Ortega (Jacksonville, Florida)

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Ortega is a historic neighborhood built on an inland island (now a peninsula connected by a land bridge section of Roosevelt Blvd/US 17) in Jacksonville. Oddly Pronounced "Or-TEEga", this is one of Jacksonville's "old money" neighborhoods. The East side of the island is known as "Old Ortega", while the most recently developed west side is known as "Ortega Forest." Old Ortega was designated as a U.S. historic district on July 14, 2004.

Ortega's street grid is unique to Jacksonville in that it was designed with a series of four circles, similar to what well known places like Washington, DC, are known for. Although two have been altered, these areas still survive as public squares of open space. In 1908, the Ortega Company constructed a wooden bridge carrying a streetcar line across the Ortega River to connect the new Ortega development with the rest of Jacksonville. As an incentive, developers promised no taxes until 1912 and free water until 1911. That structure was replaced with the current Ortega River Bridge in 1927.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neighborhoods_of_Jacksonville,_Florida#Ortega
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   30°16'3"N   81°42'9"W

Comments

  • Ortega is pronounced or-TEE-ga.
  • Nice additions, Bill.
This article was last modified 16 years ago