West Jacksonville

A century after its founding, West Jacksonville, Florida, remains a vibrant, affordable community with a population of around 13,000.

West Jacksonville dates back to the early 1900s when the community was the western gateway to Jacksonville. During this period, Jacksonville experienced a surge in industry and a population explosion. From its inception, West Jacksonville provided easy access to the many industries developing around the railway terminals.

As Jacksonville has grown, West Jacksonville is no longer the western boundary but is still a convenient place to live. The railroads, now operated by Norfolk Southern and CSX, continue to attract industry and provide jobs. The community has a mix of residential options with an equal number of homeowners and renters. Residents will find grocery and retail shopping at the Paxon Shopping Center and locally owned stores and restaurants.

West Jacksonville has several school choices, including one of Duval County's highest-rated magnet schools for gifted children. West Jacksonville is only 5 miles from downtown Jacksonville, making it easy to access the city's business, cultural and sports centers.

Housing in West Jacksonville offers a variety of options. The median age of homes dates to the 1950s and 1960s. Single-family homes include Craftsman-style bungalows with large front porches, single-story brick or concrete block homes and manufactured homes.

West Jacksonville's westside location gives you easy access to downtown Jacksonville. Sports fans can hop on a bus or take a short drive to TIAA Bankfield, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars, or VyStar Stadium, where the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Minor League plays. Downtown, you can visit the Jacksonville Museum of Art, stroll along the St. Johns River at Metropolitan Park and find additional shopping and dining. The Jacksonville Zoo and two large regional malls, Orange Park Mall and Regency Mall are nearby.

In addition to its proximity to the sports complex, music lovers can attend a concert at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena or Robert E. Jacoby Symphony Hall. Enjoy an evening at Alhambra Theatre & Dining, and during the winter holidays, experience the Light Boat Parade or fireworks along the North and Southbank Riverwalks. Also nearby is the Jacksonville Equestrian Center, which hosts concerts and athletic competitions. West Jacksonville is only 20 miles from Jacksonville's famous white sand beaches.

If you're looking for a relaxing spot to ride a bike or picnic, consider a day in Woodstock Park. Featuring nearly 16 acres of towering pines and sprawling live oaks, the park was created in 1927 and has been updated over the years. Woodstock Park has a playground, sports fields, a concession stand, shelters with picnic tables, barbeques, bike racks and ample parking. It is also home to the Edith Ford Brown Community Center and a ceramics building. For additional fun, take a short ride downtown and enjoy a stroll along the St. Johns River near Metropolitan Park.

West Jacksonville is home to two Knowledge is Power Program charter schools. KIPP Bessie Coleman Academy is for kindergarten through eighth grade, and KIPP Bold City High School is for students in ninth and 10th grades. Both schools offer Duval County students a curriculum that focuses on building the knowledge, skills, habits and character necessary for college. One of Florida's leading magnet schools for gifted and talented students, James Weldon Johnson College Preparatory Middle School, is also in West Jacksonville. Students may attend one of two elementary schools or a private Christian academy that offers daycare and prekindergarten through 12th grade.

West Jacksonville boasts one of Jacksonville's original shopping centers, the Paxon Shopping Center, which opened in 1958 and still serves the community with a Save-A-Lot grocery and other retail shops. Additional neighborhood grocery stores include a Rowe's IGA and locally owned restaurants and delis. Surrounded by businesses, including a Coca-Cola bottling plant, wholesale centers and trucking facilities, many residents can work close to their homes. It is a short drive to downtown Jacksonville where you will find the city's business district, the Baptist Hospital Health System, the Prime Osborn Convention Center and the major sports complex.

Woodstock is adjacent to a large industrial area with warehouses and numerous railroad depots where many residents are employed. It is only a 5 mile drive to downtown Jacksonville via East Beaver Street or Commonwealth Avenue. With easy access to Interstate 95 and Interstate 295, it is a 15 mile drive to Jacksonville International Airport and 20 miles to the beaches. The Jacksonville Transit Authority provides bus service throughout the community.

Photography Contributed By

Gian Lorenzo Ferretti

Video By

Mallory Nolte