Jacksonville's many historic neighborhoods feature a variety of interesting historical homes and landmarks. These neighborhoods feature a number of homes listed in the National Trust of Historic Preservation. Over the last few years, many individuals and investors have been buying old homes within these historic districts. A large number have been restored and are now being occupied by individuals, couples and families. Some located on busy streets have been converted to professional offices housing attorneys, doctors, dentists, real estate offices and architects.

Avondale Southward along the river is Avondale, part of the same National Historic District as Riverside. Avondale features even more stately mansions than its neighbor, many which were built during the prosperous 1920's. Avondale has maintained a unique village atmosphere and family environment through the years. The focal point of the neighborhood is the shops of Avondale featuring trendy gourmet restaurants and an array of specialty shops and boutiques. The lifestyle of its residents is enhanced by the presence of over a dozen parks providing tennis, softball fields, and plenty of paths for jogging, walking and hiking. Residents of Avondale also enjoy close proximity to downtown Jacksonville. You'll find apartment buildings, condominiums, small bungalows, and large stately homes in the area.

Brooklyn The residential Brooklyn area is a historic center which borders LaVilla near the central downtown district of Jacksonville. Officials are hoping for a residential uplift (the 2000 Census shows about 24 percent of homes in Brooklyn as vacant), using a town center concept such as in San Marco. The neighborhood also lies in an Enterprise Zone, an area designated as a target for economic development. Officials say its proximity to Interstate 95, Riverside Avenue and downtown make Brooklyn a marketable area.

La Villa From its years as a bustling transportation center in the late 1800's to the time when it swung to the beat of Ray Charles, Duke Ellington and Sarah Vaughan, LaVilla has had a colorful past. Its busy railway depot attracted thousands of travelers along Lee and Bay streets. In the early 1900's, its African American community of houses and entertainment venues flourished. Today, after decades of urban decay and a controversial revitalization plan in the 1990's that left vacant lots where several longtime structures existed, LaVilla has been revitalized. The Ritz Theater has been restored to its former glory. The LaVilla School of the Arts attracts talented students from across the county. Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church on Beaver Street opened a 5,000-seat sanctuary in May 2002. An increasing number of businesses are expanding or developing offices in the area. While development in LaVilla -- 770 acres north and west of the central downtown business district -- has been commercial so far, a Jacksonville team might change that with a plan to build the first residences there in over 50 years.

Ortega/Ortega Forest Long considered home to "Old Jacksonville," Ortega is located on a peninsula between the Ortega and St. Johns Rivers, bordered on the west by Roosevelt Boulevard. The area is experiencing an influx of young upper to middle-income professionals who are finding a wide selection of home styles and close proximity to boating and golfing as well as convenience to downtown offices. Stately oaks overhang the winding main thoroughfare, which still offers some of the most breathtaking views of the Jacksonville skyline the city has to offer. Some larger estates have sold portions of real estate to make way for new homes. Present-day Ortega is defined by its rivers, tree-shaded home sites and parks and an eclectic collection of spectacular architectural styles. Mediterranean Revival homes sit side-by-side with colonial-style frame houses. Grand Tudors are alongside cedar-shingle homes. Perhaps the most obvious characteristic of today's Ortega is its stability. It is well-known as a place to raise a family and to remain even after the children are grown and have left home. Roosevelt Square mall is just across the river, and the Ortega Village shopping area has its own array of retail and service businesses. The area's schools are another prime reason to make Ortega home. The Day School at St. Mark's Episcopal Church has an excellent reputation, as does St. Matthews Catholic School in Lake Shore. The public schools in the area are also award-winners. Many parents move to the area solely to give their children the opportunity to attend John Stockton Elementary in Ortega Forest, a national model school, and Ortega Elementary. Also drawing residents is Ortega's physical beauty. The view of the city from across the water is spectacular, and there seems to be a park around every corner, including Seminole Park on the river, Cortez Park, which hosts Ortega's annual Fall Festival, and Stockton Park, a favorite of fishermen from all over town.

Riverside In close proximity to downtown, this area on the Westside was part of the original city of Jacksonville and offers a picturesque setting of stately oaks and scenic river views. Situated between the St. Johns River and Roosevelt Boulevard, it provides cultural diversity, historic architecture and an urban feel. Riverside has become an attractive neighborhood for young professionals seeking a short commute to downtown and for those interested in renovating an older home. There are many homes from which to choose, including modest bungalows, small duplexes, apartments and condominiums, elegantly restored homes and waterfront estates. On May 3, 1901, downtown Jacksonville and the majority of the city's homes disappeared in a blazing inferno, sparked by a fire that spread from the Cleaveland Fibre Factory. With downtown Jacksonville in ruins, residents relocated in droves to the suburbs, starting with Riverside. Soon riverfront on Riverside Avenue was lined with elegant mansions and, within 10 years, was being called one of the most beautiful streets in America. Along with Avondale, Riverside has the largest collection of bungalows of any neighborhood in Florida. Thanks to historically minded people and the Riverside-Avondale Preservation Association, much of that distinctive architecture remains today. Individuals and developers are also continuing to take a fresh look at old buildings and finding innovative new uses for them.

Historic Springfield Historic Springfield is defined by I-295 to the west, the Trout River to the north and the St. Johns River to the south and east. Springfield offer opportunities for entertainment and the convenience to Jacksonville's downtown business district. Preservation has been a catalyst in the revitalization of Springfield and it is the largest residential historic district in Florida with wide streets and block after block of architecturally significant houses. There is a great deal of renewed interest today in living in the historic district of Springfield. Many believe it has a lot to do with the charm of the beautiful homes. Touring one, as many people have done over the past few years, is like opening a yearbook of the city, circa the late 1800's. Windows, porches, staircases, attics, and fireplaces yield page after page of historical glimpses of Jacksonville's past. New homes are being built that are architecturally compatible with the historic district's building guidelines for the area. A few of these homes that line Pearl Street look like rehabilitated homes, but they're new -- with many of the features people love in older-style homes, including the porches. The homes start in the mid-$130,000's and have standard features such as pre-wired security systems, semi-plank exterior siding, decorative foundation blocks, fiberglass shingles, all-wood kitchen cabinets, kitchen appliances, ceramic tile and double-hung wood exterior windows. Beyond the crop of new historic-looking homes, some of the area's authentic homes, with rich histories behind them, are capturing people's attention. Popular styles include Florida vernacular, bungalow, Prairie and transitional Queen Anne/Colonial Revival. Henry J. Klutho, who was influenced by Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture, began experimenting with the Prairie style in Springfield. The aesthetically pleasing style endures today. The real estate market in Springfield is very active. Many buyers are purchasing homes at low prices, then rehabilitating them. Experts advise, however, that it requires a good bit of cash and even more patience to undertake a restoration project. In 1987, Springfield was selected as a National Register Historic District under federal criteria and recognized under federal law. Only two other areas in Jacksonville, Avondale and Riverside, hold the title. A historic gem worth revitalizing, Springfield contains one of the largest concentrations of residences dating from the early-1800's in Florida.

St. Nicholas Located at the Northern point of the St. Johns River, St. Nicholas was so named by the Spanish around 1740. The Spanish built a fort at this southern shore after 1783 and made it a strategic battery for guarding the river against the British as well an important northerly point of defense for St. Augustine. One of the richest collections of Jacksonville's remaining century-old houses can be found on this crescent of land along the south bank of the St. Johns River from Palmer Terrace to Clifton. St. Nicholas' history began in 1822 when the British settled the northern bank of the St. Johns River at the narrow crossing called the "cowford" and the Spanish fortified the Pass de San Nicolas along the southern bank, making it an important northerly point of defense for St. Augustine. The area south of the river near the former fort has continued to be known as St. Nicholas, a tribute to days of yore. After the Civil War and through the late 1800's, the area from the ferry landing to the Arlington River, including Empire Point, was referred to as the village of St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas is a place where neighbors are really neighbors. Every December, the neighborhood has a holiday party complete with a visit from St. Nick and streets lined with luminaria. The neighborhood also has its own Easter egg hunt and Fourth of July celebration. The community, the heart of which lies where Beach and Atlantic boulevards meet, is a few minutes from Interstate 95, downtown and the San Marco shopping district. It also is home to two of the most respected private high schools in the area. Episcopal and Bishop Kenny both have beautiful campuses spotted with century-old oaks standing tall along waterfront property with spectacular views of downtown Jacksonville.