Orange Park, Florida
Encyclopedia
Orange Park is a town in Clay County
, Florida
, USA
, and a suburb
of Jacksonville. The population was 8,412 at the 2010 census. The name "Orange Park" is additionally applied to a wider area of northern Clay County outside the town limits, covering such communities as Fleming Island
, Lakeside
, and Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, making it one of Jacksonville's most populous suburbs.
The name reflects the hope of its founders for a fruit-growing industry, but their crops were destroyed in the Great Freeze
of 1894-95. Despite recovery elsewhere, the crops never came back to Orange Park.
, the company purchased several thousand acres of the McIntosh plantation at Laurel Grove, for the purpose of creating a southern retreat and small farming community. The town was incorporated in 1879 by a special act of the Florida Legislature
.
Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville and is located geographically adjacent to the southern border of the city.
Orange Park was the home of the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, one of ten regional centers for primate
research. The Orange Park center, established in 1930 by psychologist Robert Yerkes
and Yale University
and the Rockefeller Foundation
, was the first laboratory in the United States for the study of non-human primates.
Part of the land on which the Foxwood development sits was once a monkey research facility called the Yerkes Laboratories of Primate Biology (1930-1965). Prior to the Yerkes facility opening in 1930, Yerkes was engaged in his own research with two great apes, aptly named “Chim” and “Panzee”. His findings convinced officials at Yale University, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Carnegie Foundation to sponsor the Orange Park facility. Initially designed to house about 25 chimpanzees, researchers worked with an estimated 65 chimps (and possibly more) during the lab’s 35-year history. This location was home to chimpanzees nurtured as humans such as Gua (Chimpanzee)
and Viki and other primates from the estate of Madame Rosalia Abreu in Havana, Cuba. It was home to some of the leading behavioral scientists of the time, some of whom either liked or hated living in the humid South. These researchers studied various aspects of primate behavior, including basic biology, sensory function, reproductive systems, behavioral patterns, physiology and anatomy. Comically, rumors about the place by Orange Park residents included those of scientists cross-breeding humans with apes. Yet, the term “Monkey Farm” was (and still is) the popular name given to the Yerkes Labs by Orange Park residents.
The plot of land in Orange Park which Yerkes Labs sat upon was 188 acres, about a mile from the village of Orange Park. The actual research buildings sat on less than an acre, on what is now part of the Foxwood Center plaza (facing Orange Park Medical Center on Kingsley Avenue). In 1966, the abandoned buildings and adjacent land were purchased by Developer Marvin Wilhite of Ahpla, Inc., who still lives in Foxwood and built other communities such as Foxridge. He chose the name Ahpla (using a backward arrangement of the letters) after a female chimp named Alpha, who was the first chimp born at the Yerkes Labs on Sept. 11, 1930.
Foxwood Center still has some of the original laboratory buildings that once housed the chimps, the grounds caretaker, and administrative offices. These stand alongside others that have been added, including the Orange Park Chamber of Commerce building. The old caretaker’s house is now The Granary.
In 1956, Emory University
took over operation of the Center. In 1965, the center was relocated to the campus of Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia
. In 2002, the Center was renamed the Yerkes National Primate Research Center
, though officially the "Regional" name still applies.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
vocalist Ronnie Van Zant
was buried at Jacksonville Memorial Gardens (adjacent to the Orange Park Mall
) in Orange Park in 1977, but his remains were relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his tomb and the tomb of bandmate Steve Gaines
on June 29, 2000. Van Zant's casket was pulled out and spilled on the ground. The bag containing Gaines' ashes was torn open and some spilled into the grass. Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit.
at 30°10′7"N 81°42′31"W (30.168569, -81.708479).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²), of which, 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it (29.73%) is water.
The area known as Greater Orange Park encompasses the unincorporated communities of Fleming Island, Ridgewood, Doctor's Inlet, Orange Park South, and Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace.
In the last thirty years, numerous residential developments have been built including, but not limited to, Eagle Harbor, Loch Rane Estates, Orange Park Golf and Country Club (developed by Taylor Woodrow
communities of the United Kingdom), Eagle Landing Golf and Country Club, Laurel Grove Plantation, Margaret's Walk Plantation, Foxridge, Heritage Hills, Grove Park, Harbor Island, Oakleaf Plantation, Fleming Island Plantation, Stonebridge, Spencer's Crossing et al.
The land where Orange Park Golf and Country Club, Eagle Landing Golf and Country Club, Spencer's Crossing and other communities in the Argyle area used to be part of the massive Spencer family real estate holdings, whose first initial foray into residential homesites was Loch Rane.
Saint Johns River Community College has a big campus on College Drive. Meanwhile, Saint Johns Country Day School, a college preparatory institution that regularly has its graduates qualifying to Ivy League
universities, is located in the Doctor's Lake / Lakeside area.
Orange Park Elementary School
, built in 1927 and is a historic building, continues to operate a few blocks from the river. It is adjacent to Moose Haven which sits directly on the River Road Historic District
, a stretch of road dotted with century old trees parallel to the Saint Johns River and where many locals come to jog or promenade in the afternoon. A few meters away is Club Continental, previously called Mira Rio. Mira Rio or River Watch in Spanish was the winter palazzo
of of Caleb Johnson
, son of the founder of the Palmolive Soap Company, now the billion-dollar Colgate-Palmolive
company.
Many households are either affiliated with the military, with the presence of NAS Jacksonville less than a mile away, or are in the medical field.
of 2010, there were 8,412 people a 7.4% decline from 2010, 3,464 households, and 2,215 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,331.1 people per square mile (899.0/km²). There were 3,648 housing units at an average density of 936.4 per square mile (361.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.9% White, 14.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races
, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.8% of the population.
There were 3,464 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 34.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,631, and the median income for a family was $58,093. Males had a median income of $36,590 versus $26,846 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $24,087. About 4.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18, 17.1% of those age 65 or over.
Orange Park is also home to the largest of three campus' of St. Johns River State College, formerly known as St. Johns River Community College. The college is also home to Thrasher-Horne Center for the arts, a performing arts theater used for various plays and events. The college has a regular student base of 2,221 students but also hosts many dual enrollment students from Clay County high schools.
High Schools:
Clay County, Florida
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2010, the population was 190,895. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida. Clay County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.- History :...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and a suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Jacksonville. The population was 8,412 at the 2010 census. The name "Orange Park" is additionally applied to a wider area of northern Clay County outside the town limits, covering such communities as Fleming Island
Fleming Island, Florida
Fleming Island is an unincorporated community in Clay County, Florida, United States. It is located 15 miles southwest of Jacksonville, on the western side of the St. Johns River, off US 17. Fleming Island's zip code became 32003 in 2004 separating it from Orange Park.It is primarily a bedroom...
, Lakeside
Lakeside, Florida
Lakeside is a census-designated place in Clay County, Florida, United States. The population was 30,927 at the 2000 census.Lakeside is an unincorporated census area in greater Orange Park and consists of the separate community of Doctor's Inlet .-Geography:Lakeside is located at .According to the...
, and Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace, making it one of Jacksonville's most populous suburbs.
The name reflects the hope of its founders for a fruit-growing industry, but their crops were destroyed in the Great Freeze
Great Freeze
The Great Freeze refers to the winter of 1894-1895, especially in Florida where the brutally cold weather destroyed much of the nation's citrus crop. It was also known for wiping out the Royal Palm tree from central Florida.-Weather Records:...
of 1894-95. Despite recovery elsewhere, the crops never came back to Orange Park.
History
Founded in 1877 by the Florida Winter Home and Improvement Company. Following the Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the company purchased several thousand acres of the McIntosh plantation at Laurel Grove, for the purpose of creating a southern retreat and small farming community. The town was incorporated in 1879 by a special act of the Florida Legislature
Florida Legislature
The Florida State Legislature is the term often used to refer to the two houses that act as the state legislature of the U.S. state of Florida. The Florida Constitution states that "The legislative power of the state shall be vested in a legislature of the State of Florida," composed of a Senate...
.
Orange Park is a suburb of Jacksonville and is located geographically adjacent to the southern border of the city.
Orange Park was the home of the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center, one of ten regional centers for primate
Primate
A primate is a mammal of the order Primates , which contains prosimians and simians. Primates arose from ancestors that lived in the trees of tropical forests; many primate characteristics represent adaptations to life in this challenging three-dimensional environment...
research. The Orange Park center, established in 1930 by psychologist Robert Yerkes
Robert Yerkes
Robert Mearns Yerkes was an American psychologist, ethologist, and primatologist best known for his work in intelligence testing and in the field of comparative psychology....
and Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
and the Rockefeller Foundation
Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
, was the first laboratory in the United States for the study of non-human primates.
Part of the land on which the Foxwood development sits was once a monkey research facility called the Yerkes Laboratories of Primate Biology (1930-1965). Prior to the Yerkes facility opening in 1930, Yerkes was engaged in his own research with two great apes, aptly named “Chim” and “Panzee”. His findings convinced officials at Yale University, the Rockefeller Foundation and the Carnegie Foundation to sponsor the Orange Park facility. Initially designed to house about 25 chimpanzees, researchers worked with an estimated 65 chimps (and possibly more) during the lab’s 35-year history. This location was home to chimpanzees nurtured as humans such as Gua (Chimpanzee)
Gua (chimpanzee)
Gua was a chimpanzee raised as though it were a human child by scientists Luella and Winthrop Kellogg alongside their infant son Donald. Gua and Donald were raised as brother and sister. In tests Gua often tested ahead of Donald in reading and understanding. Slight differences in their placement...
and Viki and other primates from the estate of Madame Rosalia Abreu in Havana, Cuba. It was home to some of the leading behavioral scientists of the time, some of whom either liked or hated living in the humid South. These researchers studied various aspects of primate behavior, including basic biology, sensory function, reproductive systems, behavioral patterns, physiology and anatomy. Comically, rumors about the place by Orange Park residents included those of scientists cross-breeding humans with apes. Yet, the term “Monkey Farm” was (and still is) the popular name given to the Yerkes Labs by Orange Park residents.
The plot of land in Orange Park which Yerkes Labs sat upon was 188 acres, about a mile from the village of Orange Park. The actual research buildings sat on less than an acre, on what is now part of the Foxwood Center plaza (facing Orange Park Medical Center on Kingsley Avenue). In 1966, the abandoned buildings and adjacent land were purchased by Developer Marvin Wilhite of Ahpla, Inc., who still lives in Foxwood and built other communities such as Foxridge. He chose the name Ahpla (using a backward arrangement of the letters) after a female chimp named Alpha, who was the first chimp born at the Yerkes Labs on Sept. 11, 1930.
Foxwood Center still has some of the original laboratory buildings that once housed the chimps, the grounds caretaker, and administrative offices. These stand alongside others that have been added, including the Orange Park Chamber of Commerce building. The old caretaker’s house is now The Granary.
In 1956, Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
took over operation of the Center. In 1965, the center was relocated to the campus of Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
. In 2002, the Center was renamed the Yerkes National Primate Research Center
Yerkes National Primate Research Center
The Yerkes National Primate Research Center, originally established and located in Orange Park, Florida but was later relocated to Atlanta, Georgia at Emory University, is one of eight national primate research centers funded by the National Institutes of Health...
, though officially the "Regional" name still applies.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
vocalist Ronnie Van Zant
Ronnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
was buried at Jacksonville Memorial Gardens (adjacent to the Orange Park Mall
Orange Park Mall
Orange Park Mall is a shopping mall located in Orange Park, Florida, United States. It features Dillard's, JCPenney, Sears, Belk, Dick's Sporting Goods, and AMC Theaters as anchor stores.-Mall history:...
) in Orange Park in 1977, but his remains were relocated to an undisclosed location after vandals broke into his tomb and the tomb of bandmate Steve Gaines
Steve Gaines
Steven Earl Gaines was an American musician. He is most well known as a guitarist and songwriter for southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, and is the younger brother of Cassie Gaines, who was also a member of the band...
on June 29, 2000. Van Zant's casket was pulled out and spilled on the ground. The bag containing Gaines' ashes was torn open and some spilled into the grass. Their mausoleums remain as memorials for fans to visit.
Geography
Orange Park is located on the St. Johns RiverSt. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
at 30°10′7"N 81°42′31"W (30.168569, -81.708479).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 5.6 square miles (14.5 km²), of which, 3.9 square miles (10.1 km²) of it is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) of it (29.73%) is water.
The area known as Greater Orange Park encompasses the unincorporated communities of Fleming Island, Ridgewood, Doctor's Inlet, Orange Park South, and Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace.
In the last thirty years, numerous residential developments have been built including, but not limited to, Eagle Harbor, Loch Rane Estates, Orange Park Golf and Country Club (developed by Taylor Woodrow
Taylor Woodrow
Taylor Woodrow was one of the largest British housebuilding and general construction companies. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange and was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but merged with rival George Wimpey to create Taylor Wimpey on 3 July 2007.-Early years:Frank Taylor was...
communities of the United Kingdom), Eagle Landing Golf and Country Club, Laurel Grove Plantation, Margaret's Walk Plantation, Foxridge, Heritage Hills, Grove Park, Harbor Island, Oakleaf Plantation, Fleming Island Plantation, Stonebridge, Spencer's Crossing et al.
The land where Orange Park Golf and Country Club, Eagle Landing Golf and Country Club, Spencer's Crossing and other communities in the Argyle area used to be part of the massive Spencer family real estate holdings, whose first initial foray into residential homesites was Loch Rane.
Saint Johns River Community College has a big campus on College Drive. Meanwhile, Saint Johns Country Day School, a college preparatory institution that regularly has its graduates qualifying to Ivy League
Ivy League
The Ivy League is an athletic conference comprising eight private institutions of higher education in the Northeastern United States. The conference name is also commonly used to refer to those eight schools as a group...
universities, is located in the Doctor's Lake / Lakeside area.
Orange Park Elementary School
Orange Park Elementary School
The Orange Park Elementary School is a historic school in Orange Park, Florida. It is located at 1401 Plainfield Avenue. On July 15, 1998, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. Orange Park Elementary was established in 1927 and so it is the oldest school in Clay...
, built in 1927 and is a historic building, continues to operate a few blocks from the river. It is adjacent to Moose Haven which sits directly on the River Road Historic District
River Road Historic District
The River Road Historic District is a U.S. historic district located in Orange Park, Florida. The district is at the junction of River Road and Stiles Avenue. It contains 10 historic buildings.-External links:* at...
, a stretch of road dotted with century old trees parallel to the Saint Johns River and where many locals come to jog or promenade in the afternoon. A few meters away is Club Continental, previously called Mira Rio. Mira Rio or River Watch in Spanish was the winter palazzo
Palazzo
Palazzo, an Italian word meaning a large building , may refer to:-Buildings:*Palazzo, an Italian type of building**Palazzo style architecture, imitative of Italian palazzi...
of of Caleb Johnson
Caleb Johnson
Caleb Clark Johnson was an American professional baseball player for the Cleveland Forest Citys during the 1871 season.-External links:...
, son of the founder of the Palmolive Soap Company, now the billion-dollar Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive
Colgate-Palmolive Company is an American diversified multinational corporation focused on the production, distribution and provision of household, health care and personal products, such as soaps, detergents, and oral hygiene products . Under its "Hill's" brand, it is also a manufacturer of...
company.
Many households are either affiliated with the military, with the presence of NAS Jacksonville less than a mile away, or are in the medical field.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 8,412 people a 7.4% decline from 2010, 3,464 households, and 2,215 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,331.1 people per square mile (899.0/km²). There were 3,648 housing units at an average density of 936.4 per square mile (361.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 75.9% White, 14.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 3.2% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.3% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.8% of the population.
There were 3,464 households out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 34.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the town the population was spread out with 21.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $47,631, and the median income for a family was $58,093. Males had a median income of $36,590 versus $26,846 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $24,087. About 4.6% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18, 17.1% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Orange Park is located inside the Clay County school district and is home to 13 Public Elementary schools, 3 Junior High Schools, and 4 High Schools. Orange Park is also home to many different private schools, the most notable of which is Saint Johns Country Day School, located between Moody Road and Doctors Lake Drive, a notable college preparatory school.Orange Park is also home to the largest of three campus' of St. Johns River State College, formerly known as St. Johns River Community College. The college is also home to Thrasher-Horne Center for the arts, a performing arts theater used for various plays and events. The college has a regular student base of 2,221 students but also hosts many dual enrollment students from Clay County high schools.
High Schools:
- Fleming Island High School
- Oakleaf High SchoolOakleaf High SchoolOakleaf High School is a high school located in Clay County, FL. It is a technologically enhanced school, like several others in the county. The school is considered technically advanced in comparison to many other schools in the county, and parts of the curriculum run around technical information...
- Orange Park High SchoolOrange Park High SchoolOrange Park High School is a high school located in Orange Park, Florida. The athletic teams are known as the Raiders. In the 2008–2009 school year the school had nearly 3,000 students, increasing by 700 in just three years. However nearly 1000 students moved to the new Oakleaf High School for the...
- Ridgeview High SchoolRidgeview High SchoolRidgeview High School may refer to:*Ridgeview High School — Bakersfield, California*Ridgeview High School — Magalia, California*Ridgeview High School — Orange Park, Florida...