LaVilla is a historic African American
neighborhood of
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
and a was formerly an independent city. It developed after the American Civil War and was eventually annexed to the city of Jacksonville in 1887 and is now considered part of
downtown.
It was struck by the
Great Fire of 1901
The Great Fire of 1901 was a conflagration that occurred in Jacksonville, Florida on May 3, 1901. It was one of the worst disasters in Florida history and the third largest urban fire in the U.S., next to the Great Chicago Fire, and the 1906 Sa ...
. During its height, the area was referred to as Harlem of the South and considered "the mecca for African American culture and heritage" in Florida, particularly its northern sections. It remains primarily an
African-American neighborhood
African-American neighborhoods or black neighborhoods are types of ethnic enclaves found in many cities in the United States. Generally, an African American neighborhood is one where the majority of the people who live there are African American ...
. The
Ritz Theatre,
Richmond Hotel, and the
Clara White Mission are among the historic buildings in the area. Several are listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
. The area became a transportation hub with rail service developed by
Henry Flagler and was also a cigar making center that included Greek and Syrian immigrants.
Location
LaVilla lies to the northwest in Jacksonville's
downtown. It is bounded by State Street to the north,
I-95
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadia ...
to the west, Broad Street to the east, and Brooklyn to the south.
History
John Jones, an Anglo-American colonist, received a Spanish
land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate—land or its use privileges—made by a government or other authority as an incentive, means of enabling works, or as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service. Grants ...
for much of this area in 1801, when this part of Florida was still Spanish territory.
At different points in the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
, when Jacksonville and northeastern Florida were under Union control, the area was the site of a large
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
garrison. Many slaves sought refuge with Union troops and, under the
Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, gained freedom. After the war, the town attracted additional freedmen, some of whom left rural areas, and was incorporated as LaVilla.
The town developed as a suburb to
Jacksonville
Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...
during the
Reconstruction era. The population was mostly black, and many blacks were elected to positions in Lavilla's government, including mayor and councilmen.
In 1887 LaVilla and five other suburbs, including
Riverside and
Springfield, were annexed by the City of Jacksonville. It became a neighborhood of the city.
In 1902 the state legislature passed a new constitution, adopting barriers to voter registration and voting that resulted in the deliberate
disfranchisement of African Americans and excluding them from politics.
The part of LaVilla north of Adams Street was for many years a center of African-American life and culture in Jacksonville. The southern part of the neighborhood was developed as a major
railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
hub in the late 19th century; several rail lines met at Union Station (now adapted for use as the
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center). For a time, this was Jacksonville's primary
red light district
A red-light district or pleasure district is a part of an urban area where a concentration of prostitution and sex-oriented businesses, such as sex shops, strip clubs, and adult theaters, are found. In most cases, red-light districts are partic ...
.
The author
Stephen Crane
Stephen Crane (November 1, 1871 – June 5, 1900) was an American poet, novelist, and short story writer. Prolific throughout his short life, he wrote notable works in the Realist tradition as well as early examples of American Naturalism an ...
frequented this area during his time in Jacksonville; he met his future wife,
Cora Crane, who was at the time a brothel proprietor.
Lavilla was the site of the
Great Fire of 1901
The Great Fire of 1901 was a conflagration that occurred in Jacksonville, Florida on May 3, 1901. It was one of the worst disasters in Florida history and the third largest urban fire in the U.S., next to the Great Chicago Fire, and the 1906 Sa ...
, which spread and destroyed most of downtown, but the neighborhood was largely spared. In the first half of the 20th century, the neighborhood was an important center of
African-American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ensl ...
culture. A vibrant music and entertainment scene emerged, attracting many nationally renowned jazz artists to play at local black clubs on and off Ashely Street. Such clubs were segregated under the state laws that imposed
Jim Crow. In 1929 the
Ritz Theatre opened, becoming an important stop on what was called the
Chitlin' Circuit for black entertainers. It became LaVilla's primary performance venue.
["LaVilla, Jacksonville]
''Frommers Destinations''
The vibrancy of the area on Ashley Street west of Broad Street, to and including Davis Street, led to its being called the "
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in Upper Manhattan, New York City. It is bounded roughly by the Hudson River on the west; the Harlem River and 155th Street on the north; Fifth Avenue on the east; and Central Park North on the south. The greater Ha ...
of the South". Landmarks included Nick’s Pool Parlor (the Strand), the Frolic and the Roosevelt theaters for a diversion. The Wynn/Egmont Hotel was known to provide the best accommodations for touring performers; the Boston Chop House, Mama’s Restaurant and Hayes Luncheonette served good food; the Lenape Bar and Manuel's Taproom were the favorite watering holes. The Ritz Theatre and The Knights of Pythias Hall hosted numerous famous performers.
In the 1930s the "Negro" section of the
Federal Writers Project
The Federal Writers' Project (FWP) was a federal government project in the United States created to provide jobs for out-of-work writers during the Great Depression. It was part of the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal program. It wa ...
in Florida was based in LaVilla.
Zora Neal Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891 – January 28, 1960) was an American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker. She portrayed racial struggles in the early-1900s American South and published research on hoodoo. The most popular of her four no ...
was involved from 1935 until 1937.
After the 1960s, the neighborhood entered a period of precipitous decline. The railroad industry restructured, leading to a massive loss of jobs here and across the country. In addition, the construction of
I-95
Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadia ...
disrupted and divided the neighborhood. With the end of legal
segregation Segregation may refer to:
Separation of people
* Geographical segregation, rates of two or more populations which are not homogenous throughout a defined space
* School segregation
* Housing segregation
* Racial segregation, separation of humans ...
following civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s, many residents left the area to pursue newer housing and work opportunities elsewhere.
![Lavillamodern](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Lavillamodern.jpg)
During the 1980s the
crack cocaine epidemic hit hard among struggling residents of LaVilla, resulting in an increase in crime and furthering the decline. According to General Counsel Rick Mullaney, who was chief of staff under Mayor
Ed Austin
T. Edward "Ed" Austin Jr. (July 15, 1926 – April 23, 2011) was an American politician and attorney. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1991 to 1995. He also served as the first Public Defender for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circ ...
, the area became "nothing but crack houses, prostitution and crime."
The 1993
River City Renaissance River City Renaissance was a $235 million bond issue in 1993 by the city of Jacksonville, Florida which funded urban renewal in some of downtown's most rundown sections.
Plan
Ed Austin's most lasting contribution as Jacksonville mayor was his Riv ...
plan crafted by Mayor
Ed Austin
T. Edward "Ed" Austin Jr. (July 15, 1926 – April 23, 2011) was an American politician and attorney. He served as mayor of Jacksonville, Florida from 1991 to 1995. He also served as the first Public Defender for Florida's Fourth Judicial Circ ...
allocated millions of dollars to renovating and developing LaVilla. Dilapidated buildings were torn down and significant historical structures, such as the Ritz Theatre, were restored or reconstructed, often in public-private partnerships. The Ritz also serves as the LaVilla Heritage tourism has been emphasized.
Transportation
LaVilla is served by the
Jacksonville Transportation Authority
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is the independent agency responsible for public transit in the city of Jacksonville, Florida, and roadway infrastructure that connects northeast Florida. However, they do not maintain any roadways. ...
's
zero-fare
Free public transport, often called fare-free public transit or zero-fare public transport, refers to public transport funded in full by means other than by collecting fares from passengers. It may be funded by national, regional or local gove ...
Jacksonville Skyway
The Jacksonville Skyway is an automated people mover in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). Opening in 1989 with three stations in Downtown Jacksonville, the Skyway was extended in 1 ...
automated people mover system and an extensive bus network.
''Current Skyway Stations in LaVilla''
*
Jefferson Jefferson may refer to:
Names
* Jefferson (surname)
* Jefferson (given name)
People
* Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States
* Jefferson (footballer, born 1970), full name Jefferson Tomaz de Souza, Brazilian foo ...
at Jefferson Street & Bay Street, serving the Federal Reserve Building and Courthouse.
*
Convention Center on Bay Street serving the
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.
Attractions and characteristics
![Jax FL Ritz Theatre01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Jax_FL_Ritz_Theatre01.jpg)
Venues, such as the
Ritz Theatre, showcased black entertainers and catered to black audiences. The theatre still host shows and also offers visitors a look at black history.
The Jacksonville branch of the
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, (informally referred to as the Atlanta Fed and the Bank), is the sixth district of the 12 Federal Reserve Banks of the United States and is headquartered in midtown Atlanta, Georgia.
The Atlanta Fed cover ...
is located on Water Street at the southern bounds of LaVilla.
The southern part of the neighborhood was once a major
railroad
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...
hub, with several rail lines meeting at Union Station (now the
Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center), and probably not coincidentally, was also for a period Jacksonville's primary red light district.
LaVilla School of the Arts is a popular magnet middle school in Duval County that follows in the performance and art traditions of the Ritz/LaVilla area. Ritz Voices is a 100-member youth choir in the area.
The
Clara White Mission is also located in LaVilla in the former Globe Theatre.
"Ashley Street: The Harlem of the South"
Metro Jacksonville, History
References
External links
LaVilla School of the Arts official website
{{Neighborhoods of Jacksonville
Neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida
History of Jacksonville, Florida
African-American history in Jacksonville, Florida
Former municipalities in Florida
Downtown Jacksonville
LaVilla, Jacksonville