Jacksonville Beach

History

It was incorporated on May 22, 1907, as Pablo Beach, and changed to Jacksonville Beach in 1925. In the late 19th century, developers began to see the potential in Duval County's oceanfront as a resort. In 1883 a group of investors formed the Jacksonville and Atlantic Railroad with the intention of developing a resort community that would be connected to Jacksonville by rail. The first settlers were William Edward Scull, a civil engineer and surveyor, and his wife Eleanor Kennedy Scull. They lived in a tent two blocks east of Pablo Historical Park. A second tent was the general store and post office. On August 22, 1884, Mrs. Scull was appointed postmaster. Mail was dispatched by horse and buggy up the beach to Mayport, and from there to Jacksonville by steamer. The Sculls built the first house in 1884 on their tent site. The settlement was named Ruby for their first daughter. On May 13, 1886, the town was renamed Pablo Beach after the San Pablo River. In 1885, the San Pablo Diego Beach Land Co. sold town lots ranging from $50 to $100 each along with lots from $10 to $20 per acre within of the new seaside resort "Pablo Beach". In September 1892, work on the wagon road to Pablo Beach (Atlantic Boulevard) was begun. The first resort hotel called the Murray Hall Hotel was established in mid 1886 but on August 7, 1890 it was destroyed in a fire. By 1900 the railway company began to have financial difficulties and Henry Flagler took over as part of his Florida East Coast Railway. In late 1900 the railway was changed to standard gauge and was extended to Mayport. The Spanish–American War broke out in 1898. The 3rd Nebraska arrived July 22, 1898, for training and embarkation. They encamped at Pablo Beach. They were led by three-time presidential candidate, William Jennings…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which, is land and (66.61%) is water. Constructed in 1947, the American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps Station is an Art Moderne style lifeguard station designed by local architect Jefferson Davis Powell. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 2014. Jacksonville Beach is also home to a notable collection of Mid-Century modern architecture. Perhaps the most notable of these works are those designed by architect William Morgan. File:Jacksonville FL Casa Marina01.jpg|Casa Marina Hotel (1925) File:ARCVLSC Station.jpg|American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps Station (1947) File:Jacksonville Beach City Hall.jpg|City Hall File:Seawalk Pavilion, Jacksonville Beach.jpg|Seawalk Pavilion Jacksonville Beach has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). Hanna Park is a public beach and city park located near Mayport in the Jacksonville Beaches area. It consists of of mature coastal hammock, and was formerly known as Manhattan Beach, Florida's first beach community for African Americans during the period of segregation in the United States. File:Jacksonville Beach Morning - panoramio.jpg|Beach access point File:Morning Jacksonville Beach pier - panoramio.jpg|Jacksonville Beach Pier File:Jaxville Beach Ampetheater 2.JPG|Sea Walk Pavilion File:HannaParkBoardwalk.JPG|Hanna Park

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  18,212
• Laughing Gull

  Leucophaeus atricilla (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  14,370
• Carolina Wren

  Thryothorus ludovicianus (Latham, 1790) · Aves
  13,022
• Great Egret

  Ardea alba Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  12,652
• Osprey

  Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,810
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,810
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  11,712
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,311

Largest nearby schools

• SANDALWOOD HIGH SCHOOL
  High · JACKSONVILLE · 2,771 students · 23.3:1 ratio
• ATLANTIC COAST HIGH SCHOOL
  High · JACKSONVILLE · 2,537 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• DUNCAN U. FLETCHER HIGH SCHOOL
  High · NEPTUNE BEACH · 2,067 students · 21.5:1 ratio
• DUVAL CHARTER SCHOOL AT COASTAL
  Elementary · JACKSONVILLE · 1,141 students · 21.9:1 ratio
• DUNCAN U. FLETCHER MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · JACKSONVILLE BEACH · 1,140 students · 20.7:1 ratio
• KERNAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · JACKSONVILLE · 1,136 students · 16:1 ratio
• CHET'S CREEK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
  Elementary · JACKSONVILLE · 1,095 students · 15.6:1 ratio
• LANDMARK MIDDLE SCHOOL
  Middle · JACKSONVILLE · 1,077 students · 16.1:1 ratio