Palatka, Florida
Palatka is a city of 10,650 people in Putnam County, Florida, founded in 1821.
Why visit Palatka
Townapedia lists 14 museums and landmarks, 12 parks and trails, 47 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Memorial Bridge, Bronson Mulholland House, Central Academy and Ravine Gardens State Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 90°F; January lows average 47°F.
Weather in Palatka
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Palatka
Palatka is a city in and the county seat of Putnam County, Florida, United States. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is home to 72,893 residents. The Palatka micropolitan area is included in the Jacksonville–Kingsland–Palatka, FL-GA Combined Statistical Area.
From the Wikipedia article Palatka, Florida (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Memorial Bridge
Bridge · 3.0 mi
Bridge over the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida
Museums and landmarks14
Bronson Mulholland House
Museum · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic house in Florida, United States
100 Madison Street
Central Academy
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historical site in Palatka, Florida
Larimer Memorial Library
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Historic building in Palatka, Florida, United States
Palatka North Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.5 mi
Human settlement in Palatka, Florida, United States of America
Palatka South Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.2 mi
Human settlement in Palatka, Florida, United States of America
Palatka station
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Historic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in Palatka, Florida
Putnam County Confederate Memorial
Monument and historic site · 2.4 mi
United Daughters of the Confederacy erected statue
David Browning Railroad Museum
Museum · 1.9 mi
220 North Eleventh Street, Palatka
2 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds12
Ravine Gardens State Park
Park · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
State park in Palatka, Florida, US
1600 Twig Street, Palatka
08:00-sunset
Putnam County Business Park
Park · 1.8 mi
Commercial area in Putnam County, Florida, USA
Restaurants and cafes47
Sumi's
Restaurant · Japanese · 0.7 mi
829 South State Road 19, Palatka
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:30; Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:30
Angel's Dining Car
Diner · American · 2.5 mi
209 Reid Street, Palatka
Mo-We 07:00-21:00; Th-Fr 07:00-22:00; Sa 07:00-21:00; Su 07:00-22:00
Stoners Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.4 mi
314 South State Road 19, Palatka
Mo-Su 11:00-22:00; Fr,Sa 11:00-23:00
J&J Seafood & Chicken
Restaurant · Seafood, Chicken · 0.6 mi
624 North State Road 19, Palatka
LongHorn Steakhouse
Restaurant · Steak House · 0.5 mi
501 North State Road 19, Palatka
Viva! Italia Pizzeria
Restaurant · Italian · 2.4 mi
409 Saint Johns Avenue, Palatka
35 more on the map.
History
The area was once the domain of the Timucuan peoples, two tribes of which existed in the Palatka region under chiefs Saturiwa and Utina. They fished bass and mullet, or hunted deer, turkeys, bear and opossum. Others farmed beans, corn, melons, squash, and tobacco. However, infectious disease that came with European contact and war devastated the tribes, and they were extinct as organized peoples by the mid-18th century. Some of their survivors merged with other tribes; other Timucua evacuated with the Spanish to Cuba in 1763, when Spain ceded Florida to Great Britain in an exchange of interests after the latter's defeat of France in the Seven Years' War.
During the late eighteenth century, Creek (Muscogee) tribes made their way to Florida. In a process of ethnogenesis, they joined with other Native Americans and the Seminole tribe emerged. They called the location Pilo-taikita, meaning "crossing over" or "cows' crossing". Here the St. Johns River narrows and begins a shallower, winding course upstream to Lake George and Lake Monroe.
From the History section of Palatka, Florida on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Quality Inn & Suites Riverfront
Motel and hotel · 2.7 mi
201 Main Street, Palatka
Churches and places of worship68
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Church · Catholic · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries29
Kelley Smith Elementary School
School · 2.4 mi
141 Kelley Smith School Rd, Palatka
Putnam Virtual Instruction Program (District Provided)
School · 2.5 mi
200 Reid St, Palatka
Healthcare1
Map of Palatka
187 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 64°F | 47°F | 2.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 68°F | 50°F | 2.6 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 74°F | 54°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 80°F | 59°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 85°F | 65°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 88°F | 71°F | 7.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 90°F | 73°F | 6.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 89°F | 73°F | 6.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 86°F | 71°F | 7.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 80°F | 65°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 73°F | 57°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 67°F | 50°F | 2.2 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Federal Pt Hcn (11 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
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
Putnam 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
Northeast Florida Regional Airport (UST) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 29 miles away.
- East Palatka 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Interlachen 13 mi west, about 22 min by car
- Crescent City 18 mi southeast, about 29 min by car
- Green Cove Springs 23 mi north, about 37 min by car
- St. Augustine Shores 24 mi northeast, about 39 min by car
- Keystone Heights 24 mi northwest, about 38 min by car
- World Golf Village 25 mi northeast, about 39 min by car
- St. Augustine South 25 mi northeast, about 41 min by car
- Palm Coast 27 mi east, about 43 min by car
- St. Augustine 27 mi northeast, about 44 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
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- 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
- PalatkaFLCollection1, Mathew Stilwell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Spirit Halloween, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Municipal Airport, 2026, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Municipal Airport, LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
- HCA Florida Putnam Hospital, Palatka, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Paper Mill, Florida, Quintin Soloviev, CC BY 4.0
- Silver Meteor 97 Arriving in Palatka, FL 01-28-2023, Seaboarder3023, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palatka Depot (East face), Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Depot (South face), Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Depot (Southeast corner), Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Caboose at Palatka Depot, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Depot, National Register of Historic Places plaque, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Price-Martin Community Center, Palatka, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka historical marker, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Fire Station, N 11th Street, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Police Station plaque, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Palatka Police Station, N 11th Street, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Central Academy, Palatka, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- Bethel African Americal Episcopal Church, Palatka, FL, US, Jud McCranie, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Coca-Cola building, Palatka, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- Persian Gulf War monument, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- World War I monument, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Korean War monument, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Vietnam monument, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- World War II monument, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Survivors of Sexual Assault memorial, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- Confederate Monument, Palatka, Mjrmtg, CC BY 4.0
- St James Independent Methodist Church, Palatka, Michael Rivera, CC BY 4.0
- Ravinegardens01, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- BMHousePalatka, Excel23, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Palatka Saint Marks01, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Palatka North Hist Dist01a, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Palatka Larimer01, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palatka South Hist Dist01f, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Palatka Depot04, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Palatka Central Acadamy1, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Palatka Conf Mem statue01, Ebyabe, CC BY 2.5
- Palatka old memorial bridge02, Ebyabe, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Putnam County Business Park, Mathew105601, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bartram Trail, Ravine Gardens State Park, Florida, LittleT889, CC BY-SA 4.0
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