1918 Map of Orange Park

About this map

St Johns River dominates this landscape south of Jacksonville, serving as a massive water highway between the settlements of Orange Park and Green Cove Springs. The map illustrates a transitional era where the river-based economy, evidenced by Neals Dock and Tar Ldg, met the rising influence of the Atlantic Coast Line railroad. Inland from the river bluffs like Beauclerc Bluff, the terrain dissolves into an intricate network of wetlands, including Gum Swamp and Flat Swamp, which dictated the winding paths of the Old Kings Road and St Augustine Road. Local community life is anchored by small rural centers such as Mandarin, Loretto, and Hibernia, each supported by neighborhood institutions like Deep Bottom School and Bethel Church. The detailed surveying also captures numerous fords and creek crossings, including Blacks Ford and Whites Ford, which were critical for overland travel before extensive bridging.