Here's a collection of pics taken around various areas of inner city Jacksonville and the Beaches.
Lets start shall we?
Downtown
This where it all begin, back in 1822.
Jax fact of the day - Part I
Downtown Jax burned to the ground in 1901. This event was the largest urban fire in the South and lead to building boom, incorporating brick, which is rare in the state of Florida.
Springfield
Located immediately north of downtown, platted in 1868 and once known as one of the roughest spots in town, this neighborhood is in the flown blown process of gentrification. Primary architectural styles include Bungalow, Prairie, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival.
cigar anyone?
San Marco
Originally known as the city of South Jacksonville (annexed by Jax in the 1930's), San Marco was laid out in 1925. Architectural styles here, include Tudor, Georgian, Colonial Revival & Mediterranean Revival, although the pics don't fully represent them.
Murray Hill
Like San Marco, this neighborhood was once an incorporated suburb of Jacksonville. Today its a decent working class hood dominated brick bungalows. Its located about 3 or 4 miles SW of downtown, along I-10 & the Roosevelt Expressway.
Durkeeville/LaVilla/East Jacksonville
These three neighborhoods are most likely the oldest African-American neighborhoods in the state of Florida. They also are the city's densest and made up mostly of wood frame shotgun houses. Durkeeville is located to the NW of downtown, on the westside of I-95. LaVilla lies to the west of downtown and is split in half, by I-95. East Jacksonville is located just to the north of Alltel Stadium, strecthing from Springfield (West) to the riverfront port area, along Tallyrand (East). All three have suffered from urban renewal and the building of three expressways.
*Jax fact of the day- Part II
For you New Orleans forumers, Jax Beer actually orginated and was produced in Durkeeville, by the Jax Brewing Company, from 1915 - 1956, when they sold the product rights to the well known Jackson Brewery in New Orleans.
Edward Waters College, Florida's first HBCU.
James P. Small Field was the home of the Negro League's Jacksonville Red Caps and their star player Jackie Robinson
Riverside/Five Points
Riverside is a popular urban hood, just South of I-95, on the west side of the river, about a mile south of downtown. Riverside's largest commercial district, Five Points, is the most popular bohemian spot in Jax.
* Jax fact of the Day - Part III
Riverside Memorial Park, in Five Points, was designed by the famed Olmstead Brothers.
Avondale
Avondale sits just south of Riverside and is actually an extension of the neighborhood. With its riverfront setting and numerous parks, its currently the home of some of Jax's most pricey real estate.
The Beaches - Jax Beach, Atlantic Beach & Netune Beach
The beach communities are 20 miles outside of downtown, but they're well worth the horrific drive through the sprawling southside. Unlike most Florida beaches, this area is very pedestrian friendly and non-tourist oriented. However, its just as vibrant as any other beach community in the state, outside of South Beach.
The Shrimping industry is still pretty big in Mayport, a small historic village at the mouth of the St. Johns River.
Here I even included a shot in sprawlburbia for you suburban loving guys
**BONUS SHOTS**
Unfortunately I didn't carry my camera around during the Super Bowl festivities. However, here are some photos from Tim (first 3) and Gary (last one) www.pbase.com, who did get out and snap shots.
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