Northside, Jacksonville
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The Northside is a large
region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...
of
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 ...
,
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, and is generally understood as a counterpart to the city's other large regions, the
Urban Core A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fre ...
, Arlington,
Southside Southside or South Side may refer to: Places Australia * Southside, Queensland, a semi-rural locality in the Gympie Region Canada * South Side, Newfoundland and Labrador, a community in the St. George's Bay area on the southwest coast of New ...
, Westside, and the
Beaches A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc shells ...
. The expansive area consists of historic communities, cultural landmarks, protected ecosystems and vital transportation and logistics facilities, all fundamental to the history and development of Jacksonville. The Northside was incorporated into the city in 1968 as a result the
Jacksonville Consolidation The Jacksonville Consolidation was the city-county consolidation of the governments of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida. It was effected on October 1, 1968. Background In 1934, the Florida Constitution was amended to give the Fl ...
, a
city-county consolidation In United States local government, a consolidated city-county is formed when one or more cities and their surrounding county ( parish in Louisiana, borough in Alaska) merge into one unified jurisdiction. As such it has the governmental powers ...
of the governments of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County. The area houses a sizable share of the city's transportation and logistics infrastructure, including
Jacksonville International Airport Jacksonville International Airport is a civil-military public airport 13 miles (21 km) north of Downtown Jacksonville, in Duval County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. History Construction star ...
,
Jacksonville station Jacksonville station is an Amtrak train station in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It serves the ''Silver Meteor'' and ''Silver Star (Amtrak train), Silver Star'' trains as well as Amtrak Thruway buses to Lakeland, Florida, Lakeland. The stat ...
,
JAXPORT Cruise Terminal The JAXPORT Cruise Terminal () is a "temporary" cruise ship terminal in Jacksonville, Florida. The facility located at the northwest corner of the ''Dames Point Marine Terminal'', beside the Dames Point Bridge. It was completed in six months durin ...
, Blount Island Marine Terminal and Dames Point Marine Terminal. The area is also home to the
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, located in Jacksonville, Florida, sits at the river delta, mouth of the Trout River (Florida), Trout River, near where it flows into the St. Johns River. The zoo occupies approximately and has over 2,000 animals ...
, which relocated to the Northside in 1925 and has since doubled in size. There is no consistent definition for what constitute the boundaries of the Northside, but studies have revealed the vernacular region to be considered roughly north of the
Urban Core A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fre ...
and Westside at 20th Street, and west and north of the
St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
.


History

The Northside area has yielded some of the oldest known pottery from what is now the United States, uncovered by a
University of North Florida The University of North Florida (UNF) is a public research university in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the State University System of Florida and is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Sch ...
team on
Black Hammock Island Black Hammock Island is an island located in the Northside area of Jacksonville, Florida, in the United States. The island is surrounded by marsh, and is almost directly adjacent to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve The Timucuan Ecol ...
in the
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is a U.S. National Preserve in Jacksonville, Florida. It comprises of wetlands, waterways, and other habitats in northeastern Duval County. Managed by the National Park Service in cooperation with th ...
. The team also excavated more recent artifacts contemporary with the Mocama chiefdoms and some that indicate a Spanish mission. Archaeological research dates human habitation in the area eventually known as the
Mocama Province Beginning in the second half of the 16th century, the Kingdom of Spain established a number of missions throughout ''La Florida'' in order to convert the Native Americans to Christianity, to facilitate control of the area, and to prevent its ...
to at least 2500 BC. Established near the mouth of the
St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
, on
Fort George Island A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
,
San Juan del Puerto San Juan del Puerto, Spain is a municipality located in the province of Huelva, Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Lat ...
was a Spanish
Franciscan The Franciscans are a group of related Mendicant orders, mendicant Christianity, Christian Catholic religious order, religious orders within the Catholic Church. Founded in 1209 by Italian Catholic friar Francis of Assisi, these orders include t ...
mission Mission (from Latin ''missio'' "the act of sending out") may refer to: Organised activities Religion *Christian mission, an organized effort to spread Christianity *Mission (LDS Church), an administrative area of The Church of Jesus Christ of ...
, founded some time before 1587. It was founded to serve the
Saturiwa The Saturiwa were a Timucua chiefdom centered on the mouth of the St. Johns River in what is now Jacksonville, Florida. They were the largest and best attested chiefdom of the Timucua subgroup known as the Mocama, who spoke the Mocama dialect of ...
, a
Timucua The Timucua were a Native American people who lived in Northeast and North Central Florida and southeast Georgia. They were the largest indigenous group in that area and consisted of about 35 chiefdoms, many leading thousands of people. The var ...
tribe who lived in the area. It has an important place in the study of the Timucua, as the place where Father
Francisco Pareja Francisco Pareja (c. 1570 – January 25, 1628) was a Franciscan missionary in Spanish Florida, where he was primarily assigned to San Juan del Puerto. The Spaniard became a spokesman for the Franciscan community to the Spanish and colonial governme ...
undertook his work on the
Timucua language Timucua is a language isolate formerly spoken in northern and central Florida and southern Georgia by the Timucua peoples. Timucua was the primary language used in the area at the time of Spanish colonization in Florida. Differences among the ...
. He devised a system of writing for Timucuan and taught some of the Mocama. In 1612, he printed a
catechism A catechism (; from grc, κατηχέω, "to teach orally") is a summary or exposition of doctrine and serves as a learning introduction to the Sacraments traditionally used in catechesis, or Christian religious teaching of children and adult c ...
in Spanish and Timucua, the first book printed in an indigenous language of the Americas. This became one of the three principal missions in what the Spanish called the Mocama Province, together with
San Pedro de Mocama Mission San Pedro de Mocama was a Habsburg Spain, Spanish colonial Franciscan Mission (Christian), mission on Cumberland Island, on the coast of the present-day U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia, from the late 16th century through the mid ...
(serving the
Tacatacuru Tacatacuru was a Timucua chiefdom located on Cumberland Island in what is now the U.S. state of Georgia in the 16th and 17th centuries. It was one of two chiefdoms of the Timucua subgroup known as the Mocama, who spoke the Mocama dialect of Timuc ...
chiefdom) on
Cumberland Island Cumberland Island, in the southeastern United States, is the largest of the Sea Islands of Georgia. The long-staple Sea Island cotton was first grown here by a local family, the Millers, who helped Eli Whitney develop the cotton gin. With its ...
and Santa Maria de Sena between them on
Amelia Island Amelia Island is a part of the Sea Islands chain that stretches along the East Coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida; it is the southernmost of the Sea Islands, and the northernmost of the barrier islands on Florida's Atlantic ...
. After 1650,
Guale Guale was a historic Native American chiefdom of Mississippian culture peoples located along the coast of present-day Georgia and the Sea Islands. Spanish Florida established its Roman Catholic missionary system in the chiefdom in the late 16th ...
refugees from the next chiefdom to the north along the (present-day) Georgia coast were settled at the mission. The Spanish abandoned the mission around 1702, partly in response to
raid Raid, RAID or Raids may refer to: Attack * Raid (military), a sudden attack behind the enemy's lines without the intention of holding ground * Corporate raid, a type of hostile takeover in business * Panty raid, a prankish raid by male college ...
s from Native Americans and allied
English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...
colonists from South Carolina during
Queen Anne's War Queen Anne's War (1702–1713) was the second in a series of French and Indian Wars fought in North America involving the colonial empires of Great Britain, France, and Spain; it took place during the reign of Anne, Queen of Great Britain. In E ...
. The United Kingdom took ownership of Florida in 1763, and quickly established several plantations in the region. Richard Hazard owned the first plantation on Fort George Island in 1765, harvesting
indigo Indigo is a deep color close to the color wheel blue (a primary color in the RGB color space), as well as to some variants of ultramarine, based on the ancient dye of the same name. The word "indigo" comes from the Latin word ''indicum'', m ...
with several dozen enslaved Africans. Spain regained ownership of Florida in 1783 after the
American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...
and recruited new Americans with promises of free land. In 1793, American Revolution veteran John McQueen was lured to Fort George Island from
South Carolina )''Animis opibusque parati'' ( for, , Latin, Prepared in mind and resources, links=no) , anthem = " Carolina";" South Carolina On My Mind" , Former = Province of South Carolina , seat = Columbia , LargestCity = Charleston , LargestMetro = ...
by the Spanish government, which rewarded McQueen with the island. McQueen settled with 300 slaves and constructed a large house, but was soon bankrupt due to misfortunes. Possession of the plantation turned over to John McIntosh from Georgia, who revived it in 1804. McIntosh, however, took a leading role in an insurgency attempting to annex Florida into the United States. Unsuccessful, McIntosh fled back into Georgia to escape punishment from the Spanish.
Zephaniah Kingsley Zephaniah Kingsley Jr. (December 4, 1765 – September 14, 1843) was a Quaker, born in England, who moved as a child with his family to South Carolina, and became a planter, slave trader, and merchant. He built four plantations in the Spanish co ...
settled on Fort George Island in 1814, after leasing the estate from McIntosh. He purchased the land and buildings for $7,000 in 1817. Today, it is now known as
Kingsley Plantation Kingsley Plantation (also known as the Zephaniah Kingsley Plantation Home and Buildings) is the site of a former estate in Jacksonville, Florida, that was named for its developer and most famous owner, Zephaniah Kingsley, who spent 25 years there. ...
. Free blacks and several private owners lived at the plantation until it was transferred to the State of Florida in 1955. It was acquired by the National Park Service in 1991. The main house, kitchen and numerous slave quarters have survived. The Northside began to grow as a suburb of Jacksonville in the 19th century. Although the site of
East Florida East Florida ( es, Florida Oriental) was a colony of Great Britain from 1763 to 1783 and a province of Spanish Florida from 1783 to 1821. Great Britain gained control of the long-established Spanish colony of ''La Florida'' in 1763 as part of ...
's first steam-powered
sawmill A sawmill (saw mill, saw-mill) or lumber mill is a facility where logs are cut into lumber. Modern sawmills use a motorized saw to cut logs lengthwise to make long pieces, and crosswise to length depending on standard or custom sizes (dimensi ...
, completed in 1828, major growth in Panama Park only came after 1905. In 1915, a new school was constructed, notably designed by architect Henry J. Klutho. By 1931, Panama Park was annexed by Jacksonville. Tallulah-North Shore, a neighborhood adjacent to Panama Park, was first platted in 1879. The area was annexed by Jacksonville in 1925. Riverview is a neighborhood bordered by the Trout River to the North and East,
Ribault River Ribault River is a tributary of the Trout River. It is located entirely in Jacksonville, Florida. The river is named after Jean Ribault, a French naval officer. The river's headwaters are near Old Kings Road at an elevation of above sea level. ...
to the South, and Ribault Ave to the West. Riverview was originally platted in 1911 by Dr. E.H. Armstrong. Dr. Armstrong also converted his 25-acre waterfront home property into Riverview Tropical Gardens, an attraction with boating, fishing and garden trails of roses, azaleas, and lilies. In 1979, the city purchased the land and converted the property into a public park. On July 19, 1925, the
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, located in Jacksonville, Florida, sits at the river delta, mouth of the Trout River (Florida), Trout River, near where it flows into the St. Johns River. The zoo occupies approximately and has over 2,000 animals ...
moved to a site on the Trout River, off Heckscher Drive. The zoo had formerly operated in the Springfield neighborhood since May 12, 1914. The Jacksonville Municipal Airport opened on October 11, 1927, at the intersection of North Main Street ( U.S. 17) and Busch Drive. The dedication ceremony was notably attended by
Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...
, who flew to Jacksonville in the "
Spirit of St. Louis The ''Spirit of St. Louis'' (formally the Ryan NYP, registration: N-X-211) is the custom-built, single-engine, single-seat, high-wing monoplane that was flown by Charles Lindbergh on May 20–21, 1927, on the first solo nonstop transatlant ...
" to promote the new airport. Eastern Air Service (later known as
Eastern Air Lines Eastern Air Lines, also colloquially known as Eastern, was a major United States airline from 1926 to 1991. Before its dissolution, it was headquartered at Miami International Airport in an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County, Florida. Ea ...
) was the first passenger airline to service Jacksonville, beginning in 1931. By 1941 the airport had expanded to adding five hangars, a terminal building and five asphalt runways. The first scheduled jet flights were Northeast Convair 880s in April–May 1961. The facility was renamed after Thomas Cole Imeson in the 1950s. Imeson's work led to the creation of the Jacksonville Municipal Airport, as well as improvements to its runways, hangars and terminal buildings. Imeson Field served as the city's main airport for 42 years.
Jacksonville International Airport Jacksonville International Airport is a civil-military public airport 13 miles (21 km) north of Downtown Jacksonville, in Duval County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. History Construction star ...
, also located on the Northside, was dedicated on September 1, 1968, replacing Imeson Field. On October 1, 1968, the city and county governments merged to create the Consolidated City of Jacksonville, winning voter approval the year prior. Fire, police, health & welfare, recreation, public works, and housing & urban development were all unified under the new government. The consolidation created a 900-square-mile entity.
Jacksonville Consolidation The Jacksonville Consolidation was the city-county consolidation of the governments of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida. It was effected on October 1, 1968. Background In 1934, the Florida Constitution was amended to give the Fl ...
was led by J. J. Daniel and
Claude Yates Claude J. Yates (December 26, 1899 - October 25, 1988), was a Jacksonville business executive in the 1960s who is known as the ''Father of Jacksonville's consolidation.'' Early years Claude was born in Gibson County, Tennessee, the second of five ...
, who found support from both inner-city blacks, who wanted more involvement in government after passage of the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a landmark piece of federal legislation in the United States that prohibits racial discrimination in voting. It was signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson during the height of the civil rights movement ...
, that provided federal oversight and enforcement of their right to vote, and whites in the suburbs, who wanted more services and more control over the central city. Lower taxes, increased economic development, unification of the community, better public spending, and effective administration by a more central authority were all cited as reasons for a new consolidated government. Amtrak's Jacksonville station at the Clifford Lane facility has been in operation since 1974, when it replaced the downtown Union Station, now the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center. It currently serves the ''
Silver Meteor The ''Silver Meteor'' is a passenger train operated by Amtrak between New York City and Miami, Florida. Introduced in 1939 as the first diesel-powered streamliner between New York and Florida, it was the flagship train of the Seaboard Air Line ...
'' and ''
Silver Star The Silver Star Medal (SSM) is the United States Armed Forces' third-highest military decoration for valor in combat. The Silver Star Medal is awarded primarily to members of the United States Armed Forces for gallantry in action against an e ...
'' trains as well as the
Thruway Motorcoach Amtrak Thruway is a system of through-ticketed transportation services to connect passengers with areas not served by Amtrak trains. In most cases these are dedicated motorcoach routes, but can also be non-dedicated intercity bus services, tran ...
to Lakeland. Other services once used this station, including the ''
Champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, an ...
,'' '' Floridian,'' ''
Florida Special ''Florida Special'' is a 1936 American comedy film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by David Boehm, Marguerite Roberts, Laura Perelman and S. J. Perelman. The film stars Jack Oakie, Sally Eilers, Kent Taylor, Frances Drake, Claude Gillingwat ...
,'' '' Palmetto,'' '' Silver Palm,'' ''
Sunset Limited The ''Sunset Limited'' is an Amtrak passenger train that for most of its history has operated between New Orleans and Los Angeles, over the nation's second transcontinental route. However, up until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it operated betwe ...
'' and '' Vacationer.'' In 2004 the ''Palmettos route was shortened to end in
Savannah, Georgia Savannah ( ) is the oldest city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia and is the county seat of Chatham County, Georgia, Chatham County. Established in 1733 on the Savannah River, the city of Savannah became the Kingdom of Great Br ...
and in 2005 the ''
Sunset Limited The ''Sunset Limited'' is an Amtrak passenger train that for most of its history has operated between New Orleans and Los Angeles, over the nation's second transcontinental route. However, up until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, it operated betwe ...
'' was shortened to end at the
New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal New Orleans Union Passenger Terminal (NOUPT) is an intermodal facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, US. Located at 1001 Loyola Avenue, it is served by Amtrak, Greyhound Lines, Megabus, and NORTA with direct connections to the Rampart–St. Claud ...
as a result of
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
. However, the ''Sunset Limited'' has been proposed to return in the future. Construction of the
Dames Point Bridge The Dames Point Bridge (officially the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge) is a cable-stayed bridge over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida on the Interstate 295 East Beltway. Construction began in 1985 and was completed in 1989. The m ...
began in 1985 and was completed in 1989. The bridge crosses the
St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
using a
cable-stayed A cable-stayed bridge has one or more ''towers'' (or ''pylons''), from which cables support the bridge deck. A distinctive feature are the cables or stays, which run directly from the tower to the deck, normally forming a fan-like pattern ...
design, connecting Arlington to the Northside of Jacksonville. designed by
HNTB Corporation HNTB Corporation is an American infrastructure design firm. Founded in 1914 in Kansas City, Missouri, HNTB began with the partnership made by Ernest Emmanuel Howard with the firm Waddell & Harrington, founded in 1907. Considered as one of the m ...
and RS&H, Inc, and constructed by The Massman Construction Company, the main span is , and is high. Upon completion, it was longest concrete cable-stayed bridge in the world. Opening in 2003, the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal was completed in only six months, and was intended to be a temporary structure. Maintained by the
Jacksonville Port Authority The Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA) also known by its brand name, JAXPORT, is the independent government agency in Jacksonville, Florida, that owns and operates much of the seaport system at the Port of Jacksonville. History The Jacksonville P ...
, the
cruise ship Cruise ships are large passenger ships used mainly for vacationing. Unlike ocean liners, which are used for transport, cruise ships typically embark on round-trip voyages to various ports-of-call, where passengers may go on tours known as "s ...
terminal Terminal may refer to: Computing Hardware * Terminal (electronics), a device for joining electrical circuits together * Terminal (telecommunication), a device communicating over a line * Computer terminal, a set of primary input and output dev ...
is located near the
Dames Point Bridge The Dames Point Bridge (officially the Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge) is a cable-stayed bridge over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida on the Interstate 295 East Beltway. Construction began in 1985 and was completed in 1989. The m ...
, on the northern banks of the St. Johns River.
Celebrity Cruises Celebrity Cruises is a cruise line headquartered in Miami, Florida and a wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Caribbean Group. Celebrity Cruises was founded in 1988 by the Greece-based Chandris Group, and merged with Royal Caribbean Cruise Line in 19 ...
began regular service from Jacksonville on October 27, 2003, discontinuing service in 2005."Jacksonville: America's First Port"
Jaxport
The ship
Carnival Miracle ''Carnival Miracle'' is a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was floated out on June 5, 2003, and christened by United States Army soldier Jessica Lynch in J ...
was christened at the Port of Jacksonville on February 27, 2004, beginning Jacksonville service by
Carnival Cruise Lines Carnival Cruise Line is an international cruise line with headquarters in Doral, Florida. The company is a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. Its logo is a funnel shaped like a whale's tail, with a red, white, and blue color scheme. This ...
. Five cruise ships were chartered to serve as floating hotels during the week preceding
Super Bowl XXXIX Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion New England Patriots and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion Philadelphia Eagles to decide the National Football League ( ...
in February 2005. Four of the vessels docked at JAXPORT terminals, providing over 3,500 rooms plus restaurants and night clubs for fans. As of 2019, cruises from Jacksonville visit the
Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...
and
Eastern Caribbean The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS; French: ''Organisation des États de la Caraïbe orientale'', OECO) is an inter-governmental organisation dedicated to economic harmonisation and integration, protection of human and legal ri ...
on board the
Carnival Ecstasy ''Carnival Ecstasy'' (formerly ''Ecstasy'') was a operated by Carnival Cruise Line. Built by Kværner Masa-Yards at its Helsinki New Shipyard in Helsinki, Finland, she was Float-out, floated out on January 6, 1991, and christened by television ...
. River City Marketplace opened on November 17, 2006 as the only quasi-regional
outdoor shopping mall A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a North American term for a large indoor shopping center, usually anchored by department stores. The term "mall" originally meant a pedestrian promenade with shops along it (that is, the term was used to ref ...
in the Northside, and the only one north of the
St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
. The shopping district is located south of Airport Road on the east side of
Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...
, two miles (3 km) east of
Jacksonville International Airport Jacksonville International Airport is a civil-military public airport 13 miles (21 km) north of Downtown Jacksonville, in Duval County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. History Construction star ...
. When Phase II is fully built out, the project will have cost over $300 million to build and boast more than 100 retailers.


Geography

Together with the Urban Core, Arlington, Southside, Westside and the Beaches, Northside is considered one of the large regions of Jacksonville, and the remaining municipalities in Duval County. As the name would suggest, the Northside consist of areas in northern Jacksonville, but there is no consistent definition for what constitute the boundaries of the region. The geographer John W. McEwen determined, using a
Geographic Information System A geographic information system (GIS) is a type of database containing Geographic data and information, geographic data (that is, descriptions of phenomena for which location is relevant), combined with Geographic information system software, sof ...
to sort names of 47 businesses with "Northside" in their name, that the area is roughly considered to be north of the
Urban Core A city centre is the commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart of a city. The term "city centre" is primarily used in British English, and closely equivalent terms exist in other languages, such as "" in Fre ...
and north of Westside at 20th Street, and stretching west and north of the
St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
.McEwen, John W. 2007. "The Vernacular Neighborhoods of Jacksonville, Florida: Can GIS Help Determine their Boundaries?" ''The Florida Geographer'', Vol. 38: 54–71. The Trout River is one of the most defining geographic feature of the Northside. The long
tributary A tributary, or affluent, is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or main stem (or parent) river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean. Tributaries and the main stem river drain the surrounding drainage ...
of the
St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
is located entirely within Jacksonville's Northside, and is considered
brackish Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estuari ...
in its lower section.U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data
The National Map
accessed February 20, 2020
The Trout River has
wetlands A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...
as far as the
mouth In animal anatomy, the mouth, also known as the oral cavity, or in Latin cavum oris, is the opening through which many animals take in food and issue vocal sounds. It is also the cavity lying at the upper end of the alimentary canal, bounded on ...
of the river's longest tributary, the
Ribault River Ribault River is a tributary of the Trout River. It is located entirely in Jacksonville, Florida. The river is named after Jean Ribault, a French naval officer. The river's headwaters are near Old Kings Road at an elevation of above sea level. ...
. A notable feature itself, the Ribault River is named after
Jean Ribault Jean Ribault (also spelled ''Ribaut'') (1520 – October 12, 1565) was a French naval officer, navigator, and a colonizer of what would become the southeastern United States. He was a major figure in the French attempts to colonize Florida. A H ...
, a French naval officer. The river's
headwaters The headwaters of a river or stream is the farthest place in that river or stream from its estuary or downstream confluence with another river, as measured along the course of the river. It is also known as a river's source. Definition The ...
are near Old Kings Road at an elevation of above sea level. The river cuts through the forest floor near its source, that portion of the river being classified as a creek. The river flows northward, as does the
St. Johns River The St. Johns River ( es, Río San Juan) is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant one for commercial and recreational use. At long, it flows north and winds through or borders twelve counties. The drop in eleva ...
and many of the other tributaries of the Trout River. The river is long. Black Hammock Island is an island in a marsh area at the edge 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 largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the ...
, in the United States. It lies almost directly adjacent to the
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve The Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve is a U.S. National Preserve in Jacksonville, Florida. It comprises of wetlands, waterways, and other habitats in northeastern Duval County. Managed by the National Park Service in cooperation with th ...
. Cedar Point is located at the south end of Black Hammock Island.


Neighborhoods

There are numerous neighborhoods located within the vast area of the Northside. These include, but are not limited to, Black Hammock Island, Brentwood, Dinsmore, Fort George Island, Garden City, Highlands, Lake Forest, Longbranch, Moncrief Park, Norwood, Panama Park, Pecan Park, Oceanway, Ribault, Riverview, Royal Terrance, San Mateo and Tallulah-North Shore. File:Brentwood home.jpg, Brentwood File:Ribault Club on Fort George Island.jpg,
Fort George Island A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
File:Public School No 13 - 3.jpg,
Panama Park There are more than 500 neighborhoods within the area of Jacksonville, Florida, the largest city in the contiguous United States by area. These include Downtown Jacksonville and surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, greater Jacksonville is tra ...
File:Rathel House on Trout River Blvd, Jacksonville, Florida 1944.jpg, Riverview File:Northshorehomejax.jpg,
Tallulah-North Shore Tallulah-North Shore, or simply North Shore, is a neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida located in the Northside area. First platted in 1879, the primarily residential area was annexed by Jacksonville in 1925. The Trout River, a tributary of the ...


Parks and public spaces

The Northside has protected lands operated by a variety of entities, including the
National Park Service The National Park Service (NPS) is an agency of the United States federal government within the U.S. Department of the Interior that manages all national parks, most national monuments, and other natural, historical, and recreational propertie ...
,
Florida State Parks There are 175 state parks and 9 state trails in the U.S. state of Florida which encompass more than , providing recreational opportunities for both residents and tourists. Almost half of the state parks have an associated local 501(c)(3) non-pr ...
, City of Jacksonville Department of Parks and Recreation, and other private ventures.


National parks

The Timucuan Preserve is a U.S.
National Preserve There are 21 protected areas of the United States designated as national preserves. They were established by an act of Congress to protect areas that have resources often associated with national parks but where certain natural resource-extracti ...
comprising over of
wetland A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is flooded or saturated by water, either permanently (for years or decades) or seasonally (for weeks or months). Flooding results in oxygen-free (anoxic) processes prevailing, especially in the soils. The ...
s and waterways. It includes natural and historic areas such as the
Fort Caroline National Memorial Fort Caroline was an attempted French colonization of the Americas, French colonial settlement in French Florida, Florida, located on the banks of the St. Johns River in present-day Duval County, Florida, Duval County. It was established under t ...
and the
Kingsley Plantation Kingsley Plantation (also known as the Zephaniah Kingsley Plantation Home and Buildings) is the site of a former estate in Jacksonville, Florida, that was named for its developer and most famous owner, Zephaniah Kingsley, who spent 25 years there. ...
, the oldest standing plantation in the state.


State parks

There are several state parks within the Northside, these include: *
Big Talbot Island State Park Big Talbot Island State Park is a state park in Florida, United States. It is located on Big Talbot Island, a coastal barrier island 20 miles east of downtown Jacksonville on A1A North and immediately north of Little Talbot Island State Park al ...
*
Fort George Island Cultural State Park ''For the island in James Bay, Canada, see Chisasibi.'' Fort George Island State Cultural Site is a Florida State Park located on Fort George Island, about three miles (5 km) south of Little Talbot Island State Park on SR A1A. It is home ...
* George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park *
Little Talbot Island State Park Little Talbot Island State Park is a Florida State Park located on Little Talbot Island, northeast of Jacksonville on State Road A1A. The park covers the entire island. Big Talbot Island State Park lies to the immediate north. The park contai ...
*
Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park is a Florida State Park, located 12 miles north of Jacksonville, west of Big and Little Little is a synonym for small size and may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Little'' (album), 1990 debut album of ...
*
Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park is a Florida State Park in Jacksonville, Florida. It is located near the mouth of the St. Johns River, a mile south of State Road 105 on New Berlin Road, in the cities Northside area. On September 29, 1970, ...


City parks

Jacksonville operates the largest urban park system in the United States, providing facilities and services at more than 337 locations on more than City parks located in the Northside include the following: * Alimacani Park is located on scenic State Road A1A on the south bank of the Fort George River. The marshy location offers ample bird observation. A boat ramp provides access to Fort George River and its tributaries. * Betz-Tiger Point Preserve is surrounded by scenic saltwater marsh and offers views diverse wildlife includes gopher tortoise, birds, dolphins and reptiles. Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park and Betz Tiger Point Preserve adjoin. * Cedar Point Preserve is located on
Black Hammock Island Black Hammock Island is an island located in the Northside area of Jacksonville, Florida, in the United States. The island is surrounded by marsh, and is almost directly adjacent to the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve The Timucuan Ecol ...
and provides a habitat to several bird species. * Huguenot Memorial Park is located on the Atlantic Ocean between the St. Johns River and the Fort George Inlet. The park requires an admission fee for access and features campsites, rental cabins and a nature center. * Seaton Creek Historic Preserve is a pristine 840-acre preservation park on Jacksonville's Northside and is thought to be the site of the southernmost battle of the American Revolution. The park offers three trails covering about five miles, three creeks with a kayak landing on one and access for hikers, off-road bicyclists and Equestrians with parking for horse trailers. * Thomas Creek Conservation Area is a historical preserve part of the Black Creek system and beckons water enthusiasts, kayakers and canoeists to its natural setting. * Sheffield Park is located near the intersection of Cedar Point Road and New Berlin Road. Acquired in 2003, this 385 acre former dairy site houses two large ponds.


Cemeteries

The Northside is home to the following notable cemeteries: *
Jacksonville National Cemetery Jacksonville National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located within the city of Jacksonville, Florida, in the city's Northside area. It encompasses , and began interments on January 7, 2009.Evergreen Cemetery is a large historic cemetery added to 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 v ...
on April 8, 2011. * Memorial Cemetery is home to the Lewis Mausoleum, resting place of Abraham Lincoln Lewis (1865-1947), a Florida pioneer and prominent businessman in the African-American community.


Private

The Northside is also home to an array of other operations with the intent is to preserve land for the public good. These include: *
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, located in Jacksonville, Florida, sits at the river delta, mouth of the Trout River (Florida), Trout River, near where it flows into the St. Johns River. The zoo occupies approximately and has over 2,000 animals ...
houses over 2,400 rare and exotic animals and over 1,500 unique plant species and participates in many preservation and breeding programs to ensure the survival of endangered and threatened species as well as local fauna and flora. *
East Coast Greenway The East Coast Greenway is a pedestrian and bicycle route between Maine and Florida along the East Coast of the United States. In 2020, the Greenway received over 50 million visits. The nonprofit East Coast Greenway Alliance was created in 1991. ...
* Machaba Balu Preserve


Education

The
Duval County Public Schools Duval County Public Schools (DCPS) is the public school district that serves the families and children residing in the urban, suburban, and rural areas of the City of Jacksonville and Duval County, Florida. As of 2015, the district had an enroll ...
district operates public schools, including Andrew Jackson High School,
Jean Ribault High School Jean Ribault High School is a public high school located in North Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of Duval County Public Schools. Improvement Ribault was one of 16 schools nationwide selected by the College Board for inclusion in the EXCELerat ...
and
First Coast High School First Coast High School is a comprehensive public high school in Jacksonville, Florida, United States. It was opened concurrently with its sister school, Mandarin High School. The school is one of 47 high schools in the Duval County School Dist ...
, in the Northside area.


Higher education

Established in 1970, the North Campus of
Florida State College at Jacksonville Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is a public college in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and one of several institutions in that system designated a "state college" as it offers a greater number of four- ...
is one of four campuses located throughout the city, the other being the Downtown Campus, Kent Campus, and South Campus. In 2009, in recognition of a shortage of four-year colleges in the state, the
Florida Legislature The Florida Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. State of Florida. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. Article III, Section 1 of the Florida Cons ...
passed legislation creating the
Florida College System The Florida College System, previously the Florida Community College System, is a system of 28 public community colleges and state colleges in the U.S. state of Florida. In 2013-14, enrollment consisted of more than 813,000 students. Together w ...
, enabling some
community colleges A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries: many community colleges have an "open enrollment" for students who have graduated from high school (also known as senior sec ...
to become "
state colleges A state university system in the United States is a group of public universities supported by an individual state, territory or federal district. These systems constitute the majority of public-funded universities in the country. State univers ...
", meaning they can offer more
bachelor's degrees A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ye ...
than traditional community colleges, but no
graduate degree Postgraduate or graduate education refers to academic or professional degrees, certificates, diplomas, or other qualifications pursued by post-secondary students who have earned an undergraduate (bachelor's) degree. The organization and struc ...
programs. FCCJ was one of the first community colleges to make the change, and, also in 2009, announced the change to their "Florida Community College at Jacksonville" to their current name, "Florida State College at Jacksonville". located off Dunn Avenue, near I-295, it houses many of FSCJ's health programs, including
nursing Nursing is a profession within the health care sector focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life. Nurses may be differentiated from other health ...
,
dental hygiene Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease and other problems (e.g. bad breath) by regular brushing of the teeth (dental hygiene) and cleaning between the teeth. It is important that oral hygiene be carried out ...
, and
emergency medical services Emergency medical services (EMS), also known as ambulance services or paramedic services, are emergency services that provide urgent pre-hospital treatment and stabilisation for serious illness and injuries and transport to definitive care. ...
. North Campus also includes the Culinary Institute of the South, a
culinary school A cooking school is an institution devoted to education in the art and science of cooking and food preparation. There are many different types of cooking schools around the world, some devoted to training professional chefs, others aimed at amate ...
with its own restaurant, and a
cosmetology Cosmetology (from Ancient Greek, Greek , ''kosmētikos'', "beautifying"; and , ''wiktionary:-logia, -logia'') is the study and application of beauty treatment. Branches of specialty include hairstyle, hairstyling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/p ...
program. The North Campus includes the college's
baseball Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The game occurs over the course of several plays, with each play generally beginning when a player on the fielding tea ...
and
softball Softball is a game similar to baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Softball is played competitively at club levels, the college level, and the professional level. The game was first created in 1887 in Chicago by George Hanc ...
facilities.


Transportation


Airports

Jacksonville International Airport Jacksonville International Airport is a civil-military public airport 13 miles (21 km) north of Downtown Jacksonville, in Duval County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. History Construction star ...
is a major regional passenger air service provider, featuring non-stop flights to dozens of major US cities. The facility opened on Jacksonville's Northside in 1968. Commercial air service at Imeson Field, also located in the Northside, ceased operations. The airport covers and has two concrete
runway According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a man-made surface (often asphalt concrete, as ...
s: 8/26, 10,000 x 150 ft (3,048 x 46 m) and 14/32, 7,701 x 150 ft (2,347 x 46 m). The
terminal Terminal may refer to: Computing Hardware * Terminal (electronics), a device for joining electrical circuits together * Terminal (telecommunication), a device communicating over a line * Computer terminal, a set of primary input and output dev ...
at JIA is composed of a baggage claim area, on the first floor and a ticketing area on the second floor, at the front of the structure. Past baggage claim and ticketing is the mezzanine, where shops, restaurants and the security checkpoint are located. Beyond the mezzanine are the airport's Concourses A and C, which include 10
gates Gates is the plural of gate, a point of entry to a space which is enclosed by walls. It may also refer to: People * Gates (surname), various people with the last name * Gates Brown (1939-2013), American Major League Baseball player * Gates McFadde ...
each (for a total of 20), along with other shops and restaurants. In 2018, the airport handled 6,460,253 passengers, breaking the previous record set in 2007. This increase in traffic prompted the JAA to revive the plan to rebuild concourse B. The new concourse could open as early as 2022, providing six additional gates and could be expanded later with six more. The design of concourses A and C also allow them to be extended to accommodate additional gates. In 2019, RS&H and
Jacobs Engineering Jacobs Solutions Inc. is an American international technical professional services firm. The company provides engineering, technical, professional and construction services, as well as scientific and specialty consulting for a broad range of cli ...
were chosen to perform the design, while
Balfour Beatty Balfour Beatty plc () is an international infrastructure group based in the United Kingdom with capabilities in construction services, support services and infrastructure investments. A constituent of the FTSE 250 Index, Balfour Beatty works ac ...
was selected as the construction manager for the concourse B project.


Public transportation

Northside is served by several
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. ...
(JTA) bus routes. These routes include the following: *1 North Main *3 Moncrief *4 Kings *11 A. Philip Randolph *12 Myrtle / Lem Turner *21 Boulevard/ Gateway *22 Avenue B *51 Edgewood *81 Dinsmore Shuttle *82 Amazon Shuttle *
First Coast Flyer The First Coast Flyer is a bus rapid transit (BRT) system in Jacksonville, Florida, owned and operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). It currently consists of four radial routes running north, southwest, southeast, and east fr ...
Green (
bus rapid transit Bus rapid transit (BRT), also called a busway or transitway, is a bus-based public transport system designed to have much more capacity, reliability and other quality features than a conventional bus system. Typically, a BRT system includes ...
)


Highways

Major
limited access A limited-access road, known by various terms worldwide, including limited-access highway, dual-carriageway, expressway, limited access freeway, and partial controlled access highway, is a highway or arterial road for high-speed traffic which ...
highways: *
Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...
routes north to
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
and runs south to
Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...
. * Interstate 295 serves as a beltway routing around the city and connects to all of the interstate highways. Major arterial highways: *
US 1 U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, making i ...
*
US 17 U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 (US 17), also known as the Coastal Highway, is a north–south United States Highway that spans in the southeastern United States. It runs close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length, with ...
*
US 23 } U.S. Route 23 or U.S. Highway 23 (US 23) is a major north–south U.S. Highway between Jacksonville, Florida, and Mackinaw City, Michigan. It is an original 1926 route which originally reached only as far south as Portsmouth, Ohio, and has since ...
* State Road 115 *
State Road A1A State Road A1A (SR A1A) is a major north–south Florida State Road that runs along the Atlantic Ocean, from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Fernandina Beach, just south of Georgia on Amelia Island. It is the main road through m ...
Scenic two-lane road that runs along the
Atlantic Ocean The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's five oceans, with an area of about . It covers approximately 20% of Earth's surface and about 29% of its water surface area. It is known to separate the " Old World" of Africa, Europe ...
.


Ferries

The Saint Johns River Ferry, also known as the
Mayport Ferry The Saint Johns River Ferry, also known as the Mayport Ferry, is an automobile ferry between Mayport and Fort George Island, two areas within Jacksonville, Florida. The voyage crosses the Saint Johns River about inland of the river's mouth an ...
, has been operating between Mayport and
Fort George Island A fortification is a military construction or building designed for the defense of territories in warfare, and is also used to establish rule in a region during peacetime. The term is derived from Latin ''fortis'' ("strong") and ''facere'' ...
since 1874. The voyage crosses the Saint Johns River about inland of the river's mouth and travels in an east–west direction for approximately on
State Road A1A State Road A1A (SR A1A) is a major north–south Florida State Road that runs along the Atlantic Ocean, from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Fernandina Beach, just south of Georgia on Amelia Island. It is the main road through m ...
. Departures still occur daily every half-hour.1874
/ref>


See also

*
Neighborhoods of Jacksonville There are more than 500 neighborhoods within the area of Jacksonville, Florida, the largest city in the contiguous United States by area. These include Downtown Jacksonville and surrounding neighborhoods. Additionally, greater Jacksonville is tra ...
*
Architecture of Jacksonville The architecture of Jacksonville is a combination of historic and modern styles reflecting the city's early position as a regional center of business. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, there are more buildings built before ...
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Duval County, Florida __NOTOC__ This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Duval County, Florida. This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Duval County, Florida, ...


References


Notes


Citations


Further reading

* * * *


External links


Citizens Planning Advisory Committee

Jacksonville Sheriff's Office - Zone 2

Visit Jacksonville - Northside

North Council for the JAX Chamber
{{DEFAULTSORT:Northside, Jacksonville Neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida