DUVAL COUNTY

Estimated Population: 1,021,827 (2022)

Area: 918 square miles homes and apartments. Many residents of Mayport are military personnel and civilians who work at Naval Station Mayport.

From a bustling downtown to quiet suburbs, Duval County will have a neighborhood perfect for you. Since Jacksonville is the largest city in the nation land-mass wise, we divided the county into four sections: Beaches, North, South and West. This way it’ll be much easier to navigate around each section of Duval County.

DUVAL-NORTH ARLINGTON/FORT CAROLINE

First settled by Europeans in 1564, the Arlington/Fort Caroline area is rich in history. The area is bordered by the St. Johns River to the west and north, the Intracoastal Waterway to the east and finally Atlantic Boulevard to the south. The area offers single- and multi-family homes, condominiums, townhomes, waterfront properties, master-planned communities and even homes in picturesque golf communities.

NORTHSIDE/OCEANWAY

The Northside consists of neighborhoods north of downtown Jacksonville as well as undeveloped land above the St. Johns River. This area offers quick access to the Jacksonville International Airport, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens and the River City Marketplace–a bustling retail area with various stores and restaurants. Oceanway stretches from U.S. 1 to the Atlantic Ocean and then moves to the Duval/Nassau County line to the Trout River and St. Johns River. These neighborhoods offer townhomes, apartment complexes and many housing developments.

DUVAL-SOUTH INTRACOASTAL WEST

The Intracoastal West neighborhoods are located west of the Intracoastal Waterway and north of John Turner Butler Boulevard (JTB), along Kernan Boulevard. Choose from apartments, condominiums, subdivisions and retirement communities all nestled along the Intracoastal. The area has shopping and restaurants close by, and also offers the relaxation of nature with the beauty of the Intracoastal. Residents have easy access to the Town Center areas and Jacksonville Beach.

A master-planned community, Tamaya, is nestled between the city and the sea. It offers homes with Spanish, Mediterranean and Spanish architectural styles. To learn more about Tamaya, please see page 24.

Mandarin

Mandarin is a historic neighborhood located in the southern part of Jacksonville. Once the home of famous author Harriet Beecher Stowe, this area was named in 1830 for the major crop of the area: Mandarin oranges. This small farming village was also known for its grapefruit, lemons and other fruits and vegetables. In present day, many of these fruit trees are gone, but the area is still known for its ancient oak trees that are draped in Spanish moss. Mandarin also has some beautiful parks and stunning water views.

The two smaller neighborhoods of Beauclerc and San Jose border Mandarin. Beauclerc has a variety of brick and rambler homes with some two-story contemporary floorplans. For those looking for a historic home, San Jose has many homes built in the 1950s and 1960s, but also has some recent developments.

San Marco

Just south of downtown Jacksonville’s Southbank lies the popular historic neighborhood of San Marco. This area has unique boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, cafés and art galleries, as well as trendy cocktail bars and breweries. In the center of San Marco is the beautiful tree-lined San Marco Square, home to the Three Lions Fountain sculpture. The neighborhood offers apartments, townhouses, small bungalows, riverfront mansions and condos.

SOUTHSIDE/ BAYMEADOWS

Those looking for the largest variety of housing choices will want to look into the Southside/Baymeadows area which has single-family homes, luxury apartments, condominiums, townhomes and gated communities. There are many options for shopping and dining, including the Avenues Mall, located in the heart of the area. There are also corporate office parks, retail centers and various residential communities.

The master-planned community, eTown, is located off of 9B in southern Duval County. This community offers single-family homes, apartments and many retail areas. The area is very eco-friendly and homes are designed with energy efficiency and sustainability in mind. The community’s five-acre amenity center includes a resort-style pool with zero entry, a lap pool, fitness center with an outdoor yoga lawn, playground, event lawn, dog park and rooftop patio.

Seven Pines, a 1,000-acre master-planned community near I-295 and Butler Boulevard, is currently under construction with lots beginning to sell. The new community will have approximately 1,600 single-family homes, apartments and commercial and retail space. Residents will have exclusive access to a 34-acre park with a beautiful lake. Outdoor lovers will enjoy two miles of multi-purpose trails circling the lake. Some amenities include the Seven Pines Residents Club with a resort-style pool, lap-lane pool and a children’s water park.

Town Center

The ever-expanding area around the St. Johns Town Center is home to luxury apartments, townhouses and condominiums stocked with the most up-to-date features. Residents in this area can walk to some of the best shopping and dining options in Jacksonville. The Town Center is home to more than 175 stores ranging from electronics to clothing. Many college students choose to call this area home with the University of North Florida a quick drive down the road.

DUVAL-WEST DOWNTOWN

Downtown Jacksonville is full of many living options including riverfront condominiums, townhomes, lofts and more. Many apartments are found in renovated buildings dating back to the 1920s. Residents are within walking distance to restaurants, nightclubs and bars, as well as access to museums, festivals, concerts and sporting events.

RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE

The Riverside and Avondale neighborhoods are full of vibrant culture and historic charm. Strolling through the neighborhoods, residents will find a mix of restaurants, cafes, boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, nightclubs and bars. Many of the homes on the area’s treelined streets have been restored to keep original architecture, continuing to preserve the area’s historic character. Riverside/ Avondale has brick quadruplexes and duplexes as well as large historic homes and small bungalows. The Brooklyn Riverside apartments offer modern comforts and urban living located off of I-95 in the heart of Jacksonville. A variety of amenities are available to residents including granite and quartz countertops, in-unit washer/dryer combinations and gorgeous downtown skyline views.

Springfield

Founded in 1869, Springfield is the city’s oldest neighborhood. This diverse neighborhood has been undergoing much revitalization with many mansions and bungalows being restored to their former glory. The streets are lined with majestic oaks, which provide a welcoming shade along the bright streets. The area has many locally owned stores, coffee shops, restaurants, public art, beautiful murals and even some craft breweries.

Westside

Tudor-style homes, woodenframed houses and waterfront mansions can be found on Jacksonville’s Westside. This area is made up of smaller communities including Baldwin, Maxville, Marietta, Whitehouse and Normandy. The historic Ortega neighborhood is south of Riverside and north of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, filled with historic homes, peaceful parks and ancient live oak trees. The Westside is well known for its marinas and boating facilities with access to both the St. Johns and Ortega rivers. Many residents of the Westside are military personnel due to the proximity of Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

As President of the Northeast Florida Builders Association, I would like to welcome you to the First Coast–an area that not only offers an outstanding quality of life for residents, but one that also provides exciting new opportunities for business.

The First Coast is a relocation destination for several reasons. Our climate is sunny and mild yearround. We have miles of beautiful beaches, the largest urban park system in the U.S., premier golf courses, a generous diversity of arts and cultural events and abundance of recreational opportunities. The area offers three of the top 10 school districts in the state, healthcare and affordable housing.

The Northeast Florida Building community has many positive economic indicators on the horizon. Several banking institutions have headquarters and offices in Jacksonville, making it a powerful financial center. The Jacksonville Port Authority is expanding, drawing many international shipping companies to do business here. The transportation and distribution, manufacturing, healthcare and insurance industries are also growing faster than the rest of the nation.

We are poised to welcome new businesses to Northeast Florida and provide a quality of life matched by no other. We will also roll out the “red carpet” for the military men and women who are assigned to serve at one of our three major regional military bases. We thank our service members for their sacrifices and desire to serve and look forward to placing them in high-quality housing.

As a new resident of Northeast Florida, your search for a home will be welcomed with diverse options. There is a tremendous variety of new home communities located throughout the eight-county area. There are family-oriented communities with indoor and outdoor amenities, luxury waterfront homes, maintenance-free condos and townhomes, golf course homes, and even communities designed for horse lovers. Whether you are looking for a starter home or a luxury retirement home, First Coast builders have thousands of floorplans in every price range.

With a low cost of living and high quality of life, the First Coast has a lot to offer newcomers. The First Coast Relocation Guide™ can help you search for the perfect community to live in and help you find your new home.

Welcome Home!

Chris Wood President, Northeast Florida Builders Association