Discover Jacksonville 2020

Your complete guide to life & leisure on the First Coast 

in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau & St. Johns counties 

Discover 

Jacksonville 

2020 

DiscoverJacksonville.com

WELCOME 

E 

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2020 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE CONTENTS 

WELCOME 

Letter from the Times-Union Media Group Publisher 4 

Letter from the Jacksonville Mayor 5 

Topping the Charts 6 

Living the Good Life 7 

First Coast: Where We Are 8 

Who We Are 9 

Region Rich in History 10 

Discover the Flow of the First Coast 11 

Seven Links to the City 12 

Your Pets as Citizens 14 

MEDICAL 

A Hub for Health 55 

Health Care Earns Honors 60 

MILITARY 

Honor, Courage, Commitment 61 

SHOPPING 

There’s Plenty in Store for Shoppers 74 

First Coast Slow Food 75 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Places to Play 76 

Museums, Art, Music and More! 78 

HOUSING 

For Sale: New, Historic and Affordable Homes 16 

First Coast Housing by County 16 

Homeowners Associations 18 

Property Tax Calculator 19 

BUSINESS 

Booming Business 62 

50 Highest-Paying Jobs 63 

Major Employers on the First Coast 64 

DINING 

Feast on Extraordinary Fare 80 

Local Restaurants to Taste 81 

COMMUNITIES 

Finding Your Home on the First Coast 21 

EDUCATION 

ABCs of Learning 39 

Public Schools 40 

Bright Futures 42 

Not by Chance, but by Choice 43 

Private Schools 47 

Easy Access to College Education 53 

TRANSPORTATION 

Travel Near and Far 65 

RECREATION 

A Golfer’s Paradise 68 

Plenty of Golf Courses Just a Chip Shot Away 69 

Fun Starts at Parks 70 

Marinas: Giving Berth 72 

Ramps: Float Your Boat 73 

SPORTS 

Let the Games Begin 82 

PROGRESS 

First Coast Marches Forward 84 

BOLD CITY BEST 

2019 Winners 86 

ADVERTISER INDEX 

VyStar Credit Union 

Inside Front 

A-Coin & Stamp Gallery, Inc 1 

Beachwalk Community 3 

Wildlight 17 

Cecil Pines Adult Living Community 22 

Wild Birds Unlimited 22 

Tersak’s Family Martial Arts Academy 35 

Sharon Mills Team 36 

Bishop Kenny High School 49 

Times-Union Media 49 

Holy Family Catholic School 52 

Webster University 54 

CareerSource Northeast Florida 64 

The Marina at Ortega Landing 72 

Times-Union Media 85 

La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries 

Inside Back 

Millennium Physician Group 

Back 

2 | 2020 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE

Your complete guide to life & leisure on the First Coast 

in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau & St. Johns counties 

DiscoverJacksonville.com 

WELCOME 

TIMES-UNION MEDIA takes tremendous pride in presenting the 2020 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. 

Discover Jacksonville is the go-to source for newcomers and longtime residents alike. Whether you’re 

deciding where to live and send the children to school, or looking for a new dining experience, we 

have you covered with information to make decision-making easy. You’ll even find the best of the best 

on the First Coast in our 2019 Bold City Best winners listing in the back of the guide. 

There is no doubt our beautiful beaches, rich history and bustling commerce make Northeast Florida 

a superb place to live and prosper. As the city’s information leaders, The Florida Times-Union and 

Jacksonville.com are pleased to present Discover Jacksonville 2020. 

Enjoy! 

Bill Offill 

Group Publisher, Times-Union Media 

ABOUT THE COVER 

A jaguar peers 

through palmettos 

at The Range 

of the Jaguar, a 

two-time national 

award-winning 

South American exhibit at the 

Discover 


2020 

Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. 

The zoo isn’t the only place to 

find jaguars on the First Coast. 

The NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, 

celebrating its 25th season in 

2019, play at TIAA Bank Field. 

(Photo by Will Dickey and designed by 

Jeff Davis/Times-Union Media) 

For ad inquiries, contact 

David Sandeen at 904-359-4113 

Visit Discover Jacksonville online at 

DiscoverJacksonville.com 

2020 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE STAFF 

GROUP PUBLISHER 

MANAGING EDITOR OF SPECIALTY AUDIENCE 

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES & MARKETING 

DIGITAL MEDIA SALES DIRECTOR 

ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER 

BILL OFFILL 

JOE DESALVO 

JANE KATONA 

LIZ BORTEN 

DAVID SANDEEN 

ADVERTISING OPERATIONS COORDINATOR 

DIANNE KNAPP 

CREATIVE MANAGER 

SANDY WEBER, KEY 3 CREATIVE MARKETING & DESIGN 

COORDINATOR/WRITER 

PHILLIP MILANO 

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS 

ANGELA DIMICHELE, BRUCE HOPE, CRAIG RICHARDSON, MARK WOODS 

DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR 

JOHN NAUGHTON 

2020 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE 

is a product of Times-Union Media. 

timesunionmedia.com 

1 Independent Drive, 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. 


GREETINGS! 

On behalf of our citizens, welcome to Jacksonville! Thank you for being a part of our vibrant 

community. 

With the St. Johns River at its centerpiece, Jacksonville features a wealth of natural resources, 

including the largest urban parks system in the country with several waterfront access points 

and activities, and the longest shoreline in all of Florida. Our vibrant city features a wealth of 

natural resources, a thriving arts and cultural scene, diverse and exciting sports teams, expansive 

entertainment venues, and a bustling business environment. 

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR 

I am confident that you will find Jacksonville to be a wonderful place to vacation and have fun, and 

an even greater place to live, work, and play. 

We are proud to be one of the most military- and veteran-friendly cities in the nation. Jacksonville 

is home to three major military installations and we embrace our long military history. 

With world-class healthcare facilities, new and sustained development, a friendly business 

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

provides endless opportunities. 

Whether you are here to spend a day or a lifetime, welcome! You will discover much to love about 

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

Sincerely, 

LENNY CURRY 

Lenny Curry 

Mayor 

A unique view of the downtown 

Jacksonville skyline, looking across 

Hemming Park from atop the 

historic St. James Building with 

its Chicago-style glazed terra-cotta 

ornamentation. The building, which 

serves as home of City Hall and 

located at 117 W. Duval St., was 

designed by architect Henry 

John Klutho and opened in 1912. 

(Bob Self/Florida Times-Union)

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: 

Jacksonville ranked No. 6 in Yelp’s 

2018 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 ranked Jacksonville No. 9 in 2019 

for strength of housing demand when it 

looked at where to invest in real estate in 

2019; area home prices rose 9 percent over 

the previous year. Zillow named Jacksonville 

the second-hottest U.S. market in 2019. 

Among large metro areas, Jacksonville 

was No. 6 in growth in 2018, according to 

U.S. Census data released in 2019. 

In 2019, Jacksonville was No. 42 on U.S. 

News & World Report’s “Top 50 Best Places 

to Live in the USA” and No. 24 on its “100 

Best Places to Retire.” The reports analyzed 

cities based on factors such as quality of life. 

job market, happiness of residents, housing 

affordability, tax rates and healthcare, and 

referenced Jacksonville’s restaurants, shops, 

beaches and vibrant arts and music scenes. 

WalletHub ranked Jacksonville No. 21 for 

job market strength in 2019, based on factors 

such as opportunities, employment growth, 

starting salary, industry variety, job outlook, 

automation risk and job satisfaction. 

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. 

Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Port Authority 

(JaxPort) earned the top spot nationwide 

in 2019 for customer satisfaction and 

performance excellence, according to a 

survey by Logistics Management magazine. 

The region is also cited by Forbes as the 

best economically in the U.S. for Hispanics, 

who have a median household income of 

more than $50,000 and home ownership rate 

of 55 percent. Latinos make up 10 percent, 

or about 150,000, of the area’s population. 

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. 

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). ■ 


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 2019 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 

9.1 percentage points below the average. 

COST OF LIVING INDEX COMPARISON 

0 50% 100% 150% 200% 250% 

NEW YORK (MANHATTAN), NY 238.4 

SAN FRANCISCO, CA 200.1 

CHICAGO, IL 120.0 

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL 118.8 

CHARLESTON, SC 103.7 

ATLANTA, GA 102.3 

PITTSBURGH, PA 102.0 

NASHVILLE-MURFREESBORO, TN 101.3 

AUSTIN, TX 99.5 

PHOENIX, AZ 97.4 

CHARLOTTE, NC 96.2 

HOUSTON, TX 95.4 

RALEIGH, NC 94.5 

KANSAS CITY, MO 94.5 

RICHMOND, VA 93.0 

COLUMBUS, OH 92.6 

JACKSONVILLE , FL 90.9 

TAMPA, FL 89.7 

BIRMINGHAM, AL 87.8 

TEMPERATURE DEGREES FAHRENHEIT (2000-2019) 

10 IN. 

8 IN. 

6 IN. 

4 IN. 

2 IN. 

0 IN. 

79.7°F 

JACKSONVILLE’S 

AVERAGE HIGH/LOW 

100 

90 

80 

70 

60 

50 

40 

30 

20 

58.1°F 

JAN 

65.1 

41.5 

FEB 

68.8 

45.1 

MARCH 

74.2 

49.7 

WEATHER TO EXPECT 

APRIL 

80.0 

55.7 

MAY 

85.9 

63.3 

4.26 IN 

AVERAGE MONTHLY 

RAINFALL IN JACKSONVILLE 

TEMPERATURE IN JACKSONVILLE 

MONTHLY AVERAGE HIGH 

MONTHLY AVERAGE LOW 

JUNE 

90.0 

70.3 

JULY 

91.5 

72.5 

AUG 

90.9 

73.0 

SEPT 

87.0 

70.1 

OCT 

80.9 

60.5 

NOV 

73.4 

50.3 

NORMAL MONTHLY PRECIPITATION IN JACKSONVILLE 

DEC 

68 

45.4 

2.89 2.81 3.11 2.60 3.65 7.46 6.56 6.36 7.67 2.86 1.81 2.77 

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

Source: National Weather Service Forecast Office (Stats based on 2000-2019) 

WELCOME 

2020 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE | 7

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 


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, 

2018 American Community 

Survey reported for the Jacksonville 

Metropolitan Statistical Area: 

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2018 American Community Survey 

1-Year Estimates. 

GENDER 

MALE 48.9% FEMALE 51.1% 

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 

5.7% 

6.5% 

69.2% 

72.2% 

21.2% 

12.7% 

0.3% 

0.9% 

0.0% 

0.2% 

5.8% 

3.8% 

5.6% 

2.0% 

5.0% 

3.5% 

3.4% 

DUVAL COUNTY ACTIVE 

REGISTERED VOTERS 

AS OF AUGUST 2019 

DEMOCRATS: 250,165 40.89% 

REPUBLICANS: 220,508 36.04% 

OTHERS: 141,188 23.07% 

TOTAL: 611,861 

LESS THAN $10,000 

3.9% 

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 

7.1% 

13.1% 

75 - 84 

6.1% 

35 - 44 

JACKSONVILLE 

U.S. 

AGE 

9.8% 

12.7% 

IN YEARS 

4.6% 1.9% 

85 AND OVER 

25 - 34 

6.1% 

14.3% 

6.2% 

6.5% 

5.9% 

UNDER 5 

6.1% 

5 - 9 

WELCOME 

10 - 14 

15 - 19 

20 - 24 

14.0% 

9.5% 

FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 66.3% 

NONFAMILY HOUSEHOLDS 33.7% 

AVERAGE FAMILY SIZE 3.19 PEOPLE 

13.0% 

$75,000 - $99,999 

19.4% 

$50,000 - $74,999 

13.1% 

9.1% 

$25,000 - $34,999 

$35,000 - $49,999 

MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME 

JACKSONVILLE: $60,238 

U.S.: $61,937 

50% 

40% 

MARITAL STATUS 

15 YEARS OLD AND OVER 

MALE 

FEMALE 

30% 

25% 

EDUCATION 

25 YEARS OLD AND OVER 

JACKSONVILLE 

U.S. 

30% 

20% 

15% 

20% 

10% 

10% 

0% 

49% 

45.2% 

2.8% 

8.6% 

10.8% 

15.5% 

1.4% 

2.2% 

36% 

29.6% 

MARRIED WIDOWED DIVORCED SEPERATED NEVER MARRIED 

5% 

0% 

9.3% 

11.7% 

LESS THAN 

HIGH SCHOOL 

DIPLOMA 

27.9% 

26.9% 

HIGH SCHOOL 

GRADUATE 

(INCLUDES 

EQUIVALENCY) 

31.2% 

28.9% 

SOME 

COLLEGE, 

ASSOCIATE’S 

DEGREE 

20.2% 

20.0% 

BACHELOR’S 

DEGREE 

11.4% 

12.6% 

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. 

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 

10 | 2020 DISCOVER JACKSONVILLE 

The Great Fire of 1901 destroyed 2,368 buildings and left 8,677 homeless 

in Jacksonville. The rebuilding effort immediately began and 10 years 

later, more than 11,000 buildings had gone up. (Times-Union archive) 

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; and seven people 

died. The dollar loss was $15 million 

(equal to about $452 million today). 

As incredible as the devastation 

was, the rebuilding effort was 

more so. It began immediately 

and, 10 years later, more than 

11,000 buildings had gone up. 

During the ragtime years, 

Jacksonville was indeed a toddlin’ 

town. The Ostrich Farm was a 

big tourist draw, racing cars sped 

up and down the beach and the 

Philadelphia A’s, led by Connie 

Mack, came for spring training. 

Moreover, the movie industry had 

discovered the city. By 1916, more 

than 30 companies were churning out 

movies with such names as Oliver 

Hardy, Fatty Arbuckle and Tom Mix. 

But citizens got fed up with noisy 

explosions and false fire alarms. They 

voted out Mayor J.E.T. Bowden, a 

major film booster, and the industry 

moved to friendlier California climes. 

The military, though, was always 

a fixture. As world wars broke out, 

that military presence really became 

noticeable. Camp Johnston, the 

area now called Jacksonville Naval 

Air Station, held 27,000 men during 

World War I. Shipyards sprang 

from the riverfront and churned 

out wartime vessels. Quiet Ribault 

Bay became Mayport Auxiliary Air 

Base at the onset of World War II. 

The Depression brought hard 

times, but the corner was eventually 

turned. Jacksonville’s first condo, 

the Park Lane in Riverside, was 

completed in 1926. In 1935, A.L. 

Lewis opened American Beach, 

a retreat for African-Americans 

refused entry to public beaches. 

Postwar Jacksonville saw a 

boom, mainly at the hands of Mayor 

Haydon Burns. Insurance companies 

were lured; new city buildings, an 

auditorium and a ballpark were 

constructed; a modern expressway 

took shape; and the world’s largest 

Sears Roebuck store opened in 

an area that was once skid row. 

But the bubble burst in the early 

1960s amid scandal and school 

disaccreditation. Pressure built 

for city and county consolidation, 

which came to pass in 1968. “The 

Bold New City of the South” was 

the largest U.S. city in land mass 

until Juneau, Alaska, eclipsed it. 

But growth and prestige were not 

to be eclipsed. In 1979, the PGA Tour 

moved its headquarters to Ponte 

Vedra Beach; 19 years later, the World 

Golf Village and World Golf Hall of 

Fame opened in St. Johns County. In 

1986, the famed Mayo Clinic opened 

its Jacksonville campus. And, in 1993, 

the National Football League awarded 

its 30th franchise to Jacksonville, 

which led to the city being the site 

for Super Bowl XXXIX. ■ 

Sources: The Great Fire of 1901 by Bill 

Foley and Wayne W. Wood; Jacksonville’s 

Architectural Heritage by Wayne 

W. Wood; The Jacksonville Story; History 

of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity by 

T. Frederick Davis; Jacksonville After the 

Fire by James B. Crooks; Old Hickory’s 

Town by James R. Ward; The Jacksonville 

Historical Society.

The downtown 

Jacksonville skyline 

provides the perfect 

backdrop for those 

paddleboarding on 

the St. Johns River. 

Discover the Flow of the First Coast 

Jacksonville uses water for commerce and play … naturally. 

By Mark Woods 

My view of Jacksonville 

changed about 

10 years ago. 

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. 

That’s when I got a standup 

paddleboard and started 

exploring the city by water. 

We like to brag that Jacksonville 

is the largest city in the Lower 48, 

with more than 800 square miles. 

It’s one thing to cross the city by 

foot — I’ve done that a couple of 

times — but it’s another to paddle 

all over Jacksonville. And you can. 

Within the city limits, 

there are more than 127 

square miles of water. 

You’re reminded of this when 

you see Jacksonville from the 

air — the St. Johns River winding 

through the city and emptying into 

blue-green water of the Atlantic 

Ocean; the tributaries snaking in 

every direction; the St. Marys River 

to the north; Julington Creek to the 

south; the Intracoastal Waterway 

to the east; and on and on. 

It’s something to see all this 

water from the sky, or to get a 

glimpse of it while driving across 

a bridge, or to gaze at it while 

walking anywhere from the 

downtown riverwalks to — one of 

my favorite spots — the Round 

Marsh observation platform. 

But it’s another thing to see 

Jacksonville from the water. 

With more than 1,000 miles of 

shoreline and dozens of public 

docks, there are many options. 

I sometimes paddle with 

friends through the heart of 

downtown, under bridges carrying 

morning traffic, past skyscrapers 

and the football stadium, the 

smell of coffee and the Maxwell 

House plant in the air. 

Sometimes we have 

company: pods of dolphins. 

We often say: How many 

places can you do this? 

As much as I enjoy that urban 

experience, my favorite spots feel 

far removed from downtown. At 

the Julington-Durbin Preserve, 

we follow the twisting, narrowing 

creeks lined by old trees, birds 

and — on one occasion — a 

deer that jumped from the banks 

and swam across the creek. 

We paddle from Cedar Point, 

savoring the sights and smells 

of salt marshes in of our local 

national park, the Timucuan 

Ecological and Historic Preserve. 

The 46,000-acre park bills itself 

as the place “where the waters 

meet,” inviting visitors to explore 

one of the last unspoiled coastal 

wetlands on the Atlantic Coast. 

This is old Florida, very old 

Florida — a place with 6,000 

years of human history. 

Water is the lifeblood of 

Jacksonville. It always has been, 

going back to when the Timucua 

lived here, traveling the water in 

dugout canoes. When the French 

explorer Jean Ribault dropped 

anchor in the St. Johns in 1562, 

he was awed by its beauty and 

abundant fish and wildlife. 

More than 450 years later, 

the village of Mayport still is 

known for history and seafood. 

Today we use water for 

Mark Woods has been a 

Florida Times-Union columnist 

since 2001. He has walked 

across the largest city in the 

Lower 48 … and paddled 

throughout it. 

commerce and play. Shrimping, 

fishing, sailing, paddling. 

You don’t have to get on a 

paddleboard to truly discover 

Jacksonville. But you do have 

to get out on the water. ■ 


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. 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 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. A lane expansion project is expected to be completed by late 

2020. 


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 


WELCOME 

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: bakercountyfl.org/animals. 

php, 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 four months or older 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 or 

100 percent disabled. Dog and cat adoption 

fees: $60 and $80 respectively. Microchip fee: 

$10. 

• 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. 

• Swine not allowed as household pets other 

than ACPS-registered purebred miniature 

Vietnamese potbellied pigs kept for human 

companionship. 

• 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; 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. 

• • Rabies vaccination required for dogs, cats 

and ferrets; rabies tag display required. 

• • Leash law for all animals; must be contained 

by leash or carrier when not on personal 

property. 

• • Animal Services: 904-530-6150, 

nassaucountyfl.com/845/Animal-Services. 

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. 

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 

• Rabies vaccination required for dogs, cats 

and ferrets four months or older; rabies tag 

display required. 

• Leash law for dogs and cats. 

• St. Johns County Animal Control: 904-209- 

0746, sjcfl.us/AnimalControl; 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. 

Spay/Neuter: Cats start at $45, dogs at $75. 

Rabies vaccination $14. 

MORE RESOURCES 

• Jax Animals: jaxanimals.com. 

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

Sanctuary): 904-251-BIRD (2473), beaks@fdn. 

com. 

• HAWKE (Human Association of Wildlife Care and 

Education): 904-692-1777, hawkewildlife.org. 

• Wildlife Rescue Coalition of Northeast Florida: 

904-779-5569, wildlifecoalition.com. ■ 


Jacksonville-based SEDA New 

Homes offers the Morningside 

model in Sandy Pointe Preserve, 

located in Fernandina Beach. 

It features an open-concept 

floorplan with three bedrooms, 

2½ bathrooms, a study, a 

formal dining room and a large 

kitchen island that overlooks 

the gathering room. (Provided 

by SEDA New Homes) 

HOUSING

HOUSING 

For Sale: New, Historic 

and Affordable Homes 

Signs of growth are obvious in all directions 

in and around Jacksonville. 

First Coast Housing 

By County 

28,355 .04% POPULATION CHANGE 

HOUSING UNIT 10,090 HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 

BAKERPOPULATION 

MEDIAN VALUE $121,100 77.6% 

(owner-occupied units) 

216,072 1.8% POPULATION CHANGE 


CLAYPOPULATION 

MEDIAN VALUE $165,300 74.4% 


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 2013-17 by county 

were $121,100 in Baker, $165,300 in 

Clay, $156,200 in Duval, $203,500 in 

Nassau and $274,600 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. 

12 on the list of the fastest-growing 100 

counties in the United States. St. Johns 

County showed an increase of 4.2 percent 

over last year, compared to a 1.27 percent 

average growth rate in the five-county 

area, 1.6 percent rate in Florida and a 

0.6 percent rate nationwide. The U.S. 

Census also reported Jacksonville had 

the seventh-highest national increase in 

population – a gain of 12,153 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. 

The U.S. Census Bureau estimates 

that Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. 

Johns counties have nearly 655,272 

housing units, including single-family 

residences, condos, apartments and 

manufactured housing. Nearly 62.9 

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 courses, 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 highestappreciating 

neighborhood in Northeast 

Florida since 2000. Development of the 

Brooklyn area brought new homes with 

DUVAL 

NASSAU 

ST. JOHNS 

TOTAL 

POPULATION 950,181 1.3% POPULATION CHANGE 


MEDIAN VALUE $156,200 80.5% 


POPULATION 85,832 3.6% POPULATION CHANGE 


MEDIAN VALUE $203,500 77.8% 


POPULATION 254,261 

HOUSING UNIT 110,825 

4.2% POPULATION CHANGE 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 

MEDIAN VALUE $274,600 77.0% 


POPULATION 1,534,701 

POPULATION CHANGE 1.9% 

HOUSING UNIT 655,272 

FLORIDA 

U.S.A 

POPULATION 21,299,325 POPULATION 327,167,434 

POPULATION CHANGE 1.5% POPULATION CHANGE 0.4% 

HOUSING UNIT 9,441,153 HOUSING UNIT 138,537,078 

HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 64.8% HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 63.8% 

MEDIAN VALUE $178,700 


HOMEOWNERSHIP RATE 78.8% 

MEDIAN VALUE (owner-occupied units) 

$165,300 

MEDIAN VALUE $193,500 



HOUSING 

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-squarefoot 

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 July 2019 was $242,000, 

up 5.2 percent from a year earlier, and the 

average time for a home to go under contract 

was 63 days in July 2019, compared with 

60 days for the same month a year earlier. 

There were 9,905 homes available on 

the market in July 2018, compared to 9,173 

in July 2019, according to NEFAR. In all, 

there were 29,953 homes sold in the fivecounty 

area in 2018, NEFAR reported. 

Duval County has seen a steady uptick 

in new construction and permits issued in 

2019, which may be thanks in part to new 

communities such as Tamaya, located on 

Beach Boulevard, where 350 homes are 

already occupied, with plans in place for 

another 2,400. The PARC Group, developers 

of Nocatee, is busy bringing its master-planned 

“smart living” community called eTown online. 

Located off State Road 9B near the St. Johns 

County line, four of eTown’s neighborhoods, 

all equipped with smart home tech, are set to 

open in 2020. At full buildout, the area will offer 

single-family homes, apartments, retail and 

a package of resident-exclusive amenities. 

But perhaps Jacksonville’s hottest area 

for new construction can be found near the 

St. Johns Town Center. The surrounding 

area continues to explode with more than 

3,750 multi-family units approved or under 

construction near the mall and nearby Gate 

Parkway, much of it multi-family housing. 

To the south, the fast pace of growth is 

continuing in St. Johns County. From January- 

August 2019, 2,950 permits were issued for 

new homes, with the majority located around 

County Road 210 and on International Golf 

Parkway in northern St. Johns County. 

To keep up with the demand being placed 

on the state’s top-rated school district, the St. 

Johns County School District announced in 

July that it is one step closer to opening its 

first new high school since 2008. That school, 

which could open as soon as 2021, will be 

located adjacent to Mill Creek Academy on 

International Golf Parkway. Board members 

told Gannett that building a new high school 

in the northern part of the county is a priority 

because of the concentrated growth in the 

area. The top three most populated high 

schools, including Nease, Bartram Trail 

High School (2,600 students) and Creekside 

High School (2,200 students), are all located 

along the County Road 210 corridor. 

Nassau County’s plans for residential 

growth are also promising. Details were 

released in 2019 for Wildlight, a massive 

master-planned community to be located 

east of Interstate 95. At build-out, Wildlight 

will consist of 24,000 homes spread over 

24,000 acres and include a wellness center, 

hotel, restaurants and grocery store. At 

completion, developers say the community 

will be twice the size of Nocatee. 

In the near future, Clay County could also 

see a sharp uptick in demand for new homes. 

The PARC Group announced in August 

intentions to develop a master-planned 

community of more than 4,000 homes 

over more than 3,000 acres in Green Cove 

Springs. The developers said the timing for 

development will be tied to completion in 

Clay County of the First Coast Expressway, 

which could be several years away. ■ 

LOWCOUNTRY 

HAPPY HOUR 

Meet the new community 

coming to life in the light 

of Florida Lowcountry. 

New homes from the mid $200s. 

wildlight.com 


With unique amenities such as the 14-acre sparkling lagoon by 

Crystal Lagoons and easy access to local attractions, Beachwalk 

offers the perfect blend of a true live, work and play community. 

Developed by Twin Creeks Development and Encore Capital 

Management, the 1,100-acre community in St. Johns County 

features five unique neighborhoods with twin villas and single-family 

homes from Americrest Luxury Homes, Dream Finders Homes, 

Lennar and Vintage Estate Homes. The 24-hour fitness center, 

located in the 12,000-square-foot Beachwalk clubhouse, will open 

in December, while the Beach Club waterfront restaurant is slated 

to open in March 2020. They will join several already completed 

amenities, such as tennis courts, a mini putting green, dog splash 

park, swim-up bar and water slides. (Provided by Beachwalk) 

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 median HOA fee is $62 per month. 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 

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...........................................................................................14.9458 

Macclenny......................................................................................................18.5458 

Suwannee River..............................................................................................15.0844 

Clay County.............................................................................................14.5382 

Green Cove Springs........................................................................................ 15.7769 

Keystone Heights............................................................................................ 18.7173 

Orange Park.................................................................................................... 17.5502 

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.............................................................................................. 18.0980 

Baldwin.......................................................................................................... 19.0315 

Nassau County........................................................................................16.5856 

Callahan...........................................................................................................16.7015 

Amelia Island (outside city limits................................................................16.5856 

Piney Island (with mosquito control............................................................16.4835 

Fernandina Beach.........................................................................................20.3245 

Amelia Island.................................................................................................20.3245 

Hilliard............................................................................................................16.0330 

St. Johns County.....................................................................................13.9565 

Ponte Vedra Beach..........................................................................................14.3315 

South Ponte Vedra and U.S. 1 area................................................................14.0203 

St. Augustine.................................................................................................20.0503 

St. Augustine South lighting (no port.......................................................... 14.1665 

St. Augustine South lighting (with port.......................................................14.2303 

St. Augustine Beach....................................................................................... 16.9195 

St. Augustine Beach (outside city limits.....................................................14.0203 

Marineland area.............................................................................................14.0203 

Julington Creek Plantation CDD....................................................................13.9565 

Marshall Creek CDD.......................................................................................14.0203 

Sampson Creek CDD...................................................................................... 13.9565 

Elkton drainage..............................................................................................13.9565 

Hastings drainage ........................................................................................ 13.9565 

Flagler Estates road and drainage district................................................. 13.9565 

Madeira (in COSA......................................................................................... 20.0503 

Madeira (outside COSA..................................................................................14.0203 

Meadow View at Twin Creek.........................................................................13.9565 

Creekside at Twin Creek................................................................................13.9565 

Rivers Edge.....................................................................................................13.9565 

Bannon Lakes.................................................................................................13.9565 

Vilano Beach lighting.....................................................................................14.0703 

St. Johns Forest............................................................................................. 13.9565 

Brandy Creek................................................................................................. 13.9565 

Durbin Crossing, Aberdeen........................................................................... 13.9565 

World Commerce, Sandy Creek.................................................................... 13.9565 

Heritage Landing, Lake Beluthahatchee.......................................................13.9565 

Tolomato, Turnbull Creek.............................................................................. 13.9565 

Sweetwater, Glen St. Johns.......................................................................... 13.9565 

Rivers Edge II................................................................................................ 13.9565 

Grand Oaks CDD..............................................................................................13.9565 

Isles of Bartram Park.................................................................................... 13.9565 

Six Mile Creek............................................................................................... 13.9565 

Sandy Creek................................................................................................... 13.9565 

Trout Creek.................................................................................................... 13.9565 

Southaven CDD.............................................................................................. 13.9565 

Marshall Creek.............................................................................................. 14.0203 

Heritage Park..................................................................................................14.0203 

Deerfield Preserve CDD..................................................................................14.0203 

Summer Haven...............................................................................................22.5203 


COMMUNITIES 

The San Marco Square 

Lions Fountain is the iconic 

centerpiece of this shopping 

district — located minutes from 

downtown Jacksonville at the 

intersection of Atlantic and San 

Marco boulevards. It thrives 

today as home to an eclectic 

collection of trendy shops, 

theaters and restaurants. (Will 

Dickey/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 $190,400 

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 5,651 as of 2017, according to the U.S. 

Census Bureau’s 2013-2017 American 

Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 

Zillow’s median home value for Sanderson 

as of November 2019 was $96,600, up 2.2 

percent over the previous year. 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. 

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, 

The Island Theater community theater, 

and many organized activities for people 

of all ages. There is an active 55-plus 

group, a number of championship-quality 

golf courses, organized tennis, soccer 

and all types of programs for children. 

Home prices in popular developments 

such as Eagle Harbor, Pace Island, Hibernia 

Plantation and Romeo Point range from 

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

the majority of homes in the $350,000- 

to-$500,000 range. The median home 

value for all Fleming Island is $284,400. 

Jacksonville’s Hart Resources LLC 

filed plans to start construction in 2020 on 

the 770-home, 364-acre Anabelle Island 

between Asbury Lake and Fleming Island. 

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 8,313 as of 2018, 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 (you might spot 

Heart lead singer Ann Wilson around town; 

she moved there a couple years ago). 

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 $213,200, up 6.7 percent 

just in the past 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 1,518 as of 2018. 

It has many family-owned businesses, and 

the median home value is $168,600. 

There are numerous recreational 

opportunities, including a beach with 

bathhouses and shaded picnic tables, 

public boat ramps, lighted tennis courts, 

nature trails and the Keystone Golf and 

Country Club with its 93-year history. 

Keystone Heights Airport, also known 

as Keystone Airpark, was constructed in 

1942 as Crystal Lake Army Airfield and 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 Keystone 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 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: 

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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 

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 

13,316 residents in 2017. 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 7.7 

percent in the last year, to $211,200. 

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 


COMMUNITIES 

8,809 residents in 2018. 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 

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 $201,800. 

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 824 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 more 

stores and services in the area, including 

street-lane. A potentially long commute from 

Argyle to work and school should be alleviated 

by the First Coast Expressway, a limitedaccess 

toll road crossing parts of Duval, 

Clay and St. Johns counties over about 46 

miles. The northern portion from I-10 in Duval 

County south to Blanding Boulevard in Clay 

County was completed in summer 2019. 

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 

has grown to $170,700. Zillow predicts they 

will rise 6.2 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 

median home listing price at $139,700. 

ATLANTIC BEACH 

A DRIVE-TO NEIGHBORHOOD 

Bordered by Kathryn Abbey Hanna 

Park to the north, Atlantic Boulevard to the 

south and the Intracoastal Waterway to the 

west, Atlantic Beach offers a small-town 

atmosphere with easy access to the ocean. 

Stretching only about 25 blocks from 

north to south, Atlantic Beach is a closedend 

community with an estimated 2018 

population of 13,831, 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 $390,600. Zillow predicts Atlantic Beach 

home values will rise 1.7 percent within the 

next year. The median list price per square 

foot in Atlantic Beach is $290, which is higher 

than the Jacksonville Metro average of $138. 

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 1,495 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 singlefamily 

older homes. Nearly two-thirds 

of homes are valued at $149,000 or 

less, according to Livability.com. 

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. 

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 

is developing the eTown “smart-living” 

community for the Davis family, a nearly 

1,500-acre development 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 singlefamily 

homes. The median home value in 

Baymeadows is $152,200. Baymeadows 

home values have gone up 3.5 percent over 

the past year and Zillow predicts they will 

rise 4.3 percent within the next year. Many 

neighborhoods include amenities such as 

tennis courts, playground equipment, pools, 

security gates, soccer fields and parks. 

BEAUCLERC 

A TREE-LINED SPOT 

Straddling the eastern bank of the St. 

Johns River at one of its widest points and 

nestled between Mandarin, San Jose and 

Baymeadows lies Beauclerc, an idyllic, tree- 

COMMUNITIES 

lined 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 $361,000. 

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. 

Many houses feature brick construction. 

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 listing price in Brentwood 

is $55,500. 

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. 

In 2021, the developers of 220 Riverside and 

the adjacent Unity Plaza urban festival park 

plan to complete the 10-story Vista Brooklyn 

apartment and retail development at 200 

Riverside Ave., with a planned 308 apartments; 

rooftop pool and beer garden; dog park on the 

parking deck; and first-floor retail, restaurant 

and entertainment space. Meanwhile, permits 

were issued in September 2019 for Brooklyn 

Place at Riverside Avenue and Leila Street, 

two retail buildings to include Bento Asian 

Kitchen + Sushi, Chipotle Mexican Grill and 

more. 


Across Riverside Avenue the Winston Family 

YMCA has undergone its own renaissance. Its 

72,000-square-foot branch overlooks the St. 

Johns River, a $22 million facility containing 

wellness spaces, group exercise spaces, an 

indoor track, locker and shower facilities, Kid- 

Zone, healthy living spaces, an aquatics center, 

meeting spaces, a café, outdoor café seating 

and outdoor lawn areas. 

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 $139,450 in Cedar Hills and 

$145,450 in Jacksonville Heights, with median 

homes values of $195,700 in Confederate 

Point. 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 

$222,100. Deerwood home values have gone 

up 3.4 percent over the past year and Zillow 

predicts they will rise 2.9 percent within the 

next year. The median list price per square foot 

in Deerwood is $144, which is higher than the 

Jacksonville average of $125. The median rent 

price in Deerwood is $1,355, which is higher 

than the Jacksonville median of $1,300. 

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 

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 and 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 $282,200. Fort 

Caroline Shores home values have gone up 2.3 

percent over the past year and Zillow predicts 

they will rise 2.7 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 $185,700 in 

Garden City and $181,900 in Dinsmore. 

GATEWAY AND TALLYRAND 

PREPARING FOR RESURGENCE 

Historically, the Gateway and Talleyrand 

areas, on the outskirts of Springfield and 

downtown, were some of the earliest settled 

neighborhoods in Jacksonville. Examples of 

early 1900s architecture still exist. Buyers are 

purchasing these older homes and restoring 

them to their original glory. 

Parts of Talleyrand are highly industrial, but 

the landscape is rapidly changing. The opportunity 

to own riverfront housing downtown 

in former industrial areas has become a reality. 

The Plaza Condominium at Berkman Plaza 

and Marina is a luxury riverfront complex. 

Located along the St. Johns River on 400 E. 

Bay 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 widely discussed 

Shipyards project, a partnership of Jacksonville 

Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s Iguana Investments 

and Baltimore-based The Cordish 

Companies. It’s envisioned as a $2.5 billion 

mixed-use district at buildout, with 4.25 million 

square feet of dining, entertainment, retail, 

office, hotels and luxury residential living. The 

$450 million Lot J next to TIAA Bank Field is 

expected to kick off the entire project in the 

Sports & Entertainment District, with completion 

eyed for late 2021. Announced plans call 

for a Live! Arena entertainment venue, 300-unit 

residential tower, 200-room hotel and potentially 

an office building. 

Still other developers, Barrington Development, 

hope to turn the partly built Berkman II 

site on Bay Street downtown into a 190-room 

hotel with residential units on the top floors. 

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 

COMMUNITIES 

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. 

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 $368,100. Jacksonville Beach home 

values have gone up 0.8 percent over the 

past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 108 

percent within the next year. The median list 

price per square foot in Jacksonville Beach 

is $273, which is higher than the Jacksonville 

Metro average of $138. The median price 

of homes currently listed in Jacksonville 

Beach is $474,888. The median rent price in 

Jacksonville Beach is $2,400, which is higher 

than the Jacksonville Metro median of $1,425. 

LAKE SHORE 

WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE 

A neighborhood reaching back from the 


COMMUNITIES 

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 $135,000. 

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 $17 million Lofts at Jefferson Station 

on Water Street, now leasing, has 133 units 

and a fitness center, computer cafe and dog 

walking area. 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. 

The median home value in Loretto is 

$189,300. Home values have gone up 

6.5 percent over the past year and Zillow 



foot in Loretto is $141, which is higher than 

the Jacksonville average of $125. The median 

price of homes currently listed is $199,900. 

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, 

The Vestcor Cos. has invested in the LaVilla area, just west 

of the central downtown district, with construction of the 

Lofts at Jefferson Station, Lofts at LaVilla (above) and Lofts 

at Monroe. The new apartments going up in LaVilla and 

Brooklyn are part of the downtown building boom currently 

underway in Jacksonville. (Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union) 


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). 

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 $322,800. 

MARIETTA AND WHITEHOUSE 

COUNTRY ATMOSPHERE 

Few places around Jacksonville still can 

claim a country atmosphere with room to move. 

Marietta offers unusually large lots with an 

average of a half-acre and an average home 

value of $119,900. 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. The Haskell Co. 

was awarded a contract to create a master 

plan for seven acres in Mayport to include 

new docks, stores, restaurants and a seafoodprocessing 

plant. In addition, a dock is being 

built for OCEARCH at Jacksonville University, 

a shark consortium whose research vessel 

will call Mayport home. A shark research 

center open to the pubic is also planned. 

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, 

ground was broken last year on the Market 

Place at North Point, Phase II of North Point 

Town Center. The 23,500-square-foot project 

will include a grocery store and additional 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 

$169,900, while the median price of homes 

sold is $139,200. The median list price per 


COMMUNITIES 

square foot is $143, which is higher than 

the Jacksonville average of $125. The median 

rent price in Murray Hill is $1,100. 

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 $435,300, 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, is a community hotspot 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. 

Today Nocatee is one of the hottest 

real estate markets in the region. 

NORMANDY AND HYDE PARK 

(Hyde Grove) 

PAST MERGES WITH FUTURE 

Driving along Normandy Boulevard is 

like looking into the past and future all at 

once. The previously rural area nestled on 

Jacksonville’s Westside was once used 

mainly for dairy farming, and large patches 

of land spotted with sprawling oaks, tall 

pines and grazing cattle still can be found. 

With Jacksonville Naval Air Station and 

the former Cecil Field Naval Air Station 

close by, Normandy/Hyde Park has long 

been a military community. The federal 

government closed Cecil Field in 1999, 

and the city improved the 17,000-acre 

property into the Cecil Commerce Center. 

The Cecil Commerce Center includes the 

Jacksonville Equestrian Center, with indoor 

arena seating for 4,000; an outdoor arena 

and ring; lighted practice rings; and barns. 

The City of Jacksonville recently permitted 

a 100,400-square-foot, $2.6 million covered 

arena. There is also a recreation complex and 

community center, Olympic-size swimming 

pool, instructional pool and softball fields. 

A 1 million-square-foot, nearly $50 million 

Wayfair distribution center is being completed, 

and plans are in the works for other large 

warehouses, one near Amazon.com and the 

other along POW-MIA Memorial Parkway. 

The median list price per square 

foot in Hyde Park is $91, which is lower 

than the Jacksonville average of $125. 

The median price of homes currently 

listed in Hyde Park is $122,00. 

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 $215,100. Home 

values have gone up 2.3 percent over the 

past year and Zillow predicts they will rise 2.2 

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 

hours before a midnight police raid in 1933. 

Present-day Ortega is defined by its rivers, 

tree-shaded home sites and parks, and an 

eclectic collection of spectacular architectural 

styles. Mediterranean Revival homes sit sideby-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. Roosevelt Square, a 

collection of restaurants and shopsnow being 

transformed into the Ortega Park development, 

is just across the river, and the Ortega 

Village shopping area has 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 home value is $405,600. 

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 

The Brick restaurant, located on 

St. Johns Avenue in the business 

district of Avondale, is a popular 

spot for outdoor dining. (Will 

Dickey/Florida Times-Union) 

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 listed in Riverside is 

$299,000, and in Avondale is $325,000. 

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. 


COMMUNITIES 

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 $179,500. Home values have gone up 3.8 

percent over the past year, and Zillow predicts 


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 

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 

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 


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 median value is $340,600. 

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, recently 

opened. Chance Partners LLC is finishing 

up the 284-unit Phase I of San Marco 

Promenade, with the 226-unit Phase II 

set for 2021. The company’s San Marco 

Crossing South is under construction with 

nearly 200 units, and the 290-unit San 

Marco Crossing North will open in 2021. 

Elements of Jacksonville’s 30-acre project 

on the Southbank known as The District 

is a mixed-use $535 million development 

to include 950 residential units, 147 hotel 

rooms, 200,000 square feet of office space, 

134,000 square feet of retail, a four-acre 

park, 125-slip marina and more. Work should 

begin this year and last several years. 

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 $155,200. 

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 a median 

home value of $273,600. 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. 

COMMUNITIES 

The median home price listing in Springfield 

is $219,800. 

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 median home value 

in the Venetia area is $247,000. 

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. 

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 


COMMUNITIES 

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 $369,600, 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 

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 $217,000. 

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 $227,800. 

YULEE 

ON THE GO 

As Territorial Representative to Congress 

and later as Florida’s U.S. senator, David 

Yulee had a presence in the area that is 

felt even to this day. His vision of a cross- 

Florida railroad with Fernandina as its 

east terminus was thought an outlandish 

idea in the early- to mid-1850s, but Yulee 

never wavered in his determination. 

Neither the Civil War, incarceration in a 

federal prison nor the necessity of physically 

moving an entire town could deter Yulee from 

his goals of statehood for Florida and of crossstate 

commercial centers joined by his railroad 

tracks. Statehood came first. Then, Yulee’s 

Florida Railroad was completed in 1860, just 

before Florida’s secession from the Union. 

After the Civil War came the depths. The 

Confederate Army ripped up Florida Railroad’s 

tracks to use for their own transport system 

FSCJ Nassau 

Center 

Fernandina 

Beach Municipal 

Airport 

NASSAU COUNTY 

NEIGHBORHOODS 

Baptist 

Medical 

Center 

Nassau 


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 $227,000. Home values have gone up 8.8 

percent over the past year and Zillow predicts 


The median list price per square foot in Yulee 

is $136, which is lower than the Jacksonville 

Metro average of $138. The median price 

of homes currently listed is $235,100. 


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 $146,000. 

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 $282,300. Home values have gone up 

2.8 percent over the past year and Zillow 



foot in Julington Creek is $145, which is 

higher than the Jacksonville average of 

$125. The median price of homes currently 

listed in Julington Creek is $317,250. 

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 

COMMUNITIES 

Beach. Years of conflict between Timucuan 

Indians, the Spanish, the French and the 

English persisted until around 1821, when 

Spain sold Florida to the U.S. and it became 

a territory. Nearly 100 years later, in 1914, 

two young chemical engineers, Henry 

Holland Buckman and George A. Pritchard, 

discovered that Ponte Vedra’s beaches 

contained industrial minerals, including 

components necessary for the production 

of titanium and zirconium. The National 

Lead Co. bought out the partners in 1916. 

The mining settlement, named Mineral 

City, played a crucial role in World War I, 

as titanium was a key component in the 

manufacture of poisonous gas. In 1928, the 

National Lead Co. rechristened Mineral City in 

honor of what was believed to be the birthplace 

of Christopher Columbus — Pontevedra, 

Spain. City founders later learned that 

Columbus was actually born in Genoa, Italy. 

The name Ponte Vedra stuck and today has 

come to symbolize sophisticated beach-style 

living. Modern-day Ponte Vedra Beach began 

to take shape when National Lead built a ninehole 

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 

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NEIGHBORHOODS 

Racetrack Road 

Roscoe Blvd 

Palm 

Valley 

Nocatee Parkway 

Nocatee 

Mickler’s 

Landing 

Northeast 

Florida 

Regional 

Airport 

Flagler 

Hospital 

1235 WINDSOR HARBOR DR. 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225 

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JACKSONVILLE, FL 32225 

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(904) 534-6087 

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sharonmills@watsonrealtycorp.com 

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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 $505,800, but those 

elaborate waterfront mansions will set you back multi-millions. 

ST. AUGUSTINE AND 

ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH 

A HUB OF HISTORY 

The oldest continuously occupied European settlement 

in the U.S. still gives residents a taste of small-town 

charm more than 450 years after its founding. 

St. Augustine, 35 miles south of Jacksonville beside 

Matanzas Bay, was established by Spanish Admiral Don 

Pedro Menendez de Aviles Sept. 8, 1565. St. Augustine is the 

host of more than 50 annual events, many revolving around 

the city’s historic role. The Fort Castillo de San Marcos, built

etween 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 of the 

Top 50 Worldwide Amphitheatres in 

ticket sales, by Pollster Magazine. 

West of I-95 off County Road 208, 

Southwind Plantation Corp. is working 

on 102-acre equestrian residential 

community featuring 20 homesites from 

1.5-2 acres along conservation areas. 

The median home value for the area 

is $259,000. 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 

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) 

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 

home value in Vilano Beach is $393,700. 

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 & 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 & Bear course was also completed. 

The 75,000-square-foot World Golf Hall of 

COMMUNITIES 

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 2013-2017 

American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates; 

U.S. Census Bureau 2018 Population 

Estimates Program; real estate marketplace 

website Zillow.com; Livability.com 


EDUCATION 

Duval County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene 

started the first day of the 2019-20 school year at Saint Clair Evans 

Academy by reading “Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready For Kindergarten’’ 

to a kindergarten class before stops at other schools around the 

county this past August. (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 21st-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. 

47 out of 23,000 for the nation’s best high 

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

School for Advanced Studies ranked 212th. 

Darnell-Cookman School for the Medical Arts 

ranks 280th. All three schools appear annually 

on the list of best schools in the nation. 

In 2019, the Washington Post named area 

schools as America’s most challenging high 

schools based on a number of college-level 

tests given at a school in the previous calendar 

year, divided by the number of graduates that 

year. The index scores for more than 2,300 high 

schools nationwide. First Coast high schools 

again scored among the top percentage, 

including: Stanton Prep, No. 5; Darnell-Cookman 

School of the Medical Arts, No. 24; and Paxon 

School for Advanced Studies, No. 32. 

The Duval County Public School District has 

7,189 teachers who educate more than 130,000 

students. The goal of the district is to provide 

educational excellence “in every school, in every 

From kindergarten to 

PHDs, Jacksonville has 

education for all ages. 

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 earned its highest 

“B” grade to date in the 2018-19 school year from 

the Florida Department of Education, just one 

percentage point from being an “A” school district. 

The district also ranks among the best large 

school districts in the nation, according to the 

National Assessment of Educational Progress. 

In 2018-19, Duval County maintained or 

increased proficiency in 12 of 21 Florida State 

Assessments. Grade 6 mathematics saw 

the largest gain, up nine points. Other gains 

were geometry, six points; and biology, U.S. 

history and Grade 4 mathematics, four points. 

Other assessments that rose were Grade 3 

reading (+1), Grade 3 math (+2), Grade 4 

reading (+3), Grade 6 reading (+3), Grade 

7 reading (+3) and Grade 8 math (+1). 

Duval County also offers another alternative 

to traditional public school- Duval Choice. This 

program allows students to apply to attend a 

school outside of their zoned school, as well as 

apply to multiple charter and magnet schools. 

Just west of Jacksonville is Baker County, 

with several rural communities. Its 2018 

estimated population, the latest reported by 

the U.S. Census, is 28,355. According to the 

Baker County School District website, it has 

more than 5,000 students, 311 teachers, 3,000 

community volunteers and business partners 

in all industries including retail, medical, 

communication, hospitality and construction. 

Baker County High School serves more than 

1,380 students in grades nine through 12. 

The St. Johns County School District boasted 

a 2018 graduation rate of 93.3 percent, among 

the highest in the state. For 2019, 32 seniors were 

named National Merit Semifinalists – placing 

in the top 1 percent on the PSAT. Its more than 

40,000 students are from 114 different countries. 

In the 2018-19 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 6-8; first in Science for grades 

5 and 8; and first in EOC Exams for Algebra I, 

Biology 1, Civics, Geometry and U.S. History. 

Its students’ average 2018 SAT score was 1176, 

above the state and national averages of 1033 

and 1068, 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. ■ 

Cathy Mittelstadt, Deputy Superintendent for Operations of St. 

Johns County Schools, talks to a group of students outside of 

Ketterlinus Elementary School in St. Augustine, at the start of 

the 2019-20 school year. (Peter Willott/St. Augustine Record) 


EDUCATION 

Public Schools (BY COUNTY) 

BAKER COUNTY 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS 

Keller Intermediate 

420 South Eighth St. 

Macclenny 32063 

904-259-4244 

Macclenny 

One Wild Kitten Drive 


904-259-2551 

Westside 

One Panther Circle 

Glen St. Mary 32040 

904-259-2216 

MIDDLE SCHOOLS 

Baker County 

211 E. 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 

Discovery Oaks 

950 Oakleaf Plantation 

Parkway 

Orange Park 32065 

904-336-4275 

Doctors Inlet 



904-336-0975 

Fleming Island 

4425 Lakeshore Drive 

Fleming Island 32003 

904-336-1075 

Grove Park 

1643 Miller St. 


904-336-1275 


Keystone Heights 

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 


904-336-2425 

Orange Park 

1401 Plainfield Ave. 


904-336-2275 

Paterson 

5400 Pine Ave. 


904-336-2575 

Plantation Oaks 

4150 Plantation Oaks 


904-336-2775 

RideOut 

3065 Apalachicola Blvd. 


904-336-2875 

Ridgeview 

421 Jefferson Ave. 


904-336-3075 

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 



904-336-4075 

JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS 


1220 Bonaventure Ave. 

Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-336-5175 

Lake Asbury 

2851 Sandridge Road 

Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-336-5375 

Lakeside 



904-336-5575 

Oakleaf 



904-336-5975 

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, 904-336-7175 

Fleming Island 

2233 Village Square 

Parkway, Fleming Island 

32003, 904-336-7500 


900 Orchid Ave. 


352-473-2761 

Middleburg 



904-336-8075 

Oakleaf 



904-336-8375 

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, 904-336-0077 

Florida Youth Challenge 

Academy 


Starke 32091 

904-682-4036 

Bannerman Learning 

Center 

608 Mill St., Green Cove 

Springs 32043 

904-336-4975 

DUVAL COUNTY 


Abess Park 

12731 Abess Blvd. 32225 

904-220-1260 

Alimacani 

2051 San Pablo Road, 

32224, 904-221-7101 

Annie R. Morgan 

964 Saint Clair St.S. 

32254, 904-221-7101 

Arlington 

1201 University Blvd. N 

32211, 904-745-4900 

Arlington Heights 

1520 Sprinkle Drive 

32211 

904-745-4923 

Atlantic Beach 

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 

Biltmore 

2101 W Palm Ave. 32254 

904-693-7969 

Biscayne 

12230 Biscayne Blvd. 

32218 904-714-4650 

Brookview 

10450 Theresa Drive 

32246, 904-565-2720 

Carter G Woodson 

2334 Butler Ave., 32209 

904-924-3004 

Cedar Hills 

6534 Ish Brant Road 

32210, 904-573-1050 

Chaffee Trail 

11400 Sam Caruso Way 

32221, 904-693-7510 

Chets Creek 

13200 Chets Creek Blvd. 

32224, 904-992-6390 

Crown Point 

3800 Crown Point Road 

32257, 904-260-5808 

Don Brewer 

3385 Hartsfield Road 

32277, 904-745-4990 

Duval Virtual 

1701 Prudential Dr. 

32207, 904-390-2037 

Englewood 

4359 Spring Park Road, 

32207, 904-739-5280 

Enterprise Learning 

Academy 

8085 Old Middleburg 

Road 32222 

904-573-3260 

Fort Caroline 

3925 Athore Dr. 32277 

904-745-4904 

Garden City 

2814 Dunn Ave. 32218 

904-924-3130 

George W Carver 

2854 W. 45 Street 32209 

904-924-3122 

GRASP Academy 

3101 Justina Road 32277 

904-745-4909 

Greenfield 

6343 Knights Lane N., 

32216, 904-739-5249 

Greenland Pines 

5050 Greenland Road 

32258, 904-260-5450 

Gregory Drive 

7800 Gregory Drive, 

32210, 904-573-1190 

Hendricks Avenue 

3400 Hendricks Ave. 

32207, 904-346-5610 

Highlands 

1000 Depaul Drive 32218 

904-696-8754 

Hogan-Spring Glen 

6736 Beach Blvd. 32216 

904-720-1640 

Hyde Grove Early 

Learning Center 

2056 Lave Ave. S. 32210 

904-693-7562 

Hyde Park 

5300 Park St. 32205 

904-381-3950 

Jacksonville Heights 

7750 Tempest St. S., 

32244, 904-573-1120 

John Love 

1531 Winthrop St. 32206 

904-630-6790 

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 

Lake Lucina 

6527 Merrill Rd. 32277 

904-745-4916 

Long Branch 

3723 Franklin St. 32206 

904-565-2711 

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 

North Shore 

5701 Silver Plaza 32208 

904-924-3081 

Oceanway 

12555 Gillespie Ave. 

32218 904-696-8762 

Parkwood Heights 

1709 Lansdowne Drive 

32211, 904-720-1670 

Pickett 

6305 Old Kings Road, 

32254, 904-693-7555 

Pine Estates 

10741 Pine Estates Road 

E. 32218, 904-696-8767 

Ramona Boulevard 

5540 Ramona Blvd. 

32205, 904-693-7576 

Reynolds Lane 

840 Reynolds Lane, 

32254, 904-381-3960 

Ruth N. Upson 

1090 Dancy St., 32205 

904-381-7485 

Rutledge H. Pearson 

4346 Roanoke Blvs., 

32209, 904-924-3077 

Sabal Palm 

1201 Kernan Blvd. N. 

32225, 904-221-7169 

Sadie T. Tillis 

6084 Morse Ave. 32244 

904-573-1090 

Saint Clair Evans 

Academy 

5443 Moncrief Road 

32209, 904-573-1090 

Samuel A. Hull 

7528 Hull St. 32219 

904-924-3136

Seabreeze 

1400 Seabreeze Ave. 

Jacksonville Beach 

32250 

904-247-5900 

Southside Estates 

9775 Ivey Road 32246 

904-565-2706 

S.P. Livingston Primary 

Learning Center 

1128 Barber St., 32209 

904-630-6580 

Stonewall Jackson 

6127 Cedar Hills Blvd. 

32210, 904-573-1020 

Susie E. Tolbert 

1925 West 13th St 

32209, 904-630-6860 

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 

Windy Hill 

3831 Forest Blvd. 

32246, 904-565-2700 

Woodland Acres 

328 Bowlan St. 32211 

904-720-1663 


Arlington 

8141 Lone Star Road 

32211, 904-720-1680 

Duncan 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 

Lake Shore 

2519 Bayview Road, 

32210, 904-381-7440 

Landmark 

101 N. Kernan Blvd., 

32225, 904-221-7125 

Mandarin 

5100 Hood Road 32257 

904-292-0555 

Northwestern 

2100 West 5th St., 

32209, 904-924-3100 

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 

Andrew Jackson 

3816 Main St. N. 32206 

904-630-6950 

A. Philip Randolph 

Academies 

1157 Golfair Blvd. 

32209, 904-924-3011 

Atlantic Coast 

9735 R.G. Skinner 

Parkway 32256 

904-538-5120 

Baldwin Middle/High 

291 Mills St. W 32234 

904-266-1200 

Darnell-Cookman 

1701 N. Davis St. 32209 

904-630-6805 

Douglas Anderson 

2445 San Diego Road 

32207, 904-346-5620 

Ed White 

1700 Old Middleburg 

Rd. N., 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 

Frank H. Peterson 

Academies 

7450 Wilson Blvd. 

32210, 904-573-1150 

Lee 

1200 S. McDuff Ave. 

32205, 904-381-3930 

Mandarin 

4831 Greenland Road 

32258, 904-260-3911 

Paxon School for 

Advanced Studies 

3239 Norman E. 

Thagard Blvd. 32254 

904-693-7583 

Raines 

3663 Raines Ave. 

32209, 904-924-3049 

Ribault 

3701 Winton Drive 

32208, 904-924-3092 

Sandalwood 

2750 John Prom Blvd. 

32246, 904-646-5100 

Stanton College 

Preparatory 

1149 W. 13th St. 32209 

904-630-6760 

Terry Parker 

7301 Parker School 

Road 32211 

904-720-1650 

Westside 

5530 Firestone Road 

32244, 904-573-1170 

Wolfson 

7000 Powers Ave. 

32217, 904-739-5265 

EXCEPTIONAL 

EDUCATION SCHOOLS 

Alden Road Exception 

Student Center 

11780 Alden Road 

32246, 904-565-2722 

Mt. Herman Exceptional 

Student Center 

1741 Francis St., 32209 

904-630-6740 

Oak Hill Academy 

6910 Daughtry Blvd., S. 

32210, 904-573-1030 

Palm Avenue 

Exceptional Student 

Center 

1301 W. Palm Ave., 

32254, 904-693-7516 

Alternative Schools 

Bridge to Success 

1157 Golfair Blvd. 

32209, 904-924-3470 

Bridge to Success 

Academy at West 


2115 Commonwealth 

Ave., 32209 

904-630-6592 

Grand Park 

2335 W. 18th St., 

32209, 904-630-6894 

Marine Science 

Education 

1347 Palmer St. 


904-2475973 

Mattie V. Rutherford 

Alternative Education 

Center 

1514 Hubbard St., 

32206, 904-630-6782 

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 

Callahan 32011 

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 

904-845-4471 

Southside (ESE PreK-2) 

1112 Jasmine St. 


32034, 904-491-7941 

Wildlight (K-5) 

550 Curiosity Ave. 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-3053 

Yulee (3-5) 

86063 Felmor Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-5192 

Yulee Primary (ESE 

PreK-2) 

86426 Goodbread Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-9711 


Callahan (6-8) 

450121 Old Dixie 

Highway 


904-879-3606 

Fernandina Beach (6-8) 

315 Citrona Drive 


32034, 904-491-7938 

Hilliard Middle-Senior 

High (6-12) 

One Flashes Ave. 

Hilliard 32046 

904-845-2171 

Yulee (6-8) 

85439 Miner Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-5116 

HIGH SCHOOLS 


435 Citrona Drive 


32034, 904-261-5713 

West Nassau County 

(9-12) 

One Warrior Drive 


904-879-3461 

Yulee (9-12) 

85375 Miner Road 

Yulee 32097 

904-225-8641 


ELEMENTARY 

SCHOOLS 

John A. Crookshank 

1455 North Whitney St. 

St. Augustine 32084 

904-547-7840 

Cunningham Creek 

1205 Roberts Road 

St. Johns 32259 

904-547-7860 

Durbin Creek 

4100 Race Track Road 


904-547-3880 

W. D. Hartley 

260 Cacique Drive 


904-547-8400 

Hickory Creek 

235 Hickory Creek Trail 


904-547-7450 

R. B. Hunt 

125 Magnolia Drive 


904-547-7960 

EDUCATION 

Julington Creek Patriot Oaks Academy 

2316 Racetrack Road 475 Longleaf Pine 

St. Johns 32259 Parkway 

904-547-7980 


Ketterlinus 

904-547-4050 

67 Orange St. 

Valley Ridge Academy 

St. Augustine 32084 105 Greenleaf Drive 

904-547-8540 

Ponte Vedra 32081 

904-547-4090 

Otis A. Mason 

207 Mason Manatee 


Alice B. Landrum 

Way 

230 Landrum Lane 


Ponte Vedra Beach 

904-547-8440 

32082, 904-547-8410 

Ocean Palms 

Fruit Cove 

355 Landrum Lane 

3180 Race Track Road 

Ponte Vedra Beach 


32082 

904-547-7880 

904-547-3760 

Pacetti Bay 

Osceola 

245 Meadowlark Lane 

1605 Osceola 


Elementary Road 

904-547-8760 


904-547-3780 

Gamble Rogers 

6250 U.S. Highway 1 S. 

Palencia 


355 Palencia Village 

904-547-8700 

Drive 

St. Augustine 32095 R. J. Murray 

904-547-4010 

150 North Holmes Blvd. 


Picolata Crossing 

904-547-8470 

2675 Pacetti Road 


Sebastian 

904-547-4160 

2955 Lewis Speedway 


PV/PV – Rawlings 

904-547-3840 

610 A1A N., Ponte 

Vedra Beach 32082 

Switzerland Point 

PV/PV: 904-547-3820 

777 Greenbriar Road 

Rawlings: 904-547- 


8570 

904-547-8650 

HIGH SCHOOLS 

South Woods 


Allen D. Nease 

West Elkton 32033 

10550 Ray Road 

904-547-8610 


904-547-8300 

Timberlin Creek 

555 Pine Tree Lane 

Bartram Trail 

7399 Longleaf Pine 


Parkway, St. Johns 

904-547-7400 

32259, 904-547-8340 

Wards Creek 

Creekside 


100 Knights Lane 

St. Augustine 32092 St. Johns 32259 

904-547-8730 

904-547-7300 

The Webster School Pedro Menendez 

420 North Orange St. 600 State Road 206 W. 

St. Augustine 32084 St. Augustine 32086 

904-547-3860 

904-547-8660 

K-8 SCHOOLS 

Ponte Vedra 

Freedom Crossing 460 Davis Park Road 

Academy 


1365 Shetland Drive 904-547-7350 

St. Johns 32259 St. Augustine 

904-547-4230 

3205 Varella Avenue 

Liberty Pines Academy St. Augustine 32084 

10901 Russell 

904-547-8530 

Sampson Road 

St. Johns Technical 

St. Johns 32259 2980 Collins Avenue 

904-547-7900 


Mill Creek Academy 904-547-8500 

3750 International Golf ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS 

Parkway 

Gaines Alternative and 

St. Augustine 32092 Transition Schools 

904-547-3720 

at the Evelyn B. 

Palm Valley Academy Hamblen Center 

700 Bobcat Lane One Christopher St. 

Ponte Vedra 32081 St. Augustine 32084 

904-547-4201 

904-547-8560 ■ 


EDUCATION 

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. 

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. ■ 

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 weighted. Students 

graduating 2021 and beyond: SAT score of about 1330, ACT unchanged 

2. Florida Medallion Scholar (FMS): Requires 75 service hours; SAT 

score of 1170 or ACT score of 26; 3.0 GPA weighted. Students 

graduating 2021 and beyond: SAT score of about 1200, ACT 

unchanged 

3. Gold Seal Vocational Scholars (GSV): Requires 30 service hours; SAT 

Reading Raw Score of 24, Writing and Language Raw Score of 25, 

and Math Raw Score of 24; 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 unweighted 

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. 


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 two 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 

Acceleration programs give students the 

opportunity to earn college credits while attending 

high school. These are merit based programs. 

The programs include Advanced International 

Certificate of Education (AICE), AP Honors, Early 

College and International Baccalaureate (IB). 

The Advanced International Certificate 

Education program is an internationally recognized, 

rigorous, pre-university curriculum and examination 

system for highly motivated, academically oriented 

high school students. Sponsored by the University 

of Cambridge International Examinations, AICE 

offers a flexible, broad-based, two-year curriculum 

for upperclassmen. The AICE program encourages 

and develops the skills of independent research 

and investigation, the use of initiative and creativity, 

and the application of skills and knowledge. 

The Advanced Placement Capstone program 

is governed by the College Board, and provides 

an innovative diploma program giving students 

an opportunity to engage in rigorous scholarly 

practice of the core academic skills necessary 

for successful college completion. Students 

who earn a score of 3 or higher on the AP 

Seminar and AP Research exams and on four 

additional AP exams will receive the AP Capstone 

EDUCATION 

HOW TO ENROLL A NEW STUDENT 

REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS 

All registrants must provide valid 

documentation to include proof of birth 

age, Florida certification of immunization 

or exemption, proof of residency and 

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 

Diploma from the College Board. Students 

who enroll in the Advanced Placement courses 

are required to take the AP examination. 

Early College blends high school and 

college courses to enable students to earn a 

high school diploma and an Associate degree 

with no financial cost. In grades 11 and 12, 

Early College students are enrolled full-time 

at Florida State College at Jacksonville. The 

Early College Program provides students 

greater access to higher education and 

promotes student achievement at the high 

school and postsecondary levels. 

The International Baccalaureate Diploma 

Program is a rigorous, internationally recognized 

pre-university course of study for highly 

motivated students. The program’s challenging 

curriculum is designed to promote intellectual 

and personal development. The emphasis 

of analysis and application of skills prepares 

IB students for success in higher education 

and employment. The aim of the program is 

to develop internationally minded citizens. 

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 

(Jacksonville unless 

SCHOOL NAME ADDRESS 

otherwise noted) 

GRADE PHONE MAGNET SPECIALTY 

A. PHILIP RANDOLPH ACADEMIES 1157 Golfair Blvd. 32209 9-12 904-924-3011 Construction Academy 

ALFRED I. DUPONT MIDDLE 2710 Dupont Ave. 32217 6-8 904-739-5200 International Business & World Language 

Academy 

ANDREW A. ROBINSON ELEMENTARY 101 W. 12th St. 32206 PK-5 904-630-6550 STEM 

ANDREW JACKSON HIGH 3816 N. Main St. 32206 9-12 904-630-6950 Military Science (AFJROTC) Sports Medicine, 

Cyber Security, & Video Game 

BALDWIN MIDDLE/HIGH 291 Mills St. W 32234 6-12 904-266-1200 Communications/Information Technology 

BRENTWOOD ELEMENTARY 3750 Springfield Blvd. 32206 KG-5 904-630-6630 Visual and Performing Arts 

CENTRAL RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY 2555 Gilmore St. 32204 PK-5 904-381-7495 Gifted & Academically Talented 

CHIMNEY LAKES ELEMENTARY 9353 Staples Mills Drive 32244 PK-5 904-573-1100 International Studies 

CRYSTAL SPRINGS ELEMENTARY 1200 Hammond Blvd. 32221 PK-5 904-693-7645 Business and Entrepreneurship 

DARNELL-COOKMAN MIDDLE/HIGH 1701 N. Davis St. 32209 6-12 904-630-6805 Medical Arts - Gifted & Academically Talented 

DINSMORE ELEMENTARY 7126 Civic Club Drive 32219 KG-5 904-924-3126 Science 

DOUGLAS ANDERSON SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 2445 San Diego Road 32207 9-12 904-346-5620 Visual and Performing Arts 

EDWARD H. WHITE 1700 Old Middleburg Rd. N. 9-12 904-693-7620 Military Leadership 

FISHWEIR ELEMENTARY 3977 Herschel St. 32205 PK-5 904-381-3910 Visual and Performing Arts 

FORT CAROLINE MIDDLE 3787 University Club Blvd. 32277 6-8 904-745-4927 Visual and Performing Arts 

FRANK H. PETERSON ACADEMIES 7450 Wilson Blvd. 32210 9-12 904-573-1150 Agriculture Bio Technology and 

Veterinary Assisting Academy 

HENRY F. KITE ELEMENTARY 9430 Lem Turner Road 32208 KG-5 904-924-3031 Global Understanding 

HIGHLANDS MIDDLE 10913 Pine Estates Road E. 32218 6-8 904-696-8771 Aviation/Military Science 

HOLIDAY HILL ELEMENTARY 6900 Altama Road 32216 PK-5 904-720-1676 Gifted and Academically Talented 

J. ALLEN AXSON ELEMENTARY 4763 Sucon Park Court 32224 PK-5 904-992-3600 Montessori 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH ELEMENTARY 315 10th St. S, Jacksonville Beach 32250 KG-5 904-247-5942 Gifted and Academically Talented 

JAMES W. JOHNSON COLLEGE PREP MIDDLE 13276 Norman E Thagard Blvd. 32254 6-8 904-693-7600 Gifted and Academically Talented 

JEAN RIBAULT HIGH 3701 Winton Drive 32208 9-12 904-924-3092 JROTC – Marine Corps 

JEAN RIBAULT MIDDLE 3610 Ribault Scenic Drive 32208 6-8 904-924-3062 Early High School 

JOHN E. FORD K-8 1137 Cleveland St. 32209 PK-8 904-630-6540 Montessori & Spanish Montessori 

JOHN STOCKTON ELEMENTARY 4827 Carlisle Road 32210 KG-5 904-381-3955 Math, Science and Technology 

JOSEPH STIWELL MIDDLE 7840 Burma Road 32221 6-8 904-693-7523 Military Leadership 

JULIA LANDON COLLEGE 1819 Thacker Ave. 32207 6-8 904-346-5650 Gifted and Academically Talented 

PREPARATORY & LEADERSHIP 

KIRBY-SMITH MIDDLE 2034 Hubbard St. 32206 6-8 904-630-6600 Gifted, STEM, Accelerated-Math, 

Science, Technology, 


Duval Students Explore 

Careers by Middle School 

Almost 24,000 Duval County middle 

and high school students are 

enrolled in Career and Technical 

Education (CTE) programs in all high 

schools and 22 middle schools. 

“Our mission is to prepare employable, 

productive citizens who can adapt to a 

rapidly changing and highly technological 

global community,” said Ryan Rewey, 

Director of Career and Technical Education 

for Duval County Public Schools. 

CTE helps educate the future workforce, 

preparing students to be college- and careerready. 

The school district collaborates with 

businesses, industry and technical universities 

to provide specific training to students in 

fields such as finance, entrepreneurship, 

aviation, engineering, manufacturing and 

logistics, healthcare and technology. 

Several programs offer industry 

certifications that allow students to 

graduate and continue post-secondary 

education or enter careers that pay well. 

CTE Programs at Duval County Public Schools: 

• 34 Career and Technical 

Education Academies 

• 98 Career Programs 

LAKE FOREST ELEMENTARY 901 Kennard St. 32208 PK-5 904-924-3024 Visual and Performing Arts 

LAVILLA SCHOOL OF THE ARTS 501 N. Davis St. 32202 6-8 904-633-6069 Visual and Performing Arts 

LONE STAR ELEMENTARY 10400 Lone Star Road 32225 KG-5 904-565-2711 Math, Science and Technology 

LORETTO ELEMENTARY 3900 Loretto Road 32223 PK-5 904-260-5800 Technology 

MANDARIN HIGH 4831 Greenland Road 32258 9-12 904-260-3911 Cambridge Secondary 2/AICE 

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. ELEMENTARY 8801 Lake Placid Drive E. 32208 KG-5 904-924-3027 Visual and Performing Arts 

MATTHEW W. GILBERT MIDDLE 1424 Franklin St. 32206 6-8 904-630-6700 Middle Years Exploration with Technology 

MAYPORT ELEMENTARY 2753 Shangri-La Drive, Atlantic Beach 32233 PK-5 904-247-5988 Coastal Sciences 

MAYPORT MIDDLE 2600 Mayport Road, Atlantic Beach 32233 6-8 904-247-5977 Coastal Sciences, Gifted & Talented 

ORTEGA ELEMENTARY 4010 Baltic St. 32210 K-5 904-381-7460 Museum Studies 

PAXON SCHOOL FOR ADVANCED STUDIES 3239 Norman E. Thagard Blvd. 32254 9-12 904-693-7583 College Preparatory 

PINEDALE ELEMENTARY 4228 Dignan St. 32254 K-6 904-381-7490 STEM 

PINE FOREST ELEMENTARY 3929 Grant Road 32207 KG-5 904-346-5600 Visual and Performing Arts 

R. V. DANIELS ELEMENTARY 1951 W. 15th St. 32209 KG-5 904-630-6872 Gifted and Academically Talented 

RICHARD L. BROWN ELEMENTARY 1535 Milnor St. 32206 KG-5 904-630-6570 Gifted and Academically Talented 

ROBERT E. LEE HIGH 1200 S. McDuff Ave. 32205 9-12 904-381-3930 Early College 

RUFUS E. PAYNE ELEMENTARY 6725 Hema Road 32209 PK-5 904-924-3020 STEM 

SALLYE B. MATHIS ELEMENTARY 3501 Winton Drive 32208 PK-5 904-924-3086 STEM 

SAMUEL W. WOLFSON HIGH 7000 Powers Ave. 32217 9-12 904-739-5265 College Preparatory 

SAN JOSE ELEMENTARY 5805 St. Augustine Road 32207 PK-5 904-739-5260 Dual Language – Spanish 

SAN MATEO ELEMENTARY 600 Baisden Road 32218 KG-5 904-696-8750 Accelerated Academy of Learning 

SAN PABLO ELEMENTARY 801 18th Ave. N., Jacksonville Beach 32250 KG-5 904-247-5947 Science 

CTE opportunities at Duval 

County Public Schools: 


SCHOOL NAME ADDRESS 


GRADE PHONE MAGNET SPECIALTY 

SOUTHSIDE MIDDLE 2948 Knights Lane E. 32216 6-8 904-739-5238 International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years 

Programme 

SPRING PARK ELEMENTARY 2250 Spring Park Road 32207 PK-5 904-346-5640 International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary 

Years Programme 

STANTON COLLEGE PREPARATORY 1149 W. 13th St. 32209 9-12 904-630-6760 College Preparatory 

THOMAS JEFFERSON ELEMENTARY 8233 Nevada St. 32220 KG-5 904-693-7500 Multiple Intelligences 

VENETIA ELEMENTARY 4300 Timuquana Road 32210 KG-5 904-381-3990 Medical Arts 

• 3-D Animation Technology 

• Advanced Manufacturing Technology 

• Agriscience Biotechnology 

• Air-Conditioning, Refrigeration, 

& Heating Technology 

• Allied Health 

• Applied Cybersecurity 

• Applied Information Technology 

• Aviation 

• Biomedical Sciences 

• Collision Technology 

• Criminal Justice 

• Computer Applications in Business 

• Cosmetology 

• Culinary Arts 

• Early Childhood Education 

• Electrocardiograph Technician 

• Energy 

• Engineering Pathways 

• Entrepreneurship 

WEST RIVERSIDE ELEMENTARY 2801 Herschel St. 32205 KG-5 904-381-3900 Dual Language – Spanish 

WILLIAM M. RAINES HIGH 3663 Raines Ave. 32209 9-12 904-924-3049 Information Technology 

(Digital Media Technology) 

YOUNG MEN’S/YOUNG WOMEN’S 900 Acorn St. 32209 6-8 904-630-6900 Leadership and Technology 

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 

EDUCATION 


EDUCATION 

• Finance 

• Global Logistics and Supply 

Chain Technology 

• Sport, Recreation, and 

Entertainment Marketing 

Examples of Career 

Explorations at DCPS: 

Business, Management, 

and Administration 

• Andrew Jackson High School 

• Highlands Middle School 

• J.E.B Stuart Middle School 

• Joseph Stillwell Middle School 

• Kernan Middle School 

• Lake Shore Middle School 

• Mandarin High School 

• Oceanway School 

Computer Science – OR STEM 

• Atlantic Coast High School 

• A. Philip Randolph 

Career Academies 


• Baldwin Middle/High School 

• Duncan U. Fletcher 

High School 

• Edward H. White 

Leadership School 

• Englewood High School 

• First Coast High School 

• Jean Ribault High School 


• Paxon School for 

Advanced Studies 

• Robert E. Lee High School 

• Stanton College 

Preparatory School 

• Terry Parker High School 

• Samuel W. Wolfson 

High School 

• Sandalwood High School 

• William M. Raines High School 

• Westside High School 

Health Sciences 





Leadership Academy 


Information Technology 



• Atlantic Coast High School 


• Baldwin Middle/High School 


High School 


Leadership Academy 

• First Coast High School 

• Highlands Middle School 

• Arlington Middle School 


Middle School 

• James W. Johnson 

Middle School 

• Jean Ribault High School 

• J.E.B. Stuart Middle School 

• John E. Ford K-8 School 

• Joseph Stilwell Middle School 

• Kernan Middle School 

• Kirby-Smith Middle School 

• Lake Shore Middle School 

• Landmark Middle School 


• Mandarin Middle School 

• Matthew W. Gilbert 

Middle School 

• Mayport Middle School 

• Northwestern Middle School 

• Oceanway Middle School 

• Robert E. Lee High School 

• Samuel W. Wolfson 

High School 

• Stanton College 

Preparatory School 

• The Bridge to Success 

Academy 

• Twin Lakes Academy 

Middle School 

• Westside High School 

• Westview K-8 

• William M. Raines High 

School ■ 

Visit duvalschools.org/cte or 

talk to a school’s principal to find 

out what programs are offered. 

Charter 

Schools 

Charter Schools offer options related 

to school choice. They are open to 

all district students. However, they 

may enroll students based on grade level 

or age. These schools have more freedom 

from many of the guidelines for traditional 

public schools, but they are accountable for 

academic and financial results. Charter schools 

must hire certified teachers, who are not 

employed by Duval County 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. Ste. 8 

32218 

904-252-6311 

BRIDGEPREP 

ACADEMY K-8 

6400 Atlantic Blvd. 

32211 

904-694-2660 

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. 

32246 

904-512-6757 



FLAGLER CENTER 

12755 Flagler Center 

Blvd. 32258 

904-899-1010 


MANDARIN 

5209 Shad Road 32257 

904-440-2901 

DUVAL CHARTER 

AT SOUTHSIDE 

8680 AC Skinner 

Parkway 32256 

904-423-5348 


WESTSIDE 

9238 103rd St. 32210 

904-421-0250 

FLORIDA CYBER 

CHARTER ACADEMY 

9143 Philips Highway, 

Suite 590 32256 

904-247-3268 

GLOBAL OUTREACH 

CHARTER ACADEMY 

9570 Regency Square 

Blvd. 32225 

904-551-7104 

KIPP JACKSONVILLE 

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 

2525 W. First St. 32254 

904-683-6643 

KIPP IMPACT 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 

1440 N. McDuff Ave. 

32254 

904-683-6643 

KIPP VOICE 

ELEMENTARY 

1440 N. McDuff Ave. 

32254 

904-683-6643 

LONE STAR HIGH 

SCHOOL 

8050-1 Lone Star Road 

32211 

904-725-5998 

MYCROSCHOOL OF 

INTEGRATED TECH- 

NOLOGIES 

1584 Normandy Village 

Parkway, Suite 25, 

32221 

904-783-3611 

RIVER CITY SCIENCE 

ACADEMY ELEMENTARY 

7450 Beach Blvd. 32216 

904-855-8010 ext. 2 


ACADEMY MANDARIN 

10911 Old St. Augustine 

Road 32257 

904-855-8010 ext. 4 


ACADEMY MIDDLE 

AND HIGH 

7565 Beach Blvd. 32216 

904-855-8010 ext. 1 

RIVER CITY 

SCIENCE ACADEMY 

INNOVATION 

8313 Baycenter Road 

32256 

904-855-8010 ext. 3 

SALTECH CHARTER 

HIGH SCHOOL 

4751 Walgreen Road 

32209 

904-328-5001 

SAN JOSE 

ACADEMY 

4072 Sunbeam Road 

32257 

904-425-1725 

SAN JOSE 

PREPARATORY 

4072 Sunbeam Road 

32257 

904-425-1725 

SEACOAST CHARTER 

ACADEMY 

9100 Regency Square 

Blvd. N. 32211 

904-562-4780 

SEASIDE CHARTER 

BEACHES K-8 

2865 Mayport Road 

32233 

904-853-6287 

SEASIDE CHARTER 

SAN JOSE K-5 

8727 San Jose Blvd. 

32217 

904-619-3933 

SOMERSET ACADEMY 

ELEMENTARY-EAGLE 

CAMPUS 

1429 Broward Road 

32218 

904-503-0661 

SOMERSET ACADEMY 

MIDDLE SCHOOL 


32218 

904-503-0661 

SOMERSET 

PREPARATORY 

ACADEMY 


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., 


904-209-6842 

THERAPEUTIC LEARN- 

ING CENTER 

2109 Arc Drive, 


904-824-8932 

ST. AUGUSTINE PUBLIC 

MONTESSORI 

7 Williams St., 


904-342-5350 ■

EDUCATION 

Private Schools 

(BY COUNTY) 

The following private schools designated to each county 

are listed below in alphabetical order. Contact the 

school for current tuition rate and specific religious 

denominations. If the school is a specialty school, alternative 

or special needs, it will be labeled after the school name. 

BAKER COUNTY 

FAITH BAPTIST ACADEMY 

604 W. Macclenny Ave. 


904-259-3230 

facebook.com/ 

FaithBaptistAcademyPatriots 

PATHFINDERS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 

280 Martin Luther King Drive 


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 

BEREAN CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 

3060 Moody Avenue 


904-773-8404 

bccanes.org 

THE BROACH SCHOOL 

1909 DeBarry Ave. 


broachschool.com 

904-637-0300 

CALVARY CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-12 

1532 Long Bay Road 


calvarycares.net 

904-282-2068 

CHRISTIAN HOME ACADEMY 

ALTERNATIVE SCH. K-12 

16 College Drive 


christianhomeacademy.com 

904-276-3339 

CITIZENS’ HIGH SCHOOL 

9-12 

1590 Island Lane, Suite 44 


citizenshighschool.com 

800-736-4723 

CONGREGATIONAL 

HOLINESS CHURCH SCHOOL 

K-12 


Green Cove Springs 32043 

904-529-1798 

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 

1624 Smith St. 


haileacademy.com 

904-505-0484 

HIGHPOINT CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 

Special Program Emphasis 

7-12 

84 Knight Boxx Road 


hpcaop.com 

904-272-7949 

LIGHTHOUSE CHRISTIAN 

SCHOOL 

3925 Main St. 


lighthousechristianschool.net 

904-406-4866 


SCHOOL 

2156 Loch Rane Blvd. 


lighthousechristian 

school.net 

904-272-2524 

ORANGE PARK 

KINDERGARTEN 



opkinc.org 

904-264-9959 

PINEWOOD CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-8 

198 Knight Boxx Road 


pcaknights.org 

904-272-6408 

PRIMROSE SCH. OF 

FLEMING ISLAND K 

Alternative School 

2031 Town Center Blvd. 


primroseschools.com/ 

schools/fleming-island 

904-278-6886 

SEAMARK RANCH K-12 

3631 Seamark Ranch Road 


seamarkranch.com 

904-531-7080 

SEVEN BRIDGES SCH. PK-12 


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 

SPRINGS ACADEMY K-12 

1106 N. Orange Ave. 


904-531-9669 

springsacademy.org 

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 

THE ACADEMY OF 

EXCELLENCE VPK-6 

8601 Youngerman Ct. 


theaoejax.com 

(904) 779- 0177 

ACADEMY OF SCHOLARS 

K-11 

5533 Gilchrist Road 


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 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. Jacksonville 

32208 

austinwarriors.org 

904-647-5065 

BAYMEADOWS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-8 

4826 Baymeadows Road 


bbcjx.org 

904-733-3400 

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 

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 


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. (Provided 

by Bishop Kenny High School) 

BROACH SCHOOL OF 

JACKSONVILLE 6-12 


929 McDuff Ave. S., Ste. 101 


broachschool.com/broachwest-directions 

904-637-0300 

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 

SPECIAL EDUCATION 

SCHOOL 


Road, Jacksonville 32257 

centeracademy.com 

904-448-1956 

Center Academy [St. Johns 

Bluff] 5-12 

SPECIAL EDUCATION 

SCHOOL 

2804 St. Johns Bluff Road S., 

Ste. 103 


904-645-5366 

CHAPPELL CHILD DEV 

CENTER [DEERWOOD] NS-PK 

8400 Baycenter Road 


chappellschools.com 

904-739-1279 

CHANGING LIVES CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-8 

7541 Lem Turner Road 


facebook.com/clcajax 

904-425-4494 

CHATMANS EARLY 

LEARNING CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-9 

1614 Leonid Road 


freewebs.com/ 

chatmansearlylearning 

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 

3930 University Blvd. S. 


chajax.org 

904-733-4722 

CLARKE SCHOOLS FOR 

HEARING & SPEECH PK-KG 

Jacksonville Special 

Education School 

9803 Old St. Augustine Road, 

Suite 7 


clarkeschools.org 

904-880-9001 

COMMUNITY PRESBYTERIAN 

PREKINDERGARTEN VPK 

150 Sherry Drive 


cpcab.org 

904-241-7335 

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 

DISCOVERY MONTESSORI 

SCH. K-7 

102 15th St. S. 


dmsonline.org 

904-247-4577 

DLC NURSE & LEARN VPK- 

PK 

Special Education 

4101-1 College St. 


dlcnl.org 

904-387-0370 

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 



EDUCATION 

FATHER’S HARBOR 

ACADEMY 

4519 Beach Blvd. Bldg. 4200 


fathersharboracademy.com 

904-306-9579 

FIRST BAPTIST 

ACADEMY OF 

JACKSONVILLE PK-10 

124 W. Ashley St. Jacksonville 

32202 

fbcjaxacademy.com 

904-265-7474 

FIRST COAST CHRISTIAN 

SCH. PK-12 



fccsjax.org 

904-777-3040 

FT. CAROLINE BAPTIST 

ACADEMY NS-PK 

11428 McCormick Road 


fcbajax.com 

904-642-3210 

THE FOUNDATION ACADEMY 

PK-12 



foundationacademy.com 

904-493-7300 

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 CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY VPK-12 

479 Center St. N. 

Baldwin 32234 

gbcbaldwin.org 

904-266-9532 

GRACE LUTHERAN SCH. 

PK-8 



gracelcms.com/school 

904-928-9136 

GREAT STRIDES 

REHABILITATION PK-K 


12276 San Jose Blvd. Suite 

508 


greatstridesrehab.com 

904-886-3228 

GREENWOOD SCHOOL 6-12 


9920 Regency Square Blvd., 


greenwoodjax.org 

904-726-5000 

GROWING TOGETHER 

BEHAVIORAL CENTER 


6789 Southpoint Parkway 100 


gtbjax.org 

904-379-6045 

GUARDIAN CATHOLIC 

SCHOOL PK3-8 

4920 Brentwood Ave. 


guardiancatholic.com 

904-765-6522 

HAPPY ACRES RANCH VPK 

7117 Crane Ave. 


happyacresranch.com 

904-725-1410 

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 VPK 

12160 Ft. Caroline Road. 


learningtreeschools.org 

904-645-0240 

HIGHLANDS BAPTIST 

WEEKDAY MINISTRY PK-K 



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 

11665 Fort Caroline Road 


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 

INNER CITY CHRISTIAN 

SCHOOL PK-12 

4819 Soutel Drive 


innercitychristianschool.com 

904-379-0464 

JACKSONVILLE ASSEMBLY 

CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 1-12 

6350 Old Kings Road N. 


jaxassembly.org 

904-786-1198 

TRADITION. EXCELLENCE. FAITH. 

PREMIER 

MEDIA AND 

MARKETING 

IN GREATER JACKSONVILLE 

904.359.4318 

TIMESUNIONMEDIA.COM 

WECANHELP@JACKSONVILLE.COM 

1 INDEPENDENT DR SUITE 200, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32202 

www.bishopkenny.org • Admissions (904) 398-7545 


EDUCATION 

JACKSONVILLE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-12 

11697 Normandy Blvd. 


jcajacksonville.com 

904-783-2818 

JACKSONVILLE COUNTRY 

DAY SCH. NS-6 



jcds.com 

904-641-6644 

JCA - MICHELE BLOCK GAN 

YELADIM PRESCHOOL & 

KINDERGARTEN NS-K 



jcajax.org 

904-730-2100 

JACKSONVILLE SCHOOL 

FOR AUTISM K-12 

9000 Cypress Green Dr 


jsakids.org 

904-732-4343 

THE JERICHO SCHOOL 

PK-12 

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 

LIFEPOINT ACADEMY 

of Seventh-day Adventists 

VPK-8 

4298 Livingston Road 


jaxaa.org 

904-268-2433 


SCHOOL [DINSMORE] 


5330 Dunn Ave. 


lighthousechristianschool. 

net 

904-683-5190 


SCHOOL [NORTHSIDE] 3-12 


5400 N Pearl St. 



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 FOUNTAINS 

of Light Learning Center VPK 

Bilingual learning center 

7928 Rampart Rd 


lfol.org 

904-777-2221 

LITTLE STAR CENTER INC. 

PK 


8011 Philips Highway Suite 10 


littlestarjax.com 

904-928-0112 

MAINSPRING ACADEMY 

K-12 


6700 Southpoint Parkway, 

Suite 400 


mainspringacademy.org 

904-503-0344 

MARTIN J GOTTLIEB DAY 

SCH. K-8 

and DuBow Preschool 


3662 Crown Point Road 


dubowgottlieb.org 

904-268-4200 

MILLENNIAL CHRISTIAN 

SCHOOL K-12 

5975 Park St. 


millcs.org 

904-772-6400 

MONTESSORI TIDES SCH. PK-6 



montessoritides.com 

904-241-1139 

MONUMENT CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 

1509 Mayport Road 


monumenthof.org 

904-247-0929 

MONUMENT KINDERCARE 

NS-PK 




904-641-1812 

MORNING STAR SCH. K-12 


725 Mickler Road 


morningstar-jax.org 

904-721-2144 

NCI ACADEMY K-12 

4736 Ave. B 


ncijax.net 

904-660-2157 

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 

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 

6150 Fort Caroline Rd. 


facebook.com/oowlc 

904-634-7763 

PARKWOOD WEEKDAY 

EARLY EDUCATION CENTER 

PK-K 



facebook.com/ 

parkwoodweec 

904-721-2719 

PARSONS CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY PK-12 

5705 Fort Caroline Road 


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 OF 

GLEN KERNAN PK-KG 

4610 Hodges Blvd. 


primroseschools.com 

904-992-9002 

PRIMROSE SCHOOL AT ST. 

JOHNS FOREST PK-KG 

180 Gateway Circle 



904-824-1100 

PRIMROSE SCHOOL OF 

JULINGTON CREEK PK-KG 

480 Florida 13 N 



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 



shcsjax.org 

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 


EDUCATION 

THE OGBURN SCHOOL K-12 


1411 S. 14th St., Unit H 

Fernandina Beach 32034 

ogburn.org 

904-491-6233 

SCHOOL OF SUCCESS 

ACADEMY 

Charter Middle School 6-8 

6974 Wilson Blvd. 


schoolofsuccessacademy.org 

904-573-0880 

SEACOAST CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY K-5 

861 Townsend Blvd. 


seacoastchristian 

academy.com 

904-421-3900 

SEACOAST CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY 6-12 

8057 Arlington Expressway 


seacoastchristian 

academy.com 

904-722-1738 

SHEPHERD OF THE 

WOODS LUTHERAN SCH. 

[MANDARIN] 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 

55 University Blvd N 

Jacksonville, FL 32211 

shiningbrightschool.wixsite. 

com/ 

shiningbright 

904-743-1375 

ST. ANDREW’S EPISCOPAL 

SCHOOL PK-5 



standrewsjax.com 

904-725-6566 

ST. JOHN’S PRESBYTERIAN 

KINDERGARTEN PK-K 

4275 Herschel St. 


sjpkjax.com 

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 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, 

Room 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 Fifth St. S. 


thediscoveryschool.org 

904-247-4577 

THE FOUNDATION 

ACADEMY PK-12 




foundationacademy.com 

904-493-7300 

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-12 

4151 Old Middleburg Road 


samiacademy.com 

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, 904-596-2460 

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 

YOUNG KIDS IN MOTION 

ACADEMY PK-K 

6211 Terry Rd Jacksonville 

32216 

ykimacademy.org 

904-379-9450 

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. 


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 5-12 

1830 Lake Park Drive 


goodshepherdfernandina. 

com 

904-491-6082 


SCHOOL 

541798 US Highway 1 S. 



net 

904-507-6683 

SONSHINE CHRISTIAN 

ACADEMY NS-12 

45082 Frank Brookins Drive 


sonshinechristian.com 

904-879-1260 

ST. MICHAEL’S ACADEMY 

PK-8 

228 N. Fourth St. 


smacad.org 

904-321-2102 


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 

BRIDGEHAVEN ACADEMY 

190 S. Roscoe Blvd. 


bridgehavenacademy.org 

904-687-6072 

BROACH SCHOOL-PONTE 

VEDRA CAMPUS 

10895 U.S. 1 

Ponte Vedra Beach 32081 

broachschool.com/pontevedra 

904-637-0300 ext. 103 

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 


christepiscopalchurch.org 

904-285-6371 

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 


EDUCATION 

ISLAND PREP PRESCHOOL (WEST) 

150 Blackford Way 



904-770-7134 

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.com 

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 Drive 



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-academynorth.com 

904-797-5909 

VILLAGE ACADEMY NORTH 

PRESCHOOL-PK-VPK 

5970 US-1 

St Augustine 32095 

village-academynorth.com 

904-824-7997 

TRINITY EPISCOPAL 

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 

904-342-7105 ■ 

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 

more than 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. 

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 


EDUCATION 

The Coggin College of Business at the University of North Florida is one of the nation’s 

most outstanding business schools, according to The Princeton Review, which chose 

252 business schools from across the country for its 2019 business school ranking. With 

more than 3,800 students, the Coggin College’s mission is to educate and develop 

a diverse group of business professionals. (Bruce Hope/Florida Times-Union) 

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 2019, the college 

gained approval for its first online degree, 

for a Bachelor of Business Administration. It 

also announced a $4.4 million renovation of 

its Tiger Landing residence housing would 

begin, with completion expected in 2020. 

FLAGLER COLLEGE is located in downtown St. 

Augustine and in 2019 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. 5 in 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 have won various national moot 

court competitions in recent years, including 

the Domenick L. Gabrielli Family Law Moot 

Court Competition and the Leroy R. Hassell 

Sr. National Constitutional Law Moot Court 

Competition. In 2019, the school announced a 

trnasition from for-profit to not-for-profit status. 

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 50 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 six colleges ranging from 

business to health, along with various minors. 

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 ranked No. 37 

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

2019 Best Online Bachelor’s Programs, 

and No. 14 in its Top Public Schools llst for 

best regional universities in the South. 

JACKSONVILLE UNIVERSITY (JU) boasts 

seven bachelor’s degrees with more than 100 

majors, minors and programs, 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. An 11,750-square-foot Welcome 

Center opened in 2019, and a 104,000-squarefoot 

Healthcare Sciences Academic Center 

is expected to be finished in 2020. 

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 certificates. 

The college also offers three baccalaureate 

degrees, including one for registered nurses 

who want to advance their education. ■ 


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 $39,790 

PART-TIME $38,102 

FLAGLER COLLEGE 

74 King St., St. Augustine 32084 

904-829-6481 

flagler.edu 


FLORIDA STATE COLLEGE 

AT JACKSONVILLE 

Visit fscj.edu for more information on 

locations in Duval and Nassau counties 

904-633-8100 

fscj.edu 

AVERAGE ANNUAL TUITION: $$2,878 

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 


*Tuition figures from National Center for Education 

Statistics, 2018-19 

Other Education Opportunities 

AAA CONSTRUCTION SCHOOL FORTIS COLLEGE 


Orange Park 

904-722-9994 

904-269-7086 

aaaconstructionschool.com fortis.edu 

ALLIANCE BUSINESS SCHOOLS HEALTH, WELLNESS & FITNESS 

Ponte Vedra 

PROFESSIONALS, INC. 

904-825-4934 


floridacamtraining.webs.com 904-476-4849 

ALPHA SCHOOL OF MASSAGE hwfitness-pros.com 


JACKSONVILLE THEOLOGICAL 

904-389-9117 

SEMINARY 

alphaschoolofmassage.com 


CHAMBERLAIN COLLEGE OF 904-786-5383 

NURSING JACKSONVILLE jts.edu 


904-251-8110 

JONES TECHNICAL INSTITUTE 

chamberlain.edu/jacksonville Jacksonville 

877-447-0442 

COLUMBIA COLLEGE 

jtech.org 


904-338-9150 

KEISER UNIVERSITY 

ccis.edu 


CONCORDE CAREER INSTITUTE 904-296-3440 


keiseruniversity.edu 

904-725-0525 

LOGOS UNIVERSITY 

concorde.edu 


CONSERVATIVE THEOLOGICAL 800-776-0127 

SEMINARY 

logos.edu 


NATIONAL HEAVY EQUIPMENT 

904-262-8275 

OPERATORS SCHOOL 

conservative.edu 

Orange Park 

DEVRY UNIVERSITY 

904-272-4000 


earthmoverschool.com 

904-367-4942 

NORTH FLORIDA MEDICAL 

devry.edu 

INSTITUTE 

FIRST COAST ACADEMY Jacksonville 

Online High School 

904-534-3478 

904-381-1935 

nflmi.com 

fcahighschool.org 

NOVA SOUTHEASTERN 

FIRST COAST TECHNICAL COLLEGE 

UNIVERSITY 

St. Augustine 


904-547-3282 

904-245-8910 

fctc.edu 

nova.edu 

FLORIDA AVIATION CAREER 

TRAINING, INC. 

REVELATION MESSAGE BIBLE 

St. Augustine 

SCHOOL 

904- 824-9401 


florida-aviation.com 

904-744-9773 

FLORIDA BEACON COLLEGE & 

rmbcjax.com 

SEMINARY 

ROADMASTER DRIVERS SCHOOL 



904-786-5033 

904-783-3333 

floridabeacon.org 

roadmaster.com 

SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY 


352-800-7155 

saintleo.edu 

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 


904-244-0411 

ufhealthjax.org 

UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX NORTH 

FLORIDA CAMPUS 


(844) 937-8679 

phoenix.edu 

UNIVERSITY OF ST. AUGUSTINE 

FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 

St. Augustine 

800-241-1027 

usa.edu 

WEBSTER UNIVERSITY 


904-268-3037 

webster.edu/jacksonville 

ZOE UNIVERSITY 


904-743-6166 

zoeuniversity.org ■ 

JV-0003237965-01 

EARN YOUR DEGREE, 

PURSUE YOUR DREAMS 

Two Locations in Jacksonville: 

Naval Air Station (NAS Jax) & 

Metro Main Campus 

Phone (904) 268-3037 

http://www.webster.edu/jacksonville/ 

GROW YOUR BUSINESS 

CONTACT US TODAY TO GET STARTED. 

1 Independent Drive 


904.359.4318 

wecanhelp@jacksonville.com 


MEDICAL 

MEDICAL 

Baptist Health celebrated this past May the groundbreaking of a new seven-story building, featuring a five-floor 

Wolfson Children’s Critical Care Tower. When completed in early 2021, the new building will serve as the new 

front entrance to both Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Baptist Medical Center. (Provided by Baptist Health) 

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. 

BAPTIST HEALTH 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 five hospitals. 

In addition to its downtown, South, Beaches and Nassau facilities, 

Baptist Jacksonville is home to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Baptist 

Heart Hospital and MD Anderson Cancer Center. Baptist also has 

four freestanding emergency care centers with outpatient imaging 

services at Baptist Clay, Baptist Town Center, Baptist North and 

Baptist Oakleaf. Baptist Health includes the following facilities: 

• 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. A new children’s emergency room was added to Baptist South 

in 2019. 

• BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER BEACHES provides the only hospital-based, 

24-hour emergency service available at the beach. This facility provides 

Beaches residents with convenient access to comprehensive, high-tech 

medical and surgical care. The ER recently added a 1,000-square-foot 

expansion that includes upgraded patient rooms, a renovated and 

expanded waiting room and a larger lobby area. In June 2018, the 

facility opened the Wilson Farrell Surgical Pavilion, a $32 million project. 

The 44,000-square-foot expansion includes high-tech operating rooms 

and state-of-the-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. 

• 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. 


MEDICAL 

• BAPTIST HEART HOSPITAL is the Jacksonville 

area’s only freestanding hospital for heart and 

vascular care. This state-of-the-art hospital 

is the core of Baptist Health’s top-ranked 

heart and vascular program, with 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. Ultrasound, 

CT scanner, X-ray, a full-service laboratory 

and telemedicine consultation services are 

included on-site technologies. 

• WOLFSON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL is the area’s 

only full-service children’s hospital, providing 

state-of-the-art comprehensive pediatric 

specialty care and is recognized as the 

largest provider of charitable care to children 

in Jacksonville. Centers of Distinction at 

Wolfson Children’s include the Behavioral 

Health Center, C. Herman and Mary Virginia 

Terry Heart Institute, Cancer, Diabetes and 

Endocrinology Institute, Gastroenterology 

Center and the Walter and Michelle Stys 

Neuroscience Institute. More than 84,000 

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 evidencebased, 

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 nearly 

50 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. 

The Brooks Cybernic Treatment Center is the only facility in the United 

States offering Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) technology to those with 

a spinal cord injury. (Provided by Brooks Rehabilitation) 

FLAGLER HOSPITAL, is a 335-bed, acutecare 

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. 

MAYO CLINIC JACKSONVILLE’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, Minnesota, and Scottsdale, Arizona, 

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; in 2019, it 

announced plans to build a carbon ion cancer 

treatment facility, the first of its kind in North 

America. It 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. 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 

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, Georgia; Key West; 

Kings Bay, Georgia; 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 170 

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 

MEDICAL 

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 


Located in North Jacksonville on Max Leggett Parkway near 

Interstate 95, the UF Health North campus includes a 92-bed hospital, 

24/7 adult and pediatric emergency center, and an outpatient 

multispecialty medical office building. (Provided by UF Health) 

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 fullservice 

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, 

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 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, post-traumatic 

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 highquality 

home health and hospice services to 

patients and families in 18 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. ■

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: primary 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 S. Florida 121, Macclenny 32063 

904-259-6211, dcf.state.fl.us/facilities/nefsh 

Type of facility: psychiatric 


CLAY COUNTY 

BAPTIST CLAY MEDICAL CAMPUS 

1771 Baptist Clay Drive, Fleming Island 32003 

904-516-1000, baptistjax.com 

Type of facility: emergency acute care, 

surgery center 


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 



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, Jacksonville 32207 


Type of care: acute care 


BAPTIST MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER 

1235 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville 32207 


Type of care: specialty care 


BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER BEACHES 

1350 13th Ave. S., Jacksonville Beach 32250 




BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER JACKSONVILLE 





BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER SOUTH 

14550 Old St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville 32258 




BAPTIST NORTH MEDICAL CAMPUS 

11250 Baptist Health Drive, Jacksonville 32218 


Type of facility: acute care; primary/specialist 

services 

Total staffed beds: 16 (8 adult/8 children) 

BROOKS REHABILITATION HOSPITAL 

3599 University Blvd. S., Jacksonville 32216 

904-345-7600, brooksrehab.org 

Type of facility: rehabilitation 


CURAHEALTH HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE (FOR- 

MERLY SPECIALTY HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE) 

4901 Richard St., Jacksonville 32207 

904-425-0500, curahealth.com 

Type of facility: long-term acute care 


MAYO CLINIC 

4500 San Pablo Road S., Jacksonville 32224 

904-953-2000, mayoclinic.org 



MEMORIAL HOSPITAL 

3625 University Blvd. S., Jacksonville 32216 

904-399-6111, memorialhospitaljax.com 



NAVAL HOSPITAL JACKSONVILLE 

2080 Child St., Jacksonville 32214 

904-542-7300, tricare.mil 



NEMOURS CHILDREN’S SPECIALTY 

CARE, JACKSONVILLE 

807 Children’s Way, Jacksonville 32207 

904-697-3600, nemours.org 

Type of facility: children’s specialty clinic 


RIVER POINT BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 

6300 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville 32216 

904-724-9202, riverpointbehavioral.com 



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 W. Eighth St., Jacksonville 32209 

904-244-0411, ufhealthjax.org 



UF HEALTH NORTH 

15255 Max Leggett Parkway, Jacksonville 32218 

904-244-0411, north.ufhealthjax.org 



WEKIVA SPRINGS CENTER 

3947 Salisbury Road, Jacksonville 32216 

904-296-3533, wekivacenter.com 



WOLFSON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL 



Type of facility: children’s 


NASSAU COUNTY 

BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER NASSAU 

1250 S. 18th St., Fernandina Beach 32034 





FLAGLER HOSPITAL 

400 Health Park Blvd., St. Augustine 32086 

904-819-5155, flaglerhospital.org 


Total staffed beds: 335

MEDICAL 

Health Care 

Earns Honors 

Local hospitals and medical 

centers receive recognition 

for outstanding services. 

The Jacksonville area offers a plethora 

of quality health care. Mayo Clinic 

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 in 

the Jacksonville region and third in the state. 

In terms of specialty rankings, the hospital 

is nationally ranked in three adult specialties 

including geriatrics, neurology and neurosurgery 

and urology. Mayo Clinic Jacksonville is also 

rated high performing in four adult specialties 

and nine procedures and conditions. 

U.S. News & World Report also ranked 

Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville No. 5 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 the Jacksonville area that 

received Healthgrades’ Patient Safety Excellence 

Award in 2019 were Memorial Hospital and 

St. Vincent’s Medical Center-Clay County. 

Winners in 2018 included Memorial, Baptist 

Medical Center Beaches, St. Vincent’s Medical 

Center-Clay County and Baptist Medical 

Center-Nassau County. The Patient Safety 

Excellence Award goes to hospitals that do an 

outstanding job preventing infections, medical 

errors and other complications. They are in the 

top 10 percent in the nation for patient safety. 

Healthgrades awarded the Outstanding 

Patient Experience Award to Mayo Clinic and St. 

Vincent’s Medical Center-Clay County in 2019. 


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, 2018 and 2019. 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, 2018 and 2019 and Coronary Intervention 

Excellence Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018. 

Memorial Hospital received the 

Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award and 

General Surgery Excellence Award for 2018 

and 2019. The hospital added the Pulmonary 

Care Excellence award to its ranking in 2019. 

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 2017, 2018 and 2019; the Obstetrics 

and Gynecology Excellence Award in 2017, 

2018 and 2019; 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 and the 

Pulmonary Care Excellence Award for 2019. 

Flagler Hospital St. Augustine also received 

Mayo Clinic 

Jacksonville is 

ranked No. 1 in the 

Jacksonville region 

and third in the 

state. In terms of 

specialty rankings, 

the hospital is 

nationally ranked 

in three adult 

specialties including 

geriatrics, 

neurology and 

neurosurgery and 

urology. (Photo by 

Will Dickey/Florida 

Times-Union) 

a number of awards, including America’s 100 

Best Hospitals Award in 2018 and 2019, 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 in 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 in 2016, 

2017 and 2018; Orthopedic Surgery Excellence 

Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018; America’s 100 

Best Hospitals Award for General Surgery Award 

in 2016, 2017 and 2018; Labor and Delivery 

Excellence Award in 2018 and 2019; Obstetrics 

and Gynecology Excellence Award in 2018 and 

2019; Gastrointestinal Care Excellence Award in 

2017 and 2018; Joint Replacement Excellence 

Award in 2018 and 2019; Orthopedic Surgery 

Excellence Award in 2018; and the Pulmonary 

Care Excellence Award in 2017 and 2018. 

Mayo Clinic is in a league of its own when it 

comes to awards from Healthgrades. In 2018 

and 2019, Healhtgrades awarded Mayo the 

prestigious America’s 100 Best Hospitals Award. 

The hospital also received the Distinguished 

Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence in 2016, 

2017 and 2018; Patient Safety Excellence Award 

in 2016 and 2017; America’s 100 Best Hospitals 

for Gastrointestinal Care Award in 2017, 2018 and 

2019; America’s 100 Best Hospitals for General 

Surgery Award in 2017, 2018 and 2019; America’s 

100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement 

Award in 2017, 2018 and 2019; America’s 100 

Best Hospitals for Prostate Surgery Award in 

2018; Cardiac Care Excellence Award in 2016 

and 2017; Cranial Neurosurgery Excellence 

Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018, Orthopedic 

Surgery Excellence Award in 2016; Stroke Care 

Excellence Award in 2017, 2018 and 2019; Critical 

Care Excellence Award in 2016, 2017 and 2018; 

Neurosciences Excellence Award in 2017; and 

Vascular Surgery Excellent Award in 2017. ■

Officially commissioned 

on Oct. 15, 1940, Naval 

Air Station Jacksonville 

occupies more than 

3,800 acres of land 

and employs more 

than 19,000. In 1946, 

NAS Jacksonville was 

the birthplace of the 

Blue Angels, the Navy’s 

flight demonstration 

squadron. (Will Dickey/ 

Florida Times-Union) 

MILITARY 

MILITARY 

Honor, Courage, 

Commitment 

On its two bases in Jacksonville, the 

service employs almost 30,000 activeduty 

personnel, reservists and civilians, 

and its operations occupy more than 7,000 acres. 

The U.S. Navy has a commanding 

presence here to the tune of more than 

$8 billion in payroll, goods and services 

purchased on the local economies. 

Jacksonville is home to Commander, 

Navy Region Southeast, which manages 

and oversees shore installation management 

support and execution for 18 installations 

within the Southeastern United States 

and parts of the Caribbean, and three 

area Navy installations: Naval Air Station 

Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and Naval 

Submarine Base Kings Bay in Georgia. 

These three installations employ nearly 

30,000 active-duty personnel, Naval Reservists 

and civilians, and provide services to more than 

40,000 military retirees and family members. 

Officially commissioned on Oct. 15, 

1940, Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS 

Jacksonville) occupies more than 3,800 acres 

of land and employs more than 19,000. 

In 1946, NAS Jacksonville was the 

birthplace of the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight 

There are three major 

naval installations in 

the area. 

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 Ohio-class cruise missile submarines. 

In addition, Clay County is home to Camp 

Blanding Joint Training Center, the Florida 

National Guard’s premier training site. ■ 

RECRUITING OFFICES IN JACKSONVILLE 

AIR FORCE 

8595 Beach Blvd., 904-642-9893 

1000 Riverside Ave., 904-354-0777 

4524 St. Johns Ave., 904-388-4283 

2141 Loch Rane Blvd., 904-272-6164 

AIR NATIONAL GUARD 

11915 Beach Blvd., 1-800-864-6264 

ARMY 

8595 Beach Blvd., 904-928-3120 

31 Pecan St., 904-724-5290 

1036 Dunn Ave., 904-696-9777 

10950 San Jose Blvd., 904-268-0812 

4524 St. Johns Ave., 904-388-4091 

ARMY RESERVE 

8595 Beach Blvd., 904-928-3120 

751 W. 41st St., 904-766-8879 

6801 Roosevelt Blvd., 904-772-1833 

COAST GUARD 

9825 San Jose Blvd., 904-262-7226 

MARINE CORPS 

8595 Beach Blvd., 904-998-1298 

3728 Philips Hwy., 904-346-3336 

4524 St. Johns Ave., 904-388-4349 

1036 Dunn Ave., 904-757-2249 

10950 San Jose Blvd., 904-338-6728 

NAVY 

8595 Beach Blvd., 904-645-8785 

900 Dunn Ave., 904-714-1990 

4070 Blvd. Center Drive 904-396-3822 

2294 Mayport Rd., 904-249-3534 


BUSINESS 

Booming Business 

When you think of Northeast Florida, 

you typically think of sunny beaches, 

world-class golf courses and soft 

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

know how to get down to business, too. 

Jacksonville is great for local businesses 

and international headquarters. It’s home 

to five 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 project’s first phase, projected to 

cost $450 million – which includes $233.3 

million in city grants and infrastructure 

improvements – is planned to be anchored 

near Lot J near the football stadium. Details 

of the Lot J development, revealed in April, 

include five major components: The Live! 

Entertainment district, which the city has 


Companies big and small find 

success in Northeast Florida. 

compared to “similar projects” in Philadelphia, 

St. Louis and Arlington, Texas; a 300-unit 

luxury high-rise residential tower; a boutique 

hotel with 200 units; a 120,000-square-foot 

office tower; and a surface parking lot with 

700 spaces. In addition, 600 parking spaces 

will be integrated into the hotel, residential 

tower, office tower or as street parking. 

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

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry said. 

“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. 

The PGA Tour announced plans in January 

2019 to build its estimated $75 million global 

headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach. The 

187,000-square-foot facility, scheduled 

to open in 2020, will include $2.8 million 

in incentives from the county. In turn, the 

PGA Tour promised to create 307 jobs by 

2030 with an average wage of $79,442. 

Jaguars owner Shad Khan and The Cordish 

Cos. are working on a plan to turn the area 

around TIAA Bank Field into an urban village. 

This rendering shows a vision for full build-out. 

The development would start on Lot J where 

the residential component would be a 300-unit 

high-rise. (Provided by The Cordish Cos.) 

In February 2019, Shanghai-based 

JinkoSolar Holding Co. Ltd. cut the ribbon 

on its new $50.5 million solar-panel 

factory located in AllianceFlorida at Cecil 

Commerce Center. The company began pilot 

production at the plant in 2018 and plans 

to eventually employ 200 employees. 

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. The same is true for 

Florida Blue, another private company that 

enjoyed $9.3 billion in revenue in 2018. 

Meanwhile, in 2019, Rayonier Advanced 

Materials joined trucking company 

Landstar on 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. 

Home furnishings retailer Wayfair announced 

plans in late 2018 to develop a $72 million 

distribution facility at Cecil Commerce Center, 

set to open sometime in 2020. Wayfair 

expects to employ 250 workers by the end 

of 2021 at an average wage of $33,000. 

Durbin Park, a massive commerce complex 

in northern St. Johns County, is nearing 

completion of its first phase of construction. 

Phase One will have nearly 700,000 square 

feet of retail space when complete, and is 

anchored by Walmart and Home Depot; the 

second phase will include a Bass Pro Shop. 

When complete, Durbin Park will boast more 

than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. 

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’s unemployment rate (2.9 percent) 

is consistently ranked among the lowest of 

Florida counties. Clay (3.3) and Nassau (3.2) 

aren’t far behind, followed by Baker (3.5). 

Duval’s rate (3.7) mirrors the national rate. 

Entrepreneurs and small businesses on 

the First Coast have a host of support from 

the Florida Small Business Development 

Center, located at the University of North 

Florida. 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 

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 15,900 

between June 2018 and June 2019, to 

721,400. Unemployment was 3.5 percent 

in June 2019, tied for fourth-lowest among 

all MSAs in the state, and lower than the 

U.S. average of 3.7 percent. Almost all of 

the fastest-growing jobs between 2017- 

development. According to the chamber’s 

website, the non-profit organization works 

for creation and retention of quality jobs 

and significant capital investment, resulting 

in a higher standard of living and better 

quality of life in Northeast Florida. 

JAXUSA said it’s helped generate 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. 

2025 are predicted to be in the medical 

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 $73,370 

and Prevention Workers: 

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, $64,690 

Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay: 

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 $56,700 

Law Enforcement Teachers: 

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

29. Airfield Operations Specialists: $54,990 

30. Precision Instrument and Equipment $54,870 

Repairers, All Other: 

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 $48,610 

Except Substitute Teachers: 

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 $44,680 

Drying Machine Operators and Tenders: 

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 (CSX, Fidelity National 

Financial and FIS) and an additional 

two Fortune 1000 companies (Landstar and 

Top employers with headquarters or major presences on 

the First Coast (number of employees) 

1. Duval County Public Schools (11,876) 

2. Baptist Health (11,000) 

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

4. Florida Blue (7,000) 

5. Mayo Clinic (6,000) 

6. Southeastern Groceries (5,700) 

7. Ascension St. Vincent’s (5,300) 

8. Citi (4,500) 

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

10. UF Health (3,600) 

11. Wells Fargo (3,500) 

12. AT&T (2,600) 

13. Black Knight Financial (2,400) 

14. UPS (2,300) 

15. Deutsche Bank (2,250) 

16. Brooks Rehabilitation (2,000) 

17. Johnson & Johnson Vision (2,000) 

18. TIAA Bank (2,000) 

19. Flagler Hospital (1,900) 

20. Memorial Hospital (1,800) 

21. Aetna (1,700) 

22. Orange Park Medical Center (1,640) 

23. Vystar Credit Union (1,600) 

24. CSX Corp. (1,500) 

25. One Call Care Management (1,500) 

26. Fanatics (1,500) 

27. Parallon (1,400) 

28. GuideWell Source (1,300) 

29. Flightstar Aircraft Services (1,300) 

30. Comcast (1,200) 

31. FIS (1,200) 

Rayonier AM). Major companies flock to the 

area because of the competitive cost of living 

and doing business, lack of a state sales tax 

and a diverse and educated workforce. 

APPS 

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




Jacksonville International Airport, 

which celebrated its 50th anniversary 

in 2018, is located 18 miles north 

of downtown Jacksonville. It is the 

region’s commercial service airport with 

approximately 100 daily departures 

to 41 non-stop destinations. (Dede 

Smith/Florida Times-Union) 

Travel Near and Far 

With an international airport, historic ferry and various car 

services, there are plenty of ways to get where you need to go. 

As the First Coast expands, so 

does the area’s transportation. 

Whether residents are looking to 

travel to another city across the water, or 

ship important products, Jacksonville’s 

transportation has their bases covered. 

EVER-CHANGING ROADS 

As Jacksonville continues to grow, 

transportation for both the people and products 

must keep up with the demand. The Florida 

Department of Transportation has some major 

upcoming projects on Florida’s highways 

that many Northeast Florida commuters are 

eager to see completed. There are several 

substantial road changes underway to ease 

the stress of the Jacksonville commute. 

Here is a little overview of some 

of the major improvements. 

• INTERSTATE 295 forms the suburban beltway 

loop around the Jacksonville metropolitan 

area. The loop is split between the West 

Beltway and East Beltway (formerly Florida 

9A). The West Beltway carries the original 

35 miles of I-295 from I-95 in Southside 

through to Mandarin, Orange Park, Westside 

and Northside, where it meets I-95 near 

Jacksonville International Airport. The newer 

26-mile East Beltway continues I-295 from the 

West Beltway and I-95 through Northside and 

Arlington to the West Beltway in Southside. 

Express Lanes requiring a SunPass are 

being completed on the East Beltway. 

• STATE ROAD 9B opened to traffic in mid- 

2018, a four-lane divided highway that 

connects 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. 

• Construction began on Phase 2 in 2013. 

Phase 2 of State Road 9B is from Interstate 

95 to Philips Highway (U.S. 1). Construction 

began Sept. 8, 2015 on Phase 3, the final 

phase of State Road 9B, from I-95 to County 

Road 2209 (St. Johns Parkway) in St. Johns 

County. 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. 

• THE FIRST COAST EXPRESSWAY limited-access 

toll road will cross parts of Duval, Clay and 

St. Johns counties over about 46 miles. The 

$208 million first segment (I-10/U.S. 90 in 

Duval County south to Blanding Boulevard/ 

State Road 21 in Clay County) began in 

2013 and is complete, with tolling that began 

in summer 2019. Construction on the $410 

million second segment (Blanding south 

to near County Road 209 just west of the 

Shands Bridge in Clay County) began in 2019 

and should be completed by 2026. The $763 

million third segment (new bridge over the 

St. Johns River where the Shands Bridge 

currently is and continuing east to I-95 in St. 

Johns County) is slated to start in 2023. Local 

access points will allow drivers only crossing 

the St. Johns to proceed without paying a toll. 

MORE WAYS TO RIDE: BUSES, 

FERRY AND SKYWAY 

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority 

(JTA) is an independent state agency serving 

Jacksonville, with multi-modal responsibilities. 

Established in 1955 as the Jacksonville 

Expressway Authority, the Authority took over 

public transportation in 1971 and was renamed 

the JTA. It is governed by a seven-member 

board and operates Jacksonville’s public bus 


Here’s a stretch of the two westbound lanes of the new Interstate 295 Express Lanes as it 

comes up to the San Jose Boulevard exits and its end at the Buckman Bridge. 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. (Florida Department of Transportation) 

service, the First Coast Flyer Bus Rapid Transit 

network, the St. Johns River Ferry, the downtown 

Skyway, ReadiRide shuttles and paratransit 

services. JTA also provides transit services in 

Baker, Clay and Nassau counties. Through the 

JTAMobilityWorks program, the JTA also plans, 

designs and builds roads, bridges and sidewalks. 

JTA offers mobile ticketing with MyJTA app, 

which allows customers to purchase and activate 

single-ride tickets and multi-day passes at 

anytime and anywhere with their smart phone. 

Electronic ticket validators on buses improve 

the customer experience and speed boarding. 

JTA PARATRANSIT SERVICE (jtafla.com/schedules/ 

paratransit) 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 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. In 

April 2019, the JTA launched Connexion 

Plus, offering paratransit customers curbto-curb 

service for a slightly higher fare. 

SKYWAY: Gliding above downtown streets 

and across the St. Johns River, the JTA Skyway 

serves points of interest on the Northbank and 

Southbank. The 2.5-mile free elevated monorail 

system provides riders 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. 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 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 FAAlicensed 

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 (904-209-0090) is a few miles 

north of downtown, and within two hours of 

4.4 million residents. It is home to corporate 

and private aircraft. Tenants include Atlantic 

Aviation, Jacksonville Aviation Inc./Premier 

Aviation Maintenance, Malone AirCharter, Old 

City Helicopter Sales, Rivkin Aircraft Corp., 

Roberts Aviation, Southeast Aero Services, St. 

Augustine Aviation Maintenance, St. Augustine 

Biplane Rides, Florida Aviation Career Training 

and Florida Flyers Flight Academy. The 

airport is also the site of Northrop Grumman 

Aerospace Systems’ St. Augustine Aircraft 

Integration Center of Excellence (SAAI CoE), 

which produces and repairs military aircraft. 

ON THE RAILS 

Headquartered in Jacksonville, CSX CORP. 

(904-359-3200; csx.com) is the parent 

company of subsidiaries that include CSX 

TRANSPORTATION (904-359-3100), one of the 

largest rail networks on the East Coast 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), a wholly owned subsidiary 

of Grupo México Transportes, 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. 

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 Ecstasy. The 

2,056-passenger vessel sails year-round out of the 

JAXPORT Cruise Terminal in North Jacksonville. 

Carnival Ecstasy offers four-and five-day cruises 

to tropical destinations throughout the Bahamas, 

including Freeport, Nassau, Half Moon Cay 

and the private destination of Princess Cays. 

The port’s public seaport terminals achieved 

record growth in containers and overall 

cargo volumes in 2018. JAXPORT moved 

nearly 1.3 million 20-foot equivalent units (or 

TEUs, the industry standard for measuring 

containers), a 23 percent increase over 2017, 

which was also a record year in container 

volumes for the port. Nearly 10.5 million tons 

of cargo moved through JAXPORT in 2018, 

up 12 percent over the previous year. 

When combined with the containers 

handled through private terminals, the Port 

of Jacksonville is 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 container 

ships is well underway, with construction 

scheduled to be complete in 2023, based 

on continued funding from all partners. 

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; horizonterminals.com) began operating 

its deep-water facility on Blount Island in late 

2016. It sits just three miles from deep water 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. 

In 2019, Trailer Bridge ranked No. 1 among the 

top ocean carriers in the Quest for Quality Awards, 

considered the premier award of the logistics 

industry. Founder Malcom McLean is known as the 

“Father of Containerization,” and the company is 

the industry leader in transporting cargo in 53-foot 

containers, owning more than 2,700. Trailer Bridge 

partnered with Anderson Trucking Service for 

“Build 2019” presented by Rally por Puerto Rico, 

an inaugural charity golf tournament that raised 

more than $60,000 in donations to Habitat for 

Humanity of Puerto Rico. In 2018, the company 

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 a 

950-foot turning basin adjacent to a 1,200-linear 

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 1,200 agents, nearly 10,000 

leased owner operators, 15,000 trailers and 

49,000 other 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 third-party 

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 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 Daytona 

Beach, Orlando and Atlanta. The stop for all 

arrivals and departures is in the JTA Intercity Bus 

Terminal Bay 6 at 1111 W. Forsyth St. in downtown 

Jacksonville. Short-term parking is available 

from the Houston Street side of the terminal. 

REDCOACH (877-733-0724, redcoachusa. 

com) is offering daily routes between 

Jacksonville and Atlanta, Orlando, Tallahassee 

and Tampa, promising fewer stops and route 

times comparable to automobile driving. 

The bus stop is at the JTA Intercity Bus 

Terminal at 1111 W. Forsyth St. Parking, free 

Wi-Fi and charging ports are available. 

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-$40 to downtown Jacksonville; $55 to the 

Beaches or Amelia Island; and $98-$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 four ST. 

JOHNS RIVER TAXIS (904-860-8294, jaxrivertaxi. 

com) that cross the St. Johns River in continuous 

35-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 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. It 

runs every day connecting Florida A1A between 

Heckscher Drive and Mayport Village. The 

service’s main vessel can hold 40 cars. In 2020, 

work begins on a $5.6 million project to upgrade 

the ferry as well as improve facility bulkheads, 

catwalks, warehousing and more. ■ 


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. (Lynne Sladly/Associated Press) 

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 Digest rated TPC Sawgrass No. 49 on 

its list of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses,” 


the only First Coast course to be included. The 

magazine also ranks TPC Sawgrass as Florida’s 

No. 1 public course (No. 10 in the country), and 

the iconic No. 17 island green is one of the mostrecognizable 

holes in the world. 

In addition to having the King & Bear golf 

course and Slammer & Squire golf course, World 

Golf Village also is home to the World Golf Hall 

of Fame. 

Golf Magazine 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 changes announced for some 

local courses in recent years. A plan to redevelop 

the Omni Amelia Ocean Links into a park was 

scuttled by a court order, with plans set to reopen 

the course. Another course, Jacksonville Beach 

Golf Course, reopened in 2018 following $1.5 

million in improvements that included rebuilding 

and modernizing more than half the greens, plus 

the addition of new bunkers and bulkheads. 

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 

EAGLE HARBOR GOLF CLUB 



904-269-9300 

eagleharborgc.com 

EAGLE LANDING GOLF CLUB 

3989 Eagle Landing Parkway 


904-291-5600 

eaglelandinggolf.com 

THE GOLF CLUB AT FLEMING 

ISLAND 



904-269-1440 

flemingislandgolfclub.com 

KEYSTONE GOLF & COUNTRY 

CLUB 

294 SE 43rd St. 


352-478-8741 

keystonegolfandcountryclub. 

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 

DUVAL COUNTY 

BLUE SKY GOLF CLUB 

1700 Monument Road 


904-446-2899 

golfbluesky.com 

BRENTWOOD GOLF COURSE 

1157-1 Golfair Blvd. 

904-924-0401 


brentwoodgolfcourse.com 

CECIL FIELD GOLF CLUB 

13715 Lake Newman St. 


904-778-5245 

DEERCREEK COUNTRY CLUB 

7816 McLaurin Road N. 


904-363-1604 

deercreekclub.com 

DEERWOOD CLUB 

10239 Golf Club Drive 


904-641-6400 

deerwoodclub.com 

FIDDLER’S GREEN 

13715 Lake Newman St. 


904-778-5245 

jacksonvillegolf.com 

GLEN KERNAN GOLF & 

COUNTRY CLUB 

4590 Glen Kernan Parkway E. 


904-646-1116 

glenkernan.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 

hydepark.golf 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH GOLF 

COURSE 

605 Penman Road S. 


904-247-6184 

jaxbchgolf.com 

JACKSONVILLE GOLF & 

COUNTRY CLUB 

3985 Hunt Club Road 


904-223-5555 

jaxgcc.com 

NAS JACKSONVILLE 

GOLF CLUB 

6801 Roosevelt Blvd. 


904-542-3249 

navymwrjacksonville.com 

PABLO CREEK CLUB 



904-992-6900 

jacksonvillegolf.com 

QUEEN’S HARBOUR YACHT & 

COUNTRY CLUB 

1131 Queens Harbour Blvd. 


904-220- 2118 

qhycc.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 


904-388-2664 

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 

FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF 

CLUB 

2800 Bill Melton Road 


904-310-3175 

fernandinabeachgolfclub.com 

THE GOLF CLUB AT NORTH 

HAMPTON 

22680 N. Hampton Club Way 


904-548-0000 

gcnorthhampton.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 

Amelia Island 32034 

904-277-5907 

omnihotels.com 


CHAMPIONS AT JULINGTON 

CREEK 

1111 Durbin Creek Blvd. 

Fruit Cove 32259 

904-287-4653 

julingtoncreekgc.com 

CIMARRONE GOLF CLUB 

2800 Cimarrone Blvd. 


904-287-2000 

cimarronegolf.com 

THE GOLF CLUB AT SOUTH 

HAMPTON 

315 S. Hampton Club Way 


904-287-7529 

golfsouthhampton.com 

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 INN & CLUB 

200 Ponte Vedra Blvd. 


888-839-9145 

pontevedra.com 

ROYAL ST. AUGUSTINE GOLF 

& COUNTRY CLUB 

301 Royal St. Augustine 

Parkway 


904-824-4653 

royalstaugustinegolf.com 

SAWGRASS COUNTRY CLUB, 

EAST, WEST AND SOUTH 

COURSES 



904-273-3720 

Sawgrasscountryclub.com 

ST. AUGUSTINE SHORES 

707 Shores Blvd. 


904-794-4653 

capstonegolf.net 

ST. JOHNS GOLF CLUB 

4900 Cypress Links Blvd. 

Elkton 32033 

904-209-0350 

sjgc.com 

RECREATION 

ST. JOHNS GOLF & COUNTRY 

CLUB 

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, 

Jacksonville, 904-886-4800 ■ 


RECREATION 

Fun Starts at Parks 

For a getaway day or just an afternoon, you 

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

STATE/NATIONAL 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 

U.S. 90 West between Macclenny 

and Glen St. Mary on the South 

Prong of the St. Marys River; picnic 

areas and fishing in a stocked pond 

OCEAN POND 

RECREATION AREA 

Located in Osceola National Forest, 

four miles from Olustee Battlefield 

Park off County Road 250A 

between U.S. 90 and Interstate 

10; 2-mile-wide lake, hiking trails, 

camping areas, boat ramp, fishing, 

swimming and picnic area 

OSCEOLA NATIONAL FOREST 

Ranger station on U.S. 90, just 

west of Olustee; about 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. 

PUMPKIN HILL CREEK 

PRESERVE STATE PARK 

13802 Pumpkin Hill Road, 

Jacksonville 32246; explore five 

miles of multi-use trails while 

spotting an abundance of wildlife 

ranging from the American alligator 

to the endangered wood stork. The 

park has a canoe/kayak launch 

TIMUCUAN PRESERVE 

Discover 6,000 years of human 

history and experience the beauty 

of salt marshes, coastal dunes and 

hardwood hammocks. The park 

includes both Fort Caroline and 

Kingsley Plantation. To learn more, 

call 904-641-7155. 

YELLOW BLUFF FORT 

HISTORIC PARK 

12157 Heckscher Dr., Jacksonville; 

see the ruins of a once prosperous 

sugar mill including a steam boiler, 

large cooking kettles and more all 

used to process sugar cane 

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. 

All parks are located in Jacksonville 

unless otherwise noted. 


A. PHILIP RANDOLPH 

HERITAGE PARK 

1096 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.; 

playground equipment and picnic 

facilities 

ALBERTS FIELD 

12073 Brady Road; lighted 

youth and adult baseball fields, 

concession stand and picnic 

facilities 

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 

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 5-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 


RECREATION 

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 

3-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 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH PIER 

503 N. First St., Jacksonville Beach; 

about 625 feet of the quarter-mile 

pier open after damage from 

hurricanes Matthew and Irma. 

Additional repairs expected to be 

finished in 2021. Offers close-up 

views of Atlantic Ocean and 

access to deep-water fish species. 

Concessions, bait shop and 

restrooms. Wheelchair accessible. 

Fees: fishing $3, spectators $1, 

children under six free 

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 

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, the park has 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 

BIRD ISLAND PARK 

101 Library Blvd., Ponte Vedra 

Beach; visitors are treated to a 

maze of water features, native 

hammock and educational signage 

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 

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 


Hollandmarine.net 

RUDDER CLUB 

8533 Malaga Ave. 


rudderclub.com 

ST. JOHNS RIVER 

(Julington Creek) 

THE MARINA AT JULINGTON CREEK 

12807 San Jose Blvd. 32223 

904-268-5117 

MANDARIN HOLIDAY MARINA 

12796 San Jose Blvd. 32223 

mandarinyachtclub.home.mindspring. 

com 


(Ortega River) 

THE MARINA AT ORTEGA LANDING 

4234 Lakeside Drive 32210 

ortegalanding.com 

Boats are docked at 

the Marina of Julington 

Creek, located at the 

mouth of Julington 

Creek on the 

St. Johns River. 

(Will Dickey/Florida 

Times-Union) 

DOCTORS LAKE MARINA 

3108 U.S.17 S. 


doctorslakemarina.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 

(Jacksonville unless otherwise noted) 


ARLINGTON MARINA 

5137 Arlington Road 32211 

arlingtonmarina.com 

SADLER POINT MARINA 

4559 Lakeside Dr. 32210 

sadlerpoint.com 

LAMB’S YACHT CENTER 

3376 Lake Shore Blvd. 32210 

lambsyachtcenter.com 

LAKESHORE MARINE CENTER 

3326 Lake Shore Blvd. 32210 

lakeshoremarinecenter.com 


(Trout River) 

CLAPBOARD CREEK MARINA 

6220 Heckscher Drive 32226 

904-757-1135 

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, rivercitybrew.com/ 

marina 

SEAFARERS MARINA 

455 Trout River Drive 32208 

seafarersmarina.com 

Intracoastal Waterway 

BEACH MARINE 



jaxbeachmarine.com 

MARINA SAN PABLO 

YACHT CLUB 

4388 Marina San Pablo Place 32224 

aphoracoachhomes.com 

PALM COVE MARINA 

14603 Beach Blvd. 32250 

palmcovemarina.com 

QUEEN’S HARBOUR YACHT 

& COUNTRY CLUB 

1131 Queens Harbour Blvd. 32225 

qhycc.com 

NASSAU COUNTY 

(Fernandina Beach unless otherwise noted) 

AMELIA ISLAND MARINA 

251 Creekside Drive 32034 

ameliaislandmarina.com 

FERNANDINA HARBOR MARINA 

23 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.com 

HIDDEN HARBOR MARINA 

10 Prawn St. 32084 

hiddenharbor.biz 

(Temporarily closed for site construction; 

to reopen in 2020) 

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 FISH CAMP 

6550 Florida 13 32092 

904-342-2471 

Intracoastal 

Waterway 

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 


INTERCOASTAL MARINA 

200 Nix Boat Yard Road 32084 

intercoastalmarinainc.blogspot.com 

OASIS BOATYARD & MARINA 

256 Riberia St. 32084 

oasisboatyardandmarina.com ■

Ramps: Float Your Boat 

There are plenty of places to launch 

a day on the water. 

BAKER COUNTY 

JOHN M. BETHEA STATE 

FOREST CANOE LAUNCH 

Part of John M. Bethea State 

Park. Turn east onto John 

Burnseed Road from State 

Road 127; a short portage is 

required from parking lot to 

the river. 

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 

STEEL BRIDGE PUBLIC 

BOAT RAMP 

Off Steel Bridge Road, about 

4 miles north of Macclenny; 

surface is hard-packed sand 

CLAY COUNTY 

OLD FERRY PUBLIC BOAT 

RAMP (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 


LAKE LOWRY AND LAKE 

MAGNOLIA (CAMP BLANDING) 

Off CR 100, Florida 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 

AND MARINA 

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 SHANDS BRIDGE PIER 

(SHALLOW WATERS) 

4051 Old Shands Bridge Boat 

Launch, Green Cove Springs 

32043 

WHITEY’S FISH CAMP 

2032 CR 220, Fleming Island 

32003; $5 weekend; $3 

weekday 

DUVAL COUNTY 

Intracoastal Waterway 

ALIMACANI 

At Huguenot Memorial Park off 

A1A; unimproved sand-andshell 

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 

GOODBYS 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 BARTELS (NORTH END 

BOAT RAMP) 

97177 Pogy Place, Fernandina; 

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 Florida 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 

BOATING CLUB ROAD 

615 Boating Club Road, St. 

Augustine 32084 

FRANK BUTLER PARK 

399 Riverside Blvd. off A1A in 

Butler Beach; picnic shelters, 

grills 

RECREATION 

DOUGLAS C. CRANE PARK 

Shore Drive in St. Augustine 

South subdivision; adequate 

parking, portable restroom 

GREEN ROAD 

180 Green Road, St. Augustine 

32080 

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, 

limited parking 

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, 

limited parking 

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 Florida 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. (Will Dickey/Florida Times-Union) 

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 (with its first 

St. Johns County location recently opened), 

Trader Joe’s, 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 numerous restored Victorian homes, shops 

and restaurants. You’ll find everything from 

antiques to fashions to collectibles and historical 

treasures like the Palace Saloon, the state’s 

oldest tavern. Bop over to España – Word 

has it that Mick Jagger ate there twice while 

performing in Jacksonville last summer. 

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. Recent additions include actress 

Kate Upton’s active-wear store Fabletics, 

TUMI (business/travel essentials), women’s 

apparel store Spartina 449 and The Escape 

Game. Nearby is the 290,000-square-foot 

IKEA on Gate Parkway. In northern St. Johns 

County, Phase 1 of the 1,600-acre-plus Durbin 

Park, called The Pavilion shopping center, 

includes 700,000 square feet of retail along 

with a planned 12-screen CineMark movie 

theater. The developer of the retail power 

center also released plans in summer 2019 

for a nearly 1,300-acre second phase whose 

urban village concept will include millions of 

square feet of additional retail space. ■ 


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 Belk, Dick’s Sporting 

Goods, Dillard’s, JCPenney 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 and JCPenney, plus more than 

150 specialty retailers. Retailers include Aldo, Build- 

A-Bear Workshop, 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. 

REGENCY SQUARE MALL 

9501 Arlington Expressway, Jacksonville 32225 

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 

rptrealty.com/properties/rivercitymarketplace 

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. It also features 

Florida’s only Duluth Trading Co. location. 

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 local favorite Metro Diner. 

Roosevelt Square is anchored by Stein Mart and 

Publix. A 700,000-square-foot redevelopment with 

a new name – Ortega Park – is planned to include 

a 300,000-square-foot-plus shopping area, facade 

makeovers, apartments, new stores and a pedestrianfriendly 

“Ortega Alley” walkway between shops. 

ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER 

4663 River City Drive, Jacksonville 32246 

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

Home 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 

SHOPPING 

hotspot as a dining destination, the diverse cuisine is 

represented by exciting options like The Cheesecake 

Factory, The Capital Grille and Cantina Laredo. 


BARTRAM MARKET 

Bartram Park Boulevard and Race Track Road, 


eastlandpartners.net/bartram-market 

This recently opened center on nearly 40 acres is at 

the south end of the Bartram Park master-planned 

community and across from Durbin Park’s The 

Pavilion. Tenants include Publix, WaWa, Dunkin’ 

Donuts, China Wok, Dep Nails & Spa and Forever Vets 

Animal Hospital. 

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 Florida 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, Greg Norman Retail Outlet Store, Tommy 

Hilfiger, Under Armour, Skechers and more. ■ 

First Coast Slow Food 

Farmers markets are a great way to enjoy farm-to-table food in your own home. 

The greater Jacksonville area started with only a handful of markets, and 

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

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

CLAY COUNTY 

FARMERS MARKET 

AT MIDWAY 

Faith Presbyterian Church, Florida 21 

and County Road 21B, Melrose 

(halfway between Melrose and Keystone Heights) 

chttp://marketatmidway.com 

Hours: Saturdays 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 

ORANGE PARK 


2042 Park Ave., Orange Park 32073 

orangeparkmarket.com 

Hours: First and third Sunday, 

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

DUVAL COUNTY 


MID-WEEK MARKET 

Bull Memorial Park, 7th Street 

and East Coast Drive, Atlantic Beach 32233 

coab.us/805/Mid-Week-Farmers-Market 

Hours: Wednesdays, 3 - 6 p.m. 

BEACHES GREEN MARKET 

Jarboe Park, A1A and Florida Boulevard, 


Hours: Saturdays, 2 - 5 p.m. 

Rain or Shine. 

JACKSONVILLE 


1810 W. Beaver St., Jacksonville 32209 

jaxfarmersmarket.com 

Hours: Dawn to dusk daily except 

Thanksgiving and Christmas Day 

RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET 

Under Fuller Warren Bridge 

715 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville 32204 

riversideartsmarket.com 

Hours: Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 


NASSAU COUNTY 

FERNANDINA BEACH MARKET PLACE 

North Seventh Street, historic district 


fernandinabeachmarketplace.com 

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



NOCATEE FARMERS MARKET 

Nocatee Station Field 

245 Nocatee Center Way 


Hours: Every third Saturday, 

10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 

ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE 


1340C A1A S., St. Augustine 32080 

facebook.com/staugampmarket 

Hours: Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

SALT AIR FARMERS MARKET – 

MARINELAND 

9505 Ocean Shore Blvd., 


facebook.com/saltairfarmersmarket 

Hours: Sundays, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. 

WEDNESDAY PIER FARMERS MARKET 

St. Augustine Beach Pier Park 

350 A1A Beach Blvd. 

St. Augustine Beach 32080 

wednesdaypierfarmersmarket.com 

Hours: Wednesdays, 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

■ 


ENTERTAINMENT 

Daily’s Place is an amphitheater connected to the south end 

of TIAA Bank Field and shares space with a “flex field” indoor 

practice facility for the Jacksonville Jaguars. The music and 

entertainment venue opened in May 2017 and seats 5,550 

spectators. (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, 

a rollercoaster simulator and batting 

cages. 

ANHEUSER-BUSCH BREWERY 

111 Busch Drive, Jacksonville 32218 

904-751-0700, anheuser-busch.com 

The brewery features complimentary 

self-guided tours, in-depth paid guided 

tours and enhanced programs such as 

“Beer School.” 

AUTOBAHN INDOOR SPEEDWAY 

6601 Executive Park Court N., 

Jacksonville 32216, 904-479-4853, 

autobahnspeed.com 

Autobahn is European-style indoor 

go-karting in an 80,000-square-foot, 

state-of-the-art facility. Two Grand Prixstyle 

tracks offer guests unique racing 

From Topgolf to the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, 

Jacksonville has an attraction for everyone. 

experiences. The location also features 

axe throwing, a restaurant with beer and 

wine selections, and an arcade. 

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, Jacksonville 

32256, 904-296-1525 

daveandbusters.com/jacksonville 

Dave & Buster’s offers food, drinks and 

hundreds of arcade games to play, as 

well as TVs to watch sporting events. 

IFLY JACKSONVILLE 

10579 Brightman Blvd., 

Jacksonville 32246, 904-712-3388 

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.

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. 

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. Guests can visit 

from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. 

REBOUNDERZ 


Jacksonville, 32258, 904-300-0070, 

rebounderz.com/location/jacksonville 

The “extreme fun center” offers a ninja 

warrior course, laser tag, climbing 

walls, bowling and a café, not to 

mention a large open jump trampoline 

space. 

RIVERSIDE ARTS MARKET 

715 Riverside Ave., Jacksonville 32204 

904-389-2449, riversideartsmarket.com 

This open-air market every Saturday 

from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 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, glutenfree 

and vegan sweets in its on-site 

candy factory. Also available: candymaking 

demos, hands-on classes and 

parties. 

TOPGOLF 

10531 Brightman Blvd., Jacksonville 

32246, 904-328-2002, 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, Jacksonville 

32211,904-724-4646, 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. The park is open from 8 a.m. to 

sundown. 


CASTILLO DE SAN MARCOS/FORT 

MATANZAS 

1 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. 

ENTERTAINMENT 

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 or 904-829-6545, ripleys. 

com/staugustine 

This museum of oddities set in an 

historic castle offers more than 300 

exhibits and artifacts in 19 themed 

galleries. The museum also offers red 

train tours of historic St. Augustine. 

ST. AUGUSTINE ALLIGATOR FARM 

ZOOLOGICAL PARK 

999 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine 32080 

904-824-3337, alligatorfarm.com 

This 126-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. 

■ 

Visitors, including young students on a field trip, enjoy being on the 

elevated viewing platform and getting eye-to-eye with a giraffe. The 

covered boardwalk offers a breathtaking view across a replica of the 

Africa Savanna. (Bob Self/Florida Times-Union) 


Banners advertise the exhibit, “French Moderns: Monet 

to Matisse, 1850-1950,’’ that was featured from June 

until September 2019 at the Cummer Museum of Art 

and Gardens. (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 Florida 16 W., Building 3040, Starke 32091, 904- 

682-3196, campblanding-museum.org 

CLAY COUNTY HISTORICAL AND RAILROAD MUSEUM 

915 Walnut St., Green Cove Springs 32043, 904-278- 

4780, claycountyhistoricalsociety.org 

THE MIDDLEBURG HISTORICAL MUSEUM 

3912 Section St., Middleburg 32068, 904-598-9567 or 

904-282-5357, claycountygov.com 

MILITARY MUSEUM OF NORTH FLORIDA 

1 Bunker Ave. and Florida 16 East, Green 

Cove Springs 32043, 904-410-0781, 

themilitarymuseumofnorthflorida.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 


ALEXANDER BREST MUSEUM & GALLERY 

Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd.N. 32211, 

904-256-7345, www.ju.edu 

BEACHES MUSEUM AND HISTORY PARK 

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 


DURKEEVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY 

1293 W. 19th St. 32209, 904-598-9567, 

durkeevillehistoricalsociety.org 

EARTHA M.M. WHITE HISTORICAL MUSEUM 

613 W. Ashley St. 32202, 904.354.4162, 

theclarawhitemission.org/explore/museum 

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.unf.edu 

MANDARIN MUSEUM 

11964 Mandarin Road 32223 904-268-0784, 

mandarinmuseum.net 

JAMES E. MERRILL HOUSE 

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

jaxhistory.org/Merrill-house-history-tours/ 

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 & LAVILLA MUSEUM 

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

com 

SALLY CORP. 

745 W. Forsyth St. 32204, 904-355-7100, sallycorp. 

com/tours 

VETERANS MEMORIAL WALL 

1145 E. Adams St. 32202, west side of TIAA Bank 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 

GOVERNOR’S HOUSE CULTURAL CENTER AND 

MUSEUM 

48 King St., St. Augustine 32084, 904-825-5034 , 

floridamuseum.ufl.edu/firstcolony 

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 

OLDEST HOUSE MUSEUM COMPLEX 

14 St. Francis St., St. Augustine 32084, 904-824-2872, 

saintaugustinehistoricalsociety.org 

OLDEST STORE MUSEUM 

167 San Marco Ave., St. Augustine 32084, 904-829- 

3800, visitstaugstine.com 

ST. AUGUSTINE LIGHTHOUSE & MARITIME MUSEUM 

81 Lighthouse Ave., St. Augustine 32080, 904-829- 

0745, staugustinelighthouse.org 

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, twitter.com/boldtheatre 

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 

SWISHER THEATER 

Jacksonville University, 2800 University Blvd. N. 

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

THE 5 & DIME 

112 E. 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, 904-834-1351, 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, 1904musichall.com 

Live music venue with a capacity of 300 

DAILY’S PLACE AMPHITHEATER 

1 Daily’s Place 32202, 904-633-2000, 

dailysplace.c, 5,550 capacity 

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, 

jaxlive.com 

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 St. Johns Bluff Road S. 32224, 904-642-5200, 

moroccoshrine.org 

3,800-seat auditorium 

SEAWALK PAVILION 

75 N. 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, www.ju.edu 

Newly renovated 400-seat hall 

TIMES-UNION CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 

300 Water St. 32202, 904-633-6110, 

timesunioncenter.com 

1,800-seat Jacoby Symphony Hall, 600-seat Terry 

Theater 

VYSTAR VETERANS MEMORIAL ARENA 

300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd. 32202 904-630-3900, 

vystarveteransarena.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 

Flagler College, 14 Granada St., St. Augustine 32084, 

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 N., Ponte Vedra Beach 32082, 

904-209-0399, pvconcerthall.com 

Multipurpose performing arts facility 

ST. AUGUSTINE AMPHITHEATRE 

1340C A1A S., St. Augustine 32080, 904-209-0367, 

staugamphitheatre.com 

4,092-seat amphitheater 

MUSIC ORGANIZATIONS 

CLAY COUNTY 

ENTERTAINMENT 

ORANGE PARK CHORALE 

410-9 Blanding Blvd. #243, Orange Park 32073, 904- 

264-0711, 904-489-0400, 

orangeparkchorale.com 

DUVAL COUNTY 


FIRST COAST WIND SYMPHONY 

3842 Musket Trail 32277, 904-744-9090, fcwinds.org 

All-volunteer organization 

HERITAGE SINGERS OF JACKSONVILLE 

904-434-4625, 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 

4275 Herschel St., 32210, 904-531-4032, jaxharmony.org 

NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S PREMIERE A CAPPELLA 

WOMEN’S CHORUS 

Jacksonville Masterworks Chorale 

904-262-8444, 904-635-3337, jaxmasterworks.org 

Volunteer community chorus 

JACKSONVILLE SYMPHONY 

300 Water St., Ste. 200 32202, 904-354-5479, 

jaxsymphony.org 

A Jacksonville staple and top regional orchestra since 

1949 

RITZ CHAMBER PLAYERS 

300 Water St. Ste. 200 32202, 904-472-4270, ritzchamberplayers.org 

Award-winning chamber music and education group 

RIVERSIDE FINE ARTS ASSOCIATION 

1100 Stockton St. 32204, 904-389-6222, riversidefinearts.org 

Group provides an annual concert series. 


FIRST COAST OPERA 

P.O. Box 2223, St. Augustine 32085, 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 

Patrons of the Cowford 

Chophouse rooftop bar are 

treated to a beautiful sunset 

over downtown and the Main 

Street Bridge. The restaurant 

is located at 101 E. Bay St. 

(Will Dickey/Florida Times- 

Union) 

Feast on Extraordinary Fare 

Jacksonville brings a lot 

to the table. 

The Jacksonville area has an ample 

diversity of dining spread across 

its many square miles. 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 is home to about 20 craft breweries, 

as well as draft houses and distilleries. It’s 

becoming known nationally as a microbrew 

haven. A beer drinker's paradise is found on King 

Street in Riverside, while Intuition Ale Works 

added a second taproom to its downtown location 

last year. Meanwhile, the new Burlock and Barrel 

American Whiskey distillery at 417 Magnolia St. 

just off Riverside Avenue downtown opened in 

December 2019. 

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 locations on 

the Westside and in Regency. Southern Kitchen 

+ Bar in Jacksonville Beach recently revamped its 

menu to highlight its “Southern Classics.” 

Local barbecue favorites include 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. 

The city has 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. 

Jana Japanese steakhouse has opened at Durbin 

Park, Northeast Florida’s next retail mecca, 

located on Racetrack Road near Bartram Park. 

For upscale dining, Morton’s The Steakhouse, 

which closed on the Southbank about five years 

ago, has reopened in Hyatt Regency Jacksonville 

Riverfront. Cowford Chophouse at 101 E. Bay 

St. offers fine dining and rooftop views, and the 

newly opened Le Petit Paris cafe in Mandarin 

brings authentic made-to-order French cuisine 

for breakfast and lunch, including croissants, 

pastries, macarons and more. 

For more exotic tastes, Bleu Chocolat Cafe 

in Springfield spotlights Caribbean and Florida 

cuisine. Chef and Chocolatier Erika 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 

drive-throughs 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 

recently 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. The restaurant 

features a fully covered 

lakefront deck with climate 

control, banquet facilities 

and a 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. 

BUCHNER'S 

BIERHALLE 

1188 Edgewood Ave. S., 


(646) 688-3613, 

buchnersbierhalle.com 

You enter this new 

German-style bar/ 

eatery in Murray Hill 

through Blackhat Vapor 

Company, almost like a 

speakeasy. Besides many 

German beers on draft, 

delectable charcuterie 

boards are available, as 

well as savory wursts 

and sandwiches. Its 

website states: “… 

whether you come with an 

appreciation of the history 

of the Franconians, art 

nouveau, Nürnbergian 

proto-mountaineering, or 

just with an appetite or 

thirst, we are glad to have 

you. Prost (cheers)!” 

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) 819-6018, 

kesslercollection.com/ 

costa-brava-restaurant 

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. 

MAPLE STREET 

BISCUIT COMPANY 

Multiple Locations 

maplestreetbiscuits.com 

The first location of what 

is now billed as a “group 

of community stores” in 

seven 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 

from classically trained 

chefs and 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 fine-dining 

restaurant. Look for his 

sophisticated flavors 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 

In downtown Jacksonville's 

entertainment district "The 

Elbow" is Olio, a favorite 

weekday breakfast and 

lunch spot. It was featured 

on the Travel Channel's 

"Adam Richman's Best 

Sandwich in America" for its 

Duck Grilled Cheese, with 

gruyere and white cheese 

and green tomatoes. It 

offers a casual yet upscale 

atmosphere. 

RESTAURANT ORSAY 

3630 Park St., Jacksonville 

32205 

904-381-0909 

restaurantorsay.com 

This Avondale favorite 

features French bistro 

classics and Southern 

American cuisine made 

with French techniques. 

Responsibly produced local 

and regional ingredients are 

in focus on the seasonal 

food, beer, wine and cocktail 

menus. Must Order: Scallop 

Crudo. 

PALM VALLEY 

FISH CAMP 

299 Roscoe Blvd N. Ponte 

Vedra Beach 32082, 904- 

285-3200 

palmvalleyfishcamp.com 

The owners of the finedining 

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/jacksonvillebeach 

Located along Florida A1A 

between Butler and Beach 

boulevards, 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. 

Try the Hawaiian Opah, 

Andouille Crusted Whitefish 

or Hand Carved Filet 

Mignon, and any one of the 

menu’s specialty cocktails 

for a romantic night out. 

RUTH’S CHRIS 

STEAK HOUSE 

1201 Riverplace Blvd., 

Jacksonville 32207, 

904-396-6200 

ruthschris.com 

814 A1A N., Suite 103 


904-285-0014, ruthschris. 

com 

Top-grade steaks seared 

in 1,800-degree ovens 

and served on 500-degree 

plates are the mainstay 

at this local outpost of the 

famed steak house. The 

carnivore’s dilemma: filet, 

strip, prime rib, T-bone or 

porterhouse? Of course, 

one look at the restaurant’s 

5-pound Maine lobsters 

could sway even the most 

ardent steak fans. 

SALT LIFE FOOD 

SHACK 

1018 Third St. N., 


904-372-4456 

DINING 

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. 

SALT 

The Ritz-Carlton Amelia 

Island 

4750 Amelia Island 

Parkway, Amelia Island 

32034, 904-277-1100 

ritzcarlton.com 

This elegant dining room 

offers sweeping views of 

the Atlantic Ocean. Its farmto-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 

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback 

Gardner Minshew and “Minshew 

Mania’’ reigned during the first 

half of the 2019 NFL season. 

The popular rookie, sporting his 

signature mustache and bandana, 

led the Jaguars to an eye-catching 

four victories after taking over for 

starter Nick Foles, who fractured 

his left collarbone in the opener 

against Kansas City. (Gary Lloyd 

McCullough/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. In their 

25th season of competition, the Jaguars were 

founded on Nov. 30, 1993, and play at TIAA Bank 

Field. The team is part of the AFC South division. 

The Jaguars’ greatest success occurred 

in the 1996, 1999 and 2017 seasons, when the 

franchise reached the AFC Championship game. 

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 Jaguars finished the regular season with 

a record of 10-6 and made the playoffs as the AFC 

Division champions. They defeated the Buffalo 

Bills 10-3 in the Wild Card round, then the Steelers 

45-42. They fell to the New England Patriots 24-20 

in the AFC Championship. 

After finishing 5-11 in the 2018 season, the 

Jaguars added free agent and former Super Bowl 

MVP Nick Foles at quarterback. Foles went down 

in the season opener, but that paved the way for 

rookie Gardner Minshew II. After stepping in for 


Foles in game one, Minshew earned Offensive 

Rookie of the Month honors. He completed 69.4 

percent of his passes with a passer rating of 106.9 

through his first month. 

The most widely attended sporting event in the 

Jacksonville area is THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP 

at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course in Ponte 

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

fans, the tournament regularly attracts one of the 

deepest and strongest fields 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 

-- more than 180,000 during the course of the fourday 

competition, which moved to March in 2019. 

The 2019 tournament featured a memorable 

finish for former World Golf Ranking No. 1 Rory 

McIlroy, who birdied four of the final eight holes 

to finish at 16-under for the tournament. Ponte 

Vedra Beach resident Jim Furyk provided a 

local flavor to the leaderboard, finishing a close 

second. McIlroy’s victory helped him earn the PGA 

Tour Player of the Year award. He joined a list of 

winners at The Players that includes legends Jack 

Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Phil Mickelson and Tiger 

Woods. 

The city’s oldest professional team is the 

JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP, founded in 1962 

and previously called the Jacksonville Suns. The 

baseball club competes in the Double-A Southern 

League and is affiliated with the Miami Marlins. 

Its home has been the Baseball Grounds in 

downtown Jacksonville since 2003. 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 name is designed to celebrate 

Jacksonville and its plentiful waterways, as well as 

the ocean. In 2019, the Jumbo Shrimp finished the 

season 66-71, just missing the postseason after a 

strong second-half run. The Jumbo Shrimp drew 

327,388 fans – an average of 4,960 a game. The 

total attendance was second-best in the Southern 

League. 

The JACKSONVILLE SHARKS compete in arena 

football, playing at VyStar Veterans Memorial 

Arena. Founded in 2010, the Sharks captured 

the ArenaBowl in 2011. They 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 followed with a successful 2019 season 

that saw them win the National Arena League 

Championship in a 52-48 thriller against the

Carolina Cobras. 

The JACKSONVILLE GIANTS are another 

full-time tenant of VyStar Veterans Memorial 

Arena. Members of the American Basketball 

Association, the minor league team won the 

national championship in 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 

2018 and again in 2019. 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 Giants defeated the South Florida 

Gold 116-112 in the 2019 championship game. 

The JACKSONVILLE ARMADA pro soccer team 

began play in 2015 in the North American Soccer 

League, which was designated a Division 2 

league by the United States Soccer Federation. 

They set a league attendance record and scored 

12 seconds into its inaugural game. The team 

plays at Patton Park in the Intracoastal West area. 

The Armada began play in the National Premier 

Soccer League after the NASL canceled the 2018 

season. During 2019, the Armada finished 3-7-1 

on the year. 

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 

ECHL. On Oct. 14, 2017, they drew 8,956 fans to 

Veterans Memorial Arena for an overtime clash 

against in-state rival the Orlando Solar Bears. 

The Icemen made their first playoff appearance in 

2018-19 and drew a city-record 11,288 fans for a 

January game. The ECHL has 26 teams from 19 

states and two Canadian provinces 

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 2019 event saw 30-year-old Shadrack 

Kipchirchir win with a time of 43:41, while Erika 

Kemp won the women’s event with a time of 50:54. 

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 took runners across Atlantic 

Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach, 

was the 12th in the event’s history. The course 

route changed for 2019, beginning and finishing 

at the Beaches Town Center. Troy Dunkley won 

the men’s marathon with a time of 2:52:12 while 

Meaghan Murray-Neuberger came in first for the 

women at 3:00:19. 

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 east of the 

St. Johns River. The 2020 running on Jan. 5 is 

the 37th 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 2020 event, set for July 13-18, 

marks the 40th edition and will include special 

celebrations. 

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 competes in numerous Division I 

sports. Its 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. JU 

announced in December that it was dropping 

football after 22 seasons. The Dolphins competed 

in the FCS Pioneer Football League. 

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 

played host to multiple NCAA and USA Track and 

Field events. The men’s and women’s basketball 

teams advanced to the semifinals of the ASUN 

conference tournament during the 2018-19 

season. 

Greg Ruffin became the new head football 

coach at EDWARD WATERS COLLEGE for the 

2018 campaign. 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 and are exploring potential 

opportunities to further build their program. 

In addition to the two Division I universities in 

town, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY in Tallahassee 

and the UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA in Gainesville 

are 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, 

SPORTS 

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. In 2019, FSU 

dismissed Head Coach Willie Taggart midway 

through the season, with defensive line coach 

Odell Haggins named interim head coach for the 

rest of the season. Florida State’s football program 

won the national championships in 1993, 1999 

and 2013. The Seminoles’ basketball team 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. In 2018-19 the Seminoles were even 

better on the court, going 29-8 on the season. 

They advanced to the Round of 16 in the NCAA 

Tournament before being ousted by Gonzaga. 

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 trWadition 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. The Gators’ 

football team finished 10-3 in 2018, losing the 

Florida-Georgia game in Jacksonville 36-17, 

but bounced back and closed the season with 

a Peach Bowl win over Michigan 41-15. The 

basketball team went 20-16, earning an NCAA 

tournament berth but getting eliminated in the 

second round by Michigan. 

Jacksonville’s sports year ends with the 

TAXSLAYER GATOR 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. The 2018 game featured No. 21 Texas 

A&M vs. North Carolina State, with the Aggies 

winning 52-13 behind a Gator Bowl-record 236 

rushing yards from MVP Trayveon Williams. ■ 


PROGRESS 

Construction of new buildings 

continues at a rapid pace at 

The Pavilion at Durbin Park, 

located along Interstate 95 

near the new Florida 9B-County 

Road 2209 interchange in 

northwest St. Johns County. 

The 1,624-acre, mixedused 

development is being 

compared to the popular St. 

Johns Town Center in Duval 

County. (Bob Self/Florida 

Times-Union) 

First Coast Marches Forward 

More retail and housing 

springing up. 

It’s a curious bit of Jacksonville history. The city’s 

Great Fire of 1901 left 10,000 people homeless 

in or near what is now Downtown. 

Today, that’s the magic number to attract retail 

— including national chains — to the urban core. 

Lori Boyer, CEO of the Downtown Investment 

Authority, thinks the city will achieve that goal in 

less than five years. Currently, four apartment 

buildings with almost 1,000 units are under 

construction, and several more, with about 3,000 

units, are in the wings. 

“We want a full spectrum of housing 

affordability,” Boyer said. 

Many of the newest apartments such as 

Vestcor’s Lofts are available to low- and moderateincome 

renters and come with incentives for 

developers. 

“To build an affordable workforce, there has 

to be incentives like tax credits,” said Vestcor 

President Steve Moore. 

Vestcor’s Lofts at Jefferson Station, under 


construction, and the proposed Lofts at the 

Cathedral are mixed-income projects, which Moore 

says “turns the corner” to market-rate housing. 

The current holy grail is market-rate rent of $2 a 

square foot, about twice the rate of a decade ago. 

Several new developments — Broadstone 

River House on the Southbank, the Residences at 

Barnett on Adams Street, now leasing, and Vista 

Brooklyn on Riverside Avenue — hit that mark, 

according to a CBRE report. 

Another hotspot for retail and residential is the 

old riverfront courthouse and City Hall Annex. 

Boyer hopes to have proposals from developers by 

the end of the year. Its success will determine the 

city’s approach to finding a new use for the former 

Jacksonville Landing site. 

And there’s Berkman II, the partially built highrise 

abandoned in 2007. The city says it is working 

on “viable options.” 

As market-rate housing flourishes, expect to see 

more street-facing retail, Boyer said. 

LAVILLA 

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s new 

Regional Transportation Center is scheduled to 

open in 2020, positioning the neighborhood as a 

multi-modal transportation hub. 

In 2019, DIA and JTA released a LaVilla 

Neighborhood Redevelopment Strategy that 

envisions using LaVilla’s rich African-American 

history as the foundation for redevelopment 

including a Heritage Trail, expansion of Lift Ev’ry 

Voice and Sing Park and mix of affordable, 

workforce and market-rate housing for lease and 

purchase. 

The residential component is well underway. 

The Vestcor Companies’ affordable and workforce 

housing — the 130-unit Lofts at LaVilla and the 

108-unit Lofts at Monroe — are fully occupied, and 

the Lofts at Jefferson Station are expected to fill 

rapidly. 

BROOKLYN 

The resurrection of Brooklyn began in 2014 with 

Brooklyn Station, anchored by The Fresh Market. 

It was followed by the 294-unit 220 Riverside by 

NAI Hallmark Partners. Next door, NAI and Bristol 

Development Group are underway on the 308-unit, 

10-story Vista Brooklyn. 

The 310-unit Brooklyn Riverside apartments 

by Pollack Shores is occupied. The nearby Lofts 

at Brooklyn, a 133-unit affordable and workforce 

housing project at Spruce Street, is on the horizon. 

And the Brooklyn Place shopping center is on the 

drawing boards. 

SOUTHBANK 

The Southbank has emerged as Downtown’s 

high-rent district: the Peninsula condos, the Strand

apartments and San Marco Place condos. The 

Broadstone River House on Prudential Drive is 

now leasing its 300 luxury apartments with rents 

from $1,462 to $2,575. 

Off Hendricks Avenue is the new 147-unit 

SoBa apartments renting for between $1,300 and 

$1,600. And there’s the District, a huge riverfront 

development by Peter Rummell and Michael 

Munz with 1,170 residential units for sale or lease. 

Construction will transform the Southbank. 

CATHEDRAL DISTRICT 

The nonprofit Cathedral District-Jax and Vestcor 

are working on a $20 million project to transform 

the old Community Connections property into 

the 140-unit Lofts at the Cathedral mixed-income 

housing. Still another project will bring microhousing 

to the district in converted shipping 

containers. 

CENTRAL CORE 

The majority of housing options in the Central Core 

are in historic buildings, including 11 East Forsyth 

and The Carling, which date to the 1920s and are 

on the National Register of Historic Places. 

Eleven East Forsyth, originally the Lynch 

building and later American Heritage Life, opened 

in 2003 with 127 units. Three other historic 

buildings have been redeveloped as loft-style 

apartments. And, the old Jones Brothers furniture 

store on North Hogan Street is to be redeveloped 

by ACE JAX into 28 apartments and retail space. 

ENTERTAINMENT & 

SPORTS DISTRICT 

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan has 

reached a tentative agreement with the city for the 

$450 million Lot J development with 300 luxury 

apartments and a midrise apartment building, 

along with a hotel, office tower and the Live! 

Entertainment District. The deal would come with 

$233 million in city incentives and still has a lot of 

hurdles. 

Moore said people look at Downtown and see 

a lot of vacant buildings and land. “But that’s the 

great thing about Downtown. There are great 

opportunities to develop and redevelop.” 

ST. JOHNS TOWN CENTER 

St. Johns Town Center, the hub of retail on the 

Southside, will soon see a 40-acre fourth phase 

that includes a movie theater, hotel and additional 

shopping options south of Dick’s Sporting Goods. 

Work is underway on Presidium at Town Center, 

a four-story, 470,000-square-foot luxury residential 

community with 370 units. SoFi, an online personal 

finance company, announced plans to open 

an operations center on Gate Parkway that will 

employ at least 300 people by 2021. 

NORTHSIDE 

PROGRESS 

Cra-Z-Art is opening a 300,000-square-foot 

manufacturing facility at Imeson 300. It said it will 

hire 21 full-time employees by year-end 2021 at an 

average wage of $53,298 annually. The company 

said it could also hire 50 seasonal employees 

annually. 

Chill Build Jacksonville also announced plans in 

2019 for a $43.5 million Preferred Freezer Services 

facility at 5459 Doolittle Road, creating at least 40 

jobs. 


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

near the Duval County line, is being called “the 

next Town Center.” The property is on Interstate 

95 near the new Florida 9B-County Road 2209 

interchange. 

The plan for Durbin Park includes an estimated 

2.4 million square feet of retail, 2.8 million square 

feet of office space, 999 multifamily units and 350 

hotel rooms. ■ 

Former Florida Times-Union editor Lilla Ross 

co-wrote this report, portions of which originally 

ran in the Times-Union. 

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2019 Winners 

Jacksonville.com’s fifth annual Bold City Best competition 

let First Coast residents vote for their favorites in more 

than 170 categories. This list is your go-to guide for all 

the best Jacksonville has to offer. Each section gives 

insight into your neighbors’ favorite things to do and 

places to be in our Bold City. Don’t take our word for it; 

find out what the Bold City considers the best! See the 

full list at boldcitybest.com. 

AUTO AND & MORE 

BEST AUTO REPAIR SHOP 

NIMNICHT FAMILY 

OF DEALERSHIPS 

1550 Cassat Ave. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.638.7986 • nimnicht.com 

BEST BOAT DEALERSHIP 

NORTH FLORIDA 

YACHT SALES 

8940 San Jose Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.733.7502 • nfys1.com 

BEST CAR WASH/DETAIL SERVICE 

CHARLES & GEORGE’S 

CAR WASH 

3 Locations 

Jacksonville, Fl • 904.384.3331 

charlesandgeorgescarwash.com 

BEST NEW CAR DEALERSHIP 

NIMNICHT FAMILY 


1550 Cassat Ave. • acksonville, Fl 

904.638.7986 • nimnicht.com 

BEST POWER SPORT DEALERSHIP 

ADAMEC HARLEY 

DAVIDSON 



adamecharley.com 

BEST RV DEALERSHIP 

CAMPING WORLD OF 

JACKSONVILLE 

10101 Interstate Center Drive 


rv.campingworld.com 


BEST TIRE SHOP 

DISCOUNT TIRE 

Multiple Jacksonville Locations 


discounttire.com 

BEST USED CAR DEALERSHIP 

TOM BUSH FAMILY 


9850 Atlantic Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.725.0911 • tombush.com 

CUSINE & COCKTAILS 

BEST ALL YOU CAN EAT 

TERRA GAUCHA 

BRAZILIAN 

STEAKHOUSE 

4483 Southside Blvd 


terragaucha.net 

BEST AMERICAN 

RESTAURANT 

METRO DINER 

7 North Florida Locations 

813.513.7556 • metrodiner.com 

BEST BAKERY 

CINOTTI’S BAKERY 


Jacksonville Beach, Fl 

904.246.1728 • cinottisbakery.com 

BEST BANG FOR THE 

BUCK RESTAURANT 

METRO DINER 



BEST BAR/PUB 

CULHANE’S IRISH PUB 

967 Atlantic Blvd. • Atlantic Beach, Fl 

904.249.9595 • culhanesirishpub.com 

BEST BARBECUE 

THE BEARDED PIG 

1224 Kings Avenue • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.619.2247 

thebeardedpigbbq.com 

BEST BEER SELECTION 

EUROPEAN STREET 

CAFE 



europeanstreet.com 

BEST BREAKFAST 

GRUMPY’S 

RESTAURANT 

834 Kingsley Ave • Orange Park, Fl 

904.219.1741 

grumpysrestaurantco.com 

BEST BRUNCH 

METRO DINER 



BEST BURGER 

M SHACK 



mshackburgers.com 

BEST BURRITO 

BURRITO GALLERY 



burritogallery.com 

BEST BUTCHER SHOP/ 

MEAT MARKET 

THE FRESH MARKET 


Jacksonville, Fl • thefreshmarket.com 

BEST CHEF 

GIULIO TERESI, VITO’S 

ITALIAN RESTAURANT 

116 Bartram Oaks Walk, Suite 101 

Saint Johns, Fl • 904.429.3868 

vitosoriginalitalian.com 

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT 

P.F. CHANG’S 

10281 Mid Town Pkwy. #137 


pfchangs.com 

BEST COFFEE SHOP 

BOLD BEAN COFFEE 

ROASTERS 



boldbeancoffee.com 

BEST CRAB CAKES 

GRUMPY’S 

RESTAURANT 

834 Kingsley Ave 

Orange Park, Fl • 904.219.1741 


BEST CRAFT COCKTAILS 

ICE PLANT BAR 

110 Riberia Street • St. Augustine, Fl 

904.829.6553 • iceplantbar.com 

BEST DESSERT 

BISCOTTI’S 

3556 St Johns Ave. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.387.2060 • biscottis.net 

BEST DINER 

METRO DINER 



BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT 

VITO’S ITALIAN 

RESTAURANT 


Saint Johns, Fl • 904.429.3868 


BEST FARM TO TABLE 

LOCALLY SUPPLIED RESTAURANT 

BLACK SHEEP 

RESTAURANT 

1534 Oak Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.380.3091 • blacksheep5points.com 

BEST FOOD TRUCK 

THE HAPPY GRILLED 

CHEESE 

219 N Hogan Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.423.0318 

Thehappygrilledchees. 

Wixsite.com/Grilledcheese 

BEST GREEK RESTAURANT 

ATHENIAN OWL 

9551 Baymeadows Rd, 

Suite #21-23 • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.503.3008 • athenianowljaxfl.com 

BEST HAPPY HOUR 

LEMON BAR 

2 Lemon St • Neptune Beach, Fl 

904.372.0487 • Lemonbarjax.com 

BEST HEALTHY EATING 

SEASONS 52 

5096 Big Island Drive • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.645.5252 • seasons52.Com 

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT 

5TH ELEMENT INDIAN 

RESTAURANT 

9485 Baymeadows • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.448.8265 • my5thelement.com 

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT 


RESTAURANT 

116 Bartram Oaks Walk, Suite 101, 

Saint Johns, Fl • 904.429.3868 


BEST JAPANESE RESTAURANT 

SAKURA JAPANESE 

RESTAURANT 

9432 San Jose Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.739.8282 • sakurajax.com 

BEST KEPT SECRET RESTAURANT 

GRUMPY’S 

RESTAURANT 


904.219.1741 


BEST LOCAL BREWERY/DISTILLERY 

WICKED BARLEY 

BREWING COMPANY 


Jacksonville, Fl 

904.379.7077 • wickedbarley.com 

BEST LOCAL CHOCOLATIER 

PETERBROOKE 

CHOCOLATIER 

14 Locations In North Florida 

Jacksonville, Beaches, Amelia Island, 

Fleming Island, Fl 

904.660.2303 • peterbrooke.com 

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT 

LA NOPALERA 

MEXICAN RESTAURANT 



lanopalerarest.com 

BEST NEW RESTAURANT 

(Open as of 8/1/18) 

OP FISH HOUSE & 

OYSTER BAR 

636 Kingsley Ave. • Orange Park, Fl 

904.579.3931 • ppfishhouse.com


BEST OUTDOOR DINING 

CAP’S ON THE WATER 

4325 Myrtle Street 

Saint Augustine, Fl 

904.824.8794 • capsonthewater.com 

BEST PANCAKES 

METRO DINER 



BEST PIZZA 

V PIZZA 



vpizza.com 

BEST RESTAURANT OVERALL 

GRUMPY’S 

RESTAURANT 


904.219.1741 


BEST ROMANTIC RESTAURANT 

COWFORD 

CHOPHOUSE 

101 E. Bay Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.862.6464 

cowfordchophouse.com 

BEST ROOFTOP RESTAURANT/BAR 

RIVER & POST 

1000 Riverside Ave • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.575.2366 • riverandpostjax.com 

BEST SALADS 

THE LOOP 

3721 San Jose Place , Suite 1 


looppizzagrill.com 

BEST SANDWICH/SUB 

FIREHOUSE SUBS 


Firehousesubs.com 

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT 

OP FISH HOUSE & 

OYSTER BAR 

636 Kingsley Ave. • Orange Park, Fl 

904.579.3931 • opfishhouse.com 

BEST SMOOTHIE/JUICE BAR 

TROPICAL SMOOTHIE 



tropicalsmoothiecafe.com 

BEST SOUTHERN CUISINE 

POTTER’S HOUSE 

SOUL FOOD BISTRO 

2 Locations 


thesoulfoodbistro.com 

BEST SPECIAL OCCASION 

RESTAURANT 


RESTAURANT 


Saint Johns, Fl • 904.429.3868 


BEST SPORTS BAR 

SNEAKERS SPORTS 

GRILLE 

111 Beach Blvd • Jacksonville Beach, Fl 

904.482.1000 

sneakerssportsgrille.com 

BEST SUSHI 

FUJI SUSHI 

660-155 Commerce Center Dr 


fujisushi-fl.com 

BEST TACOS 

TACOLU 



904.249.8226 • tacolu.com 

BEST THAI RESTAURANT 

LEMONGRASS 

THAI BISTRO 

14866 Old Saint Augustine Road, 

Suite 116 • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.647.5043 

lemongrassjacksonville.com 

BEST WINE LIST 


RESTAURANT 


Saint Johns, Fl • 904.429.3868 


BEST WINGS 

DICKS WINGS AND 

GRILL 


Orange Park, Fl • 904.741.5500 

dickswingsandgrill.com 

HEALTH & WELL BEING 

BEST CHIROPRACTIC PRACTICE 

REVOLUTION 

CHIROPRACTIC 



904.348.0039 • revolutionchirojax.com 

BEST COSMETIC 

SURGERY PRACTICE 

PONTE VEDRA 

PLASTIC SURGERY 



pvps.com 

BEST DENTAL PRACTICE 

DOCTORS LAKE 

FAMILY DENTAL 


Fleming Island, Fl • 904.264.6700 

doctorslakefamilydental.com 

BEST DERMATOLOGY PRACTICE 

FIRST COAST 

DERMATOLOGY 

4479 Baymeadows Rd 


firstcoastdermatology.com 

BEST DOCTOR 

DR. LAUREN COST 



904.348.0039 • revolutionchirojax.com 

BEST EYE CARE PRACTICE 

FLORIDA EYE 

SPECIALISTS 

11512 Lake Mead Ave. #534 

Jacksonville, Fl • 904.564.2020 

floridaeyespecialists.com 

BEST GENERAL/FAMILY PRACTICE 

BAPTIST HEALTH 

Four Adult Hospitals and the 

Region’s Only Children’s Hospital 

904.202.5335 • baptistjax.com 

BEST HEALTH/LIFE 

INSURANCE AGENCY 

FLORIDA BLUE 



floridablue.com 

BEST HEARING AID CENTER 

JACKSONVILLE 

SPEECH & HEARING 

CENTER 

1010 N Davis St, Suite 101 


shcjax.org 

BEST HOSPITAL 

BAPTIST HEALTH 

Four Adult Hospitals and the 

Region’s Only Children’s Hospital 

904.202.2000 • baptistjax.com 

BEST MEDICAL SPA/ 

AESTHETICS 

AESTHETIX PLUS 

MEDICAL SPA 

486 Town Plaza Ave, Ste 420 

Ponte Vedra, Fl • 904.834.3440 

aesthetixplus.com 

BEST ORTHODONTIC PRACTICE 

BEACHES 

ORTHODONTICS 

150 Professional Drive, Suite 100 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 

904.241.2471 

patelbeachesorthodontics.com 

BEST ORTHOPEDIC PRACTICE 

JACKSONVILLE 

ORTHOPAEDIC 

INSTITUTE 

1325 San Marco Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.346.3465 • joionline.net 

BEST PEDIATRIC PRACTICE 

CARITHERS 

PEDIATRIC GROUP 

2121 Park Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.387.6200 • carithersgroup.com 

BEST PHYSICAL 

THERAPY/REHABILITATION CENTER 

JACKSONVILLE 

ORTHOPAEDIC 

INSTITUTE 

1325 San Marco Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.346.3465 • joionline.net 

BEST PODIATRIST 

FLORIDA FOOT 

AND ANKLE 

13241 Bartram Park Blvd, 

Suite #1809 • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.217.6878 • ffajax.com 

BEST SENIOR/ASSISTED 

LIVING FACILITY 

BROOKDALE 

SENIOR LIVING 



brookdale.com 

BEST VETERINARY PRACTICE 

FIRST COAST NO MORE 

HOMELESS PETS 

6817 Norwood Ave • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.425.0005 • fcnmhp.org 

BEST WEIGHT LOSS CENTER 

WW (WEIGHT 

WATCHERS) 


Weightwatchers.com 

BEST AIR CONDITIONING/ 

HEATING SERVICE 

A/C DESIGNS HEATING 

& AIR CONDITIONING 

3370 Agricultural Center Drive 

St, Augustine, Fl • 904.201.2749 

acdesignsinc.net 

BEST BARBER SHOP 

HOUSE OF SHAVES 

BARBERSHOP 

4160 Southside Boulevard, Suite 7 

Jacksonville, Fl 

904.374.9072• houseofshaves.com 

BEST CARPET 

CLEANING COMPANY 

OXI FRESH CARPET 

CLEANING 

St. Augustine, Fl • 904.770.5588 

oxifresh.com 

BEST CATERER 

MOJO BBQ 



mojobbq.com 

BEST CHILD CARE 

FACILITY/PRE-K 

GROWING ROOM 

2 Locations 


growingroomfla.com 

BEST CLEANING/MAID SERVICE 

FIRST COAST HOME PROS 

8775 Arlington Expressway, 

Suite #101 • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.383.7721 

firstcoasthomepros.com 

BEST DRY CLEANER 

OCEANSIDE CLEANERS 

3742 Southside Boulevard 

Jacksonville, Florida 

904.642.6177 

Oceansidecleaners.com 

BEST FLOORING STORE 

FLOOR & DECOR 

8102 Blanding Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.652.0164 • flooranddecor.com 

BEST FLORIST 

KUHN FLOWERS 

3802 Beach Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.398.8601 • kuhnflowers.com 

BEST HAIR SALON 

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY 

HAIR SALON & SPA 

12107 San Jose Blvd • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.262.4116 • fyeohairsalon.com 

HOME & PROFESSIONAL 

SERVICES 

BEST HANDYMAN SERVICE 

MR. HANDYMAN 

Serving Greater Jacksonville 

1107 Park Ave. • Orange Park, Fl 

904.579.1010 • mrhandyman.com/ 

BEST HOME ORGANIZER 

JOANNE’S SIMPLE 

SOLUTIONS 


joannessimplesolutions.com 

BEST HOME 

REMODELING COMPANY 

MR. HANDYMAN 

Serving Greater Jacksonville 

1107 Park Ave. • Orange Park, Fl 

904.579.1010 • mrhandyman.com/ 

Greater-Jacksonville 

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER 

PERDUE OFFICE 

INTERIORS 

5 W. Forsyth St • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.737.5858 • perdueoffice.com 

BEST LANDSCAPING COMPANY 

EARTH WORKS 

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 

12501 Beach Blvd • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.996.0712 • earthworksjax.com 

BEST LAW FIRM 

THE LAW OFFICES OF 

JOHN M. PHILLIPS 

1013 3Rd Street North 


904.444.4444 • floridajustice.com 

BEST LAWN SERVICE 

PENINSULAR PEST 

CONTROL SERVICE 

2609 Phyllis Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.389.3491 • crittergitter.com 

BEST MOVING COMPANY 

THE SUDDATH 

COMPANIES 

8743 Western Way • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.222.8549 

suddath.com/Jacksonville 

BEST MUSIC SCHOOL 

JACKSONVILLE 

SCHOOL OF MUSIC 

12192 Beach Blvd. Suite 8 


BEST NAIL SALON 

BELLA DIVA HAIR, 

NAILS & SPA 

7643 Gate Pkwy, Suite 102 


BEST PEST CONTROL 

PENINSULAR PEST 

CONTROL SERVICE 

2609 Phyllis Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.389.3491 • crittergitter.com 

BEST PET BOARDING 

PET PARADISE 

14272 Pecan Park Rd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.363.3330 

petparadiseresort.com 

BEST PET GROOMING 

BARK 

1021 Park S. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.356.4530 • thebarkboutique.com 

BEST PET SITTING SERVICE 

DOG DAYS & CAT NAPS 

52 Tuscan Way, Suite 202-330 

St Augustine, Fl • 904.241.7387 

dogdayscatnaps.com 

BEST PHOTOGRAPHER 

SARAH HEDDEN 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

1431 Riverplace Blvd, #2808 


sarahheddenphotography.com 

BEST PLUMBER 

DAVID GRAY 

PLUMBING 

6491 Powers Ave. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.204.5506 • davidgrayplumbing.com 

BEST POOL BUILDER 

STANLEY POOLS 

8647 Old Orange Park Road 

Orange Park, Fl • 904.269.7277 

Stanleypoolsinc.com 

BEST POOL SERVICE AND CARE 

PINCH A PENNY 

POOL PATIO SPA 



pinchapenny.com 



BEST ROOFER 

JADA ROOFING 

4137 Pinto Road • Middleburg, Fl 

904.606.Roof (7663) • jadaroofing.com 

BEST STORAGE FACILITY 

ATLANTIC SELF 

STORAGE 

7880 Gate Parkway • Jacksonville, Fl 

877.937.8673 • atlanticselfstorage.com 

BEST TREE SERVICE 

SHAW’S TREE SERVICE 

2762 W. Beaver Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.388.9960 • shawtree.com 

BEST TUTORING SERVICE 

HUNTINGTON 

LEARNING CENTER 

13170 Atlantic Blvd, Suite 54 

Jacksonville, Fl • 1 800 Can Learn 

huntingtonhelps.com 

BEST WEDDING VENUE 

TREASURY ON THE 

PLAZA 

24 Cathedral Place • St. Augustine, Fl 

904.217.0077 • treasuryontheplaza.com 

PEOPLE, PLACES 

& FACES OF JAX 

BEST COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY 

UNIVERSITY OF 

NORTH FLORIDA 

1 Unf Dr • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.620.1000 • unf.edu 

BEST LOCAL CELEBRITY 

TIM TEBOW 

Tim Tebow is a former professional 

American football quarterback and 

professional baseball player. Prior 

to his professional sports career, he 

became the first sophomore In NCAA 

history to win the Heisman Trophy.” 

timtebow.com 

BEST NEW BUSINESS 

(NEW AS OF 8/1/18) 

THE CRAFT HOUSE 

1820 State Road 13, Suite 10 

St Johns, Fl • 904.679.3135 

thecrafthousefl.com 

BEST NEWSPAPER 

REPORTER/COLUMNIST 

MARK WOODS, THE 

FLORIDA TIMES-UNION 

1 Independent Drive, Suite 200 


jacksonville.com 

BEST PLACE TO WORK - 

LARGE (100+ EMPLOYEES) 

THE SUDDATH 

COMPANIES 

815 S. Main Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.222.8549 

suddath.com/Jacksonville 

BEST PLACE TO WORK - 

MEDIUM (25-99 EMPLOYEES) 

GRUMPY’S 

RESTAURANT 


904.219.1741 


BEST PLACE TO WORK - SMALL 

(LESS THAN 25 EMPLOYEES) 

SUNBELT WELLNESS 

INSTITUTE 

8833 Perimeter Park Blvd, #1004 


sunbeltwellness.com 


BEST PRIVATE SCHOOL 

BISHOP KENNY 

HIGH SCHOOL 

1055 Kingman Ave. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.398.7545 • bishopkenny.org 

BEST RADIO PERSONALITY/HOST 

MARK KAYE 

11700 Central Pkwy • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.245.8500 • wokv.com 

BEST TV ANCHOR 

LEWIS TURNER 

FIRST COAST NEWS 

1070 East Adams Street 


firstcoastnews.com 

BEST VISIONARY OF 

JACKSONVILLE 

SHAHID KHAN 

1 TIAA Bank Field Dr 

Jacksonville, Fl • jaguars.com 

MOVER & SHAKER OF THE YEAR 

DANIEL DE LEON, 

OWNER, GRUMPY’S 

RESTAURANT 


904.219.1741 

Grumpysrestaurantco.com 

REAL ESTATE & FINANCE 

BEST ACCOUNTANT/CPA 

DUVAL FIELDS 

CPA GROUP, PA 

428 Walnut Street 

Green Cove Springs, Fl 

904.269.1069 • duvalfields.com 

BEST AREA TO LIVE 

BEACHES 

BEST NEW BUSINESS 

THE CRAFT HOUSE 

1820 State Road 13, Suite 10 

St Johns, Fl • 904.679.3135 

thecrafthousefl.com 

BEST BANK/CREDIT UNION 

VYSTAR CREDIT UNION 



vystarcu.org 

BEST HOME BUILDER 

LENNAR HOMES 

Multiple Locations –Duval, St. Johns, 

Clay, Nassau, Baker or Flagler 

lennar.com 

BEST HOME COMMUNITY/ 

DEVELOPMENT 

NOCATEE 

245 Nocatee Center Way 

Ponte Vedra, Fl • 904.924.6863 

nocatee.com 

BEST LOCAL HOME BUILDER 

SEDA NEW HOMES 

2120 Corporate Square Blvd. 


sedaconstruction.com 

BEST MORTGAGE COMPANY 

VYSTAR 

CREDIT UNION 


904.777.6000 • Vystarcu.org 

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT 

DAVID HERRON - 

FLORIDA HOMES 

REALTY & MORTGAGE 

11512 Lake Mead Ave., Unit 701 


facebook.com/Herronrealtors 

BEST REAL ESTATE BROKER/AGENCY 

WATSON REALTY CORP. 

7821 Deercreek Club Rd. 


watsonrealtycorp.com 

SHOPS OF JAX 

BEST ANTIQUE 

OR VINTAGE SHOP 

AVONLEA ANTIQUES 

& INTERIORS 

8101 Philips Hwy • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.636.8785 • avonleamall.com 

BEST BICYCLE SHOP 

CHAMPION CYCLING 

3 Locations In Jacksonville 

904.724.4922 • championcycling.net 

BEST BOUTIQUE 

HOPE’S CLOSET 

THRIFT STORE 

14286 Beach Blvd #44 • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.685.6828 

coe22.com/hopescloset 

BEST CHILDREN’S STORE 

ONCE UPON A CHILD 

4 Convenient Jacksonville Locations 

904.647.1270 • onceuponachild.com 

BEST E-CIG/VAPOR STORE 

ALL DAY VAPE 

4195 Southside Blvd. #101 


BEST FORMAL WEAR/ 

BRIDAL SHOP 

THE WHITE MAGNOLIA 

BRIDAL COLLECTION 

1716 Hendricks Ave. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.352.3309 • 

whitemagnoliabridal.com 

BEST FURNITURE STORE 

WOODCHUCK’S FINE 

FURNITURE AND DECOR 

12575 San Jose Blvd • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.880.0090 

woodchucksfurniture.com 

BEST GARDEN SHOP/NURSERY 

ACE HARDWARE 

Multiple NF Locations 

888.827.4223 • acehardware.com 

BEST GIFT SHOP 

ARTSY ABODE 

11111-41 San Jose Blvd. 

Jacksonville, Florida • 904.232.8600 

artsyabode.com 

BEST GROCERY STORE 

PUBLIX 


publix.com 

BEST GUN SHOP 

SHOOTERS OF 

JACKSONVILLE 

5085 University Blvd W 


Shootersjax.com 

BEST HARDWARE STORE 

ACE HARDWARE 

Multiple NF Locations 

888.827.4223 • acehardware.com 

BEST HEALTH 

FOOD STORE 

NATIVE SUN NATURAL 

FOODS MARKET 



nativesunjax.com 

BEST JEWELRY STORE 

UNDERWOOD’S 

JEWELERS 


underwoodjewelers.com 

BEST LIQUOR/WINE STORE 

TOTAL WINE & MORE 

4413 Town Center Pkwy Ste 300 


totalwine.com 

BEST MALL/SHOPPING CENTER 

ST JOHNS TOWN CENTER 

4663 River City Dr • Jacksonville, Fl 

simon.com/mall/stjohnstown-center 

BEST MATTRESS STORE 

MATTRESS ONE 


800.991.7996 • mattress1.Com 

BEST SPECIALTY SHOE STORE 

1ST PLACE SPORTS 


1Stplacesports.com 

BEST THRIFT SHOP 

HOPE’S CLOSET 

THRIFT STORE 

2 Locations: Arlignton and San Pablo 


coe22.Com/Hopescloset 

BEST UNIQUE SHOP 

ECO RELICS 

106 Stockton Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.330.0074 • ecorelics.com 

THINGS TO DO 

& PLACES TO BE 

BEST ART GALLERY 

CUMMER MUSEUM 

OF ART & GARDENS 

829 Riverside Ave. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.356.6857 • cummermuseum.org 

BEST ATTRACTION 


AND GARDENS 

370 Zoo Parkway • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.757.4463 • jacksonvillezoo.org 

BEST CONCERT/EVENT OF 2018/19 

ELTON JOHN 2019 

300 A Philip Randolph Blvd 


vystarveteransarena.com/ 

BEST FARMERS MARKET 

RIVERSIDE ARTS 

MARKET 

2623 Herschel Street • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.389.2449 

riversideartsmarket.com 

BEST FITNESS CENTER/GYM 

FIRST COAST YMCA 

40 E Adams St #210 • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.296.3220 • fcymca.org 

BEST GOLF COURSE 

TPC SAWGRASS 

110 Championship Way 

Ponte Vedra Beach, Fl 

904.273.3235 • tpc.com/Sawgrass 

BEST HOTEL 

THE RITZ-CARLTON, 

AMELIA ISLAND 

4750 Amelia Island Pkwy 

Amelia Island, Fl • 904.277.1100 

ritzcarlton.com 

BEST KIDS ENTERTAINMENT 


AND GARDENS 

370 Zoo Parkway • Jacksonville, Fl 


BEST LIVE MUSIC BAR 

LYNCH’S IRISH PUB 

514 1St Street, North 


904.249.5181 • lynchsirishpub.com 

BEST LIVE MUSIC VENUE 

THE ST. AUGUSTINE 

AMPHITHEATRE 

1340C A1a S • St. Augustine, Fl 

904.209.0367 

staugamphitheatre.com 

BEST LIVE THEATRE 

ALHAMBRA THEATRE 

& DINING 

12000 Beach Blvd. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.641.1212 • alhambrajax.com 

BEST LOCAL NONPROFIT 

ORGANIZATION 

K9S FOR WARRIORS 

114 Camp K9 Rd. • Ponte Vedra, Fl 

904.686.1956 • k9sforwarriors.org 

BEST LOCAL SPORTS TEAM 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 

1 Tiaa Bank Field Drive 

Jacksonville, Fl • jaguars.com 

BEST MARINA 

JULINGTON CREEK 

MARINA 

12807 San Jose Blvd.Jacksonville, Fl 

904.268.5117 • jacksonvilleboatdock.com 

BEST MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO 

TERSAK’S FAMILY 

MARTIAL ARTS 

ACADEMY 

12276-201 San Jose Blvd 


Tersaksmartialarts.com 

BEST MOVIE THEATER 

CINEMARK 

TINSELTOWN & XD 

4535 Southside Blvd • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.998.2122 • Cinemark.com 

BEST MUSEUM 

CUMMER MUSEUM 

OF ART & GARDENS 

829 Riverside Ave. • Jacksonville, Fl 

904.356.6857 

cummermuseum.org 

BEST SUMMER CAMP 


AND GARDENS 

370 Zoo Pkwy • Jacksonville, Fl 


BEST TRIVIA NIGHT 

MELLOW MUSHROOM 


904.388.0200 

mellowmushroom.com 

BEST WATER SPORTS ACTIVITY 

ADVENTURE LANDING 



904.246.4386 


BEST YOGA STUDIO 

YOGA DEN 

2970 Hartley Road, Suite 106 


yoga-den.com

GET EVERYTHING* YOU SEE HERE AT 

LA-Z-BOY 

*Kristen Bell 

not included 

Everyone knows that La-Z-Boy makes great recliners, but you might be surprised to discover that we also 

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to furnish your perfect home, except for Kristen Bell, of course. 

Avenues ∙ Fleming Island ∙ St. Johns Town Center ∙ 904-425-7010 

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Your Connection to a Healthier Life 

R 

Comprehensive Healthcare 

Services in North Florida 

Accepting NEW Patients! 

As one of the largest independent physician groups 

in Florida, Millennium is proud to offer primary care 

services to Florida’s First Coast. 

Now accepting new patients for primary care! 

OFFICE LOCATIONS: 

JACKSONVILLE: 

Ulises Caraballo, M.D. 

Oscar Enrique Rodas, M.D. 

Zwinda Ortiz - Roldan, M.D. 

Ruth King, PA-C 

Katie Wendt, PA-C 

1201 Monument Road, 

Ste. 201B 


(904) 727-5151 

Satywan Chhabria, M.D. 

7011 AC Skinner Parkway, 

Ste. 160 


(904) 420-6102 

Walk-ins Welcome 

Ernst Michel, M.D. 

Josmine Bernadin, APRN 

5851 Timuquana Road, 

Ste. 303 


(904) 674-2699 


Alpa Patel, M.D. 

Mohammad Farooq Taj, M.D. 

Joyce Goodman, PA-C 

7751 Baymeadows Road East, 

Ste. H 


(904) 425-6963 


Victor Micolucci, M.D. 

Zhi Jian Yu, M.D., Ph.D. 

Weichi Liao, M.D., Ph.D. 

Courtney Griffin, PA-C 

Samantha Adessa, PA-C 

Elizabeth Marshall, PA-C 

11513 N. Main Street, 


(904) 751-6200 

Call us 

today...your 

connection to a 

healthier life! 

JACKSONVILLE LAB: 

1201 Monument Road, 

Ste. 201B 


(904) 420-6105 

Mon - Fri: 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 

We welcome you to our offices not just as a patient, 

but as our family, the Millennium family. 

•Accepting Most Major Insurances 

•Same Day Appointments 

•Annual Wellness Visits 

• Lab Services 

JACKSONVILLE BEACH: 

Anthony L. Capasso, M.D. 

Allison Krebs, MSN, NP-C 

Jelisse Marrero, APRN 

1351 13th Ave South, 

Ste. 110 

Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250 

(904) 249-9995 

PONTE VEDRA BEACH: 

Eric Norenberg, M.D 

Razvan Balotescu, M.D. 

Nancy Stark, PA-C 

Jelisse Marrero, APRN 

228 Ponte Vedra Park Drive, 

Ste. 500 

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082 

(904) 273-1180 

MACCLENNY: 

Angelito Tecson, M.D. 

Whitney Nimmo - Olsen, APRN 

725 South 6th Street 

Macclenny, FL 32063 

(904) 259-3150 


FERNANDINA BEACH: 

Henry Rodeffer, M.D. 

Philip Todd DeVane, M.D. 

Gerald Burford, M.D. 

Alana Smith, PA-C 

Mary Herbert, APRN 

Matthew Collins, PA-C 

Jennifer Harper, APRN 

Nicole Mischler, APRN 

1250 South 18th Street, 

Ste. 202 

Fernandina Beach, FL 32034 

(904) 277-4690 

www.MillenniumPhysician.com/find-a-location/

Discover Jacksonville 2020

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