Were exactly is the center of Jacksonville. I believe it is somewhere in Springfield.
I always think of it being located in the Landing/ Main Street Bridge area
The googles reports it as the corner of Bay and Main st.
A pastor at my parents church, First United Methodist in downtown, used to claim it was Duval & E Newman. I was 12 when I heard this so I haven't verified.
Geographical center or population center?
When streets were first being laid out in 1822 they started at the current intersection of Bay and Market where supposedly there was a bay tree near the SW corner.
That would make a great historic marker. Say a statue or plaque with short excerpt on the founding of the city.
I think there already is one?
First to get a picture gets a prize! :)
Quote from: Jason on April 16, 2009, 04:50:50 PM
That would make a great historic marker. Say a statue or plaque with short excerpt on the founding of the city.
Perhaps a dog poop bum collector pocket park? :D
(http://www.floridaattractions.com/images/colonial_spanish_quarter_museum.jpg)
A NEW VIEW OF THE CENTER?
Hart and a couple of other local farmers subdivided his land on the North Bank of the St. Johns, where he farmed and also operated a ferry service (an Indian made dugout canoe).
Robert Pritchard, was the first "white settler" in this corner of Florida. Pritchard A combat veteran, fought in the War of 1812 it is not known if the overseers on his farm were welcome or driven off during the fighting no one bothered to record which side they were on. In 1816 Maria Taylor, living on some of the Prichard land, married Lewis Zachariah Hogans. The Hogans completed the land grant transfer (Florida worked out a system of passing on the former Spanish Land Grants). They moved into the new house which was said to be much finer then past homes, about Christmas Day. The farm house sat at the NW corner of Hogans and Forsyth, Hogans planted a field between the house and the Creek. The old Hogans Well was visible at the original Federal Building into the 20Th century.
One of the early leaders in Florida L. Z. Hogans added his name to the list of Troops which marched on the Seminole Nation. He would never see the "Cowford" again.
In 1816, Juan Maestre obtained a large grant next next to Maria Taylor's, he built a usual large 2 room cabin. He then laid in a good crop for 1817. Alas it was a crop which would never be gathered. Mayport and the lower reaches of the St Johns River had fallen to pirate raids and many citizens took up arms to defend themselves or to join the pirates in a futile attempt to retain independence.
Isiah Hart, had read of the success of the little store of Dawson and Buckles, while living on the St. Marys River in the edge of Florida. He put his affairs in order and moved south, buying 18 acres for $17 dollars. The land was said to be in cattle. He built a large double cabin on this new farm bordered by Forsyth, Newnan and Market, plus the river.
Shortly after Hart bought his acreage, Dawson and Buckles cooked up an idea to build a small hotel. Until this time anyone who needed a sleeping accommodation overnight, would go to Mister Brady, who being kindly, would try and make some arrangements in his own cabin or a spare stable building he owned. Sarah Waterman, a trusted business woman who lived in the wilderness of Arlington was called upon to manage the new Hotel. She returned by river and moved right into her new administrative position. Just a Lakelander note, the new Hotel being "State of the Art" was the first frame building built in Northeast Florida. When she arrived, she moved in with her four daughters, and two young sons - enough to count the growth of Cowford at 100%. The Waterman "Inn" was very popular with travelers, and one young man commented that it is rare that one could sleep in a clean bed, eat a wonderful meal and have it all served by beautiful young women.
Joseph Andrews was the last to move in, he was a brother-in-law of Isaiah Hart. Andrews built a frame home on the South side of Adams between Newnan and Ocean.
As Andrew Jackson of the United States, had driven off the Indian bands, and illegally, insulted as well as seized St. Augustine and the lands from Spain we were looking at a real possibility of the first world war. In order to prevent an international incident the new Continental Congress had to immediately pass a resolution to purchase the land from Spain.
In 1821, Isaiah Hart met with his neighbor Mr. Brady and told him all about his idea to incorporate a "CITY" here. The two men couldn't come to any sort of agreement on where to start a survey even though Brady never really shared the vision of Hart. They had agreed to start the survey from a common point between their properties, but where? Finally it was suggested that there was a landmark Bay Tree, next to the large Market. Out came the chains and Jacksonville was born, right at the corner of BAY and MARKET.
OCKLAWAHA
Bay and Market has my vote!
Independent Drive and Laura Street?
"Heights"
Many years ago there was a Heart of Jacksonville hotel. I think it was the now abandoned property at State and Main.
It's probably reasonable to think that the center can "move" as a city expands as well. I'm not sure if this was exactly considered the center of Jacksonville, but the 1949 Sandborn Maps show concentric circles radiating from City Hall at Forsyth and Ocean. 50 years ago City Hall probably was thought of differently than now as well.