Jacksonville is a metropolitan city located in the northeast of Florida. It’s characterized by the beautiful St. Johns River as well as its beaches along the Atlantic Ocean. A number of high rises span the Downtown Core area, providing a stunning cityscape. There are also many arts and sports venues throughout the city that are connected via public transportation to make it easy to get to the many destinations.

Various neighborhoods are found along the river, allowing homeowners to have a great view from their home and easy access to all that Jacksonville has to offer.

San Marco

San Marco is not only one of the more sought-after neighborhoods in Jacksonville, it also offers a lot of amenities and some of the most breathtaking views of the city. It’s located just south of the Downtown Core and west of Englewood. It’s home to San Marco Square, a quaint downtown area that boasts some of the city’s most dynamic dining and shopping. San Marco residents can also make the most of riverside living thanks to Riverfront Park, where passersby can see manatees surfacing by the shore or take in views of the city’s skyline. Residents also have multiple live performance venues including Theater Jacksonville, the country’s longest-operating community theater.

Empire Point

Along the Southbank of Jacksonville is Empire Point. This is an urban neighborhood that is situated south of the St. Johns River and east of San Marco. There are countless ethnic restaurants and sports bars here. The historic downtown offers buildings that were developed throughout the early 1900s and, to commemorate some of the neighborhood’s railroad history, there is the St. Nicholas Train Station Park. Many of the homes in this neighborhood are more historic and built of brick.

Riverside

Riverside has a history that stretches back to 1868 with a lot of its growth taking place in the two decades following the Great Fire of 1901. Listed in the National Registry of Historic Places, Riverside is known for its diverse architecture, which the city has gone to great lengths to preserve. The neighborhood is located southwest of the Downtown Core and borders I-10, making it easy to travel to other parts of the city. The King Street and Five Points Districts is also where the cultural heart of the neighborhood resides, hosting craft breweries, art galleries, cafes, and museums.

Photo by Steven Martin / CC BY-NC-ND

Avondale

Avondale neighbors Riverside and is southwest of the Downtown Core. The “Shoppes of Avondale,” an upscale shopping area along St. Johns Avenue, is perhaps the neighborhood’s claim to fame. The neighborhood’s center has experienced a significant amount of renovation in recent years. Various city parks are found throughout the neighborhood and the area’s historic and rich architecture is a direct reflection of the dedication of the local historic preservation organizations, who have fought to preserve the neighborhood’s early 20th-century architecture.

South Side

The South Side is another neighborhood that borders the river and is close to the Downtown Core. Atlantic Boulevard provides a simple commute for those who work in other parts of the city. There’s also the Intracoastal Waterway, which provides beautiful views as well as a boater’s paradise, providing several marinas and fishing piers. San Marco is often considered part of Southside and is highly regarded for their amenities and for education.

Overall, Jacksonville offers a lot of exciting neighborhoods that border the St. Johns River. The city as a whole offers an exciting cultural scene and sunny weather through the majority of the year. It’s considered one of the most exceptionally livable metropolitan cities in the state of Florida, which is why so many people choose to move to the area. According to the 2013 Census, it was home to over 840,000 people, which is more than Miami and Orlando combined. These beautiful neighborhoods are just a few reasons why Jacksonville is such a desirable place to live.