Timeline of Jacksonville, Florida facts for kids

A timeline of the history of Jacksonville, Florida, a big city in Florida, USA. This timeline shows important events that happened in Jacksonville over the years.

Jacksonville's Early Days: Before the 1900s

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
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• Before 1564 – An old map shows a village called Ossachite where downtown Jacksonville is now. This might be the first recorded name for the area.
• 1564 – The French built Fort Caroline. It was started by René Goulaine de Laudonnière.
• 1565 – Spanish forces took over Fort Caroline.
• 1822
  • The settlement was named "Jacksonville" to honor Andrew Jackson.
  • The town's streets were planned out in a grid.
  • Jacksonville became the main city for the new Duval County.
• 1832
  • The town officially became a city.
  • William J. Mills became the first mayor.
• 1838 – Bethel Baptist Church was started.
• 1845 – Florida became a part of the United States.
• 1846 – October 12: A big storm called a gale hit the city.
• 1857 – City Park was created.
• 1858 – The Florida, Atlantic & Gulf Central Railroad started running trains.
• 1862 – The town was taken over by Union soldiers during the American Civil War.
• 1869 – The St. James Hotel was built.
• 1871 – Furchgott, Benedict & Co., a dry goods store, opened for business.
• 1872 – Cookman Institute, a school, was established.
• 1873 – The Florida Circulating Library was active.
• 1875 – The Windsor Hotel was built.
• 1876
  • Duval High School was established.
  • The Union Congregational Church was built.
• 1877 – A Board of Health was created to help keep people healthy.
• 1878 – The Library and Literary Association was formed.
• 1881 – The Florida Daily Times newspaper began publishing.
• 1882
  • A synagogue (Jewish house of worship) was dedicated.
  • Florida Baptist Academy was established.
• 1884 – A Board of Trade was organized to help businesses.
• 1885 – The Park Opera House opened.
• 1886 – The Boylan Industrial Home and school was established.
• 1887
  • A yellow fever epidemic (a serious illness) spread.
  • The Metropolis newspaper began publishing.
  • St. Andrew's Episcopal Church was built.
• 1888 – The Subtropical Exposition was held, like a big fair.
• 1890 – The city's population was 17,201 people.
• 1892 – Edward Waters College was active.
• 1893 – Streetcars (like small trains on city streets) started running.
• 1897 – The Woman's Club was founded.
• 1900
  • The famous song "Lift Every Voice and Sing" was performed for the first time.
  • The population grew to 28,429 people.

The 1900s: A Century of Growth

Early 1900s to Mid-Century (1900-1950s)

• 1901
  • May 3: The Great Fire of 1901 happened, a huge fire that destroyed much of the city.
  • Brewster Hospital was established.
  • The Continental Hotel opened.
• 1903
  • Mason Park opened.
  • The Florida Automobile Association was organized.
• 1904
  • Lincoln Park opened.
  • First Baptist Church was built.
• 1905
  • The Jacksonville Free Public Library opened.
  • A Protestant Union Revival was held.
• 1907
  • Manhattan Beach opened.
  • Dixieland Amusement Park opened in South Jacksonville.
  • South Jacksonville became its own city.
• 1908 – Filmmaker Kalem Studios was active in the city.
• 1909 – The YMCA building was constructed.
• 1910
  • Atlantic Boulevard was planned and built.
  • The population reached 57,699 people.
• 1912
  • The St. James Building was constructed.
  • The City Rotary Club was formed.
• 1914 – The Jacksonville Zoological Park (the zoo) was established.
• 1917
  • The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) started a chapter in Jacksonville.
  • John W. Martin became mayor.
• 1920 – The population was 91,558 people.
• 1921 – The St. Johns River Bridge opened, connecting parts of the city.
• 1923 – John T. Alsop became mayor.
• 1925
  • The Negro Welfare League was organized.
  • WJAX radio began broadcasting.
• 1926 – The Carling Hotel opened.
• 1927 – The Florida Theatre and 5 Points Theatre were built.
• 1928 – The Gator Bowl Stadium was built.
• 1929 – The Jacksonville Historical Society was founded to preserve the city's history.
• 1930 – The population was 129,549 people.
• 1934
  • Jacksonville Junior College was established.
  • WMBR radio began broadcasting.
• 1938
  • WJHP radio began broadcasting.
  • Theatre Jacksonville was built.
• 1940
  • The U.S. military's Naval Air Station Jacksonville was opened.
  • The population was 173,065 people.
• 1946 – The annual Gator Bowl college football game began.
• 1947
  • The Jacksonville Urban League was formed.
  • Hanna Park was created.
• 1949
  • WJXT (television) began broadcasting.
  • W. Haydon Burns became mayor.
• 1950 – The population reached 204,517 people.
• 1953 – The Mathews Bridge opened.
• 1955 – The Jacksonville Expressway Authority was established to manage roads.
• 1957 – WFGA-TV (television) began broadcasting.

Later 1900s: Big Changes (1960s-1990s)

• 1960
  • August: "Ax Handle Saturday" was a time of important events for civil rights.
  • The population was 201,030 people.
• 1962 – The Civic Auditorium opened.
• 1963 – December: The Hotel Roosevelt fire occurred.
• 1964 – September 10: Hurricane Dora hit the city.
• 1967
  • The Hart Bridge opened.
  • Mary Singleton and Sallye B. Mathis became the first African American women elected to the City Council.
• 1968
  • The city and Duval County governments joined together in a process called Consolidation.
  • Hans Tanzler became mayor.
• 1970 – The population grew to 528,865 people after consolidation.
• 1973 – The Florida Municipal Home Rule Powers Act was approved, giving cities more local control.
• 1979 – Jake Godbold became mayor.
• 1980
  • A Foreign trade zone was established to help international business.
  • The population was 540,920 people.
• 1984 – The Jacksonville Bulls football team was formed.
• 1989 – The Jacksonville Skyway, an elevated train system, began operating.
• 1990 – The population was 635,230 people.
• 1993 – Corrine Brown became a U.S. representative for Florida's 3rd congressional district.
• 1995
  • The Jacksonville Jaguars football team was formed.
  • The Jacksonville Municipal Stadium opened.
  • John Delaney became mayor.
• 1998 – The city's website went online around this time.
• 2000
  • The "Better Jacksonville Plan" was approved to help the city grow and improve.
  • The population reached 735,617 people.

The 2000s and Beyond

• 2001 – Ander Crenshaw became a U.S. representative for Florida's 4th congressional district.
• 2003 – May 13: The Jacksonville mayoral election, 2003 was held, and John Peyton won.
• 2010 – The population was 821,784 people.
• 2011 – March 22: The Jacksonville mayoral election, 2011 was held, and Alvin Brown won. He was the city's first elected African-American mayor.
• 2013 – Corrine Brown became a U.S. representative for Florida's 3rd congressional district again.
• 2015 – Lenny Curry became mayor.
• 2022 – Jacksonville celebrated its 200th birthday (bicentennial).
• 2023 – May 16: The 2023 Jacksonville mayoral election was held, and Donna Deegan won. She became the city's first female mayor.
• 2023 – August 26: A sad event occurred with a mass shooting at a Jacksonville Dollar General store.

Images for kids

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  Bay Street, Jacksonville, late 19th century.

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  1886 advertisement for Park Opera House (established 1885).