Situated in the northeastern corner of Florida, Jacksonville has a long and storied history. It was originally inhabited by Timucuan Indians then later established as the site of the French Huguenots' Fort Caroline, the Spanish colonists' San Matteo, and the British settlement of Cowford. In 1822, the city took on the name of Jacksonville for Andrew Jackson who was the military governor of Florida territory at the time. Learn more about this fascinating place.
The Stunning "Treaty Oak" Grows Here
Jacksonville is home to a breathtaking tree that's known, somewhat mistakenly, as the "Treaty Oak." This Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) has a wild octopus-like appearance with massive sprawling limbs. The tree is wider than it is tall, standing at a height of about 70 feet with giant branches that extend nearly 150 feet from the trunk. Many of these limbs reach nearly to the ground, giving the impression that the tree might scamper away at any moment.
The oak is estimated to be 250 years old, but it almost missed the chance to reach this ripe age. In the early 1900s, the tree sat within Dixieland Park. It was covered in lights and featured in some silent films. In the 1930s developers took an interest in the land and had plans to cut the tree down. In response, a Florida Times-Union journalist by the name of Pat Moran concocted a story claiming that an important peace treaty between Native Americans and Spanish settlers was signed beneath the tree.
The mighty oak was given the moniker the "Treaty Oak" and spared, though it was later revealed that the story was a mere fabrication. The tree sits in Jessie Ball duPont Park, which is named for a Garden Club member who also worked hard to help save the tree and donated some of the land around it. In 1995, a lightning protection system was installed for the tree, and cables were added to help support some of the limbs that had grown so large they threatened to damage the trunk. With care, arborists estimate the tree could live another 400 years.
Jacksonville is Bigger Than You Think
In 1967, Jacksonville was consolidated with the remainder of the surrounding county for the purpose of increasing its tax base. This grew the city's footprint to 20 times its original size. Today, Jacksonville covers 875 square miles. This makes it the largest city by area in the continental United States. Only Alaska boasts cities that can top its square mileage. By population, Jacksonville is ranked 13th in the country with around 929,647 residents.
Jacksonville also boasts the largest urban park system in the United States. This includes 3 national parks, 7 state parks, and over 400 city parks covering over 80,000 acres. Among these beautiful natural destinations are the 46,000-acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, 4,000-acre Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park, and both Big Talbot Island and Little Talbot Island.
It Has the Oldest Farmer's Market in Florida
In operation since 1938, the Jacksonville Farmers Market is the oldest farmers market in Florida to remain in operation. This destination has a long history of delivering local produce, fresh herbs, and mouthwatering Mayport shrimp to customers who flock to the area for food fresher than they can get anywhere else. The market also features artisan cheeses, oysters, lobster tails, and live plants.
The farmer's market currently has more than 200 vendors and draws over a million visitors each year. Unlike other markets that are typically open just one day a week, this market is open daily. You can browse the wares from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. It's only closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The hours are slightly abbreviated on Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day.
The Six-Pack May Have Originated Here
There are some conflicting stories about the origins of the six-pack, but at least one version traces this handy method of beer delivery back to Jacksonville. William Ostner, a German immigrant hailing from St. Louis, opened Jax Brewing Company in 1913. When Prohibition hit, he rebranded and became Jax Ice & Cold Storage, a company that also produced "near beer," a nearly non-alcoholic alternative that couldn't contain more than 0.5% ABV.
Jax Brewing Company was restored in 1933 when Prohibition was repealed. World War II followed shortly after and threw another wrench in operations. Steel was requisitioned for the war effort, so Jax Brewing had to convert to bottles. The bottles were purportedly delivered in sacks of six, known as the "six-sack," which would later give birth to the concept of the six-pack.
Burger King's Origins Go Back to Jacksonville
Jacksonville is home to a lot of burger restaurants and it also figures in the history of the second-largest burger chain in the world. In 1953, Keith Kramer and Matthew Burns were looking to launch a restaurant that could compete with the original McDonald's which started generating a buzz in San Bernardino, California when the McDonald brothers developed a fast and efficient burger and milkshake joint in 1948. McDonald's wouldn't become franchised until 1955. Its original claim to fame was its simple menu, affordable food, and speedy service.
Kramer and Burns namer their burger restaurant Insta-Burger and developer the Insta-Broiler, which was designed to be the most efficient machinery available for cooking a burger. The first location opened at 7146 Beach Blvd. The Insta-Broiler was a success and all subsequent franchises were required to include one. Unfortunately, Insta-Burger faced financial difficulties in 1959, and Miami-based franchisees David R. Edgerton and James McLamore bought the company, soon rebranding it as Burger King.
The original Insta-Burger location became a Burger King location for a period of time, but the company chose to close the flagship location in the early 1970s. The building later served as a Stan's Sandwich location. This has since closed as well, and the building was sold to another potential restaurant owner.
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