A History of the Bold City
Jacksonville’s Historic Beginnings
Jacksonville is now one of Florida’s largest cities, known for its parks, beaches, museums, and plenty of shopping and dining. It has even been the home of several notable musicians, growing to receive the name of the “birthplace of Southern Rock.” It didn’t start this way, though. Jacksonville is actually one of Florida’s oldest towns, founded on June 15th, 1822. When the town was first founded, there were only 15 people living within Jacksonville’s city limits.
In 1821, Florida became an official U.S. territory. Plantations along the St. John’s River were the area’s main economic center, and in 1822, two settlers donated land to make the area an official town. They named the city Jacksonville in honor of Andrew Jackson. While he never actually lived in Jacksonville, he was considered the territory’s first governor, and eventually became the 7th President of the United States. Once established, Jacksonville began exporting cotton, lumber, oranges, and vegetables, making it the center of commercial activity in the area once Florida gained statehood in 1845.
The Civil War’s Impact on Jacksonville
Jacksonville during the Civil War, photo courtesy of thejaxonmag.com.
As one of Florida’s biggest port cities, Jacksonville played a large role in the Union blockade of the Confederacy during the Civil War. Jacksonville’s population grew with freed slaves around this time, and after the war ended, the city began to see even more growth with tourism. In the 1800s, people fled to Jacksonville during the colder months. This called for the building of hotels, tourist attractions, and beaches. The expansion of railroads made it more convenient for people to experience Jacksonville, which eventually led to the city building the first paved road to the beach in 1910.
Jacksonville’s Modern History
Photo courtesy of thecoastal.com.
In 1968, Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated into a single governmental unit. This allowed Jacksonville to become the largest city by land area in the contiguous United States. Signs were built calling Jacksonville the “Bold New City of the South,” which is how the city got its nickname. Years later, in 1993, Jacksonville was awarded its own NFL franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Today, Jacksonville remains one of Florida’s most well-known cities, making it a great place to live and a fun destination for visitors.
How Fernandina Beach was Founded
Fernandina Historic District, photo courtesy of ameliaislandliving.com.
Did you know Fernandina Beach is an older city than Jacksonville? The first recorded visitor to Amelia Island was a French explorer who arrived in 1562, but a Spanish invasion three years later established the area as Isla de Santa Maria.
Named after King George II’s daughter, Amelia Island is the name that stuck. Then, in 1811, Fernandina Beach was plotted, making it 11 years older than Jacksonville. The city was named after King Ferdinand VII of Spain, but it was originally under British possession. It wasn’t until around 1783, when the Second Treaty of Paris was signed, that the Spanish took control of the territory.
Fernandina Beach is now one of the best spots in Florida to visit with chances to explore beaches, museums, state parks, and local restaurants.
Timoti’s Seafood Shak
Whether you’re a resident or a visitor, stop by Timoti’s Seafood Shak for fresh, wild-caught seafood favorites. Our locations convenient to Fernandina and Nocatee make us the perfect spot to visit this summer!