Hibernia, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hibernia
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 Hibernia
Location in Florida
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Clay |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Hibernia is a small, unincorporated community in Clay County, Florida, in the United States. It is located right on the western bank of the St. Johns River, near US 17. Hibernia is known for its historic St. Margaret's Episcopal Church and Cemetery.
History of Hibernia
Hibernia got its name from the Latin word for Ireland. An Irish immigrant named George Fleming (who lived from 1760 to 1821) settled this area of Florida.
Early Settlement and Plantation Life
In 1790, George Fleming received a large piece of land, about 1,000 acres, from the Spanish governor of East Florida. This was a "land grant" given to him for his military service. On this land, he built a large farm called Hibernia Plantation. This plantation was located in what is now Hibernia and Fleming Island, Florida.
When George Fleming passed away in 1821, his son, Colonel Lewis Michael Fleming (1798–1862), took over the plantation. Lewis Michael Fleming had a big family, as he was married twice and had ten children. After the American Civil War ended, his second wife, Margaret Seton, decided to turn their damaged plantation house into a resort for tourists.
Post Office Changes
A U.S. post office was first set up in Hibernia on June 19, 1849. However, its name was changed a few times. On October 17, 1853, it became Magnolia Mills. Then, on July 30, 1866, its name changed again to Green Cove Springs.
The Hibernia post office was opened again on February 16, 1855. It stayed open for many years until May 15, 1931. After that, it closed, and the mail service for the area was handled by Green Cove Springs.
