Timeline of Jacksonville, Florida facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

Prior to 20th century

Quick facts for kids History of Florida
The seal of Florida reflects the state's Native American ancestry
Historical Periods
Pre-history	until 1497
Spanish Rule	1513–1763
British Rule	1763–1783
Spanish Rule	1783–1821
U.S. Territorial Period	1822–1845
Statehood	1845–present
Major Events
American Revolutionary War	1775–1783
War of 1812	1811–1814
First Seminole War	1817–1818
Capitol moved to Tallahassee	1824
Second Seminole War	1835–1842
Constitutional convention	1838
Third Seminole War	1855–1858
Ordinance of Secession	1861
Civil War	1861–1865
3rd Constitution	1865
Reconstruction	1865–1868
4th Constitution	1868
5th Constitution	1885
Great Migration	1910–1930
Land Boom	1925–1929
6th Constitution	1968
Gore v. Harris 2000 Presidential Election	2000
Timeline
v t e

• Prior to 1564 - One early map shows a village called Ossachite at the site of what is now downtown Jacksonville; this may be the earliest recorded name for that area.
• 1564 - French Fort Caroline established by René Goulaine de Laudonnière.
• 1565 - Spanish forces take Fort Caroline.
• 1822
  • Settlement named "Jacksonville" to honor Andrew Jackson.
  • Town grid laid out.
  • Jacksonville becomes seat of newly formed Duval County.
• 1832
  • Town incorporated.
  • William J. Mills becomes mayor.
• 1838 - Bethel Baptist Church established.
• 1845 - Florida becomes part of the United States.
• 1846 - October 12: Gale.
• 1857 - City Park created.
• 1858 - Florida, Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad begins operating.
• 1862 - Town occupied by Union forces.
• 1869 - St. James Hotel built.
• 1871 - Furchgott, Benedict & Co. dry goods store in business.
• 1872 - Cookman Institute established.
• 1873 - Florida Circulating Library active.
• 1875 - Windsor Hotel built.
• 1876
  • Duval High School established.
  • Union Congregational Church built.
• 1877 - Board of Health established.
• 1878 - Library and Literary Association formed.
• 1881 - Florida Daily Times begins publication.
• 1882
  • Synagogue dedicated.
  • Florida Baptist Academy established.
• 1884 - Board of Trade organized.
• 1885 - Park Opera House in business.
• 1886 - Boylan Industrial Home and school established.
• 1887
  • Yellow fever epidemic.
  • The Metropolis newspaper begins publication.
  • St. Andrew's Episcopal Church built.
• 1888 - Subtropical Exposition held.
• 1890 - Population: 17,201.
• 1892 - Edward Waters College active.
• 1893 - Streetcars began operating.
• 1897 - Woman's Club founded.
• 1900 -
  • "Lift Every Voice and Sing" song first performed.
  • Population: 28,429.

20th century

1900s-1950s

• 1901
  • May 3: Great Fire of 1901.
  • Brewster Hospital established.
  • Continental Hotel opens.
• 1903
  • Mason Park opens.
  • Florida Automobile Association organized.
• 1904
  • Lincoln Park opens.
  • First Baptist Church built.
• 1905
  • Jacksonville Free Public Library opens.
  • Protestant Union Revival held.
• 1907
  • Manhattan Beach opens.
  • Dixieland Amusement Park opens in South Jacksonville.
  • South Jacksonville chartered as a city.
• 1908 - Filmmaker Kalem Studios active.
• 1909 - YMCA building constructed.
• 1910
  • Atlantic Boulevard laid out.
  • Population: 57,699.
• 1912
  • St. James Building constructed.
  • City Rotary Club formed.
• 1914 - Jacksonville Zoological Park established.
• 1917
  • National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Jacksonville chapter established.
  • John W. Martin becomes mayor.
• 1920 – Population: 91,558.
• 1921 - St. Johns River Bridge opens.
• 1923 - John T. Alsop becomes mayor.
• 1925
  • Negro Welfare League organized.
  • WJAX radio begins broadcasting.
• 1926 - Carling Hotel opens.
• 1927 - Florida Theatre and 5 Points Theatre built.
• 1928 - Gator Bowl Stadium built.
• 1929 - Jacksonville Historical Society founded.
• 1930 – Population: 129,549.
• 1934
  • Jacksonville Junior College established.
  • WMBR radio begins broadcasting.
• 1938
  • WJHP radio begins broadcasting.
  • Theatre Jacksonville built.
• 1940
  • U.S. military Naval Air Station Jacksonville commissioned.
  • Population: 173,065.
• 1946 - Annual Gator Bowl college football game begins.
• 1947
  • Jacksonville Urban League formed.
  • Hanna Park created.
• 1949
  • WJXT (television) begins broadcasting.
  • W. Haydon Burns becomes mayor.
• 1950 - Population: 204,517.
• 1953 - Mathews Bridge opens.
• 1955 - Jacksonville Expressway Authority established.
• 1957 - WFGA-TV (television) begins broadcasting.

1960s-1990s

• 1960
  • August: "Ax Handle Saturday" racial unrest.
  • Population: 201,030.
• 1962 - Civic Auditorium opens.
• 1963 - December, Hotel Roosevelt fire
• 1964 - September 10, Hurricane Dora occurs.
• 1967
  • Hart Bridge opens.
  • Mary Singleton and Sallye B. Mathis became the first female African Americans elected to the City Council.
• 1968
  • Consolidation of city and Duval County governments.
  • Hans Tanzler becomes mayor.
• 1970 - Population: 528,865.
• 1973 - Florida Municipal Home Rule Powers Act ratified.
• 1979 - Jake Godbold becomes mayor.
• 1980
  • Foreign trade zone established.
  • Population: 540,920.
• 1984 - Jacksonville Bulls football team formed.
• 1989 - The Jacksonville Skyway begins operating
• 1990 - Population: 635,230.
• 1993 - Corrine Brown becomes U.S. representative for Florida's 3rd congressional district.
• 1995
  • Jacksonville Jaguars football team formed.
  • Jacksonville Municipal Stadium opens.
  • John Delaney becomes mayor.
• 1998 - City website online (approximate date).
• 2000
  • "Better Jacksonville Plan" for urban growth approved.
  • Population: 735,617.

21st century

• 2001 - Ander Crenshaw becomes U.S. representative for Florida's 4th congressional district.
• 2003 - May 13: Jacksonville mayoral election, 2003 held; John Peyton wins.
• 2010 - Population: 821,784.
• 2011 - March 22: Jacksonville mayoral election, 2011 held; Alvin Brown wins. He was the city's first elected African-American mayor.
• 2013 - Corrine Brown becomes U.S. representative for Florida's 3rd congressional district again.
• 2015 - Lenny Curry becomes mayor.
• 2022 - Jacksonville celebrates its bicentennial.
• 2023 - May 16: 2023 Jacksonville mayoral election; Donna Deegan wins, becomes the city's first female mayor.
• 2023 - August 26: Mass shooting at a Jacksonville Dollar General store.

Images for kids

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  Bay Street, Jacksonville, late 19th c.

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  1886 advertisement for Park Opera House (est. 1885)