Doctors Lake (Florida) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Doctors Lake |
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 Doctors Lake
Location in Florida
Doctors Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clay County, Florida |
| Coordinates | 30°09′10″N 81°42′23″W / 30.15278°N 81.70639°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 13 sq mi (34 km2) |
Doctors Lake is a body of water located near the St. Johns River in Clay County, Florida. Even though it's called a "lake," it's actually an inlet. This means it's a narrow arm of the sea, or in this case, a river, that reaches inland. Doctors Lake is openly connected to the St. Johns River.
Because the St. Johns River is an estuary (where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water), Doctors Lake also has brackish water. This means the water is a mix of fresh and salty, not fully fresh like a typical lake or fully salty like the ocean.
Many docks line the edges of Doctors Lake. People enjoy fun activities here like boating, fishing, and waterskiing. Towards the south, the lake splits into two smaller creeks. These creeks flow from nearby swampy areas.
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History of Doctors Lake Area
Who Owned the Land?
In the early 1800s, a man named Zephaniah Kingsley owned a lot of the land around Doctors Lake. He started a large farm called Laurel Grove Plantation there. Kingsley was a ship captain who traveled a lot in the West Indies, so he was often away from the plantation.
Life at Laurel Grove Plantation
While Kingsley was away, an overseer managed the plantation. A young girl named Anta Madjiguene Ndiaye, who was about 13 years old, helped take care of the plantation house.
Names That Remain Today
Today, you can still find names in the area that remind us of this history. The community at the north end of the inlet to Doctors Lake is called "Laurel Grove." Also, "Kingsley" is a major street in the nearby town of Orange Park.
Geography of Doctors Lake
Size and Connections
Doctors Lake covers an area of about 13 square miles (34 square kilometers). It is connected to the St. Johns River through a narrow waterway called Doctors Inlet.
Nearby Towns and Roads
U.S. Route 17, a main road, crosses over Doctors Inlet. This road connects Orange Park with the more rural parts of Clay County. To the north of Doctors Lake is Orange Park. To the west is Lakeside, and to the east is the large city of Jacksonville, Florida.
