Orange Park Florida

Orange Park is the northern most city in Clay County and is a southwestern suburb of Jacksonville, Florida. Orange Park is 2 miles south of  the Naval Air Station and is bordered to the east by the beautiful St John's River. Orange Park is more than a bedroom community - it has it's own city government and cultural opportunities. For example - on the campus of St John's Community College is the Thrasher Horn Theater with on-going art exhibits and broadway plays.
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Some of the communities of Orange Park Include:

Oakleaf Plantation

Oakleaf Plantation is a planned community in the Northwestern part of Clay County. Twenty minutes from downtown Jacksonville Florida makes it convenient to jobs and cultural events. Although there are many activities available in the community including their own schools and new Town Center Shopping - this development is only minutes from Orange Park shopping and theaters.

When it’s time to play, there’s something for everyone in the family at OakLeaf Plantation. OakLeaf’s two multimillion dollar Athletic Centers offer more than 50 acres of exciting recreation including state-of-the-art waterparks, complete with slide towers, spraygrounds, play pools and a lap pool. The Centers, which are connected to neighborhoods by footbridges and boardwalks, also offer expansive community clubhouses, complete with fitness centers, soccer & baseball fields, tennis & basketball courts and tot lots. Golfers will enjoy an 18-hole championship course. This unique course is adorned by century-old oaks, pristine lakes and distinctive homes.

This community is one of three Community Development District (CDD) in Clay County. The CDD is a form of local government created by the Florida State Legislature which has very specific, yet fewer powers than a city or county. As a new home owner it is important to understand that many of the services are paid for with the yearly CDD charge to each home in the development. ( This is in addition to Homeowner Assn. dues.)  Please ask us to give you more information about this wonderful area to live.
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Eagle Harbor

Eagle Harbor is an established planned community in the Fleming Island area of Clay County consisting of over 3,000-acres . Although traditional and contemporary homes are still being built, this community has been around for over 10 years and the many activities available reflect a maturity that other communities aspire too. Eagle Harbor is a beautiful 3,000-acre, planned golf community. Bounded to the east by U.S. 17 and to the north and west by Doctors Lake, Eagle Harbor extends south of County Road 220. Just 20 miles from downtown Jacksonville and only minutes to the Orange Park Mall and theaters.

Amenities include:
Soccer complex with 12 fields
Tennis Center with 12 Har-Tru courts (10 lighted), a fully stocked pro shop, and a staff of USPTA professionals
Golf club with 18-hole championship golf course designed by award-winning course architect Clyde Johnston, fully stocked pro shop, dining facilities, and staff of PGA professionals
Golf and tennis instruction with competitive play for all skill levels
Swim facilities -$2.5 million Superpool with 10,000 square-foot pool, beach area, and 110' water slide. Waterfront park on Doctor's Lake with an adults only heated pool, water playground, zero entry pool and separate toddler area.
Swimming and diving instructions with competitive teams
Year-round, organized programs, clinics, camps and activities for kids, teens, seniors and families; led by full-time recreation director and staff
Lighted biking and jogging trails
Neighborhood playgrounds
Lick Skillet: a 22-acre nature preserve with fishing ponds, boating and fishing on Doctor's Lake.

This community is one of three Community Development District (CDD) in Clay County. The CDD is a form of local government created by the Florida State Legislature which has very specific, yet fewer powers than a city or county. As a new home owner it is important to understand that many of the services are paid for with the yearly CDD charge to each home in the development. ( This is in addition to Homeowner Assn. dues.)  Please ask us to give you more information about this wonderful area to live.
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Fleming Island Plantation

With 12 distinct neighborhood villages, a pristine golf course, a host of recreational amenities, plus schools and offices, Fleming Island Plantation is the great community to call home.
 
Plan to Golf  - this is a place to consider.

This community is one of three Community Development District (CDD) in Clay County. The CDD is a form of local government created by the Florida State Legislature which has very specific, yet fewer powers than a city or county. As a new home owner it is important to understand that many of the services are paid for with the yearly CDD charge to each home in the development. ( This is in addition to Homeowner Assn. dues.)  Please ask us to give you more information about this wonderful area to live
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Country Club of Orange Park & Loch Rane

This community is a combination of new and old. Loch Rane is a gated community of large brick homes built in the 1970's. Pride of ownership makes this a community to look at.
Go through Loch Rane to reach the planned golf course community of the Country Club of Orange Park. Here we have contemporary homes styled and built by different custom builders. Most homes center around the golf course. Characterized by a secluded natural environment with 18 holes of championship golf, the Country Club of Orange Park provides a superior test within a beautiful setting. Water is abundant on 14 of the 18 holes, putting a premium on driving. Fairways are treelined with numerous wetland areas, greens are generously proportioned to fit both the average and exceptional player, and the overall aesthetics are excellent.

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Jacksonville Southside

Jacksonville Westside - Home of Naval Air Station

The Westside of Jacksonville is a varied community. From the gracious homes on the St Johns River, to the middle to upper income Avondale area of residential architecture of the 1920's, to the many diverse bedroom communities such as Ortega, Cedar Hills, Lake Shore, and of course the communities of Argyle Forest.  Argyle Forest consists of many subdivisions and the newest being the Oakleaf Plantation, a planned community. See more information under Oakleaf Plantation.
A large employer and presence in the Westside is the Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS). NAS is a multi-mission base hosting more than 100 tenant commands, is the third largest naval installation in the United States. Jacksonville has a large population of active duty military, dependents and retired military personnel in the greater Jacksonville area - many find their homes in the Westside area.
The now closed Cecil Field (one third of the land area if Duval County) is being developed for manufacturing and industrial end users. The infrastructure and transportation accessibility contribute to the appeal of this commercial and industrial site.
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Jacksonville Northside

Northside homes radiate out from downtown - older to younger homes. Closer to downtown the Springfield area is being renewed and in some cases the older antibellum homes are being replicated. Up by the Airport newer subdivisions abound - close to jobs and transportation via I295 loop - they have shopping and movie theaters.
Growth areas include the homes near the the JAXPORT.  The Jacksonville Port Authority (JAXPORT) is an international trade seaport in Northeast Florida. Companies doing business at Jacksonville's seaport employ more than 7,000 workers and support an additional 38,000 jobs in Jacksonville. JAXPORT also has a cruise port and a ferry terminal. In the same area is the Jacksonville Zoo.
CSX is another large employer located in Northside. CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., owns companies providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services that are among the nation's leading transportation companies, connecting more than 70 river, ocean and lake ports, as well as more than 200 short line railroads. Its principal operating company, CSX Transportation Inc., operates the largest railroad in the eastern United States with a 21,000-mile rail network linking commercial markets in 23 states, the District of Columbia, and two Canadian provinces. CSXT headquarters are in Jacksonville, Fla.
Anheuser-Busch a leading American brewer, with nearly half of U.S. beer sales, has a brewery in Northside and accomodates the public with tours.
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Middleburg Florida

A sleepy town located about 25 miles south-west of Jacksonville, Florida in what is known as Clay County, Middleburg is what some may consider a classic representation of 'rural' America.
Middleburg, one of the oldest towns in Florida, developed in the early 1800s as a link between the St Johns River and the rest of Florida, and was settled in the main by Irish and German immigrants. 
For its size Middleburg seems to have little visitor value, but the surrounding area has much to offer if you look for it. The Black Creek Ravines Conservation Area is about a mile to the east of Middleburg on Black Creek (which runs through the town), and Jennings State Forest is located to the north, nearer Jacksonville. While they appear to be little more than a few dirt tracks through woodland, both offer camping, swimming, bicycling, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, picnicking, fishing, canoeing and other outdoor activities. 
In the town itself there are many representative Victorian Era homes to marvel at, but the oldest building in Middleburg must be seen.The United Methodist Church -arguably the oldest Methodist meeting place in Florida, the church was built mostly by slave labour, using native lumber and hand-wrought nails from local blacksmiths. The heart of pine exterior is of clapboard square edge siding, a design unique to the period. The windows and mahogany wood for the pews were brought from overseas and the church bell was cast in New York in 1852, and then shipped to Middleburg by Mr George Branning. The wide aisle down the centre of the church was designed to segregate men and women, while the back pews were reserved for slaves. The pews themselves were put together with wooden pegs and hand-drawn - the marks of the draw-knife can still be seen.
For more in the way of historical culture try the Middleburg Historical Museum Inc on Section Street which offers artefacts from Fort Heilman and many photographs and displays of the early turpentine and timber industries in Middleburg. The Hilltop Heritage Museum in the town also delves into the past of Middleburg, with information on the local indigenous people and the Seminole and Civil Wars, while the Black Heritage Museum on Longmire Avenue at the Hunter-Douglas Park gives a fascinating insight into the lives of African-American slaves in the area during the 1800s.
Middleburg has a very quiet and laid-back feel. There is little to no crime and the community often looks to nearby Jacksonville for further entertainment. However, by delving a little deeper you can find something for all tastes.
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Jacksonville Beach Communities

From Ponte Vedre Beach - Jacksonville Beach - Amila Island

Ponte Vedra Beach

Ponte Vedra Beach is located in St. Johns county which is only the 29th largest in Florida, but whose our per capita income ranks 2nd in the state and the income is 123% of the state average and 118% of the national average based on 2003 statistics.  According also to those statistics, the earnings of persons employed here increased 8.8%, almost double the national average.  Add to that, the fact that this is the 2nd fastest growing county in Florida and you have some pretty healthy economic indicators. 
Business is booming here and the economy is good; yet the property taxes are still low.  A combination of a young community with many children and also a large group of retirees that provide a great resource pool for this area.  The school system is top-notch and only minutes from several large universities.  
This is the site of the annual PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP so it is no secret that golf and tennis opportunities abound.
 If that wasn't enough, Ponte Vedra has one of the most beautiful beaches in Florida.
Ponte Vedra Beach has a small town feel with a cosmopolitan atmosphere.
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Jacksonville Beach

Jacksonville Beach is a city located in Duval County, Florida. When the majority of communities in Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville, Florida in 1968, Jacksonville Beach, along with Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Baldwin, Florida, remained quasi-independent. Like the other towns, it maintains its own municipal government but its residents vote in the Jacksonville mayoral election and have representation on the Jacksonville city council. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 20,990. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 21,353. 

The Spanish first settled the Jacksonville Beach area, with missions from Mayport to St Augustine. The Spanish ceded East Florida to the English by treaty in 1763. The Spanish did to regain control twenty years laterand then in 1821 the Spanish ceded Florida to the United States of  America. The area was incorporated as a town in 1907 and called Pablo Beach.
The name was changed in 1925 to 'Jacksonville Beach'. 
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Atlantic Beach

Atlantic Beach began as a small seaside community around 1900 when Henry Flagler, builder of the Florida East Coast Railway, built the Mayport branch of the railway and erected a station just north of the former Atlantic Beach City Hall.  Much of the development in the city has been residential, with single-family homes accounting for most of the developed land areas. The city is nearing build-out with less than 10% of the incorporated land area being undeveloped. Today, Atlantic Beach is a mostly residential community whose approximately 14,000 citizens enjoy an enviable quality of life.
The city has a commission-manager form of government with an appointed manager who reports to the four commissioners and a mayor/commissioner.
In 1994, the city acquired approximately eight acres on the Intracoastal Waterway and with the use of grant funds, developed Tideviews Preserve as a passive park with trails, a boardwalk for viewing wildlife, canoe launch and picnic areas. In 1998, the City of Atlantic Beach, in a joint venture with the City of Jacksonville, acquired a twenty-seven acre island now known as Dutton Island Preserve. The island is experiencing on-going development as a nature park to include trails, a floating dock for launching kayaks and canoes, a fishing pier, camping sites and pavilions. Residents may now enjoy more than sixty-five acres of parkland.
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Arlington

This area east of downtown Jacksonville is convenient to downtown, beaches, 9A, and the airport.