Welcome to Mandarin
The area of South Jacksonville on the south side of St. Johns River, appropriately named Mandarin, after the orange of the same name, was once a small riverfront farming community just south of San Marco and has a long history of being an agrarian wonderland as citrus trees thrive in the climate here as do other fruits and vegetables.
The many varieties of produce grown here needed to be shipped to the Jacksonville area and farther north, and with the abundance of steam-powered river boats going by on the St. Johns River, the town became known as a port city of some esteem in its heyday.
A series of spring freezes in the early 1890s destroyed the citrus groves and changed the face of the region as the cash crop of oranges and citrus fruit all but dried up and many of the former groves and farmlands were sold off to developers, eager to cash in on the verdant lands that are characteristic of the region.
Interestingly, Mandarin, Jacksonville was also the former summer home of Harriet Beecher Stowe, the author of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” who spent 17 summers here between the years 1867 to 1884. She affectionately described Mandarin as “a tropical paradise.”
With some of the most stunning views of the riverfront, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more comely blend of residential and commercial properties in and around the neighborhoods found in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville. The residential architecture of the region seems to have no particular direction as examples of Georgian Revival, Queen Anne, modern contemporary, and Victorian style homes, among others, can be found around town tucked in the narrow shady streets and avenues of this vibrant community.
Much of the area’s flora is represented by cyprus, pines, palm trees, and, of course, the ancient oaks with long eager boughs covered in Spanish Moss providing a breezy respite from the hot Florida sun.
In a region so steeped in local history, it’s worth a visit to the Historic Mandarin Store and Post Office, a fully restored building that evokes a different time and place in Mandarin’s history. Or visit the Walter Jones Historical Park for a day full of museums and exploration of its restored farmhouse, barn, and sawmill, among other preserved structures. The Mandarin Museum and the St. Joseph’s Mission Schoolhouse for African-American Children are among many other historical edifices that exist within the park’s borders. There is also a quiet nature trail that winds through the park among the trees and along the riverfront boardwalk and picnic areas.
For more fun in the outdoors, plan an outing to Mandarin Park where you can put your boat in the water at one of the town’s two public boat ramps or play tennis, pickleball, or shuffleboard on one of the park’s many sports courts.
Currently, with a population of approximately 24,000 residents, Mandarin is a rising star among the communities of and around South Jacksonville. Mandarin is fast becoming a blend of trendy eateries and old school restaurants, combined with big box chain stores and chain restaurants along San Jose Boulevard. There’s something for everybody from fresh seafood at Julington Creek Fish Camp to Kan-ki Japanese Steak House for sushi and a steak cooked on a Teppanyaki grill.
The region’s nightlife is a little lackluster, but after dinner drinks can be had at the Oak Bar at Chophouse 13 or The Muse Bourbon Bar and Grill. If you’re feeling adventurous, take in some nightspots in nearby San Marco or make the 25-minute drive over the river up to downtown Jacksonville.
Living in Mandarin has a quality of its own with its quiet grottos of native trees and lush underbrush found throughout the region. Within the Duval County School District, there are a variety of public and charter schools available.
Homes for sale in Mandarin run the gamut from affordable single family residences to multi-million dollar mansions on the banks of the river. With most residents owning their homes, property values are competitive as more and more people move here to take advantage of the thriving Jacksonville economy and the abundant condominium and townhouse developments springing up in and around the city.
