Neptune Beach, Florida Explained

Neptune Beach, Florida
Official Name:City of Neptune Beach
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:250x200px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States of America
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Florida
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Duval
Government Type:Council–Manager
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Elaine Brown
Leader Title1:Vice Mayor
Leader Name1:Kerry Chin
Leader Title2:Councilors
Leader Name2:Lauren Key,
Josh Messinger, and
Nia Livingston
Leader Title3:City Manager
Leader Name3:Richard Pike
Leader Title4:City Clerk
Leader Name4:Catherine Ponson
Established Title3:Incorporated
Established Date3:August 11, 1931[1]
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:17.74
Area Land Km2:6.05
Area Water Km2:11.69
Area Total Sq Mi:6.85
Area Land Sq Mi:2.34
Area Water Sq Mi:4.51
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:7217
Population Density Km2:1192.29
Population Density Sq Mi:3088.15
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Coordinates:30.3167°N -81.4031°W
Elevation Ft:10
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:32266
Area Code:904, 324
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:12-48100
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:0287587
Website:City of Neptune Beach

Neptune Beach is a beachfront city east of Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida, United States. When the majority of Duval County communities consolidated with Jacksonville in 1968, Neptune Beach, along with Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach and Baldwin remained quasi-independent. Like those other municipalities, it maintains its own municipal government but its residents vote in the Jacksonville mayoral election and are represented on the Jacksonville city council. As of the 2020 census, the population is 7,217, up from 7,037 at the 2010 census. Neptune Beach is the smallest of the Jacksonville Beaches communities. it is part of the Jacksonville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Neptune Beach was originally part of Jacksonville Beach. Through its development, the part of Jacksonville Beach north of 20th Avenue North was sparsely populated, with a brick road (First Street) connecting the more populated southern area with Atlantic Beach. The name "Neptune Beach" originated in 1922 with Dan G. Wheeler, one of the few residents. Wheeler had a home at what is now One Ocean Hotel (now in Atlantic Beach), and had to walk all the way home from Mayport each evening after taking the Florida East Coast Railway train home from work in Jacksonville. A friend who worked for the railroad informed Wheeler that if he had a station, the train would have to stop for him, so Wheeler built his own train station near his home and named it Neptune.[1]

Neptune seceded from Jacksonville Beach and incorporated as its own municipality in 1931, following a tax revolt. The comparatively few residents of the area were largely cut off from Jacksonville Beach city services such as police, fire, garbage collection, and road developments, though they paid taxes in equal share. The first mayor was O. O. McCollum, and the government met in Wheeler's old train station until a new town hall was completed in 1935.[1]

Geography

Neptune Beach is located at (30.316641, –81.403081).[3]

Neptune Beach is one of several towns on San Pablo Island, which stretches through two counties (Duval and St. Johns) and extends from Naval Station Mayport at its northern tip to Vilano Beach in the south, across from St. Augustine.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Neptune Beach has a total area of 17.7sqkm, of which 6sqkm is land and 11.7sqkm (65.96%) is water.

Transportation

Major highways

Demographics

2010 and 2020 census

Neptune Beach racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
!Race!Pop 2010[4] !Pop 2020[5] !% 2010!% 2020
White (NH)6,4646,30291.86%87.32%
Black or African American (NH)84731.19%1.01%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)23190.33%0.26%
Asian (NH)58850.82%1.18%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)170.01%0.10%
Some other race (NH)14290.20%0.40%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)1153201.63%4.43%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2783823.95%5.29%
Total7,0377,217

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,217 people, 3,143 households, and 1,943 families residing in the city.[6]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,037 people, 3,398 households, and 1,528 families residing in the city.[7]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,270 people, 3,282 households, and 1,857 families residing in the city. The population density was 2968.8sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 3,472 housing units at an average density of 1417.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 96.08% White, 0.73% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.09% of the population.

In 2000, there were 3,282 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $53,576, and the median income for a family was $65,684. Males had a median income of $43,431 versus $30,264 for females. The per capita income for the city was $30,525. About 1.9% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Duval County Public Schools operates public schools. Schools in Neptune Beach include:

Jacksonville Public Library operates the Beaches Branch in Neptune Beach.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: City of Neptune Beach: History. United States Census Bureau. December 19, 2023.
  2. Web site: 2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. October 31, 2021.
  3. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. 2011-04-23. 2011-02-12.
  4. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Neptune Beach city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  5. Web site: P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Neptune Beach city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  6. Web site: S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Neptune Beach city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.
  7. Web site: S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Neptune Beach city, Florida. United States Census Bureau.