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Neighborhoods of Jacksonville, Florida
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As the largest city in land area in the contiguous United States, Jacksonville is divided both formally and informally into a few large sections. Though most residents divide the city into Northside, Southside, Westside, and—increasingly over the past decade, Arlington—Jacksonville’s official website divides the city into six major sections:
With the rapid growth in the eastern part of Duval County, the Intracoastal/Beaches/Ponte Vedra area is viewed by many as a major section as well, but is not generally included in a Jacksonville list since they lie outside of the Jacksonville city limits.
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As the largest city in land area in the contiguous United States, Jacksonville is divided both formally and informally into a few large sections. Though most residents divide the city into Northside, Southside, Westside, and—increasingly over the past decade, Arlington—Jacksonville’s official website divides the city into six major sections:
- Greater Arlington, more commonly known to Jacksonville citizens simply as Arlington, is situated east and south of the St. Johns River and north of Beach Blvd.
- North Jacksonville is officially designated by the city website as everything north of the St. Johns & Trout Rivers and east of US 1. Much of this area is known by Jacksonville residents as the Northside, though much of what is called "Northside" does not fall within these boundaries, and much of what falls within these boundaries has not been traditionally known as "Northside".
- Northwest Jacksonville is located north of Interstate 10, south of the Trout River and surrounds the downtown section. The parts of this area between US Highway 1 and the Trout and St. John's River is usually considered part of either the "Northside" or, alternately, Downtown. Much of this section is actually rural land, not easily classified as part of any section.
- Southeast Jacksonville, almost universally known as Southside, refers to everything east of the St. Johns River and south of Beach Blvd.
- Southwest Jacksonville makes up most of what is known in Jacksonville as the Westside, though parts of Northwest Jacksonville also are considered part of the "Westside". It consists of everything west of the St. Johns River and south of Interstate 10.
- The Urban Core, most of which is commonly known as Downtown, includes the south & north banks of the narrowest part of the St. Johns River east from the Fuller Warren Bridge and extending roughly north and east.
With the rapid growth in the eastern part of Duval County, the Intracoastal/Beaches/Ponte Vedra area is viewed by many as a major section as well, but is not generally included in a Jacksonville list since they lie outside of the Jacksonville city limits. There is also a distinct part of the city known as "Eastside" which those unfamiliar with Jacksonville's overall geography sometimes mistakenly regard as one of the major divisions of town, rather than the localized neighborhood which it is.
Today, what distinguishes a "section" of Jacksonville from a "neighborhood" is primarily a matter of size and divisibility. However, definitions are imprecise, and sometimes not universally agreed upon.
Each of these sections not only encompasses a large area, but also, each is divided into many neighborhoods. Each of these neighborhoods, in turn, has its own identity.
Each of these sections is divided into many neighborhoods. Some of these neighborhoods, such as Mandarin and LaVilla, had existed previously as independent towns or villages, prior to consolidation, and have their own histories.
=Sections=
North Jacksonville
Jacksonville's Northside is a diamond in the rough, offering an expanse of land to those desiring a quieter lifestyle and an area being mapped to handle growth with strategic planning. Although the area has been known primarily for industry, that is changing. Many people see the Northside as convenient to downtown; Jacksonville International Airport is only a 15-minute drive; various recreational opportunities exist including Big Talbot and Little Talbot islands, the Jacksonville Zoo and Huguenot Park. The area also backs up to of the Timucuan preserve.
The Northside has been home to many famous individuals and has also produced many well known Jacksonville political figures. Former Jacksonville Mayor Jake Godbold and US Representative Corrine Brown call the Northside home. The late Bob Hayes was also a product of Jacksonville's Northside. Most prominent among Northside schools is Stanton College Preparatory School. Stanton, which offers an International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, has been consistently ranked among the top high schools in the nation by the US News and World Report.
Three commercial strip malls have opened or are on the drawing boards. One opened in 2003 at Interstate 295 and Lem Turner Road and is anchored by Home Depot. Another, the Duval Station Centre across from First Coast High School, also opened in 2003 and is anchored by Publix. The Jacksonville Airport Authority is planning Woodwinds, a new industrial office park with commercial space and a golf course. The park will also house offices and warehouses on of land owned by the authority.
Neighborhoods include Biscayne, Biscayne Terrace, Black Hammock Island, Blount Island, Brown Island, College Park, Copper Hill, Dames Point, Dinsmore, Durkeville, Duval, Eagle Bend, East Point, Forrest Trails, Fort George Island, Garden City, Hart Estates, Highlands, Hollyford, Imeson Park, Jax North Estates, Jamestown, Little Marsh Hill, New Berlin, North New Berlin, North Lake, Oceanway, Pecan, Pumpkin, San Mateo, The Cape, Turtle Creek and Yellow Bluff.
Dames Point
The forgotten frontier in Jacksonville is Dames Point. It has an abundance of waterfront property, unspoiled views Dunn Creek and the St. Johns, Trout and Broward rivers. Nature and industry coexist. The Dames Point Bridge, completed in 1989, opened the area to tremendous growth opportunity. With a scarcity of affordable waterfront property on the Southside of Jacksonville, buyers are looking north, where waterfront property is still relatively affordable.
Dinsmore
Dinsmore is one of several small towns that formerly existed far outside of Jacksonville’s city limits, and were absorbed through consolidation. Still quite rural at heart, Dinsmore has the look and feel of a “one-road town”, that road being Old Kings Road. Though Dinsmore remained quite small for thirty years after becoming part of Jacksonville, new subdivisions are being built on the northwestern edge of Dinsmore, with the population of the area looking to more than double in less than a decade.
Durkeeville
Durkeeville was a popular residential area in the 1920s. Between then and now, not so much. Public housing was constructed in the 1960s, and within twenty years, it became ugly, run-down and decaying. The projects were demolished in the 1990s and replaced with nicely kept townhouses and single-family homes, a park and shopping area. Durkeeville was honored by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development as one of the top public housing areas in the nation in 2000. The homeowners association of the Myrtle Avenue neighborhood helped make many positive changes in the area. The Durkeeville Historical Society opened a museum in 2000 that is dedicated to telling the stories of many prominent African Americans from the area, such as Charlie "Hoss" Singleton, who wrote Frank Sinatra's Strangers in the Night.
Garden City
Like its neighbor to the west, Dinsmore, Garden City was also once a town of its own, as evidenced by the many churches and businesses that still bear “Garden City” in their title. But Garden City is closer to the main body of Jacksonville, and as such, it no longer has Dinsmore’s rural “feel”. The main road through Dinsmore, Dunn Ave., has exploded with growth since the mid 1990s, and is becoming the center of professional businesses (such as medical establishments, lawyers, learning centers) for the Northside.
Durkeeville
A small, historic neighborhood located in the urban core, Durkeeville can be defined by its historical district boundaries (Kings Rd on the south, 13th St. on the north, Whitner St. on the west, and I-95 on the east). Though small, Durkeeville looms large in Jacksonville and even African American history. Durkeeville was home to the Jacksonville Red Caps, a team that was part of the Negro Leagues of professional baseball. The ball park in which the Red Caps played, J. P. Small Ballpark, is still preserved in excellent condition, and is used by local leagues.
Oceanway
Oceanway is located just north of San Mateo. Once an area of small farms and isolated houses, since the 1980s, Oceanway has grown dramatically with the addition of numerous residential neighborhoods, which was further encouraged by the building of First Coast High School in 1990, and several other schools for lower grades. Oceanway's growth has been cultural as well as economic. As recently as the 1980s, Oceanway was still regarded as typifying perhaps the epitome of racism in Jacksonville; twenty years ago a trailer only blocks from the new high school housed the self-proclaimed leader of Jacksonville's Ku Klux Klan. But with growth has come the influx of a more educated, more economically successful, and ethnically diverse population. Oceanway and the bordering neighborhoods of New Berlin and Yellow Bluff are now amongst the fastest growing areas of the city, and would literally be unrecognizable to someone who "came home" today after a twenty-year absence. Amelia View, an upscale development with homes starting at $250,000, features deep, navigable water and direct access to the Intracoastal Waterway and a clear view across Nassau Sound to Amelia Island. Parcels must be quarter- to a half-acre in size and community amenities include lakes, gazebos, parks and a pool. Companies along busy Busch Drive include Anheuser-Busch, Smurfit-Stone Container and Bacardi.
San Mateo
Prior to 1956, the area was mostly forest with huge oaks, wild holly trees, magnolias, hickories, pines, wildflowers and abundant wildlife. In late 1955, the first families began moving in. 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 is a small neighborhood, bounded on the south by the Broward River, on the west by Main Street, and on the north and east by Eastport Rd. Over the past 30 years, San Mateo has been one of the more unchanging area within Jacksonville. Relatively isolated, with no heavy-use roads passing through and a limited number of access streets, San Mateans take great pride in their neighborhood and its school, San Mateo Elementary, which is an Academic and Academically Gifted magnet school. Most homes were built in the late 1960s, though in recent years skyrocketing real estate values have caused a few small homes lying on both Baisden Rd. and along the Broward River to be demolished and replaced by much larger homes.
Greater Arlington
Arlington is home to the first European settlement in North America, Fort Caroline, now a State Park, founded by French Huguenots in 1562. Another historical fact about Arlington is that, at one time, it included a home for newly freed slaves from Kingsley Plantation. In 1955, a controversial bridge, known to locals as the "Bridge to Nowhere", was built across the St. Johns River heading east of Downtown Jacksonville. Yet within ten years of the completion of the Mathews Bridge, Arlington became the most populous portion of Southside, and by consolidation, over 50% of Jacksonville residents who called the Southside "home" were denizens of Arlington. Much of Arlington's initial growth was attributed to people moving from the older Paxon area on the Westside, which was becoming industrialized. For thirty years, Arlington was roughly bounded by Southside Blvd. on the east, the Arlington Expressway on the south, and the St. Johns River on the west and north. To the east of this area lay little but woods and wetlands, all the way to the intracoastal waterway. However, in the 1980s, two trends began to change this definition. First of all, growth exploded along Atlantic Blvd., with the wooded areas falling to development. Secondly, Arlington, which had been a moderately prestigious area to live during the 1960s, began to acquire a reputation as a neighborhood in slow decline. Realtors, wishing to best market these new areas of the Southside, coined the rather logical term, "East Arlington", or "Greater Arlington". However, those terms failed to become universally recognized. Arlington is also home to Jacksonville University.
Residential neighborhoods included within the Arlington/East Arlington/Greater Arlington area include Alderman Park, Arlington, Arlington Hills, Arlington Manor, Arlingwood, Atlantic Blvd Estates, Atlantic Highlands, Beachwood, Beacon Hills, Charter Point, Clifton, Cobblestone, Colony Cove, East Arlington, Empire Point, Fara Ways Forrest, Fort Caroline, Gilmore, Girvin, Glynlea/Grove Park, Golden Glades/The Wood, Hidden Hills Country Club, The Hills, Hogan, Holiday Harbors, Holiday Hill/Century, Holly Oaks, Lake Lucina, Love Grove/Riviera Ma, Mayport, Monterey, North Beach, Oak Haven, Park Ridge, Regency, St. Johns Bluff, St. Nicholas, Sandalwood, Southside Estates, Spring Glen, University Park, Woodland Acres, Woodmere, University Club, The Valleys, Floral Bluff, Chaseville, Newcastle, Mill Cove and Kendall Town.
Mayport
Mayport is an eclectic mix of a beach community, fishing town and a large military presence. The area is home to a fleet of shrimp boats, a large naval base, old Florida-style bungalows and numerous pelicans squatting on salt-warped pilings. The Mayport Waterfront Partnership, which includes business people, civic leaders and residents, is dedicated to revitalizing the historic fishing village. The organization was developed through a state grant in 1997 to restore Mayport. The primary emphasis is developing zoning standards, installing underground utilities, correcting street & drainage problems and community beautification.
The $110 million Wonderwood Connector, which was finished in late 2007, eased traffic bottlenecks due to the thousands who work at Naval Station Mayport. Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is the northernmost beach on the south side of the St. Johns River. The city park has of uncrowded beaches with high dunes that are densely forested on the inland side, a hiking trail and a small water park for children.
Mayport is also home to a major fishing industry. You can buy Mayport shrimp and other seafood fresh off the docks from many of the seafood companies that operate there.
Saint Nicholas
The British settled the northern bank of the St. Johns River at the narrow crossing called the "cow ford" in 1822 and the Spanish fortified the Pass de San Nicolas along the southern bank, making it an important northerly point of defense for St. Augustine. After the Civil War and through the late 1800s, the area from the ferry landing to the Arlington River, including Empire Point, was always referred to as the village of St. Nicholas. For most holidays, and especially Christmas, the neighborhood celebrates as a whole. The streets are lined with luminaria and a holiday party is held that includes a visit from St. Nick, of course. The community is situated where Beach and Atlantic boulevards meet, and is just a few minutes from Interstate 95, downtown and San Marco’s shopping district. St. Nicholas is also the location of two respected private high schools in Jacksonville. Episcopal and Bishop Kenny both have beautiful campuses with century-old oaks standing tall along the St. Johns River with spectacular views of downtown Jacksonville.
Sandalwood
The Sandalwood neighborhood began developing in the spring of 1960, midway between downtown Jacksonville and the beaches, or about from each, was advertised in 1960-61 as "On the Southside - halfway between business and pleasure!" The builder-developer, Pearce-Uible, was located at 3850 Beach Blvd.
The original neighborhood was bordered by the then two-lane Atlantic Boulevard on the north, a mile of palmetto and scrub on the south before reaching Beachwood neighborhood and Beach Boulevard, the western part of the neighborhood was bordered by the less than two-lane dirt road named St. John's Bluff, and the eastern border of the neighborhood was defined by a storm drainage ditch called the Sandalwood Canal. The original streets are named after mostly South Pacific islands and most of the streets are, from north to south, in alphabetical order. The original street names are Aloha Drive; Batavia Drive; Caledonia Drive; Delago Drive; Eniwetok Drive; Fiji Court; Hawaii Drive East; Hawaii Drive South; Indies Drive North; Indies Drive East; Indies Drive South; Java Drive; Kuralei Drive; Mindanao Drive (The main drag); Sandalwood Boulevard (Original main entrance road); Bahia Drive; Dulawan Drive; and Kusaie Drive.
The were eight original home styles named as follows: Aloha; Bahama; Bikini; Caledonia; Del ray; Java; Polynesian; and Waikiki. Free airplane rides over Sandalwood were offered during the grand opening. The entrance and sales office located on Sandalwood Boulevard boasted a winding, palm lined street, and adjacent play area for the children. Homes were priced from $11,400 to $16,000, with monthly payments as low as $67. The original Sandalwood consisted of approximately 500 homes. The first families purchased homes in May and June 1960. Many of the first families were U.S. Navy families who were stationed at the Mayport base and others were employed by CSX railroad.
In the late 1970s, additional construction began at the southern border by the Sofranko Homes company, nearly doubling the size of the neighborhood. Most of the original early 1960s families have moved away over the years, but a handful of the original families are still left from the early 1960s.
Southeast Jacksonville
Neighborhoods include Arrowhead, Avenues, Bayard, Baymeadows, Baymeadows Center, Beach Haven, Beauclerc, Bowden, Brackridge, Brierwood, Craven, Deercreek, Deerwood, Deerwood Center, Del Rio, Englewood, Goodbys Creek, Greenfield Manor, Greenland, Isle of Palms, Julington Creek, Kilarney Shores, Lakewood, Loretto, Mandarin, Mandarin Station, Miramar, Montclair, Pickwick Park, Pine Forrest, Royal Lakes, San Jose, San Jose Forrest, San Marco, Sans Pareil, Sans Souci, Secret Cove, South Riverside, Southpoint, Southwood, Spring Park, Sunbeam, Tiger Hole and Windy Hill.
Bayard
Bayard has a rich history that antedates its inclusion in the municipality of Jacksonville. For more information, see Bayard.
Baymeadows
Baymeadows is a relatively affluent neighborhood centered around Baymeadows Road. It is situated south of Arlington (specifically, south of J. Turner Butler Boulevard) and east of Mandarin. A center for white-collar employment, it is home to many corporate office parks, upscale apartment complexes and residential developments, two private golf courses, several shopping centers and a large shopping mall.
Lakewood
Lakewood, which lies in the area where San Jose Blvd. and University Blvd intersect, is a residential area with houses built in the 1950s. It has several churches, two shopping centers, and a plethora of streets named after major private colleges, such as Clemson, Cornell, Fordham, and Emory.
Loretto
Loretto is a distinct part of the greater Mandarin area, and 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. The catholic church still owns the property on all four corners of the intersection of St. Augustine Road and Loretto/Greenland Roads. The Loretto area public schools always have been highly regarded; on the FCAT, they're all rated A, B or C. The average price for homes that become available in Loretto is just under $200K. Many homes are built on some of the largest new construction lots in the area and there are a lot of dead-end streets and cul-de-sacs. Over the length of San Jose Boulevard, residents can find just about every merchant, service or restaurant available in the city. Loretto has a solid, hometown feel, with established neighborhoods, parks and nature areas nearby, making it the proverbial middle America.
Mandarin
Mandarin has a rich history that antedates its inclusion in the municipality of Jacksonville. For more information, see Mandarin.
San Marco
San Marco is a relatively small and generally upscale neighborhood located south of Downtown and north of Mandarin. Due to large differences in property value, income distribution, and reported crime statistics in a relatively small area, San Marco is diverse. In one block, residences range from low cost, multi-family dwellings to sprawling riverside mansions. It is an area of historical and cultural significance in Jacksonville, and its inhabitants and proprietors identify strongly with their community.
Known as a trendy area, the most identifying feature of San Marco is "the Square," an artsy shopping, dining, and entertainment district; its galleries, restaurants, and boutiques are overwhelmingly independently owned, operated, and supported which lends to its vogue. Visitors of the Square are likely to see polite intermingling between young professionals, landed gentry, "scenesters," and "starving artists."
Common landmarks are its large statue of three lions and the Art Deco styled San Marco Theater.
Sunbeam
Sunbeam is a relatively new neighborhood centered around Sunbeam Road which runs east/west between Philips Highway and San Jose Boulevard. It is situated south of Baymeadows Road, east of Mandarin and north of the Avenues Mall. The area includes the site of the former Sunbeam Sanitary Landfill which opened in 1972. The dump emitted objectionable odors, which discouraged development nearby. The landfill permit expired in 1986, and the facility stopped accepting garbage. After being covered with a deep cap, which prevents the elements from coming in and waste from coming out, the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation (FDER) certified it closed on October 21, 1992. With the odor problem resolved, development resumed in the middle 1990's including subdivisions, apartment complexes, commercial buildings and the Community Hospice of Northeast Florida center. A golf course on and around the original landfill was planned and delayed for several years but construction finally began in late 2007 and projected to open in Fall, 2008.
Southwest Jacksonville
Neighborhoods include Argyle, Avondale, Cedar Hills, Cedar Hills Estates, Chimney Lakes, Confederate Point, Duclay, Duclay Forest, Fairfax, Herlong, Hillcrest, Hyde Park, Jax Farms, Jacksonville Heights, Lakeshore, Maxville, McGirts Creek, Murray Hill, Normandy Manor, Normandy Village, Oak Hill, Ortega, Ortega Farms, Ortega Forest, Ortega Hills, Otis, Riverside, Rolling Hills, Settlers Landing, Sweetwater, Venetia, Wesconnett, Whitehouse, Yukon and West Jacksonville.
The Westside is home to Paxon School for Advanced Studies, which happens to be one of the top schools in the nation by academics since 2003. The Westside is also home to some of the most culturally diverse schools in Duval County to date.
Argyle
One of the newest and largest neighborhoods on Jacksonville's Westside, and occupying a large area of former ranchland, Argyle has grown rapidly from its beginnings in the mid-1980s. Straddling the Duval/Clay county line, Argyle was originally accessible only from Blanding Boulevard in Orange Park. However, as it has expanded westward, Argyle is now connected to Jacksonville's far-Westside by a number of roads, including the Brannan Field-Chaffee Road corridor that links I-10 directly with Middleburg. Argyle remains a popular choice for middle-class families that are recently settling in Jacksonville.
Avondale
Historic Avondale lies along the St. John's River southwest of the Riverside area, some three to four miles (6 km) upriver from downtown Jacksonville. Avondale is known for its quiet, tree-lined residential streets and hundreds of quaint homes, most dating from the early 1920s during the Great Florida Land Boom. A few Avondale homes pre-date 1900. Most homes in the neighborhood reflect the middle to upper income taste in residential architecture of the 1920s, including numerous Prairie School, Art Deco, Craftsman Style, Classical Revival, and Mediterranean Revival styles. Avondale is characterized by numerous bungalows and spacious, graceful homes. Unlike some other neighborhoods, Avondale never experienced a period of decline during the latter 20th Century, and retains much of its original gentility.
Two-lane St. John's Avenue is the key traffic artery through Avondale, and is the location of the Avondale Shops, a small but vibrant collection of specialty shops, clothing stores, cafes, and upscale restaurants, most of which are located in original 1920s structures.
Cedar Hills
Cedar Hills lies along the Cedar River (called Cedar Creek by the locals), on the opposite shore from Lake Shore, and stretches from Blanding Boulevard on the east to Lane Avenue to the west. Built in the 1940s, Cedar Hills consists of some 3,000 single-family brick or concrete block homes in seven different residential neighborhoods that are anchored by the Cedar Hills Shopping Center business district. Most of the homes are modest, although many of the homes along the shore of the Cedar River have been greatly expanded, or replaced with much larger homes.
Confederate Point
Built in the 1960s on reclaimed lowlands, technically a small island surrounded by a moat, with one small bridge as access. Confederate Point lies along the Cedar River (called Cedar Creek by the locals), on the opposite shore from Lake Shore. Confederate Point stretches from the Ortega River to the east, to Blanding Boulevard on the West, and is bordered by the Cedar River to the North, and Timaquana Boulevard to the South. The area consists of approximately 300 large, single family homes, and approximately 700 condos and apartments that line the south bank of the Cedar River. All of the single family homes are inland, with the apartments and condos lining the shore of the Cedar River. The area is popular given that it is close to water, and Downtown, yet also exclusive in that there is only one road in or out.
Lake Shore
Built during the time of the first World War, Lake Shore lies on the curving north bank of the Cedar River (called Cedar Creek by the locals), and stretches from Roosevelt Boulevard on the east, to the Cedar River to the West, and is bordered by the Cedar River to the South, and Park Street to the North, and is bisected by Cassat Avenue. Lake Shore consists of approximately 1,000 modest, wood-frame, concrete block or brick homes, with the exception of approximately 80 quite large estates that line the shore of the Cedar River. The neighborhood is anchored by the Roosevelt Plaza on Roosevelt Boulevard, and the Lake Shore business district of stores up and down Cassat Avenue. Lake Shore is centrally located on the Westside, with quick access to Downtown Jacksonville via Roosevelt Boulevard. Given the small size of the existing homes, the current trend is for first time home buyers to renovate and retrofit these well built homes to fit today's needs. This is a very well maintained pocket of 1940s and 1950s homes. There is a definite trend to renovate and revitalize this quiet, comfortable neighborhood.
Marietta
Marietta is one of the small farming communities that was absorbed during the 1968 consolidation of Jacksonville with Duval County. Though technically a part of the city proper today, much of Marietta still retains its small-town, and even rural "feel", with some old-style farms and ranches, and most homes occupying lots of or more, on which they keep horses and cattle, or raise grain and maintain orchards. Marietta is popular with old Southern families, and new families who moved to Jacksonville from mid-western agricultural states. Companies looking for more space have also found Marietta. The area west of Marietta and east of Whitehouse along Beaver Street is now home to the Publix warehouse, Michael's warehouse and the Winn-Dixie distribution center. The Westside Industrial Park is just north of Marietta.
Normandy
Outside of what would eventually become Jacksonville, and originally called "Hogan Settlement", The Normandy area was settled by Jacksonville's "Founding Family", the "Hogan's" who were the first white settlers in Duval County. The Normandy area is a large swath of forested high-ground that straddles both sides of Normandy Boulevard, and stretches from Cassat Avenue on the East, out to Herlong Airfield on the West, and is bordered by I-10 to the North, and Wilson Road to the South. Though originally populated by the large ranches of many of Duval County's founding families such as the Hogans, Lindseys, Fourakers, and the Herlongs, the area is now a bedroom community, containing over a dozen large residential neighborhoods such as Normandy, Normandy Village, Rolling Hills, Country Creek, Crystal Springs, Hyde Grove, Hyde Park, etc, with very few apartment complexes or condo developments. These neighborhoods have their own sewer and water plants, and unlike most wood-constructed homes in Jacksonville's newer neighborhoods, most homes in the Normandy area are constructed of brick, or concrete block. The area is home to some of the city's best schools, and parks. Unlike other sections of the city, where people tend to move from home to home every 2 or 3 years; homes in the Normandy area are routinely transferred from generation to generation, and it is not unusual for great-grandchildren to live in homes originally built by their great-grandparents..
Ortega
Historic Ortega lies on the St Johns River just south of the historic Riverside area. Ortega is bordered by the St. Johns River on the East, the Cedar River on the North, and the Ortega river on the West, practically making it an "inland island." The history of the area includes a number of interesting characters: 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 to leave due to attacks of Georgians and the French. Gangster George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his wife were rumored to be the mysterious couple who abruptly left their rented Grand Avenue home hours before a midnight police raid in 1933. Ortega is home to hundreds of mid-size to large, turn-of-the-century homes and Southern Style mansions. Many of these antebellum homes are situated directly on the river, and the nature of the "island" allows ease of access to the waterways for all residents. Along with Avondale and Riverside, Ortega is home to some of the wealthiest of Jacksonville families. It is marked by a distinctly traditional Southern culture complete with one of the South's most exclusive debutante coiteries. The island is almost exclusively residential, the only exception being a small square in the section known as "Old Ortega" on the northern end where a small collection of restaurants, boutiques, and a pharmacy are found. Ortega, with its giant oaks, antebellum waterfront mansions, and series of parks is widely considered one of the most beautiful residential areas of Northeast Florida.
Paxon
Platted in the 1920s and 30's, the Paxon area is one of the oldest, pre-platted neighborhoods in Jacksonville. Built due to the redistribution of housing after the Great Fire, the Paxon area replaced the many thousands of homes that were destroyed in the Great Fire with thousands of modest, wood-framed homes. The Paxon area was extensively well-planned with its own schools (originally known as Paxon Sr. High School and Paxon Jr. High School, along with a half-dozen small elementary schools). The area straddles Edgewood Avenue South, and stretches from Mcduff Avenue to the East, and I-295 to the West, and is bordered by I-10 to the South, and I-295 to the North. The area originally contained over 40,000 single family homes in over 15 different residential neighborhoods, all anchored by the Edgewood Avenue, and Beaver Street business districts. However, over time, the area declined due to the small average size of the homes, and many of those homes were destroyed, and replaced with warehouses and mixed industry. Despite the new industrialization of the area overall, there are still many thousands of occupied homes in the Paxon area. Paxon Senior High School has been converted into a magnet school—it is now known as Paxon School for Advanced Studies—which has been listed by Forbes Magazine as one of the top three high schools in the United States for the last four years.
Riverside
Confederate veteran Miles Price sold of his property, known as Dell's Bluff, to a Yankee, Edward M. Cheney, and financial backer John M. Forbes of Boston for $10,000 in gold. Forbes and Cheney built grand riverfront homes in 1868 and waited for the influx of residents. For more than 30 years, they remained the only homeowners in the very rural area. It wasn't until the period following the Great Fire of 1901 that residents left the downtown area. Architects and construction companies from all over the country had flocked to Jacksonville for a unique opportunity, 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 John Klutho and Addison Mizner.
By 1911, the riverfront on Riverside Avenue was lined with elegant mansions and was called one of the most beautiful streets in America. Riverside lies on the St Johns River just south of Downtown Jacksonville and is home to the historic "5 Points" and "King Street" business districts, with apartment towers along the river and hundreds of large, spacious, turn-of-the-century homes, and even some brick streets. Since the 1970s, the "Riverside/Avondale Preservation District" has guided the rebirth of this late-1900s era neighborhood. Along with Avondale and Ortega, Riverside was originally the home to the wealthiest of Jacksonville families. In the late 1950s & '60s, the area went into decay, with many of those grand old homes being converted into rooming houses. However, after being designated a "National Historic Neighborhood", by the late 1990s, Riverside had recovered, with many homes restored to their original form. The Avondale, Riverside, and Ortega area is popular with those families who prefer to own large old Southern Style homes, with easy access to the river, just next to downtown.
Venetia
With an area along one of the most scenic stretches of the west bank of the St. Johns River, the Venetia area is a pleasant location. 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 (where PGA Tour golfer David Duval's father Bob was once head pro) is a buffer from the hustle and bustle of the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, while the Florida Yacht Club also provides rest and relaxation on the river for its members. The homes are older but beautifully kept, with manicured, expansive lawns. Most homes fetch several hundred thousand dollars, while those on the river start at $1 million.
Wesconnett
Wesconnett, more than a century old, has grown and evolved along with Jacksonville. Today, this neighborhood offers a diverse variety of residential areas, goods and services. Blanding Boulevard, Timuquana Road and 103rd Street are the site of hundreds of businesses, including car dealerships, mom-and-pop stores and several shopping districts. Jacksonville's last drive-in theater, the Playtime Drive-In and Flea Market, was on Blanding Boulevard in Wesconnett until it closed in 2008. Two post offices serve the area: the Westland Station and Lake Shore Station. Under the Better Jacksonville Plan, the area received improvements to streets and parks. Blanding Boulevard was also widened, and improvements were planned for Wesconnett Boulevard. Lighting was installed for the ballfields at at Ringhaver Park and Wesconnett Park; walking trails were created and five soccer fields were planned. The area has some excellent schools, including the Wesconnett and Timucuan elementaries and J.E.B. Stuart Middle School. Most residents like the area because it is quaint and quiet, yet it is only a 10- to 20-minute commute to downtown or to the Orange Park Mall. There are many established, older neighborhoods with nice block or brick homes that are moderately priced and conveniently located. There is a wide range of home prices in the area, from $75,000 for starter homes and up to $500,000 for homes located on Fishing Creek or Butcher Pen Creek. There is also a lot of new construction.
Whitehouse
The community of Whitehouse was originally founded due to its close proximity to NAS Cecil Field, with most residents being active Navy personnel or civilian employees at the facility. When the federal government closed Cecil Field in 1999, the leaving military workers were replaced by civilian workers at the Cecil Commerce Center. The area east of Whitehouse along Beaver Street is now home to the Publix warehouse, Michael's warehouse and the Winn-Dixie distribution center, which provide additional employment nearby.
Northwest Jacksonville
A less developed section of Jacksonville, it is primarily commercial/industrial around Interstate 295 and rural residential in most areas. Neighborhoods include: Allendale, Biltmore,
Bulls Bay, Carver Manor, Cisco Gardens, College Gardens, Commonwealth, Edgewood, Edgewood Manor, Grand Park, Harborview, Lackawanna, Lake Forrest, Lake Forrest Hills,
Lincoln Hills, Magnolia Gardens, Mixon Town, New Town, Osceola Forrest, Panama Park, Picketville, Ribault, Riverview, Robinsons Addition, Royal Terrace, Sherwood Forrest, Tallulah/North Shore, Woodstock, 45th & Chase.
Panama Park
Panama Park was home to two of Jacksonville's previous mayors, and the founder's of Duval Spirits, the late J. Baker Bryan and his brother Lon B. Bryan. Oceanway is the home of F. Andy Bryan, Grandson of the late J. Baker Bryan, his great grandson J. Baker Bryan IV, lives in the Orlando area.
North Shore
The North Jacksonville neighborhood of North Shore had Main Street as its eastern border from about 35th Street up to Trout River. Panama Park was the adjoining neighborhood to the east, Norwood to the west and Brentwood to the south. The western border was between Norwood Avenue and Pearl Street, with Elwood Avenue as the western border. North Shore from the 1930s through the 1990s was largely a lower middle income neighborhood that included churches, a school (North Shore Elementary), and some small businesses clustered near Pearl and 54th Streets and at Pearl Street and Tallalah Avenue. The churches included: North Jacksonville Baptist Church, North Shore Methodist Church, North Shore Christian Church and an Episcopal Chapel. Two parks provided playgrounds for its children, including Tallulah Park and another park at the foot of Pearl Street on Trout River. For many years, the latter offered a boat ramp and areas for outdoor cooking and Easter Egg hunts. After graduating from North Shore Elementary School, its young people went on to Kirby-Smith Junior High School (grades 8-9) and Andrew Jackson Senior High School (grades 10-12). The City of Jacksonville built Fire Station Number 15 on the corner of Pearl and 54th Streets in the late 1940s, and it was a frequent hangout for the young people who were hoping that a fire call would provide some excitement as the firemen dashed for their gear and headed out on the ancient old pumper with chain-driven wooden wheels. Boy Scout Troop 222, based at the North Shore Christian Church provided life-changing core values and produced over 50 Eagle Scouts during its many years of service to the community.
Urban core
The central section of Jacksonville has the following neighborhoods: Brentwood, Brooklyn, Downtown, East Jacksonville, Fairfield, Hogans Creek, LaVilla, Longbranch, Midtown,
Mid-Westside, Moncrief, Phoenix, Springfield, Southside, Tallyrand and 29th & Chase.
LaVilla
LaVilla has a rich history that antedates its inclusion in the municipality of Jacksonville. For more information, see LaVilla.
Southside
In 1907, the town of South Jacksonville (now the Southside neighborhood) incorporated with a population of some 600. In 1913, 96 South Jacksonville voters approved the issuance of $65,000 in bonds for civic improvements, including a city hall. The building, at 1468 Hendricks Avenue, was completed in 1915 and is one of the few remaining signs that South Jacksonville existed, if only for 25 years. In 1932, the city of Jacksonville annexed the area, and it ceased to exist as a separate government entity.
Springfield
Springfield has a rich history that antedates its inclusion in the municipality of Jacksonville. For more information, see Springfield.
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