339:
362:
350:
58:
1241:
1028:
77:
1350:
583:
1255:
976:
1267:
501:
84:
527:
allocated millions of dollars to renovating and developing LaVilla. Dilapidated buildings were torn down and significant historical structures, such as the Ritz
Theatre, were restored or reconstructed, often in public-private partnerships. The Ritz also serves as the LaVilla Heritage tourism has been
473:
The area on Ashley Street west of Broad Street, to and including Davis Street, included landmarks such as Nick’s Pool Parlor, as well as the Strand, the Frolic, the Globe and the
Roosevelt theaters. The Wynn/Egmont Hotel was known to provide the best accommodations for touring performers; the Boston
474:
Chop House, Mama’s
Restaurant and Hayes Luncheonette served good food; the Lenape Bar and Manuel's Taproom were the favorite watering holes. The Ritz Theatre and The Knights of Pythias Hall hosted numerous famous performers.
457:
culture. A vibrant music and entertainment scene emerged, attracting many nationally renowned jazz artists to play at local black clubs on and off Ashely Street. Such clubs were segregated under the state laws that imposed
422:
to exclude them from politics. The part of LaVilla north of Adams Street was for many years a center of
African-American life and culture in Jacksonville. The southern part of the neighborhood was developed as a major
338:
618:
LaVilla School of the Arts is a popular magnet middle school in Duval County that follows in the performance and art traditions of the Ritz/LaVilla area. Ritz Voices is a 100-member youth choir in the area.
488:
After the 1960s, the neighborhood entered a period of precipitous decline. The railroad industry restructured, leading to a massive loss of jobs here and across the country. In addition, the construction of
1304:
1081:
402:. The population was mostly black, and many Black citizens were elected to positions in Lavilla's government, including mayor and councilmen. In 1887 LaVilla and five other suburbs, including
1546:
512:
hit hard among struggling residents of LaVilla, resulting in an increase in crime and furthering the decline. According to
General Counsel Rick Mullaney, who was chief of staff under Mayor
1225:
1118:
672:"La Valla District neighborhood in Jacksonville, Florida (FL), 32202, 32204 subdivision profile - real estate, apartments, condos, homes, community, population, jobs, income, streets"
1297:
274:
and a was formerly an independent city. It developed after the
American Civil War and was eventually annexed to the city of Jacksonville in 1887 and is now considered part of
57:
601:
453:, which spread and destroyed most of downtown, but the neighborhood was largely spared. In the first half of the 20th century, the neighborhood was an important center of
285:. During its height, the area was considered "the mecca for African American culture and heritage" in Florida, particularly its northern sections. It remains primarily an
1106:
1086:
695:
1536:
1514:
1290:
1016:
1133:
1551:
1541:
1215:
1195:
419:
771:
1230:
1160:
1123:
391:
of 1863, gained freedom. After the war, the town attracted additional freedmen, some of whom left rural areas, and was incorporated as LaVilla.
1185:
267:
179:
48:
597:, showcased black entertainers and catered to black audiences. The theatre still host shows and also offers visitors a look at black history.
612:
570:
537:
428:
418:
In 1902, the state legislature passed a new constitution, adopting barriers to voter registration and voting that resulted in the deliberate
62:
1270:
945:
497:
following civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s, many residents left the area to pursue newer housing and work opportunities elsewhere.
302:
76:
1175:
1009:
407:
399:
343:
1148:
1190:
1143:
494:
403:
157:
1561:
1556:
1258:
1240:
1165:
1043:
994:
565:
365:
921:
361:
108:
1467:
1447:
1313:
1180:
1128:
1002:
904:
354:
286:
1349:
1066:
1490:
1457:
1205:
1155:
594:
586:
463:
290:
745:
1442:
1389:
1138:
384:
989:
803:
1091:
720:
388:
146:
28:
1415:
1410:
1405:
1384:
1339:
671:
250:
1485:
1462:
1452:
1420:
1364:
1329:
478:
641:
1500:
1495:
1379:
1220:
557:
520:
509:
349:
946:
https://www.congress.gov/117/meeting/house/114373/witnesses/HHRG-117-JU10-Wstate-WashingtonL-20220204.pdf
768:
1437:
1374:
1321:
1210:
1170:
1101:
1096:
1076:
1032:
635:
541:
383:, when Jacksonville and northeastern Florida were under Union control, the area was the site of a large
318:
275:
271:
1477:
1369:
1200:
1071:
615:), and probably not coincidentally, was also for a period Jacksonville's primary red light district.
623:
467:
298:
427:
hub in the late 19th century; several rail lines met at Union
Station (now adapted for use as the
450:
432:
380:
282:
787:
828:
862:
482:
845:
957:
454:
775:
561:
at
Jefferson Street & Bay Street, serving the Federal Reserve Building and Courthouse.
696:"Jacksonville's LaVilla area was once thriving haven filled with Black-owned businesses"
981:
294:
168:
582:
376:
for much of this area in 1801, when this part of
Florida was still Spanish territory.
1530:
1053:
439:
322:
306:
255:
1111:
410:, were annexed by the City of Jacksonville. It became a neighborhood of the city.
395:
1282:
885:
971:
544:
443:
373:
309:
and was also a cigar making center that included Greek and Syrian immigrants.
123:
110:
524:
513:
442:
frequented LaVilla during his time in
Jacksonville; he met his future wife,
500:
647:
Alfred Grant (1876–1877), also served as a councilman state representative
608:
459:
424:
238:
301:
are among the historic buildings in the area. Several are listed on the
1048:
470:
for black entertainers. It became LaVilla's primary performance venue.
17:
516:, the area became "nothing but crack houses, prostitution and crime."
305:. The area became a transportation hub with rail service developed by
387:
garrison. Many slaves sought refuge with Union troops and, under the
804:"Zora Neale Hurston and the Depression-Era Federal Writers' Project"
342:
Architectural diagrams of the LaVilla Boarding Houses made for the
581:
499:
360:
348:
337:
325:
to the west, Broad Street to the east, and Brooklyn to the south.
490:
1286:
998:
611:
hub, with several rail lines meeting at Union Station (now the
604:
is located on Water Street at the southern bounds of LaVilla.
493:
disrupted and divided the neighborhood. With the end of legal
922:"LaVilla: The Rise & Fall of a Great Black Neighborhood"
769:
downtownjacksonville.org "Ritz Theatre & LaVilla Museum"
547:
automated people mover system and an extensive bus network.
829:"LaVilla revitalization plan: 'A story of fits and starts'"
372:
John Jones, an Anglo-American colonist, received a Spanish
466:
opened, becoming an important stop on what was called the
626:
is also located in LaVilla in the former Globe Theatre.
607:
The southern part of the neighborhood was once a major
650:
1887 - LaVilla is annexed by the City of Jacksonville
1476:
1430:
1398:
1357:
1320:
249:
237:
230:
222:
214:
209:
201:
193:
188:
177:
166:
155:
144:
139:
39:
1547:African-American history in Jacksonville, Florida
353:Corner of Duval and Broad Street, atop historic
317:LaVilla lies to the northwest in Jacksonville's
666:
664:
431:). For a time, this was Jacksonville's primary
321:. It is bounded by State Street to the north,
1298:
1010:
8:
446:, who was at the time a brothel proprietor.
990:LaVilla School of the Arts official website
1305:
1291:
1283:
1017:
1003:
995:
744:Davis, Ennis; Delaney, Bill (2023-02-22).
65:located in the southwest corner of LaVilla
36:
905:"Ashley Street: The Harlem of the South"
477:In the 1930s the "Negro" section of the
746:"6 facts about LaVilla you should know"
660:
236:
208:
187:
138:
103:
69:
54:
1537:Neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida
915:
913:
613:Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
571:Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
538:Jacksonville Transportation Authority
429:Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
420:disfranchisement of African Americans
248:
229:
221:
213:
200:
192:
176:
165:
154:
143:
63:Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center
27:For articles with similar names, see
7:
956:Florida's Black Public Officials by
689:
687:
685:
303:National Register of Historic Places
205:1.00 km (0.385 sq mi)
197:1.00 km (0.385 sq mi)
96:Location within Central Jacksonville
1266:
485:was involved from 1935 until 1937.
721:"Here is a plan to revive LaVilla"
551:Current Skyway Stations in LaVilla
394:The town developed as a suburb to
368:, active from 1916–2019 in LaVilla
344:Historic American Buildings Survey
25:
944:Lloyd Washington (February 2022)
719:Davis, Adrienne Burke and Ennis.
481:in Florida was based in LaVilla.
1552:Former municipalities in Florida
1542:History of Jacksonville, Florida
1348:
1265:
1254:
1253:
1239:
1026:
974:
920:Davis, Ennis (August 23, 2017).
82:
75:
56:
863:"Downtown Jacksonville: Skyway"
602:Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
600:The Jacksonville branch of the
578:Attractions and characteristics
266:is a historic African American
83:
1044:Jacksonville metropolitan area
694:Lawson, Melanie (2021-02-23).
366:L.L. Pratt Undertaking Company
1:
1314:Neighborhoods of Jacksonville
287:African-American neighborhood
846:"Mullaney: decade of growth"
449:Lavilla was the site of the
49:Neighborhood of Jacksonville
34:Neighborhood of Jacksonville
907:Metro Jacksonville, History
808:The New York Public Library
379:At different points in the
1578:
569:on Bay Street serving the
504:Office building in LaVilla
26:
1509:
1346:
1248:
1237:
1082:Colleges and universities
1062:
1039:
536:LaVilla is served by the
389:Emancipation Proclamation
104:
70:
55:
46:
29:La Villa (disambiguation)
1054:United States of America
833:The Florida Times-Union
778:, Downtown Jacksonville
725:The Florida Times-Union
479:Federal Writers Project
226:190/km (480/sq mi)
1380:Riverside and Avondale
788:"LaVilla, Jacksonville
590:
523:plan crafted by Mayor
521:River City Renaissance
510:crack cocaine epidemic
505:
369:
358:
346:
1562:LaVilla, Jacksonville
1557:Downtown Jacksonville
792:Frommers Destinations
642:Mitchell P. Chappelle
585:
508:During the 1980s the
503:
364:
352:
341:
281:It was struck by the
272:Jacksonville, Florida
1370:Tallulah-North Shore
1033:City of Jacksonville
593:Venues, such as the
223: • Density
624:Clara White Mission
545:Jacksonville Skyway
299:Clara White Mission
124:30.3323°N 81.6667°W
120: /
1491:Jacksonville Beach
1458:Oakleaf Plantation
886:"JTA Downtown Map"
774:2007-09-12 at the
750:Jacksonville Today
636:Francis F. L’Engle
591:
506:
451:Great Fire of 1901
433:red light district
400:Reconstruction era
381:American Civil War
370:
359:
347:
283:Great Fire of 1901
215: • Total
194: • Total
1524:
1523:
1280:
1279:
676:www.city-data.com
630:Mayors of LaVilla
566:Convention Center
483:Zora Neal Hurston
261:
260:
202: • Land
173:Audrey Gibson (D)
151:Garrett L. Dennis
129:30.3323; -81.6667
16:(Redirected from
1569:
1352:
1307:
1300:
1293:
1284:
1269:
1268:
1257:
1256:
1243:
1049:State of Florida
1031:
1030:
1029:
1019:
1012:
1005:
996:
984:
979:
978:
977:
961:
958:Canter Brown Jr.
954:
948:
942:
936:
935:
933:
932:
926:TheJaxsonMag.com
917:
908:
902:
896:
895:
893:
892:
882:
876:
875:
873:
872:
867:
859:
853:
850:Jax Daily Record
843:
837:
836:
824:
818:
817:
815:
814:
800:
794:
785:
779:
766:
760:
759:
757:
756:
741:
735:
734:
732:
731:
716:
710:
709:
707:
706:
691:
680:
679:
668:
468:Chitlin' Circuit
455:African-American
162:Tracie Davis (D)
135:
134:
132:
131:
130:
125:
121:
118:
117:
116:
113:
86:
85:
79:
60:
37:
21:
1577:
1576:
1572:
1571:
1570:
1568:
1567:
1566:
1527:
1526:
1525:
1520:
1505:
1472:
1426:
1394:
1353:
1344:
1316:
1311:
1281:
1276:
1244:
1235:
1124:Fire and Rescue
1058:
1035:
1027:
1025:
1023:
980:
975:
973:
970:
965:
964:
955:
951:
943:
939:
930:
928:
919:
918:
911:
903:
899:
890:
888:
884:
883:
879:
870:
868:
865:
861:
860:
856:
852:, 10 March 2006
844:
840:
827:Mitchell, Tia.
826:
825:
821:
812:
810:
802:
801:
797:
786:
782:
776:Wayback Machine
767:
763:
754:
752:
743:
742:
738:
729:
727:
718:
717:
713:
704:
702:
693:
692:
683:
670:
669:
662:
657:
632:
580:
534:
416:
336:
331:
315:
245:
128:
126:
122:
119:
114:
111:
109:
107:
106:
100:
99:
98:
97:
94:
93:
92:
91:
87:
66:
51:
42:
35:
32:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1575:
1573:
1565:
1564:
1559:
1554:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1529:
1528:
1522:
1521:
1519:
1518:
1510:
1507:
1506:
1504:
1503:
1498:
1493:
1488:
1486:Atlantic Beach
1482:
1480:
1474:
1473:
1471:
1470:
1465:
1460:
1455:
1450:
1445:
1440:
1434:
1432:
1428:
1427:
1425:
1424:
1418:
1413:
1408:
1402:
1400:
1396:
1395:
1393:
1392:
1387:
1382:
1377:
1372:
1367:
1361:
1359:
1355:
1354:
1347:
1345:
1343:
1342:
1337:
1332:
1326:
1324:
1318:
1317:
1312:
1310:
1309:
1302:
1295:
1287:
1278:
1277:
1275:
1274:
1262:
1249:
1246:
1245:
1238:
1236:
1234:
1233:
1231:Transportation
1228:
1223:
1218:
1213:
1208:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1153:
1152:
1151:
1141:
1136:
1131:
1126:
1121:
1116:
1115:
1114:
1104:
1099:
1094:
1089:
1084:
1079:
1074:
1069:
1063:
1060:
1059:
1057:
1056:
1051:
1046:
1040:
1037:
1036:
1024:
1022:
1021:
1014:
1007:
999:
993:
992:
986:
985:
982:Florida portal
969:
968:External links
966:
963:
962:
949:
937:
909:
897:
877:
854:
838:
819:
795:
780:
761:
736:
711:
681:
659:
658:
656:
653:
652:
651:
648:
645:
639:
631:
628:
579:
576:
575:
574:
562:
533:
532:Transportation
530:
462:. In 1929 the
415:
412:
355:Masonic Temple
335:
332:
330:
327:
314:
311:
295:Richmond Hotel
259:
258:
253:
247:
246:
243:
241:
235:
234:
232:
228:
227:
224:
220:
219:
216:
212:
211:
207:
206:
203:
199:
198:
195:
191:
190:
186:
185:
182:
175:
174:
171:
164:
163:
160:
158:State Assembly
153:
152:
149:
142:
141:
137:
136:
102:
101:
95:
89:
88:
81:
80:
74:
73:
72:
71:
68:
67:
61:
53:
52:
47:
44:
43:
40:
33:
24:
14:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1574:
1563:
1560:
1558:
1555:
1553:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1534:
1532:
1517:
1516:
1512:
1511:
1508:
1502:
1501:Neptune Beach
1499:
1497:
1494:
1492:
1489:
1487:
1484:
1483:
1481:
1479:
1475:
1469:
1466:
1464:
1461:
1459:
1456:
1454:
1451:
1449:
1446:
1444:
1441:
1439:
1436:
1435:
1433:
1429:
1422:
1419:
1417:
1414:
1412:
1409:
1407:
1404:
1403:
1401:
1397:
1391:
1388:
1386:
1383:
1381:
1378:
1376:
1373:
1371:
1368:
1366:
1363:
1362:
1360:
1356:
1351:
1341:
1338:
1336:
1333:
1331:
1328:
1327:
1325:
1323:
1319:
1315:
1308:
1303:
1301:
1296:
1294:
1289:
1288:
1285:
1273:
1272:
1263:
1261:
1260:
1251:
1250:
1247:
1242:
1232:
1229:
1227:
1224:
1222:
1219:
1217:
1214:
1212:
1209:
1207:
1204:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1181:Neighborhoods
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
1162:
1159:
1157:
1154:
1150:
1147:
1146:
1145:
1142:
1140:
1137:
1135:
1132:
1130:
1127:
1125:
1122:
1120:
1117:
1113:
1110:
1109:
1108:
1105:
1103:
1100:
1098:
1095:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1085:
1083:
1080:
1078:
1075:
1073:
1070:
1068:
1065:
1064:
1061:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1042:
1041:
1038:
1034:
1020:
1015:
1013:
1008:
1006:
1001:
1000:
997:
991:
988:
987:
983:
972:
967:
959:
953:
950:
947:
941:
938:
927:
923:
916:
914:
910:
906:
901:
898:
887:
881:
878:
864:
858:
855:
851:
847:
842:
839:
834:
830:
823:
820:
809:
805:
799:
796:
793:
789:
784:
781:
777:
773:
770:
765:
762:
751:
747:
740:
737:
726:
722:
715:
712:
701:
697:
690:
688:
686:
682:
677:
673:
667:
665:
661:
654:
649:
646:
643:
640:
637:
634:
633:
629:
627:
625:
620:
616:
614:
610:
605:
603:
598:
596:
588:
584:
577:
572:
568:
567:
563:
560:
559:
555:
554:
553:
552:
548:
546:
543:
539:
531:
529:
526:
522:
517:
515:
511:
502:
498:
496:
492:
486:
484:
480:
475:
471:
469:
465:
461:
456:
452:
447:
445:
441:
440:Stephen Crane
436:
434:
430:
426:
421:
413:
411:
409:
405:
401:
397:
392:
390:
386:
382:
377:
375:
367:
363:
356:
351:
345:
340:
333:
328:
326:
324:
320:
312:
310:
308:
307:Henry Flagler
304:
300:
296:
292:
288:
284:
279:
277:
273:
269:
265:
257:
254:
252:
242:
240:
233:
225:
217:
204:
196:
184:Al Lawson (D)
183:
181:
178: •
172:
170:
167: •
161:
159:
156: •
150:
148:
145: •
133:
105:Coordinates:
78:
64:
59:
50:
45:
38:
30:
19:
1513:
1334:
1264:
1252:
1112:Laura Street
1102:Demographics
1067:Architecture
952:
940:
929:. Retrieved
925:
900:
889:. Retrieved
880:
869:. Retrieved
857:
849:
841:
832:
822:
811:. Retrieved
807:
798:
791:
783:
764:
753:. Retrieved
749:
739:
728:. Retrieved
724:
714:
703:. Retrieved
699:
675:
621:
617:
606:
599:
595:Ritz Theatre
592:
587:Ritz Theatre
564:
556:
550:
549:
535:
528:emphasized.
518:
507:
487:
476:
472:
464:Ritz Theatre
448:
437:
417:
414:20th-century
396:Jacksonville
393:
378:
371:
357:, circa 1921
334:19th-century
316:
291:Ritz Theatre
280:
268:neighborhood
263:
262:
169:State Senate
147:City Council
1443:Garden City
1390:Springfield
1271:WikiProject
1216:Skyscrapers
644:(1874–1876)
495:segregation
408:Springfield
398:during the
127: /
1531:Categories
1468:Sandalwood
1448:Lake Shore
1139:Government
931:2023-10-21
891:2012-09-16
871:2012-09-16
813:2021-07-20
755:2023-10-21
730:2021-07-20
705:2023-10-21
655:References
589:in LaVilla
444:Cora Crane
374:land grant
297:, and the
210:Population
180:U.S. House
140:Government
115:81°40′00″W
112:30°19′56″N
1416:Southside
1411:Northside
1406:Arlington
1385:San Marco
1340:Southbank
1156:Libraries
1134:Geography
1119:Festivals
1087:Companies
866:(website)
558:Jefferson
542:zero-fare
525:Ed Austin
519:The 1993
514:Ed Austin
404:Riverside
251:Area code
1515:Category
1463:Oceanway
1453:Mandarin
1421:Westside
1365:New Town
1358:Old City
1330:Brooklyn
1322:Downtown
1259:Category
1211:Religion
1149:Timeline
772:Archived
609:railroad
460:Jim Crow
425:railroad
319:downtown
313:Location
276:downtown
239:ZIP Code
1496:Mayport
1478:Beaches
1431:Suburbs
1399:Regions
1335:LaVilla
1226:Tourism
1206:Schools
1176:Museums
1144:History
1107:Economy
1097:Culture
1092:Council
1077:Climate
1072:Beaches
960:page 94
438:Author
329:History
264:LaVilla
90:LaVilla
41:LaVilla
18:Lavilla
1438:Bayard
1375:Ortega
1221:Sports
1196:People
1191:Police
638:(1866)
289:. The
231:
1186:Parks
1171:Music
1166:Media
1161:Mayor
385:Union
244:32202
1201:Port
1129:Flag
700:WJXT
622:The
491:I-95
406:and
323:I-95
189:Area
540:'s
435:.
278:.
270:of
256:904
218:185
1533::
924:.
912:^
848:,
831:.
806:.
790:,
748:.
723:.
698:.
684:^
674:.
663:^
293:,
1423:⋅
1306:e
1299:t
1292:v
1018:e
1011:t
1004:v
934:.
894:.
874:.
835:.
816:.
758:.
733:.
708:.
678:.
573:.
31:.
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
