Orange Park, Suburban town in Clay County, Florida, United States
Orange Park is a residential town in Clay County alongside the St. Johns River that developed as a Jacksonville suburb. The community spreads across several square miles, blending neighborhoods with convenient access to nearby areas and regional highways.
The Florida Winter Home and Improvement Company founded Orange Park in 1877 with plans for citrus growing and winter retreats. The town then evolved as a residential area through decades of gradual expansion and settlement.
The town grew around the Orange Park Normal & Industrial School, which from 1891 to 1913 served as Florida's only integrated school at that time, welcoming students regardless of background. This history remains central to how locals understand their community's founding identity.
The town is easily reached via US Highway 17 and State Road 224, offering direct connections to Jacksonville and surrounding communities. This location makes visiting convenient for day trips or exploring the wider region.
Moosehaven, founded in 1922, repurposed the former Hotel Marion into a retirement community exclusively for Loyal Order of Moose members. This specialized housing project emerged as an unusual community development centered around a single fraternal organization.
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