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Community Review

Community Spotlight -Atlantic Beach, Beautiful Oceanside Living

By February 2, 2021No Comments
Community Spotlight -Atlantic Beach, Beautiful Oceanside Living

Just a couple of weeks ago, we talked about relocating to Northeast Florida. In particular, we discussed what Jacksonville and St. Augustine offered their residents. Atlantic Beach is a Jacksonville suburb situated right on the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of just over 13,000, Atlantic Beach offers an oasis for those seeking a relaxing beach lifestyle.

Atlantic Beach, Florida

History

At the turn of the 20th century, Henry Flagler brought the Mayport branch of his Florida East Coast Railway to Atlantic Beach. To accommodate travelers, the 300 room Continental Hotel was constructed. By 1913, the railroad began selling off most of its land to the Atlantic Beach Corporation. In turn, they paved the city’s streets, put in street lights, and installed water and sewer lines under the city. The city itself wasn’t incorporated until 1926.

The Mayport Naval Station opened up for operation in the 1940s. In the 1950s, the Matthews Bridge was constructed. By the 1980s, the city began extending its boundaries, acquiring Seminole Beach to the north. Its boundaries extended again when it annexed the Intracoastal Waterway to the west in the 1990s.

Demographics

Young professionals love living in Atlantic Beach. Families with children occupy approximately 20% of the city’s households. The median age of an Atlantic Beach resident is 48 and the median household income is $72,946, according to Data USA. Healthcare, service industry (tourist-related), and professional/science/technical services made up almost 30% of the local economy. Unemployment comes in at 3.5%, 0.4% under the national average. And students in our public schools perform well above average.

Home Values

According to Zillow, the median value for an Atlantic Beach home is $412,787. As of the writing of this post, homes currently for sale ranged from a three bed/2 bath 1163 square foot cottage listed at $329,000 to a four bed/four bath 3390 square foot ocean view home located just steps from the beach listed at $3,200,000.

Things to Do

Beaches Town Center provides a great place to meet up with friends for a bite to eat and then go shopping. People love coming to Atlantic Beach when they visit the Northeast Florida area. Unlike other nearby beaches, dogs are allowed on the beach during the day. Everywhere else, you can only bring them to the beach after 5 pm. 

The turtle-nesting season takes place from May 1st to October 1st. So, watch out for these little guys when visiting the beach during that time. Do not touch them, even if they appear to be in distress. This can cause irreparable harm to these sea creatures. Bright lights (including campfires) confuse mama turtles and their babies. Therefore, officials prohibit beach fires during this time. However, any other time of year, you can apply for a permit to build fires right on the beach. 

We love arts and culture here in Atlantic Beach. In fact, the public is invited to take an Art Walk every third Thursday of the month from 5 pm to 9 pm. Visit galleries located where Atlantic Blvd meets the ocean. Watch artists perform live for you right on the sidewalk.

Finally, if you always wanted your dream wedding at the beach, look no further than One Ocean Resort and Spa. They offer 16 different venues on-site to hold various sizes of wedding parties and other special events. If you simply desire a place to relax, try their world-class spa services overlooking the gorgeous Atlantic Ocean.

Interested in making Atlantic Beach your permanent home? Contact the Welch Team. We’d be happy to show you around.