San Pablo Island - Come stay awhile!

[untarded]

Looks like we may have a Wikipedia update opportunity:

In the United States' section of cities that have changed names throughout the course of history:

Alburquerque → Albuquerque, New Mexico
Charleston → St. Charles, Illinois
Charles Towne → Charleston, South Carolina
Clark → DISH, Texas
Cleaveland → Cleveland, Ohio
Cowford → Jacksonville, Florida
Dearborn → Chicago, Illinois
East Detroit → Eastpointe, Michigan
Fort Duquesne → Fort Pitt → Pittsburgh → Pittsburg → Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Fort Orange → Albany → Willemstad → Albany, New York
Gay Head, Massachusetts → Aquinnah, Massachusetts
Hot Springs, New Mexico → Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Jernigan → Orlando, Florida
Lancaster → Lincoln, Nebraska
Losantisville → Cincinnati, Ohio
Marysville → Corvallis, Oregon
Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania → Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
New Amsterdam → New York → New Orange → New York, New York
North Tarrytown, New York → Sleepy Hollow, New York
Pig's Eye → St. Paul, Minnesota
Plantation of Penacook → Rumford → Concord, New Hampshire
Providence → Anne Arundel Towne → Annapolis, Maryland
Sellstown → Dublin, Ohio
Sing Sing → Ossining, New York
Spokan Falls → Spokane, Washington
Swilling's Mill → Hellinwg Mill → Mill City → East Phoenix → Phoenix, Arizona
Terminus → Marthasville → Atlanta, Georgia
Vermilionville → Lafayette, Louisiana
Wineville → Mira Loma, California
Wintonbury → Bloomfield, Connecticut
Yerba Buena → San Francisco, California

Hogtown → Gainesville, FL

[Joe]

What's with some of this hostility toward the beaches? Sounds like a little Jax boosting gone awry.

Honestly, the Jax Beaches are kind of cruddy compared to a lot of other beach towns. I think any attempt at improving their image - even if it's just a simple rebranding - is a positive thing. It's not just positive for the beaches, it's positive for Jax as a whole. This isn't a zero sum game.

[JaxNole]

What's with some of this hostility toward the beaches? Sounds like a little Jax boosting gone awry.

Honestly, the Jax Beaches are kind of cruddy compared to a lot of other beach towns. I think any attempt at improving their image - even if it's just a simple rebranding - is a positive thing. It's not just positive for the beaches, it's positive for Jax as a whole. This isn't a zero sum game.

I worked at the corporate office for a real estate brokerage on the Duval/St. Johns county line and the majority of people I worked and interacted with felt that way about Jacksonville.  It's the snide comments and tonal instances.  Then we have the attempt to form Ocean County.

If the beaches would rather be separate, let them be free!

[Shine]

This is interesting as in the Historical period, the beaches area was not an Island at all.  The San Pablo River stopped just to the south of JTB.  Tolomato river ran only as far north as the northern boundary of Guana WMA.  ICW was constructed through the land mass and connected these two rivers in the modern period.  So, what is the source on "San Pablo Island?"

[reednavy]

They're and island now, and Jax Beach was named San Pablo Beach before.

[jandar]

Kinda like how Fleming Island calls itself an island when its surround by water 95%. (The stretch from Swimming Pen Creek to Black Creek is swamp).

[Ocklawaha]

This is interesting as in the Historical period, the beaches area was not an Island at all.  The San Pablo River stopped just to the south of JTB.  Tolomato river ran only as far north as the northern boundary of Guana WMA.  ICW was constructed through the land mass and connected these two rivers in the modern period.  So, what is the source on "San Pablo Island?"

This is true, although it was always a wetlands so it kind of bends the rules of "islands".

If only someone could have spanned the generations we could have been forewarned about some of our city's worst habits. This canal connection between the Tolomato and the Guana Rivers, was first proposed by the Spanish in the 1500's! Guess which section of the US Intercoastal Waterway as the LAST to be completed? But of course darling, Jacksonville, who else?I really should have seen this coming on my last trip from Thermia, in the Klatu Nebula. Hee Hee!

OCKLAWAHA

[BridgeTroll]

I'm all for it... as long as the make Ponte Vedra change back to Mineral City...

[Jason]

With all the gold, diamonds, and other gems, Mineral City is very fitting.

[Shine]

So, what is the source on "San Pablo Island?"

This is true, although it was always a wetlands so it kind of bends the rules of "islands".


OCKLAWAHA

Actually, its not bending the rules.  What we often refer to as "hammocks" in the low country were referred to as "Islands" in the historical/modern period -- and those names persist on geological maps today.  But, those are generally small tracts of land -- not like the area we are discussing.  Again, would be interested in the source of this.  If it is a historical name, there should be some documentation to support it.

[Overstreet]

I can never understand why people want to change the name of a town and go through the trouble of changing all the printed mater. You have to change addresses, signs, stationary (letter head is expensive), logos on city trucks, street names, maps, etc.  I don't think a new name will necessarily revitalize anything.

[reednavy]

Even if this does pass, it'll always be referred as The Beaches or Jax Beaches. You won't see any signs changing to San Pablo Island and that likes. Hell, the name sounds more like a residential neighborhood on San Pablo Road more than anything else.

[blizz01]

Kinda like how Fleming Island calls itself an island

Or, how Doctor's Lake calls itself a lake!

lake 1
Noun
an expanse of water entirely surrounded by land [Latin lacus]

[Shine]

Had a look at as many historical maps as I could lay my hands on -- never found any reference to the area being called San Pablo Island.  May never have been a historical name -- just part of the local rumor mill. 

Most of the uses were "Pablo" -- The Spanish called the waterway the San Pablo River -- English period, it becomes "Pablo Creek."  Late 1800s Pablo Beach shows up.  The only land mass or town I found called "San Pablo" was the town that used to be at San Pablo Road and Beach Blvd that was associated with the San Pablo rail station --  1880 and still used.

Interesting side note, former Jacksonville City Councilman, Jerry Holland was interested in using "San Pablo" and "Pablo Creek" to brand the district on the west side of the ICW.  The new library and super malls there now sport the San Pablo/Pablo Creek name.