EARLY JACKSONVILLE

FOUNDING OF JAX

ESTABLISHMENT OF DUVAL COUNTY

EARLY GROWTH OF JAX

FOUNDING OF JAX

• EARLY YEARS OF FLORIDA -- Overview of Florida's history.  Includes summary history during the time of Cowford.  Furnished by the Florida Heritage Collection.

• EARLY TOWN LIFE IN FLORIDA -- Detailed summary of Florida history entitled "The Floridians: A Social History."  Includes a section called "Urban Life in Early Florida 1821-1845."

• EARLY JAX -- Info about the founding of Jacksonville can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 54 - 58.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• HART, ISAIAH -- Info about Isaiah Hart, the founder of modern Jacksonville, can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 57 - 58.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• JAX'S FIRST CHARTER -- Info about the first charter of Jacksonville can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 70 - 74.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• FOUNDING OF JACKSONVILLE -- Brief article entitled "The Story of Jacksonville: From Cowford to Jacksonville," from Jacksonville History Magazine.    

• ESTABLISHMENT OF JACKSONVILLE -- Brief article called "Jacksonville a Crazy Idea," by Bill Foley, from Jacksonville.com.  

• SUMMARY OF JAX'S EARLY YEARS -- Florida Times-Union article entitled "City Had Humble Beginnings on the Banks of the St. Johns," by Judy Wells. 

• FLORIDA HERITAGE COLLECTION -- Info about the subjects on this webpage may be available at the the marvelous "Florida Heritage Collection." This website gives full-text, online copies of hundreds of Florida books.  NOTE: When you get to the website, you can search in different ways.  These searches include by "Florida Themes" or by "Florida History Timeline."  You can also search by "Florida County" and by "Keywords."  With keyword searching, just type in "Jacksonville," "Duval County," or other keywords, such as words from a title.  ALSO NOTE:  Many of the individual Jacksonville items in the Florida Heritage Collection are listed in JacksonvilleStory.com, the site you're now in. However, Jacksonville info can often be found in books about Florida in general. Many of theses books are at the Florida Heritage Collection website.

ESTABLISHMENT OF DUVAL COUNTY

• ESTABLISHMENT OF DUVAL COUNTY -- Info about the establishment of Duval County can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 59 - 65.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• ESTABLISHMENT OF DUVAL COUNTY -- Online copy of the first act of the first legislature of the Territory of Florida.  From a website furnished by the State of Florida.  BACKGROUND INFO: One of the provisions of this act was the establishment of Duval County.  The act also mentions "Cowford."  

• FIRST COURTS & LAWYERS -- Info about the first courts and lawyers in Jacksonville can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 59 - 62.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• EARLY COURTHOUSES -- Info about the first Duval County courthouse (and pictures of later ones) can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 62 - 65.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

EARLY GROWTH OF JAX

• EARLY GROWTH OF JAX -- Brief article called "Not a Jumping Off Place," by Bill Foley, from Jacksonville.com.  Gives info about the early growth of Jacksonville.

• EARLY JAX -- Florida Times-Union piece called "First Family Milestones," by Judy Wells.  Gives very brief overview of the Jacksonville history from 1562-1823.

• GROWTH OF EARLY JAX -- Info about the early growth of Jacksonville can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 66 - 115.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• DOWNTOWN JAX DURING 1850s -- Info about businesses & buildings in downtown Jacksonville during the early 1850s can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 87 - 94.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• RECREATION IN EARLY JAX -- Info about recreation in pre-Civil War Jacksonville can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 112 - 113.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.

• SOCIAL LIFE IN EARLY LIFE -- Info about early social life in Jacksonville  can be found in the book History of Jacksonville Florida and Vicinity 1513 to 1924 (by T. Frederick Davis, 1925).  Go to pages 112 - 115.  The entire book is online at the website for the Florida Heritage Collection.  STEP #1 -- When you get to the website, use a keyword search for the following words: "Jacksonville" "vicinity". This will retrieve the book.  STEP #2 -- Click on the link "Electronic resource (JPEG)."  This will retrieve the screen that allows you to choose a page number. STEP #3 -- Go to the bottom of the screen & select a page number.  This will open the book at that page.