 

5. Biomedical Engineers: $108,540 

6. Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers: $102,890 

7. Atmospheric and Space Scientists: $93,820 

8. Postsecondary Law Teachers: $92,700 

9. Postsecondary Engineering Teachers: $85,640 

10. First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives: $85,050 

11. Chemical Engineers: $75,080 

12. First-Line Supervisors of Fire Fighting 

and Prevention Workers: $73,370 

13. Landscape Architects: $72,650 

14. Other Physical Scientists: $69,710 

15. Aerospace Engineering and Operations Technicians: $67,570 

16. Cartographers and Photogrammetrist: $66,640 

17. Elevator Installers and Repairers: $66,540 

18. Fire Inspectors and Investigators: $66,430 

19. Power Distributors and Dispatchers: $65,020 

20. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, 

Substation, and Relay: $64,690 

21. Microbiologists: $64,280 

22. Boilermakers: $60,800 

23. Buyers and Purchasing Agents: $60,770 

24. Other Media and Communication Equipment Workers: $58,060 

25. Umpires, Referees, and Other Sports Officials: $57,190 

26. Postsecondary Philosophy and Religion Teachers: $56,900 

27. Postsecondary Criminal Justice and Law 

Enforcement Teachers: $56,700 

28. Arbitrators, Mediators, and Conciliators: $55,040 

29. Airfield Operations Specialists: $54,990 

30. Precision Instrument and Equipment 

Repairers, All Other: $54,870 

31. Pump Operators, Except Wellhead Pumpers: $54,640 

32. Preschool Special Education Teachers: $54,130 

33. Statistical Assistants: $52,920 

34. Police and Sheriff’s Patrol Officers: $52,570 

35. Other Media and Communication Workers: $51,920 

36. Anthropologists and Archeologists: $50,800 

37. Other Therapists: $50,560 

38. Forensic Science Technicians: $49,670 

39. All Other Teachers and Instructors Except 

Substitute Teachers: $48,610 

40. Marine Engineers and Naval Architects: $48,610 

41. Hearing Aid Specialists: $47,570 

42. Firefighters: $47,480 

43. Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians: $47,010 

44. Millwrights: $47,000 

45. Stonemasons: $46,340 

46. Exercise Physiologists: $45,970 

47. Rail Car Repairers: $45,110 

48. Food and Tobacco Roasting, Baking, and Drying 

Machine Operators and Tenders: $44,680 

49. Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors: $43,610 

50. Correctional Officers and Jailers: $43,490 

Source: Usawage.com, computed from data published 

by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, April 2018 


Major Employers on the First Coast 

Jacksonville is home to three Fortune 

500 companies, including CSX, 

Fidelity National Financial and FIS. 

The Top Employers with Headquarters on the First Coast 

(number of employees) 

1. Duval County Public Schools (11,876) 

2. Baptist Health (10,500) 

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

4. Florida Blue (7,000) 

5. Mayo Clinic (6,000) 

6. Southeastern Groceries (5,700) 

7. Citi (4,500) 

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

9. UFHealth (3,600) 

10. Wells Fargo (3,500) 

11. St. Vincent’s Healthcare (3,000) 

12. AT&T (2,600) 

13. Black Knight Financial (2,400) 

14. UPS (2,300) 

15. Deutsche Bank (2,250) 

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

17. TIAA Bank (2,000) 

18. Flagler Hospital (1,900) 

19. Memorial Hospital (1,800) 

20. Aetna (1,700) 

21. Orange Park Medical Center (1,640) 

22. Brooks Rehabilitation (1,600) 

23. CSX Corp. (1,500) 

24. One Call Care Management (1,500) 

25. Fanatics (1,500) 

26. Parallon (1,400) 

27. Vystar Credit Union (1,385) 

28. GuideWell Source (1,300) 

29. Flightstar Aircraft Services (1,300) 

30. Comcast (1,200) 

31. FIS (1,200) 

Major companies flock to the area because 

of the competitive cost of living and doing 

business, lack of a state sales tax, as well 

as a diverse and educated workforce. 

Source: JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of the JAX Chamber 

APPS 


MILITARY 

MILITARY 

A VP-45 “Pelicans” P8-A Poseidon lands during the grand opening of 

the runway at Naval Air Station Jacksonville in June 2016. The base, 

officially commissioned in 1940, occupies more than 3,800 acres and 

employs more than 19,000. (Photo by AMAN Otisa Williams) 

Honor, Courage, 

Commitment 

On n 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. 

The U.S. Navy has a commanding 

presence here to the tune of more than 

$8 billion in payroll, goods and services 

purchased on the local economies. 

Jacksonville is home to Commander, 

Navy Region Southeast, which manages 

and oversees shore installation management 

support and execution for 18 installations 

within the Southeastern United States 

and parts of the Caribbean, and three 

area Navy installations: Naval Air Station 

Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and Naval 

Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia. 

These three installations employ nearly 

30,000 active-duty personnel, Naval Reservists 

and civilians, and provide services to more than 

40,000 military retirees and family members. 

Officially commissioned on Oct. 15, 

1940, Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS 

Jacksonville) occupies more than 3,800 acres 

of land and employs more than 19,000. 

There are three major 

naval installations in 

the area. 

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 thirdlargest 

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. 

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 



Jacksonville International Airport celebrated its 50th anniversary 

this past October. Through the years, JAX has been enlarged, 

redesigned and rejuvenated as an attractive and fully functional 

airport that has been ranked No. 1 in customer satisfaction by 

the Airports Council International. (Photo by Dede Smith) 

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 s 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 counties from the 

I-295 East Beltway to County Road 

2209 (St. Johns Parkway). The road was 

planned in three phases. Construction 

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. 

• CConstruction 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. 

Work was completed 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 farther 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 was slated 

for completion in late 2018. The FCE 

segment is made up of three projects: 

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 occurred 

in 2017 as sections neared completion. An 

in-depth public awareness campaign started 

months in advance of the toll system’s 

activation so commuters would 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, FERRY 

AND SKYWAY 

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority 

(JTA) is an independent state agency 

serving a population of 1.6 million residents 

in the Jacksonville metropolitan area, the 

fourth-largest city in Florida. Established in 

1955, the agency is governed by a sevenmember 

board and operates Jacksonville’s 

public bus service, river ferry, downtown 

monorail and paratransit service. JTA buses 

serve part of Clay County. The agency also 

plans, designs and builds roads and bridges 

under the JTAMobilityWorks program. 

JTA offers mobile ticketing with MyJTA. 

The app allows customers to purchase 

and activate single-ride tickets, one-day, 

three-day, seven-day and 31-day passes 

at anytime and anywhere with their smart 

phone. Mobile ticketing scanners on the 

buses improve the customer experience and 

speed boarding. Fares for the St. Johns River 

Ferry and Gameday Xpress shuttle are also 

available for purchase with the MyJTA app. 

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 with 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: Gliding above downtown streets 

and across the St. Johns River, the JTA 

Skyway serves points of interest on both 

the Northbank and Southbank. The 2.5-mile 

elevated monorail system provides riders 

with easy access to their workplace, hotels, 

restaurants and entertainment venues. The 

system is made up of eight train stations with 

both an A and B platform. The Skyway operates 

from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 

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, and extended hours for 

special events (jtafla.com/schedules/skyway). 

For more information, visit www.jtafla.com 

and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/ 

JTAFLA). Follow us on Twitter @JTAFLA and on 

LinkedIn at Jacksonville Transportation Authority. 

FLY IN THE SKY 

THE JACKSONVILLE AVIATION 

AUTHORITY (JAA), (904-741-2000; 

jaxactionline@flyjax.com) owns and 

manages a four-airport system: Jacksonville 

International Airport (JAX), Cecil Airport, 

Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport 

(JAXEX) and Herlong Recreational Airport, 

which serve the commercial, business and 

recreational aviation needs of Northeast 

Florida and Southeast Georgia. 

THE JACKSONVILLE INTERNATIONAL 

AIRPORT (flyjax.com; 904-741-4902) 

is 18 miles north of downtown. It is the 

region’s commercial service airport with 

approximately 100 daily departures to 41 

non-stop destinations. Amenities at the airport 

include free Wi-Fi, retail stores, restaurants, 

art and aviation history galleries, lactation 

suite, meditation room, live entertainment, 

pet relief area, and an information desk. 

CECIL AIRPORT (904-573-1611) is a 


maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) 

airport and FAA-licensed horizontal 

launch spaceport located about 15 miles 

west of downtown Jacksonville. 

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), located on the Westside, 

is the area’s premier general aviation 

recreational and sport flying airport. 

THE NORTHEAST FLORIDA REGIONAL 

AIRPORT in St. Augustine is just a few miles 

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. Elite Airways offers 

nonstop roundtrip service to Rochester, Minn. 

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 Flight Academy, St. Augustine Aviation 

Maintenance 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 (800-872-7245; amtrak. 

com) offers the daily Silver Star or Silver 

Meteor route to New York City, Orlando, 

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 40 

daily train departures via several railroads. 



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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. In May 2019, the 

2,056-passenger Carnival Ecstasy will assume 

Carnival Elation’s popular year-round four- and 

five-day cruise program to the Bahamas. 

The port’s public seaport terminals achieved 

record growth in containers, vehicles and overall 

cargo volumes in 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 began construction in February 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. 

TOTE Maritime’s Isla Bella was the world’s 

first container ship powered by liquefied natural 

gas, and now with its Perla Del Caribe operates 

the first two LNG-powered containerships 

to the Puerto Rico trade. These Marlin-class 

vessels are the most advanced, environmentally 

responsible vessels of their kind. More than 

40 LNG-ready or LNG-fueled container ships 

have been ordered or are under construction, 

according to the company’s website. 

HORIZON TERMINAL SERVICES (904- 

515-6306; www.horizonterminals.com) began 

operating its deep-water facility 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 and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

It also offers weekly inter-island service between 

Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. 

Founder Malcom McLean is known as the 

“Father of Containerization,” and the company 

more than 3,600 53-foot and 40-foot containers. 

In 2018, Trailer Bridge collaborated with 84 

Lumber and Habitat for Humanity Puerto Rico, 

donating ocean transportation of trucks and 

materials for an ongoing effort to improve homes 

and living conditions in Puerto Rico. It won 

the Silver Bell Humanitarian Award along with 

Crowley Maritime and Tote Maritime for post- 

Hurricane Maria recovery efforts on the island. 

THE PORT OF FERNANDINA (904-261- 

0753; portoffernandina.org) is only 2.2 miles 

from the ocean with a channel draft of 36 feet 

and an 850-foot turning basin adjacent to a 

1,200-liner foot pier. It provides terminal service 

to more than 10 pulp and paper producers, 

along with export services to several steel mills 

in the Southeast, according to its website. 

THE CLAY COUNTY PORT (Reynolds 

Park; 904-284-3676; reynoldspark.com) is a 

1,700-acre complex on the St. Johns River 

in Green Cove Springs. With proximity to 

interstates 10 and 95, service from the CSX 

railroad company, 1.1 miles of bulkhead, 13 

piers and a 5,000-foot private runway, the 

complex works by land, air, sea and rail. 

A CARGO CONNECTION 

Jacksonville-based LANDSTAR (877-696- 

4507, landstar.com) is a global transportation 

system with more than 1,100 agents, more than 

9,000 leased owner operators, 15,000 trailers 

and 49,000 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 Southeast as a premier 

bulk carrier. Florida Rock & Tank Lines Inc. 

specializes in hauling freight consisting mainly 

of petroleum and other liquid and dry bulk 

commodities. Its 21 terminals and many truck 

domicile locations in the Southeast are home 

to more than 400 tractors and 500 trailers. 

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 thirdparty 

logistics partner. The company employs 

2,150 people at more than 30 locations, and 

has operations in London and Shanghai and 

alliances with more than 150 countries. 

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


The $164-million Overland Bridge project that started in the summer of 2012 

and finished this past fall, replaced aging overpasses and lanes on 2.2 miles of 

Interstate 95 between the San Marco edge of the Fuller Warren Bridge and just 

south of Emerson Street. The project included 14 new bridges, three more that 

were widened, plus interstate reconstruction. (Dan Scanlan/Florida Times-Union) 

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) low-cost express service has routes 

from Jacksonville to Orlando and Atlanta. The stop for all arrivals and 

departures is downtown in the JTA parking lot, on the west side of 

Johnson Street between Houston and West Forsyth streets. Parking 

is in the JTA lot in spaces designated for Megabus customers. 

RENTAL SERVICES 

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

services. Taxi fares are from $1.50-$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; $55 to the Beaches or Amelia Island; and 

$102 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 three ST. JOHNS RIVER TAXIS (904-860-8294, jaxrivertaxi. 

com) that cross the St. Johns River in continuous 30-minute loops from 

The Jacksonville Landing, Friendship Fountain, the Doubletree by Hilton 

hotel, the Lexington Hotel and Conference Center, the Metropolitan 

Park Marina and Riverside. The marina is only a designated water 

taxi stop when events are taking place at TIAA Bank Field. Rates are 

-- Adult Daily Pass: $10, Children (3-12) and Seniors (65+): $8. 

The company now offers a sunset cruise on Fridays and 

Saturdays. The one-hour trip leaves from Friendship Park and 

includes live music. Departure times vary by time of year. 

A HISTORIC RIDE 

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

com) is for vehicles and passengers, and its history dates to 

1874. The St. Johns River Ferry Commission was created to 

keep the ferry in service, and it still runs every day connecting 

Florida A1A between Heckscher Drive and Mayport Village. The 

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

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


RECREATION 

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. THE 

PLAYERS Championship is held at TPC Sawgrass. 

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. 

It should be no secret golf is a popular 

sport in Florida. The state is known for 

being home to more golf courses than any 

other with nearly 1,500 courses. With that 

many places to putt, 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. 

There were major changes at two local 

courses this year. One, the Omni Amelia Ocean 

Links, will be redeveloped into a park. The 

second, Jacksonville Beach Golf Course, was 

on schedule to be re-opened by the end of 

September following $1.5 million in improvements. 

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 

a challenging layout: three par 3s, five par 

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

facility, including a driving range, putting and 

chipping green. 

Golf lovers 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, St. 

Johns County Fairgrounds and Fore Palms DGC 

have layouts designed for Frisbee enthusiasts. 


Plenty of Golf Courses Just a Chip Shot Away 

GOLF CLUBS AND COURSES 

CLAY COUNTY 

COUNTRY CLUB OF 

ORANGE PARK 

2525 Country Club Blvd. 


904-276-7664 

solegolf.com 

EAGLE HARBOR 

GOLF CLUB 

2217 Eagle Harbor Parkway 


904-269-9300 

eagleharboronline.com 

EAGLE LANDING 

GOLF CLUB 

3989 Eagle Landing 

Parkway, Orange Park 32065, 

904-291-5600 

eaglelandinggolf.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 

PENNEY RETIREMENT 

COMMUNITY RETIREMENT 

COURSE 

Florida 16 East 

Penney Farms 32043 

800-638-3138 

Penneyretirementcommunity.org 

RIVER BEND GOLF LINKS 

659 Leonard C. Taylor Parkway, 

Green Cove Springs 32043, 

904-284-8777 

riverbendgolflinks.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 

BLUE CYPRESS 

GOLF CLUB 

4012 University Blvd. 


904-762-1971 

bluecypressgolf.com 

CECIL FIELD GOLF CLUB 

13715 Lake Newman St. 


904-778-5245 

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 

NAS JACKSONVILLE 

GOLF CLUB, 

White and Blue courses 

6801 Roosevelt Blvd. 


904-542-3249 

navymwrjacksonville.com 

PABLO CREEK GOLF CLUB 



904-992-6900 


QUEEN’S HARBOUR 

YACHT & COUNTRY CLUB 

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 

AMELIA RIVER GOLF CLUB 

4477 Buccaneer Trail 


904-491-8500 

golfclubameliariver.com 

AMELIA NATIONAL 

95211 Clubhouse Road 


904-652-0660 

amelianationalgolf.com 


GOLF CLUB 

2800 Bill Melton Road 


904-310-3175 

fernandinabeachgolfclub.com 


NORTH HAMPTON 

22680 N. Hampton Club Way 


904-548-0000 

hamptongolfclubs.com 

THE GOLF CLUB OF 

AMELIA ISLAND 

4700 Amelia Island Parkway 

Amelia Island 32034 

904-277-8015 

golfclubofamelia.com 

LONG POINT GOLF 

COURSE AND ACADEMY 

Omni Amelia Island Plantation 

39 Beach Lagoon Road 


904-261-6161 

omnihotels.com 

OAK MARSH GOLF COURSE 

Omni Amelia Island Plantation 

39 Beach Lagoon Road 


904-277-5907 

omnihotels.com 


CHAMPIONS AT 


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 

KING AND BEAR 

GOLF COURSE 

1 World Golf Place 


904-940-6100 

Golfwgv.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 

THE OAK BRIDGE CLUB 

AT SAWGRASS 

254 Alta Mar Drive 


904-285-5552 

theoakbridgeclub.com 

PALENCIA CLUB 

600 Palencia Club Drive 


904-599-9040 

palenciaclub.com 

PLANTATION AT 

PONTE VEDRA 

101 Plantation Drive 


904-543-2999 

theplantationpvb.com 

PONTE VEDRA GOLF 


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 


301 Royal St. Augustine Pkwy 


904-824-4653 

royalstaugustinegolf.com 

SAWGRASS 

COUNTRY CLUB, 

East, West and South courses 



904-273-3720 

Sawgrasscountryclub.com 

ST. AUGUSTINE SHORES 

707 Shores Blvd. 


904-794-4653 

capstonegolf.net 

RECREATION 

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 



904-273-3700 

sawgrasscountryclub.com 

SLAMMER AND SQUIRE 

GOLF COURSE 

1 World Golf Place 


904-940-6100 

Golfwgv.com 

TPC AT SAWGRASS PLAYERS 

STADIUM AND VALLEY 

COURSES 

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: 

COASTAL INDOOR GOLF 

1380 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, 

904-372-4518 

TOPGOLF 

10531 Brightman Blvd., 

Jacksonville, 904-328-2002 

UNF GOLF COMPLEX AT THE 

HAYT LEARNING CENTER 

One UNF Drive, Building 48, 


WESTSIDE GOLF CENTER 

2301 Parrish Cemetery Road, 


MASTERFIT GOLF TEACHING 

AND FITTING ACADEMY 

14055 Philips Highway, 



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 Road, St. 

Augustine; the 1,600-acre park is 

rich with ecosystems and abundant 

wildlife. Self-guided 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 Drive, 

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 

H.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 half of the 200,000 

acres are in Baker County; swamps, 

woodlands, streams, ponds and 

hiking trails; camping allowed. 

For more information, contact the 

Osceola National Forest at 

904-752-2577 

CLAY COUNTY 

For more information, contact 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 

2445 County Road 220, 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, newly 

remodeled 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. 


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 

ARLINGTON LIONS CLUB 

4322 Richard D. Gatlin Road; not 

only does the park near the Ft. 

Caroline and Arlington area offer 

picnic areas and nature trails, it 

is an excellent alternative to the 

Arlington Road Ramp to the St. 

Johns River 

BARNEY BROWNING PARK 

6014 Norwood Ave.; previously 

known as the Norwood Playground, 

the park includes basketball courts, 

picnic areas and a playground 

BEACH AND PEACH 

URBAN PARK 

10013 Anders Blvd.; located in 

the Southside Estates area, hiking 

trails, fishing, picnic areas and a 

non-motorized boat launch are 

situated around a five-acre lake 

BIRD ISLAND PARK 

101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra 

Beach; visitors are treated to a 

maze of water features, native 

hammock and educational signage 

BLUE CYPRESS PARK 

4012 University Blvd. N.; this 

former 18-hole golf course was 

resigned to include a new nine-hole 

course, soccer fields, hiking trails, 

tennis courts, concession stand 

and restrooms 

BOONE PARK 

3700 Park St.; this complex in 

the Arlington area is home to the 

Boone Park Tennis Complex, as 

well as grills and picnic areas, a 

playground and restrooms 

BULL MEMORIAL PARK 

716 Ocean Blvd., Atlantic Beach; 

an amphitheater is the cornerstone 

of park that also includes a tennis 

court, picnic area, tetherball 

and basketball courts, a sand 

playground and restrooms 

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 

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; this 

historic park opened during World 

War II and is filled with recreational 

options, including basketball court, 

community center, concession 

stand, fishing, football field, 

18-hole golf course, picnic areas, 

gymnasium, pedestrian docks and 

youth baseball fields 

CHARLES “BOOBIE” CLARK 

PARK, CENTER AND POOL 

8793 Sibbald Road; named for 

Jacksonville native and former 

football player at Bethune-Cookman 

College and the NFL, “Boobie” 

Clark, this recreational area has 

lighted basketball courts and 

youth baseball fields, a community 

field, picnic area, football field, 

swimming pool and tennis courts 

CHARLES REESE 

MEMORIAL PARK 

7260 Ken Knight Drive W., 

Jacksonville; originally known at 

Washington Heights Park, this 

facility has a basketball court, boat 

ramp, picnic area, playground and 

volleyball court 

CHETS CREEK ELEMENTARY 

13200 Chets Creek Blvd.; this park 

has a joint-use agreement with the 

Duval County School Board, and 

it features a multiuse field, picnic 

area and shelters, playground, 

soccer field, hiking trails and youth 

baseball and softball fields 

CONFEDERATE PARK, 

PLAYGROUND AND DOG PARK 

956 Hubbard St.; while there’s a 

playground, the focus of this park 

in the historic Springfield area is a 

2.87-acre dog park 

CRADLE CREEK PRESERVE 

Fairway Lane and South 15th 

Street, Jacksonville Beach; the 

43.3-acre preserve along the 

Intracoastal 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 and playground 

DEERWOOD ROTARY 

CHILDREN’S PARK 

7901 Baymeadows Road E.; picnic 

areas and a playground make up 

this park on the Southside 

DONNER PARK AND 

COMMUNITY CENTER 

2072 George St., Atlantic Beach; 

this five-acre park features outdoor 

summer movies, basketball court, 

softball field, sand playground, flag 

football and community center 

DUTTON ISLAND PARK 

AND PRESERVE 

793 Dutton Island Road W., 

Atlantic Beach; this park lies along 

the Intracoastal Waterway and 

includes a dock, canoe launch, 

picnic area, trail, fishing and wildlife 

observation posts 


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 

FLYNN PARK 

2738 Orange Pickers Road; 

amenities include a basketball 

court, restrooms, multiuse athletic 

fields and a playground 

FORT FAMILY REGIONAL 

PARK AT BAYMEADOWS 

8000 Baymeadows Road E.; this 

52-acre parcel from Disston 

Ranch features baseball fields, 

fishing pier, picnic areas, 

playground, restrooms, hiking 

trails and tennis courts 

GONZALES PARK 

Second Avenue North and 10th 

Street North, Jacksonville Beach; 

two covered picnic areas, grills, 

athletic fields, basketball court and 

playground managed by the city of 


HUGUENOT PARK 

Third Street South between 16th and 

19th Avenues South, Jacksonville 

Beach; there is a three-acre fishing 

pond, boardwalk, tennis and 

basketball courts and a playground 

JACK RUSSELL PARK 

800 Seminole Road, Atlantic Beach; 

large picnic pavilion, six tennis 

courts, two racquetball courts, two 

playgrounds, two athletic fields and 

a soccer field at a 12-acre facility 

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 

JOHANSEN PARK 

1300 Seminole Road, Atlantic 

Beach; this 12-acre park is perfect 

for picnics, art and music festivals 

JORDAN PARK AND 

COMMUNITY CENTER 

1671 Francis Ave., Atlantic Beach; 

featured at this 1.5-acre wooded 

park is a playground, covered 

picnic areas, basketball court, 

restrooms and a community center 

KATHRYN ABBEY 

HANNA PARK 

500 Wonderwood Drive; this park 

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 close to 300 

campsites with shower facilities; $5 

entrance fee per vehicle 

KLUTHO PARK SPRINGFIELD 

204 W. Third St.; a softball and 

tennis court completes this 

Riverside area park that also 

includes a multiuse field, and a disc 

golf course 

KONA SKATEPARK 

8739 Kona Ave.; open since 1977 

and billed as the “longest surviving 

privately owned skatepark” in 

the world by The Guinness Book 

of World Records, it was even 

recreated in a level of Tony Hawk’s 

Pro Skater 4 game. Features 

courses for skateboards and BMX 

bicycles, plus camps, contests, 

lessons and equipment rental. $10 

admission fee 

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. N., Baldwin; skate 

park with a playground, hiking trail 

and two covered picnic areas 

LEW BRANTLEY PARK 

8435 11th St.; a community center, 

basketball courts, picnic areas, 

nature trail and fitness stations are 

spread throughout his 90-acre park 

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 

MAXVILLE PARK 

18065 Pennsylvania Ave.; features 

include a community center, picnic 

tables, a playground, baseball/ 

softball fields and a basketball court 

MEMORIAL PARK RIVERSIDE 

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 

First Street between Fifth and Sixth 

Avenues 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 Road S., Jacksonville 

Beach; the membership off-leash 

playground has separate areas for 

large and small dogs, watering 

bowls and benches 

PALMETTO LEAVES 

REGIONAL PARK 

5760 Greenland Road; this massive 

400-acre property has a baseball 

field, non-motorized launch to the 

St. Johns River, picnic shelters, a 

playground, and hiking trails 

RAY GREEN PARK 

2149 Leonid Road; open seven 

days a week, thee is a BMX track, 

as well as athletic fields, tennis 

courts and picnic areas 

RINGHAVER PARK 

5198 118th St.; athletic fields, 

covered picnic area, playground and 

canoe launch on the Ortega River 

ROSE PARK 

1 Orchid St., Atlantic Beach; this 

active park has a playground, 

swings and a soccer field 

ROTARY PARK 

Second Avenue North, Jacksonville 

Beach; 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 

Ninth Avenue, west of North 

Penman Road, Jacksonville Beach; 

this 1.5-acre park has a picnic 

pavilion with a grill, playground and 

basketball court 

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 

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 

BEACHES VETERANS 

MEMORIAL PARK 

1 W. First St., Atlantic Beach; you’ll 

find a playground, and basketball 

court at this park that also serves 

as a memorial to all U.S. military 

chaplains killed in action 

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 

WINGATE PARK 

501 Penman Road, Jacksonville 

Beach; there are two softball, 

football, youth baseball and T-Ball 

fields, as well as a girls’ softball 

field and a dog park at this 

16-acre park. 

NASSAU COUNTY 

For more information, contact 

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 

Florida 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 


For more information, contact 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 Florida 13, Fruit Cove 32259; 

a 55-acre park with historical 

structures, hiking trails, picnic 

areas and a playground 

COLLIER-BLOCKER-PURYEAR 

PARK 

10 N. 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 Florida 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 

RECREATION 

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, 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 Drive, 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, 

multi-purpose 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 and playground 

Northeast Florida is also home to many 

national parks. Visit floridastateparks. 

org for more information 


RECREATION 

Marinas: Giving Berth 

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

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 


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 

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) 


RECREATION 

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 

2032 County Road 220, 

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, 


PALMETTO ROAD 

395 Palmetto Road, St. 


PALM VALLEY 

383 S. Roscoe Blvd., St. 


ST. JOHNS RECREATION 

PARK/USINA 

611 Euclid Ave., St. Augustine 

32084 


PALMO COVE 

Palmo Fish Camp Road, off 

County Road 13; shallow ramp, 


RIVERSIDE PARK 

981 CR 13, Fruit Cove 32095 

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 

The St. Johns Town Center is an outdoor lifestyle center that offers 

more than 150 brand-name retailers, including Northeast Florida’s 

only Nordstrom. It’s also a dining destination with options such as 

The Capital Grille, The Cheesecake Factory and Cantina Laredo. 

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-ofa-kind 

designers to antique malls to thrift 

shops. Most neighborhoods have everything 

nearby, including grocery stores. Major 

markets include Winn-Dixie, Publix and Aldi, 

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, Grassroots 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, 

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. 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. New stores announced in summer 

2018 include UNTUCKit, Lilly Pulitzer, Thrive, 

Vans, and Z Gallerie. A 290,000-square-foot 

Ikea recently opened on nearby Gate Parkway. 

In development is The Pavilion at Durbin 

Park, which will include 2.4 million square 

feet of retail when completed. Set to open in 

phases, the first of which was set to come on 

line in late 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 more than 120 specialty and 

department stores, including Dillard’s, Belk, Dick’s 

Sporting Goods 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 specialty retailers. Retailers 

include Aldo, BareMinerals, Build-A-Bear Workshop, 

Charming Charlie, Express, Francesca’s Collections, 

H&M, LOFT, LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics, 

MAC Cosmetics, New York & Company, 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 more than 70 local and national 

businesses, some government services, as well as the 

JAX Chamber Small Business Development Center. 

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, Bath&Bodyworks, 

Victoria’s Secret, Sports Mania, an AMC Theatre 

and more. 

RIVER CITY MARKETPLACE 

13000 City Station Drive, Jacksonville 32218 

rgpt.com/property/river-city-marketplace 

The marketplace off Interstate 95 near Jacksonville 

International Airport features more than 70 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. A Duluth 

Trading Co. location is planned as well. 

ROOSEVELT SQUARE 

4535 Roosevelt Blvd., Jacksonville 32210 

The open-air Roosevelt Square center at San Juan 

Avenue and Roosevelt Boulevard has about 50 stores 

and restaurants, including one of the locals’ favorite 

hangouts, Metro Diner. Roosevelt Square is anchored 

by Stein Mart and Publix. A massive redevelopment 

including a new name – Ortega Park – is planned to 

include facade makeovers, apartments, new stores 

and a more pedestrian-friendly layout. 

SHOPPING 

ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER 

4663 River City Drive, Jacksonville 32246 

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

Some to Northeast Florida’s only Nordstrom, the 

outdoor St. Johns Town 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 cuisine is 

represented by exciting options like The Cheesecake 

Factory, The Capital Grille and Cantina Laredo. 


ST. AUGUSTINE OUTLETS 

500 Outlet Mall Blvd., St. Augustine 32084 

staugoutlets.com 

The St. Augustine Outlets have 75 brand-name 

discount outlet stores, a food court and free trolley 

service. Fully renovated in 2015, the St. Augustine 

Outlets is anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th and 

features Bealls Outlet, Dooney & Bourke, 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 85 namebrand 

outlet stores with everyday savings. The outdoor 

center features brands including Adidas, J.Crew 

Factory, Tommy Hilfiger, Under Armour, Skechers and 

more. A Greg Norman Retail Outlet Store opened at 

the center in 2018. 

First Coast Slow Food 

CLAY COUNTY 

FARMERS MARKET 

AT MIDWAY 

Faith Presbyterian Church, Florida 21 and 

County Road 21B, Melrose 

(halfway between Melrose and Keystone Heights) 

http://marketatmidway.com 

Hours: Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

ORANGE PARK 


2042 Park Ave., 


Hours: First and third Sunday, 

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

DUVAL COUNTY 


MID-WEEK MARKET 

Bull Park, 7th St. and East Coast Drive, 


Hours: Wednesdays, 

3 p.m. - 6 p.m. 

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 they are in almost every corner of the city. Below Is a taste of markets 

on the First Coast. Stop by the one closest to you to enjoy homegrown, slow food. 

BEACHES GREEN MARKET 

Jarboe Park, intersection of A1A and Florida 

Boulevard In Neptune Beach 

beacheslocalfoodnetwork.org 

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

Rain or Shine. 

JACKSONVILLE 


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. Jacksonville 32204 

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. 


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., 


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. 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Patrons check out the early opening of the African 

Forest exhibit last August at the Jacksonville Zoo and 

Gardens. (Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union) 

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 37 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. 

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 88 tables 

and spreads all poker games at all limits. 

Bestbet now features new poker games 

with One, Two and Three Card Poker, 

Pai Gow and Ultimate Texas Hold’em. 

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 rescues 

endangered big cats from serious 

situations and provides them with a safe, 

loving forever home while educating the 

public about cats’ plight in the wild and 

captivity. The sanctuary hosts Halloween 

Haunted Forest in the fall and is open to 

the public select days of the week. 

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 than 1,000 

plants on display, as well as educational 

programs, camps and special events 

throughout the year. 

From Topgolf to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 

Jacksonville has an attraction for everyone. 

IFLY JACKSONVILLE 

10579 Brightman Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 

32246, 904-712-3388 

iflyworld.com/jacksonville 

iFLY is an empowering adventure for 

friends and families. No experience is 

necessary. iFLY, located next to TopGolf, 

creates a true free-fall experience 

without jumping out of a plane. Its 

vertical wind tunnel generates a wall-towall 

cushion of air you will safely float 

on. No parachute required – it’s just 

you, an iFLY certified instructor, and the 

power of the wind! 

INTUITION ALE WORKS 

929 E. Bay St., Jacksonville 32202 

904-683-7720, intuitionaleworks.com 

Intuition Ale Works is a local beer maker 

with a taproom where patrons can bring 

their own food. The downtown joint also 

features gear and beer for sale. 

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. 


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, gluten-free and vegan 

sweets in its on-site candy factory. Also 

available: candy-making demos, handson 

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 

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

interactive dolphin encounters to educate visitors about marine mammals and 

their environments. Marineland hosts summer camps and field trips. 

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 125-year-old park is home to all 24 currently known species of living 

crocodilians plus reptiles, monkeys, wading birds and parrots. Other attractions 

include a 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 – which distills and bottles bourbon, vodka, gin 

and rum on site – 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. 

LIVE 

stream 

POKER 

ENTERTAINMENT 

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. 

(Will Dickey/The Florida Times-Union) 

www.twitch.tv/bestbetlive 

Poker Room Hours: 

Monday - Thursday 10am-4am 

Weekends: Friday 10am - Monday 4am 

www.bestbetjax.com | 904.646.0001 

201 Monument Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225 


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) 

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 BY COUNTY 

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 

KARPELES MANUSCRIPT LIBRARY MUSEUM 

101 W. First St. 32206, 904-356-2992 

www.rain.org/~karpeles/jaxfrm.html 

KINGSLEY PLANTATION 

11676 Palmetto Ave. 32226, (904) 251-3537 

nps.gov/timu/learn/historyculture/kp.htm 

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 


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 

SWISHER THEATER 

Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N. 

32211, 904-256-7345, www.ju.edu 

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 

ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE 

1340C A1A South, St. Augustine 32080 

904-209-0367, staugamphitheatre.com 

4,092-seat amphitheater 

ENTERTAINMENT 

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 

HERITAGE SINGERS OF JACKSONVILLE 

heritagesingersjacksonville.com 

Non-profit choral music group 

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 

The long-awaited Cowford Chophouse opened at 101 E. Bay St. in 

October 2017. Jacksonville native Jacques Klempf purchased the vacant 

landmark in 2014 “to restore the building so the community can enjoy 

a piece of our city’s history and to promote economic development in 

Downtown Jacksonville.” (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union) 

Feast on Extraordinary Fare 

Jacksonville has an ample diversity of 

dining -- spread all over God's green 

earth. To put it in perspective, from the 

Beaches to Philips Highway, 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. 

The area 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. 

In its older sections, the River City 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. Clark’s 

even offers full smoked alligator, while Whitey’s 

is known as a favorite hangout of hometown 

Southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd. 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. Bravo “Top 

Chef” celebrity chef Kenny Gilbert opened 

Gilbert's Underground Kitchen in Fernandina 

Beach, then Gilbert's Social on Southside 

Boulevard serving interesting takes on soul 

food and barbecue, and then in 2018 Gilbert’s 

Southern Kitchen + Bar in Jacksonville Beach. 

Jacksonville has chain barbecue restaurants 

as well as locally owned The Pig Bar-B-Q, 

Jenkins Quality Barbecue, and Monroe's 

Smokehouse Bar-B-Q. These compete with the 

famous Cotten's Bar-B-Que in Arlington and The 

Bearded Pig BBQ on Kings Street. 

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. We’re sure to see even more as 

construction begins on Durbin Park, Northeast 

Florida’s next retail mecca, located on Racetrack 

Road near Bartram Park. 

On the steakhouse scene, Morton’s The 

Steakhouse, which closed on the Southbank 

about five years ago, has now reopened in 

Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Also, the 

long-awaited Cowford Chophouse opened at 101 

E. Bay St. Jacksonville native Jacques Klempf 

purchased the vacant landmark in 2014 “to restore 

the building so the community can enjoy a piece 

Jacksonville brings a lot 

to the table. 

of our city’s history and to promote economic 

development in Downtown Jacksonville.” 

Additionally, Marcus Lemonis, entrepreneur 

and host of CNBC's hit reality series "The 

Profit," announced in October 2018 that he 

will open MLG (for Marcus Lemonis Grill) in 

the Seminole Club building downtown, where 

the Candy Apple Cafe formerly operated. Bleu 

Chocolat Cafe is a new eatery in Springfield 

operated by Sister Chefs Group LLC, whose 

partners are pastry chefs Erika Cline, Linda 

Evans and Tanisha Guy. The restaurant is 

spotlighting Caribbean and Florida cuisine. Cline 

competed on Bravo's "Top Chef: Just Desserts" 

and was a judge on The Food Network’s “Rock 

‘n’ Roll Pastry Challenge.” 

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 drivethroughs 

and chains, the Jacksonville area now 

offers appetizing food for every price point – 

including from 17 chefs now on the “Best Chefs 

America” list. From chicken wings to Coq au 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 newly 

reinvented, Aqua Grill offers a 

contemporary, open floor plan 

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 in historic 

Five Points. A 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 

Moorish-revival landmark. The 

hotel’s signature restaurant, Costa 

Brava, makes 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. 

MAPLE STREET 

BISCUIT COMPANY 

Multiple Locations 

maplestreetbiscuits.com 

First location of what is now billed 

as a “group of community stores” 

spread across six states. The 

eatery was started by Scott Moore 

and Gus Evans, setting out to make 

a difference in people’s lives while 

offering its famous fresh biscuits, 

all-natural chicken, sausage gravy 

and more. 

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. 

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. 

Look for his sophisticated flavor 

profiles in dishes like Hudson Valley 

foie gras with sweet onion confit 

and saffron onion marmalade. 

METRO DINER 

3302 Hendricks Ave., 


(904) 398-3701 

metrodiner.com 

Original location of the chain now 

with numerous restaurants in more 

than a dozen states, it opened in 

1992 in a building whose humble 

beginnings date to 1938. Metro 

Diner was reshaped in 2000 by 

master chef Mark Davoli and family 

to include innovative new dishes 

using local ingredients. Metro Diner 

is a go-to eatery for locals and 

visitors and is a perennial No. 1 

award-winner for breakfast, brunch, 

lunch and dinner. 

MOXIE KITCHEN + 

COCKTAILS 

4972 Big Island Drive, 


904-998-9744, moxiefl.com 

Chef Tom Gray presides over 

this upscale casual restaurant at 

the St. Johns Town Center. Enjoy 

lunch, dinner, brunch, late night 

and cocktails. 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 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. 

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. 

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 offers a neighborhood 

feel, fresh seafood, amazing 

views and old favorite entrees with 

creative new twists. 

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 

menu’s specialty cocktails for a 

romantic night out. 

SALT LIFE FOOD SHACK 

1018 Third St. N., 


904-372-4456 

saltlifefoodshack.com 

First of three locations designed as 

a natural extension of the values 

and lifestyle exemplified by “Salt 

Life” – the catchy phrase that 

originated in Jacksonville Beach 

and describes a love of surf, sand 

and beautiful seas. Salt Life Food 

Shack is a community-driven 

restaurant with an eclectic menu. 

RUTH’S CHRIS 

STEAK HOUSE 

1201 Riverplace Blvd., 

Jacksonville 32207, 

904-396-6200 

ruthschris.com 

DINING 

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 

This elegant dining room offers 

sweeping views of the Atlantic 

Ocean. Its farm-to-table menu 

celebrates earth and sea, with 

more than 40 salts from around the 

world used to add flavor and depth 

to each dish. 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 

Classic fare with a modern touch 

amid warm ambiance are the 

hallmarks of this much-heralded 

San Marco restaurant that draws 

inspiration from rustic Italian 

kitchens. Located in the historic 

San Marco neighborhood, this chic 

dining destination’s menu offers a 

variety of gourmet pizza, pastas 

and classics. 

WINE CELLAR 

1314 Prudential Drive, 


904-398-8989 

winecellarjax.com 

Wine Cellar on the Southbank has 

been a landmark restaurant on 

the First Coast since 1974. Diners 

can experience the old world 

charm of a French countryside 

as they dine beneath a majestic 

oak in the brick-paved garden, or 

they can enjoy Classic Continental 

Cuisine in one of three intimate 

dining rooms. 


SPORTS 

The Jacksonville Jaguars and RB Leonard Fournette (27) 

made a solid run at the 2017 AFC Championship, falling just 

short of their goal. The Jaguars play their home games at 

TIAA Bank Field. (James Gilbert/Florida Times-Union) 

Let the Games Begin 

With football, golf, soccer, basketball and more — 

there’s plenty to cheer for. 

At the heart of Jacksonville’s sports 

atmosphere is the National Football 

League’s Jacksonville Jaguars, the 

city’s first franchise in one of the traditional 

major leagues of American sports. In their 

24th season of competition, the Jaguars were 

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

at TIAA Bank Field in downtown Jacksonville. 

The team is part of the AFC South division. 

The Jaguars’ most success occurred in 

the 1996, 1999 and 2017 seasons, when the 

franchise reached the AFC Championship game. 

They also made playoff appearances in 2007 and 

2008. The team struggled after its 2008 playoff 

appearance, so before the 2017 campaign 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 2018 team signed free agents tight end 

Austin Seferian-Jenkins, wide receiver Donte 

Moncrief and guard Andrew Norwell to fill the 

voids created by the departures of WR Allen 

Robinson and TE Mercedes Lewis, as well as 


defensive backups Lerentee McCray and D.J. 

Hayden to shore-up one of the league’s premier 

defenses. The Jaguars also used their first-round 

pick in the NFL Draft to take Florida defensive 

tackle Taven Bryan. The emphasis on defense 

continued to pay off. By October, Jacksonville 

still had one of the top-three defenses in the 

league, including top-ranked against the pass. A 

big part of that success comes from a pass rush 

that finished with 55 sacks – second-most in the 

NFL – which allowed most fans to passionately 

refer to their hometown as “Sacksonville.” With 

its defense strengthened, and rookie running 

back Leonard Fournette carrying the ball, and 

the continued development of quarterback Blake 

Bortles 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 next year. 

The 2018 tournament featured some 

hometown flavor with Web Simpson leading 

wire-to-wire and winning by four strokes, with St. 

Augustine’s Paul Tesori working as his caddy. 

Tesori had played The Stadium Course more 

than 700 times, which earned him the nickname 

“mayor” of the famed 7,189-yard course. He 

joined a list of winners at THE PLAYERS that 

also includes golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Lee 

Trevino, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Ricky 

Fowler 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 TIAA Bank 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 New York 

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton. Following 

the 2016 season, the franchise, under new owner 

Ken Babby and general manager Harold Craw,

launched a major rebranding as the Jacksonville 

Jumbo Shrimp. The team said the new name 

are designed to celebrate Jacksonville amid the 

water that is the natural geography of the River 

City. Despite finishing 55-82, the Jumbo Shrimp 

drew 317,335 fans – an average of 5,037 a game 

– which was second-best in the 10-team league. 

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 Sharks (10-7) 

qualified for the playoffs in 2018 but lost 73-48 at 

the Carolina Cobras in a first-round game. 

The Jacksonville Giants are another fulltime 

tenant of the Veterans Memorial Arena. Members 

of the American Basketball Association, 

the minor league team won the national 

championship in 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 

2018. The Giants feature a fast-paced offense 

that led to a 222-point game on Feb. 7, 2014 – the 

most points scored in basketball history. 

The city’s professional soccer franchise, the 

Jacksonville Armada, competed in the North 

American Soccer League in 2017, which was 

designated as a Division 2 league 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. While still a 

member of the NASL, the Armada moved to the 

National Premier Soccer League after the NASL 

canceled the 2018 season. With a record of 7-3-2, 

Jacksonville finished second in the Southern 

Conference after losing 3-1 to Miami in the 

conference finals. 

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, 2017, drawing a crowd of 8,956 fans to 

Veterans Memorial Arena for an overtime clash 

against in-state rival the Orlando Solar Bears. 

The ECHL has 27 teams from 21 states and one 

Canadian province. The 72-game season opened 

in early October and will include 36 home games. 

Since 1994, Jacksonville has had 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 TIAA Bank 

Field. The 2018 races were won by U.S. Olympian 

Leonard Korir and Molly Huddle. Korir also won 

the men’s overall title in 2017. 

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 2019 event on Feb. 20, 

which takes runners across Ponte Vedra Beach, 

Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach, will be 

the 12th 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 2018 competition will be the 36th 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 45 

pounds or more, but also food, music and boat 

exhibitions. The 2019 tournament, set for July 

15-20, will be the 39th. 

In addition to the city’s professional franchises, 

Jacksonville has two NCAA 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 future NBA Hall of Fame 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 

were 7-4 under coach Ian Shields in 2017. 

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. 

SPORTS 

Greg Ruffin became the new head football 

coach at Edward Waters College for the 2018 

campaign. Located on the Westside, the school 

was the first independent institution of higher 

education and the first historically black college in 

the state. The Tigers participate in the NAIA’s Gulf 

Coast Athletic Conference. 

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 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 continued with Jimbo 

Fisher, and now is in the hands of Willie Taggart. 

Florida State’s football program won the national 

championships in 1993, 1999 and 2013. The 

Seminoles’ basketball was 23-12 during the 

2017-18 season and received an at-large bid to 

the NCAA Tournament. After eliminating Missouri, 

Xavier and Gonzaga, the Seminoles lost to 

Michigan in the Elite Eight round. 

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 TIAA Bank 

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, but the 

Gators hired Dan Mullen as the head coach 

for 2018. 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 TIAA Bank 

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, Mississippi State beat Louisville, 31-27, 

on Dec. 30. This year’s game will be played in 

prime time – 7:30 p.m. – on New Year’s Eve. 


PROGRESS 

Durbin Park in northwest St. Johns County is a massive mixed-use development that is starting to open its 

first phase. It’s planned to have 600,000 square feet at full build-out of the phase. Much of the work is already 

complete with Walmart open there now and Home Depot soon to follow. (Gatlin Development Company) 

First Coast Marches Forward 

More retail and housing 

on the horizon. 

From the grand opening of big-name 

retailers like IKEA near the St. Johns 

Town Center, to a $90 million stadium 

makeover at TIAA Bank 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. The 

project, with a proposed 30-acre location on the 

Southbank of the St. Johns River, includes up 

to 950 resident units, 147 hotel rooms; 134,600 

square feet of commercial/retail space; 200,000 

square feet of office space; and a 125-slip marina. 

It would be built in 10 years over three phases. 

Developers are shooting for groundbreaking in 

early 2019. 

Another downtown housing project is in the works 

as Vestcor wants to build a 132-unit apartment 

building called the Lofts and Jefferson Station 

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. 

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan 

continues to be major player in downtown 


development after winning the rights to develop 

the Shipyards property near TIAA Bank Field and 

Metropolitan Park. The 70-acre project will include 

300 to 500 condominiums, 300 to 500 apartments, 

300,000 to 500,000 square feet of office space, 

another 150,000 to 250,000 square feet for stores 

and restaurants, 200 to 500 hotel rooms and boat 

slips to accommodate 250 to 450 boats, although 

the final design may bump that to as many as 525 

slips. The first phase of construction is proposed to 

include a $425-$450 million convention center and 

hotel. Khan’s Iguana Investments of Florida and the 

city are working on a groundbreaking date. 

Also, downtown, TIAA Bank Field and the 

surrounding area continue its multi-million-dollar 

makeover. Last year the Jacksonville Jaguars 

and the city of Jacksonville opened a 5,500-seat 

amphitheater and covered flex field adjacent to 

TIAA Bank Field. The venue is called Daily’s Place, 

as the Jacksonville-based convenience store 

company purchased the naming rights. 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. 


Hines, the company that developed Palencia and 

owns the Markets at Town Center, paid $20 million 

in 2016 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 2017, at the Gate exit from the 

Interstate 295 East Beltway. 

The developer originally said it planned a 105- 

acre project, but it does plan to buy more property 

there. It’s been approved for a maximum of 350,000 

square feet of office space, 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 

opened next to River City Marketplace. Lakeview at 

River City is at 12900 Broxton Bay Drive, just past 

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

project with 14 three-story residential buildings. The 

bulk of $164.3 million of Jacksonville’s $1.2 billion 

budget is earmarked to improving infrastructure 

projects throughout impoverished Northside and 

Westside neighborhoods. 


As the 22nd-fastest growing county in the nation, 

it’s no wonder St. Johns County development is 

trying to keep pace. 

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, 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. 

The Pavilion at Durbin Park already has attracted 

new vendors. Baptist Health Primary Care, Chase 

Bank, Firehouse Subs, GATE, Great Clips, Home 

Depot, Walmart and Petco are just a handful of 

companies that will lease space once construction 

is completed. Walmart was the first to open its 

doors November, while the overall grand opening 

is scheduled for January 2019. Phase 2, which is 

expected to be completed by late 2019, will include 

Bass Pro Shops, three hotels and a movie theater.



2018 Winners 

In Jacksonville.com’s annual Bold City Best competition, 

First Coast residents voted for their favorites in more than 

180 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. 

AUTO & MORE 

BEST AUTO 

INSURANCE AGENCY 

USAA 

CALL OR VISIT ONLINE 

800.531.8722 

USAA.COM 

BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP 

RPM AUTOMOTIVE 

10 LOCATIONS 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 

904.683.7737 

RPMAUTOMOTIVE.COM 

BEST BOAT DEALERSHIP 

NORTH FLORIDA 

YACHT SALES 

8940 SAN JOSE BLVD 


904.733.7502 

BEST CAR WASH/ 

DETAIL SERVICE 

CHARLES AND 

GEORGE’S CAR WASH 

3 LOCATIONS 


904.384.3331 

CHARLESANDGEORGESCARWASH.COM 

BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP 

TOM BUSH FAMILY 

OF DEALERSHIPS 

9850 ATLANTIC BLVD. 


904.725.0911 

TOMBUSH.COM 

BEST POWER 

SPORTS DEALERSHIP 

ADAMEC 

HARLEY-DAVIDSON 

8909 BAYMEADOWS RD. 


904.493.1931 

ADAMEDHARLEY.COM 

BEST RV DEALERSHIP 

TRAVELCAMP LLC 

9070 BEACH BLVD. 


888.318.9285 

TRAVELCAMP.COM 

BEST TIRE SHOP 

DISCOUNT TIRE 

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS 


904.213.9144 

DISCOUNTTIRE.COM 

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP 

TOM BUSH FAMILY 

OF DEALERSHIPS 



904.725.0911 

TOMBUSH.COM 

CUSINE & COCKTAILS 

BEST ALL YOU CAN EAT 

FUJI ULTIMATE 

SUSHI GRILL 

1950 SAN MARCO BLVD. 


904.438.8646 

BEST AMERICAN 

RESTAURANT 

METRO DINER 

7 LOCATIONS 


METRODINER.COM 

BEST BAKERY 

CINOTTI’S BAKERY 

1523 PENMAN ROAD 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, FL 32250 

904.246.1728 

CINOTTISBAKERY.COM 

BEST BANG FOR 

THE BUCK RESTAURANT 

METRO DINER 

7 LOCATIONS 



BEST BAR/PUB 

CULHANE’S IRISH PUB 


ATLANTIC BEACH, FL 32233 

904.249.9595 

CULHANESIRISHPUB.COM 

BEST BARBECUE 

GATORS BBQ 

8083 BAYMAR STREET 


904.683.4941 

GATORSBBQ.NET 

BEST BEER SELECTION 

EUROPEAN 

STREET CAFE 



904.384.9999 

EUROPEANSTREET.COM 

BEST BREAKFAST 

METRO DINER 

7 LOCATIONS 



BEST BRUNCH 

METRO DINER 

7 LOCATIONS 



BEST BURGER 

M SHACK 



904.642.5000 

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3852 SOUTH THIRD ST 


904.372.0601 

BIGFISHPOWERYOGA.COM 

OFFICIAL 2018 BOLD CITY BEST 

WINNERS 

GUIDE 

LOOK TO SEE WHO 

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OUR BOLD CITY! 

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR PARTY SPONSORS!

What if mixing always matched? 

Whether you love decorating or you’ve never heard of tufting, 

it’s easy to create a beautiful, one-of-a-kind room using our 

all-new Urban Attitudes ® collection. Choose from a variety of 

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Over 50 iClean fabrics 

that pair well together 

©2018 La-Z-Boy Incorporated 

Avenues • Fleming Island • St. Johns Town Center 

904-425-7010 

la-z-boy.com/jacksonville

Discover Jacksonville 2019

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