Arlington

Arlington

History and modern tradition come together to make the Arlington area one of Jacksonville’s truly unique communities. Arlington’s roots go back to 1562 when French explorer Jean Ribault landed his boat there and blazed a path for what would later become La Caroline, a French outpost. Years later, the outpost was captured and destroyed by the Spanish under the leadership of Pedro Menendez de Aviles. La Caroline’s remains are known today as the 680-acre Fort Caroline National Monument. Located on the banks of the St. Johns River, Jacksonville University offers world-class postsecondary education on its lush, green Arlington campus. In the Roaring 20s, the Arlington area was home to the Norman Film Studios where producer Richard Norman made silent films starring emerging African-American actors. Old Arlington Inc., an historic preservation group, hopes to memorialize and preserve that piece of unique Jacksonville history. A lot of new development near the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway in East Arlington is underway. Look for a number of waterfront mixed-use developments that feature retail shops, marinas and condominiums.