Switzerland, Florida facts for kids
Switzerland is a small community located in the northwest part of St. Johns County, Florida, United States. It sits right next to another community called Fruit Cove.
Switzerland shares the same zip code (32259) with Fruit Cove. Sometimes, people new to the area might refer to both Fruit Cove and Switzerland simply as Saint Johns. This community is found on the eastern side of the St. Johns River. It is located across the river from towns like Green Cove Springs and Middleburg, which are in Clay County. Switzerland is also south of the larger city of Jacksonville.
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How Switzerland Got Its Name
The name "Switzerland" comes from a large farm called the New Switzerland Plantation. This plantation was owned by a person named Francis Philip Fatio. He started this farm between 1771 and 1774. Fatio moved to this new plantation from another one he owned called New Castle.
Schools in the Switzerland Area
The Switzerland area has several schools for students of different ages.
Early Schools
In the 1970s and 1980s, there was one school named Julington Creek Elementary. This school taught students from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade.
Modern School System
In 1981, a new school opened called Allen D. Nease Jr-Sr High School. Students from Julington Creek Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary, and Ponte Vedra Elementary who were in grades 7-12 moved to the new Nease High School.
Today, the main elementary schools in the Switzerland area are Hickory Creek Elementary and Cunningham Creek Elementary. Students then go to Switzerland Point Middle School. For high school, students attend Bartram Trail High School.
