Clay County

Family Fishing at Spring Park in Green Cove Springs, photo courtesy of Clay County Tourist Development Council

Estimated Population 222,596 (2020)

Area 644 square miles

Located southwest of Jacksonville and west of historic St. Augustine, much of Clay County is rural and consists of farms connected by country roads. The area was founded more than 160 years ago and was a popular destination for tourists because of its mild climate and springs. The population of the area has grown 1.53 percent in the last year, bringing in a mix of suburban neighborhoods as well as up-and-coming communities into the rural atmosphere.

FLEMING ISLAND

Fleming Island is a thriving residential and commercial area full of life. The area has major developments including Eagle Harbor, Fleming Island Plantation and Pace Island as well as a bustling commercial area filled with shopping centers, entertainment and restaurants. For nature lovers, Black Creek Park located on the south side of Fleming Island borders Black Creek, which is full of nature trails for both hikers and bikers.

GREEN COVE SPRINGS

Green Cove Springs was established in 1854 as White Sulfur Springs, eventually changing to Green Cove Springs in 1866. Today, these natural sulfur springs flow into the St. Johns River where many older homes line the river. Recently, the town has also had an arrival of new housing developments, but also has housing

ranging from gated golf course communities to large acreage farms and ranches. Green Cove Springs has rodeos, fairs, concerts and parades with the Annual Memorial Day RiverFest being one of the most popular.

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS

The lakeside community of Keystone Heights is in the southeast corner of Clay County. Here, prospective residents will find tree-lined streets, cozy cottages, single-family homes and much undeveloped land waiting for the right owner. The city has many parks and beautiful sand bottom lakes, including Lake Geneva.

OAKLEAF PLANTATION

Oakleaf Plantation is a planned community with multiple village-style subdivisions situated in Clay County, with a small area falling into Duval County. Oakleaf Plantation sits on more than 6,000 acres of land with a dedicated nature preserve accounting for almost 1,500 acres of untouched wildlife. Nature lovers will also enjoy being adjacent to Jennings State Forest that has a diverse number of paths and trails. The Oakleaf Town Center has various shopping and restaurant options. The plantation offers newcomers single- and multifamily homes, luxury condominiums and comfortable apartments. The resort-style community of Eagle Landing at Oakleaf Plantation sits nearby to beautiful Jennings State Forest. It has a variety of new home styles ranging from traditional to contemporary with an abundance of amenities, including an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Clyde Johnson, a well-known golf course architect who has designed more than 100 golf courses. Johnson is the son of C.B. “Johnny” Johnson, a PGA golf professional and former golf coach at Wake Forest College. The community allows golf cart access everywhere within the community, which makes it much easier to navigate the area. The community offers “dive-in” movies, golf clinics, tennis leagues and summer camps at the amenity complex. The amenity complex also has a full-size gym with a fitness center, golf clubhouse, Swim Park, Kid’s Club, eight lighted Har-Tru tennis courts and a village store with a café. Residents will also have access to A-rated schools as well as Ascension St. Vincent’s Clay County Hospital.

MIDDLEBURG

Located near Black Creek in Central Clay County, Middleburg has grown into a suburban community with residential and commercial opportunities for residents. Jennings State Forest allows Middleburg residents to hike, bike, swim and enjoy the area’s natural flora and fauna.

ORANGE PARK

Located in the northeastern section of Clay County, Orange Park is a friendly town with everything from waterfront estates along the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake to new housing developments inland. Residents can also find rural homes on sprawls of land further to the west. The area offers many shopping and entertainment options including a variety of stores, restaurants and more. The area also has close access to I-295 and NAS Jacksonville.

Middleburg, photo by Ebyabe courtesy of Wikimedia Commons