History of Jacksonville, Florida
The city of Jacksonville, Florida, began to grow in the late 18th century as Cow Ford, settled by British colonists. Its major development occurred in the late nineteenth century, when it became a winter vacation destination for tourists from the North and Midwest. Its development was halted or slowed by the Great Fire of 1901, the Florida Land Bust of the 1920s, and the economic woes of the 1960s and 70s. Since the late 20th century, the city has experienced steady growth, with a new federal building constructed in downtown in 2003.
Since 1940, Jacksonville has also been a major port for the United States Navy. The city is a thriving metropolis with over a million citizens. Due to its consolidated city-county government structure, it has the largest municipal population among Florida cities, as well as the largest land area of any city in the contiguous United States.
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Early days
Ancient history
Colonial and territorial history
In 1513,
Laudonnière made an alliance with the local tribe of Timucua Indians, the Saturiwa.[5] He also forged friendly relations with their competitors, the Utina tribe, who lived upriver to the south (around what is now Palatka and the Lake George area).[6] Ribault intended to resupply Fort Caroline in early 1565, but was again delayed.[7] As a result, the colony faced famine, three mutinies, and eventually warfare with the Utina. Ribault finally reached the fort with a relief expedition in the summer, and assumed command of the settlement.[7] In the meantime, the Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés had established the colony of St. Augustine 35 miles to the south, with the express mission to displace the French.
When he arrived, Ribault launched a naval expedition of 200 sailors and 400 soldiers to dislodge the Spanish, but a storm at sea incapacitated them for several days and caused numerous deaths. On September 20, 1565, Menéndez marched his men overland to Fort Caroline, defended by 200 or 250 people, and killed everyone except for 50 women and children and 26 men who escaped. The Spanish picked up the survivors of Ribault's fleet, and summarily executed all but 20.
The Spanish took over Fort Caroline, renaming it as San Matteo. In 1568 the French and Spanish confronted each other again here, when Dominique de Gourgues burned it to the ground. The Spanish rebuilt the fort, but abandoned it in 1569. The Spanish next built Fort San Nicolas further upriver to protect the rear flank of St. Augustine. "San Nicolas" served as their name for the Jacksonville area, a placename which survives in the neighborhood of St. Nicholas. The fort was located on the east side of the St. Johns, where Bishop Kenny High School now stands. The fort was abandoned in the late 17th century.
France and Spain were defeated by the
The British government gave land grants to officers and soldiers who had fought in the
The British gave control of the territory back to Spain in 1783. Americans of
Between 1812 and 1814 during the War of 1812 between the US and Britain, the US Navy assisted American settlers in Florida in "The Patriot War", a covert attempt to seize control of Florida from the Spanish. They began with invasions of Fernandina and Amelia Island.
Civil War
Even before the outbreak of war, a militia unit was raised in Jacksonville in April 1859. The unit, called the Jacksonville Light Infantry, would become Company A of the 3rd Florida Infantry Regiment. The company carried a battle flag bearing the slogan "Let Us Alone" and was commanded by Dr. Holmes Steele, a former mayor of the city.[16]
During the
The battle was a devastating loss for the Union and a decisive victory for the Confederacy.[19] Soldiers on both sides were veterans of the great battles in the eastern and western theaters of war, but many of them remarked in letters and diaries that they had never experienced such terrible fighting.[18] The Confederate dead were buried at Oaklawn Cemetery in nearby Lake City.[20] The Union losses caused Northern authorities to question the necessity of further Union involvement in the militarily insignificant region of northern Florida. On the morning of 22 February, as the Union forces were still retreating to Jacksonville, the 54th Massachusetts was ordered to counter-march back to Ten-Mile Station. The locomotive of a train carrying wounded Union soldiers had broken down and the wounded were in danger of capture. When the 54th Massachusetts arrived, the men attached ropes to the engine and cars and manually pulled the train approximately three miles to Camp Finnegan, where horses were secured to help pull the train. After that, the train was pulled by both men and horses to Jacksonville for a total distance of ten miles. It took forty-two hours to pull the train that distance.[21][22]
The US Transport Maple Leaf was sunk at Jacksonville, April 1, 1864.[23] The U.S. Transport General Hunter was sunk in the St. John's River, April 16, 1864, close to where the Maple Leaf was sunk.[24] In the fall of 1865, a black enlisted man in the 3rd USCT was hung by his thumbs for stealing from a field kitchen. The punishment led to a riot and gunfire was exchanged between black enlisted men and their white officers. The riot was put down and several soldiers were put on trial for mutiny, with 6 of them being executed.[25]
By the end of the war in 1865, a Union commander commented that Jacksonville had become "pathetically dilapidated, a mere skeleton of its former self, a victim of war."
Post Civil War
Winter resort era
Following the
Yellow fever epidemics
Jacksonville's prominence as a winter resort was dealt another blow by major yellow fever epidemics in 1886 and 1888. During the second one, nearly ten percent of the more than 4,000 victims died, including the city's mayor.[26] In the absence of scientific knowledge concerning the cause of yellow fever, nearly half (10,000 out of 25,000) of the city's panicked residents fled despite the imposition of quarantines. Inbound and outbound mail was fumigated in an effort to reduce contagion. Jacksonville's reputation as a healthful tourist destination suffered. The African-American population did not appear to catch the disease, leading the panicked population into erroneously believing that the black residents were "carriers" of the Yellow Fever. In fact, Black people had immunity from catching the disease earlier, as children.[27]
Spanish–American War
During the
20th century
Great Fire of 1901
On May 3, 1901, downtown Jacksonville was ravaged by the Great Fire—the largest-ever urban fire in the
Young architect
Motion picture industry
In the early 20th century, before Hollywood, the motion picture industry was based in Fort Lee, New Jersey#America's first motion picture industry. In need of a winter headquarters, moviemakers were attracted to Jacksonville due to its warm climate,[28] exotic locations, excellent rail access, and cheaper labor, earning the city the title of "The Winter Film Capital of the World."[29]
In 1908, New York-based
In 1914,
In 1915, Joseph Engel opened Metro Pictures in Jacksonville.[30]
In 1917, the first motion picture made in Technicolor and the first feature-length color movie produced in the United States, The Gulf Between, was filmed on location in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville's mostly conservative residents, however, objected to the hallmarks of the early movie industry, such as car chases in the streets, simulated bank robberies and fire alarms in public places, and even the occasional riot. [citation needed]
In 1917, conservative Democrat
In 1920, Richard Norman,
"Gateway to Florida"
The 1920s brought significant real estate development and speculation to the city during the great
The
Completion of the Dixie Highway (portions of which became U.S. 1) in the 1920s began to draw significant automobile traffic as well. An important entry point to the state since the 1870s, Jacksonville now justifiably billed itself as the "Gateway to Florida."
A significant part of Jacksonville's growth in the 20th century came from the presence of navy bases in the region. October 15, 1940, Naval Air Station Jacksonville ("NAS Jax") on the westside became the first navy installation in the city. This base was a major training center during World War II, with over 20,000 pilots and aircrewmen being trained there. After the war, the Navy's elite Blue Angels were established at NAS Jax. Today NAS Jax is the third largest navy installation in the country and employs over 23,000 civilian and active-duty personnel.
In June 1941, land in the westernmost side of Duval County was earmarked for a second naval air facility. This became NAS Cecil Field, which during the
December 1942 saw the addition of a third naval installation to Jacksonville: Naval Station Mayport at the mouth of the St. Johns River. This port developed through World War II and today is the home port for many types of navy ships, most notably the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy from 1995 to 26 July 2007, when Big John was towed away, eventually to be mothballed in Philadelphia.[38] NS Mayport current employs about 14,000 personnel.
Jacksonville is also not far from
The naval base became a key training ground in the 1950s and 1960s and as such, the population of the city rose dramatically. More than half of the residents in Jacksonville had some tie to the naval base, whether it be a relative stationed there, or due to employment opportunities, by 1970, necessitating the opening of an international airport in the area.
Hotel Roosevelt fire
On December 29, 1963, a fire
Floating nuclear power plants
Offshore Power Systems (OPS) was a 1970 joint venture between
OPS obtained 850+ acres (3.4 km2) on Blount Island from the Jacksonville Port Authority (JPA) for $2,000/acre,[41] then installed infrastructure using over 1,000 workers. A total of $125 million was invested in the property and facility,[41] however; no plants were ever built.[40]
Ax Handle Saturday
Because of its high visibility and patronage, the
Several whites had joined the black protesters on that day. Richard Charles Parker, a 25-year-old student attending
Hurricanes
Jacksonville is has been largely spared from the impacts of
Dora was the only storm in recorded history to affect Jacksonville with hurricane-force winds, though the city has been affected by weaker storms as well as hurricanes that lost intensity before reaching the area. In September 1999, after
Consolidation
Through the 1960s Jacksonville, like most other large cities in the US, suffered from the effects of
Claude Yates began the "quiet revolution" with the Yates Manifesto and J. J. Daniel was chairman of the Local Government Study Commission. Lex Hester was Executive Director of the commission and the key architect of Jacksonville's consolidated government, transition coordinator and chief administrative officer following consolidation.[52]
See also
- List of people from Jacksonville, Florida
- Timeline of Jacksonville, Florida
- History of African Americans in Jacksonville
Bibliography
- Bartley, Abel A. Keeping the Faith: Race, Politics, and Social Development in Jacksonville, Florida, 1940–1970. (2000). 177 pp. online edition
References
- ISBN 0-631-21864-5. Retrieved August 3, 2010.
- ^ "The Spanish Claim to Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, 1513-1821". National Park Service. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ "European Exploration and Colonization". Florida Department of State. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f Chuck Meide. "Historical Background Part I: French Colonization in Florida, 1562-1565". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ "Narrative of Le Moyne, an Artist who Accompanied the French Expedition to Florida Under Laudonnière, 1564". Library of Congress. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ "Sacrifice of the first-born". National Portrait Gallery. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ^ a b "Fort Caroline". Jacksonville Historical Society. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
- ISBN 0-8130-0953-7.
- ^ Beach, William Wallace (1877). The Indian Miscellany. J. Munsel. p. 125. Retrieved July 12, 2011.
- ^ Wells, Judy (March 2, 2000). "City had humble beginnings on the banks of the St. Johns". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved July 2, 2011.
- ^ A History of Florida By Caroline Mays Brevard, Henry Eastman Bennett page 77
- ^ A History of Florida By Caroline Mays Brevard, Henry Eastman Bennett
- ^ The Land Policy in British East Florida by Charles L. Mowat 1940
- ISBN 978-0-8130-3028-9
- ^ "Jacksonville Historical Society". Archived from the original on 25 June 2012. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ISBN 9780817317072.
- ISBN 0-7385-1368-7.
- ^ a b "Battle of Olustee History". Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park Citizens Support Organization. Retrieved 2013-01-20.
- ^ "Battle of Olustee - The Battle Itself". battleofolustee.org.
- ^ "Olustee Battlefield". Florida Public Archaeology Network. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
- ISBN 0-306-80623-1.
- ^ Schmidt, Lewis (1995). The Civil War in Florida: A Military History. self-published.
- ^ Seaman Rob (6 April 2014). "Civil War Navy Sesquicentennial: Sinking of the Union transport steamer Maple Leaf". civilwarnavy150.blogspot.com.
- ^ "This Day in the American Civil War for April 16". civilwarinteractive.com. Archived from the original on 2014-07-24.
- ^ Fannin, J.F. (2010). "The Jacksonville Mutiny of 1865". Florida Historical Quarterly. 88 (3): 368–370. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
- ^ Crackers and Carpetbaggers: Moments in the History of Jacksonville, Florida, John Wilson Cowart
- ^ Waymer, Jim (March 15, 2020). "Virus shakes up society". Florida Today. Melbourne, Florida. pp. 1A. Retrieved March 15, 2020.
- ^ "Jacksonville and the Movie Industry Historical Marker".
- ^
- https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/05/05/lights-camera-action-jacksonville-was-americas-first-hollywood/
- http://normanstudios.org/
- https://thecoastal.com/featured/jax-cinematic-past/
- https://guides.fscj.edu/jax/silentfilm
- https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/history/2022/03/16/fscj-compiles-collection-silent-films-shot-jacksonville-florida-moviemaking-heyday/9441373002/
- https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/history/2021/08/15/jacksonville-silent-film-industry-hub-before-world-war/5428544001/
- https://www.news-press.com/story/life/2021/09/26/florida-history-jacksonvilles-role-silent-film-industry/8385981002/
- https://www.sgrlaw.com/ttl-articles/lights-camera-action-the-role-of-jacksonville-in-the-silent-film-era-2/
- https://thecoastal.com/flashback/remembering-the-old-film-studios-from-jacksonvilles-movie-star-era/
- https://www.jaxhistory.org/portfolio-items/silent-movies-capital/
- Blair Miller Almost Hollywood
- Shawn C. Bean The First Hollywood
- https://filminflorida.com/about-us/
- https://thecoastal.com/featured/jax-cinematic-past/
- https://www.visitjacksonville.com/blog/jacksonville-was-americas-first-hollywood/
- https://easyeditvideo.com/lights-camera-jacksonville-a-brief-history-of-film-production-in-jacksonville-florida/jacksonville/
- Early Filmmaking in Jacksonville, Florida -- NESFM
- ^ a b "Film History in Jacksonville".
- ^ https://filminflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Analysis-of-the-Florida-Film-and-Entertainment-Industry.pdf
- ^ H & W.B. Drew Company Map: Jacksonville. And Vicinity Duval County, Florida. 1913 Image Dimensions: 35.5 x 32 inches via: Barry Lawrence Ruderman Antique Maps Inc.; 7407 La Jolla Boulevard; La Jolla, CA
- ^ "Florida and the Early Years of African American Film » P.K. Yonge Library of Florida History » UF Libraries » University of Florida".
- ^ "Florida History: Jacksonville's role in the silent film industry".
- ^ http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM3DHH Waymarking, Five Points Theater, Jacksonville
- ^ "Five Points Theatre". jacksonville.com (The Florida Times-Union). Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "5 Points Theater". www.5pointsjax.com. Retrieved 2010-01-02.
- ^ Brumley, Jeff (27 July 2007). "Fond farewell for Big John". The Times-Union. Archived from the original on 5 October 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2024.[dead link]
- ISBN 9781411683006.
- ^ a b c Adams, Rod: "Offshore Power Systems: Big Plants for a Big Customer" Atomic Insights, August 1996
- ^ a b c Putnam, Walter: "Floating nuclear plants may become reality" Boca Raton News, November 15, 1981
- ISBN 0-309-02940-6Page 136, National Research Council Committee, 1980
- ^ Kerr, Jessie-Lynne: “ALEXANDER P. 'ZEKE' ZECHELLA: 1920-2009” Florida Times-Union, August 18, 2009
- ^ "Ax Handle Saturday: Jacksonville's Ugliest Hour". 27 August 2019.
- ^ The Times-Union. "Discrimination in all its forms must be axed - Jacksonville.com". jacksonville.com. Archived from the original on 2008-11-22. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ The Times-Union. "Civil rights - Jacksonville.com". jacksonville.com. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ Gil Wilson. "St. Augustine Civil Rights 1960 -1965". drbronsontours.com.
- ^ Alliniece T. Andino. "40 years ago this weekend, Jacksonville gave itself a national reputation for violence - Jacksonville.com". jacksonville.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-06. Retrieved 2009-10-08.
- ^ Pemberton, John: [1] Archived 2017-07-01 at the Wayback Machine Florida Times-Union, February 22, 1998, "Focus on: Nat Glover"
- ^ Weathersbee, Tonyaa: [2] Florida Times-Union, February 4, 2008, "The story of a white man who joined the '60s sit-ins"
- ISBN 978-1-61423-138-7.
- ^ "Chamber remembers Lex Hester". Jacksonville Business Journal.
External links
- Photographic exhibit on the Great Fire of 1901; presented by the State Archives of Florida.
- The Jacksonville Historical Society