Palm Valley, Florida
Encyclopedia
Palm Valley is a census-designated place
(CDP) in St. Johns County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 19,860 at the 2000 census.
By 1703, Don Diego Espinoza had settled in what is today the Palm Valley area. His vast ranch and the surrounding territory was known as Diego Plains. In the 1730s, the ranch was fortified to protect its inhabitants from Indian attack. By 1739, Great Britain and Spain were at war and trouble was brewing for the Diego Plains settlers. British General James Oglethorpe was commissioned to harass the Spanish settlements south of the colony of Georgia so the Spanish governor fortified the Diego farmhouse which was already being called Fort San Diego. After Oglethorpe’s failure to capture St. Augustine, the Spanish military abandoned Fort San Diego, but other inhabitants moved into the area, living off the land and the cattle.
In 1908, a canal was dug through Diego Plains connecting the San Pablo River to the north with the Tolomato River near St. Augustine to the south. This intracoastal canal made access to the valley much easier for the residents that had settled in this area. In addition to raising cattle, they farmed, logged, and sold palm fronds to religious groups. The many palm trees growing in the region led some of the settlers to decide on the name Palm Valley for their community.
Prohibition turned some of the valley residents to another source of income – moonshine. The abundant water supply and deep woods areas in the valley were ideal for the concealment of illegal whiskey distilling. The moonshine industry thrived even after the Volstead Act was repealed in 1933, but the rising price of sugar finally brought the illegal whiskey industry to an end.
Palm Valley remained a quiet area of the Beaches, between A1A and U.S. 1. There were many farms where produce and livestock were raised. The development of the Beaches has also affected Palm Valley. Today most farms in the valley have disappeared, opening the land for luxurious residences overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 14 square miles (36.3 km²), of which, 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (4.21%) is water.
The Palm Valley Bridge
is a recent addition to the neighborhood.
of 2000, there were 19,860 people, 8,188 households, and 5,584 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,480.8 people per square mile (571.8/km²). There were 8,648 housing units at an average density of 644.8/sq mi (249.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.84% White, 1.25% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.80% of the population.
There were 8,188 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% 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 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $68,200, and the median income for a family was $87,847 (these figures had risen to $84,276 and $112,317 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $58,152 versus $34,738 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $42,747. About 2.4% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in St. Johns County
St. Johns County, Florida
St. Johns County is a county located in northeastern Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 190,039. The county seat is St. Augustine. Due to the inclusion of Ponte Vedra Beach, it is one of the highest-income counties in the United States....
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 19,860 at the 2000 census.
History
Long before the first Spanish settlers arrived, there was an Indian village in what we call Palm Valley today. Several Indian mounds have been uncovered revealing points, pottery and human skeletons. Early Franciscan missionaries constructed a mission in the area called The Nativity of Our Lady of Tolomato.By 1703, Don Diego Espinoza had settled in what is today the Palm Valley area. His vast ranch and the surrounding territory was known as Diego Plains. In the 1730s, the ranch was fortified to protect its inhabitants from Indian attack. By 1739, Great Britain and Spain were at war and trouble was brewing for the Diego Plains settlers. British General James Oglethorpe was commissioned to harass the Spanish settlements south of the colony of Georgia so the Spanish governor fortified the Diego farmhouse which was already being called Fort San Diego. After Oglethorpe’s failure to capture St. Augustine, the Spanish military abandoned Fort San Diego, but other inhabitants moved into the area, living off the land and the cattle.
In 1908, a canal was dug through Diego Plains connecting the San Pablo River to the north with the Tolomato River near St. Augustine to the south. This intracoastal canal made access to the valley much easier for the residents that had settled in this area. In addition to raising cattle, they farmed, logged, and sold palm fronds to religious groups. The many palm trees growing in the region led some of the settlers to decide on the name Palm Valley for their community.
Prohibition turned some of the valley residents to another source of income – moonshine. The abundant water supply and deep woods areas in the valley were ideal for the concealment of illegal whiskey distilling. The moonshine industry thrived even after the Volstead Act was repealed in 1933, but the rising price of sugar finally brought the illegal whiskey industry to an end.
Palm Valley remained a quiet area of the Beaches, between A1A and U.S. 1. There were many farms where produce and livestock were raised. The development of the Beaches has also affected Palm Valley. Today most farms in the valley have disappeared, opening the land for luxurious residences overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway.
Geography
Palm Valley is located at 30°12′24"N 81°23′14"W (30.206580, -81.387256).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 14 square miles (36.3 km²), of which, 13.4 square miles (34.7 km²) of it is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) of it (4.21%) is water.
The Palm Valley Bridge
Palm Valley Bridge
The Palm Valley Bridge spans the Intracoastal Waterway in the Palm Valley area near Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It is located on County Road 210 is St. Johns County. In 2002, the old two lane drawbridge was replaced with a fixed, clear span, four-lane bridge. Ground-breaking was in December 2000...
is a recent addition to the neighborhood.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 19,860 people, 8,188 households, and 5,584 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,480.8 people per square mile (571.8/km²). There were 8,648 housing units at an average density of 644.8/sq mi (249.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.84% White, 1.25% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.29% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.80% of the population.
There were 8,188 households out of which 33.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.2% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.8% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 26.8% 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 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $68,200, and the median income for a family was $87,847 (these figures had risen to $84,276 and $112,317 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $58,152 versus $34,738 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $42,747. About 2.4% of families and 3.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.7% of those age 65 or over.