2008 Hot Retirement Towns

Jacksonville Beach, Florida
JACKSONVILLE BEACH HAS a second tent house and applied for and surrounding buildings.
o
m aspired to resort status since the mid- a post ofﬁce in Ruby’s name. Within There is no shortage of hotel rooms
.
c 1880s, when the port of Mayport two years, Ruby Beach was renamed and other accommodations along
(now Naval Station Mayport) was Pablo Beach after a nearby river. Jacksonville Beach now. The beach,
born. Just slightly to the south, a Now reachable by railroad, the ﬁrst of course, is a big draw, but the area is
i
d
a
few entrepreneurs chartered the resort hotel, Murray Hall, opened also a thriving bedroom community of
Jacksonville and Atlantic Railway in its doors for business on “The Finest the city of Jacksonville. It is an eclectic
1883 and built 16-and-a-half miles Beach in the World!” Built at a cost mix of beach and elegant living.
of line from South Jacksonville to Jacksonville Beach is the biggest
l
o
r
an area known as the Ruby Beach
“There is no shortage of
and busiest resort along Florida’s
settlement. To help realize their northern coast. More than four miles
F
dream, they invested in choice
hotel rooms and other
long, the beach is wide and offers
property along the oceanfront and, plenty of room to stroll or sunbathe.

t
o
within a year, were ready to market
accommodations along
Water activities abound, such as
the subdivided lots. On Nov. 12, offshore racing, ﬁshing and surﬁng.
1884, 50 or so prospects took a look Jacksonville Beach The Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier
i
r
i
n
g
and 34 lots were sold by the day’s is a hub of activity and a great place
e
t
end. The total take on those lots was
now.”
for people watching. The Sea Walk
.
R
$7,514–cheap by today’s standards. Pavilion offers concerts, festivals and
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Ruby was named for the daughter of $150,000, the hotel boasted 192 movies under the moonlight, along
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of William and Eleanor Scull, early rooms, with accommodations for up with other cultural events.
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residents of the area. The surveyor for to 350 guests. Its glory was short- Jacksonville Beach is a perfect
the railroad, Scull moved his wife and lived, however. In August 1890, a ﬁre retirement spot, a beach town
family into one of the “tent houses.” in the boiler room destroyed not only located near all the conveniences and
They later opened a general store in the hotel but also the railroad depot advantages of a big city.
At A Glance
Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Population: 21,770
Average Temp: 77 F
Average Age: 38
Nearest Hospital:
Baptist Medical Center
Nearest Major Airport:
Jacksonville International Airport
Jacksonville Beach Info:
City of Jacksonville Beach
(904) 249-3868
www.JacksonvilleBeach.org
HRT 8 www.RetiringToFlorida.com I www.CoastalRetirementtowns.com I www.CoastalMillionDollarHomes.com
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