Green Cove Springs, Florida
Green Cove Springs is a city of 10,044 people in Clay County, Florida, founded in 1854.
Why visit Green Cove Springs
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 7 parks and trails, 6 places to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Shands Bridge, Bubba Midden, Green Cove Springs Historic District and Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club.
Weather in Green Cove Springs
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Green Cove Springs
Green Cove Springs is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, Florida, United States. Green Cove Springs is a part of the Jacksonville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 9,786 at the 2020 census, up from 6,908 at the 2010 census.
From the Wikipedia article Green Cove Springs, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Museums and landmarks6
Bubba Midden
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Archaeological site in Florida, United States of America
Green Cove Springs Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
Historic district in Florida, United States
Historic Clay County Courthouse
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic courthouse in Green Cove Springs, Florida, USA
Lee-Jackson Highway from Jacksonville to East Palatka (1919)
Monument and historic site · 0.5 mi
Parks, trails and playgrounds7
Restaurants and cafes6
Ronnie's Wings, Oysters and More
Restaurant · Wings, Oyster, Seafood · 0.6 mi
232 Walnut Street, Green Cove Springs
Zbest Tunis
Restaurant · 1.8 mi
1367 North Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs
Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Hungry Howie's
Fast food · Pizza · 1.3 mi
810 North Orange Avenue, Green Cove Springs
Su-Th 10:30-22:00, Fr-Sa 10:30-23:00
Larry's Giant Subs
Fast food · Sandwich · 0.4 mi
1401 S Orange Ave, Green Cove Springs
Mo-Fr 07:00-21:00, Sa 09:00-21:00, Su 10:00-21:00
The Sheik Sandwiches and Subs
Fast food · Sandwich · 0.4 mi
422 S Orange Ave, Green Cove Springs
Mo-Sa 05:30-19:00, Su 07:30-19:00
History
The area was first inhabited over 7,000 years ago by Native Americans attracted to a warm mineral spring. The hydrological spring, locally known as the "Original Fountain of Youth", attracted patrons in the 19th century to the spa town, where more than a dozen hotels were built near the spring to accommodate them. Today, the sulfur-scented spring water feeds an adjacent public swimming pool before flowing the short distance to the St. Johns River. The Green Cove Springs area was first developed by George J. F. Clarke in 1816 when he was provided land, under a Spanish land grant, to build a sawmill. Green Cove Springs was established in 1854 as White Sulfur Springs. Renamed in 1866, it became the Clay County seat in 1871.
Agriculture and tourism were the two primary economic activities in the area until the end of the 19th century, when Henry Flagler's railroad began taking tourists further south in Florida. In 1895, the Great Freeze destroyed the area's citrus crops, and tourism all but ended. The 1920s had renewed development, with automobile traffic once again bringing in tourists. The Great Depression of the 1930s marked the end of this period of growth for the city.
The first women's club in the state of Florida was established in Green Cove Springs in 1883. The Village Improvement Association led local efforts to beautify the town, and established its first public library.
From the History section of Green Cove Springs, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay1
Churches and places of worship19
St. Mary's Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries16
Green Cove Springs Branch Library
Library · 0.4 mi
403 Ferris Street, Green Cove Springs
Contracted Residential Services
School · 0.5 mi
900 Walnut St, Green Cove Springs
Hickory Creek Elementary School
School · 5.9 mi
235 Hickory Creek Trl, Saint Johns
Hospital Homebound Homebased Programs
School · 0.5 mi
900 Walnut Street, Green Cove Springs
Healthcare1
Map of Green Cove Springs
60 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Clay County has had 33 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 2026-04-22: Railroad Complex Fire (Fire)
- 2024-10-11: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-10-07: Hurricane Milton (Hurricane)
- 2024-09-28: Hurricane Helene (Hurricane)
- 2024-08-10: Hurricane Debby (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-08-03: Tropical Storm Debby (Tropical Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Jacksonville Naval Air Station (Towers Field) (NIP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 17 miles away.
- Fleming Island 8 mi north, about 13 min by car
- Asbury Lake 8 mi northwest, about 13 min by car
- Fruit Cove 9 mi northeast, about 14 min by car
- World Golf Village 11 mi east, about 18 min by car
- Lakeside 12 mi northwest, about 19 min by car
- Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace 14 mi north, about 22 min by car
- Middleburg 14 mi west, about 22 min by car
- Oakleaf Plantation 16 mi northwest, about 26 min by car
- Nocatee 18 mi northeast, about 28 min by car
- Jacksonville 24 mi north, about 39 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- The Sheik Sandwiches and Subs, Green Cove Springs, FL, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Larry's Giant Subs, Green Cove Springs, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Deluxe Public Work Stand by Saris, Clay County Library, Green Cove Springs, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Bicycle rack, Clay County Library, Green Cove Springs, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Green Cove Springs depot, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Clay County Historic Society Museum and Railroad Collection building and Green Cove Springs depot, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Clay County public library, Green Cove Springs, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Walgreens, Green Cove Springs, Michael Rivera, CC0
- Atlantic Coast Line caboose, Green Cove Springs, Mjrmtg, CC0
- GCS FL HD St. Mary's Church01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GCS FL HD Kirkpatrick-Wilcox House01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- GCS FL crths old01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Westbound Shands Bridge, SPUI, Public domain
- Elks Lodge 1892, Michael Rivera, CC0
- VFW Post 1988, Mjrmtg, CC0
- SB US 17 at Leonard C Taylor Parkway Intersection dashcam, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- WB FL 16 at US 17 Intersection dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- NB US 17 FL 16 East West dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- SB Palmetto Avenue at FL 16 Intersection dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- EB Bay Street at Pine Avenue Intersection dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- EB Bay Street at Palmetto Avenue Intersection dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- 1894 Old County Jail front, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Clay County Historic Triangle, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Clay History Museum, Michael Rivera, CC0
- NB Palmetto Avenue at FL 16 Intersection dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- WB FL16 Railroad Crossing 620929A dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- 1894 Old County Jail, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Clay County Historic Society Museum and Railroad Collection building, Mjrmtg, CC0
- EB FL 16 Railroad crossing 620929A dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- WB Walnut Street at Ferris Street Intersection dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- Clay History Museum plaque, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Old Clay County Courthouse cornerstone, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Clay History Museum rear, Mjrmtg, CC0
- Old Clay County Courthouse historical marker, Michael Rivera, CC0
- SB US 17 FL16 reassurance markers End Historic District dashcam, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
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