LaVilla | |
|---|---|
 Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center located in the southwest corner of LaVilla | |
  LaVilla Location within Central Jacksonville | |
| Coordinates:30°19′56″N81°40′00″W / 30.3323°N 81.6667°W /30.3323; -81.6667 | |
| Government | |
| • City Council | Garrett L. Dennis |
| • State Assembly | Tracie Davis (D) |
| • State Senate | Audrey Gibson (D) |
| • U.S. House | Al Lawson (D) |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.00 km2 (0.385 sq mi) |
| • Land | 1.00 km2 (0.385 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | |
• Total | 185 |
| • Density | 186/km2 (481/sq mi) |
| [1] | |
| ZIP Code | 32202 |
| Area code | 904 |
LaVilla is a historic African Americanneighborhood ofJacksonville, Florida and was formerly an independent city. It developed after the American Civil War and was eventually annexed to the city of Jacksonville in 1887 and is now considered part ofdowntown.
It was struck by theGreat Fire of 1901. During its height, the area was considered "the mecca for African American culture and heritage" in Florida, particularly its northern sections.[2] It remains primarily anAfrican-American neighborhood. TheRitz Theatre,Richmond Hotel, and theClara White Mission are among the historic buildings in the area. Several are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places. The area became a transportation hub with rail service developed byHenry Flagler and was also a cigar making center that included Greek and Syrian immigrants.[3]
LaVilla lies to the northwest in Jacksonville'sdowntown. It is bounded by State Street to the north,I-95 to the west, Broad Street to the east, and Brooklyn to the south.
John Jones, an Anglo-American colonist, received a Spanishland grant for much of this area in 1801, when this part of Florida was still Spanish territory.
At different points in theAmerican Civil War, when Jacksonville and northeastern Florida were under Union control, the area was the site of a largeUnion garrison.[2] Many slaves sought refuge with Union troops and, under theEmancipation Proclamation of 1863, gained freedom. After the war, the town attracted additional freedmen, some of whom left rural areas, and was incorporated as LaVilla.
The town developed as a suburb toJacksonville during theReconstruction era. The population was mostly black, and many Black citizens were elected to positions in Lavilla's government, including mayor and councilmen. In 1887 LaVilla and five other suburbs, includingRiverside andSpringfield, were annexed by the City of Jacksonville.[2] It became a neighborhood of the city.
In 1902, the state legislature passed a new constitution, adopting barriers to voter registration and voting that resulted in the deliberatedisfranchisement of African Americans to exclude them from politics. The part of LaVilla north of Adams Street was for many years a center of African-American life and culture in Jacksonville. The southern part of the neighborhood was developed as a majorrailroad hub in the late 19th century; several rail lines met at Union Station (now adapted for use as thePrime F. Osborn III Convention Center). For a time, this was Jacksonville's primaryred light district.
AuthorStephen Crane frequented LaVilla during his time in Jacksonville; he met his future wife,Cora Crane, who was at the time a brothel proprietor.
Lavilla was the site of theGreat Fire of 1901, which spread and destroyed most of downtown, but the neighborhood was largely spared. In the first half of the 20th century, the neighborhood was an important center ofAfrican-American culture. A vibrant music and entertainment scene emerged, attracting many nationally renowned jazz artists to play at local black clubs on and off Ashely Street. Such clubs were segregated under the state laws that imposedJim Crow. In 1929 theRitz Theatre opened, becoming an important stop on what was called theChitlin' Circuit for black entertainers.[4] It became LaVilla's primary performance venue.[5][6]
The area on Ashley Street west of Broad Street, to and including Davis Street, included landmarks such as Nick’s Pool Parlor, as well as the Strand, the Frolic, the Globe and the Roosevelt theaters. The Wynn/Egmont Hotel was known to provide the best accommodations for touring performers; the Boston Chop House, Mama’s Restaurant and Hayes Luncheonette served good food; the Lenape Bar and Manuel's Taproom were the favorite watering holes. The Ritz Theatre and The Knights of Pythias Hall hosted numerous famous performers.
In the 1930s the "Negro" section of theFederal Writers' Project in Florida was based in LaVilla.Zora Neal Hurston was involved from 1935 until 1937.[7]
After the 1960s, the neighborhood entered a period of precipitous decline. The railroad industry restructured, leading to a massive loss of jobs here and across the country. In addition, the construction ofI-95 disrupted and divided the neighborhood. With the end of legalsegregation following civil rights legislation in the mid-1960s, many residents left the area to pursue newer housing and work opportunities elsewhere.
During the 1980s thecrack cocaine epidemic hit hard among struggling residents of LaVilla, resulting in an increase in crime and furthering the decline.[8] According to General Counsel Rick Mullaney, who was chief of staff under MayorEd Austin, the area became "nothing but crack houses, prostitution and crime."[9]
The 1993River City Renaissance plan crafted by MayorEd Austin allocated millions of dollars to renovating and developing LaVilla. Dilapidated buildings were torn down and significant historical structures, such as the Ritz Theatre, were restored or reconstructed, often in public-private partnerships. The Ritz also serves as the LaVilla Heritage tourism has been emphasized.
LaVilla is served by theJacksonville Transportation Authority'szero-fareJacksonville Skyway automated people mover system and an extensive bus network.[10]
Current Skyway Stations in LaVilla[11]
Venues, such as theRitz Theatre, showcased black entertainers and catered to black audiences. The theatre still host shows and also offers visitors a look at black history.
The Jacksonville branch of theFederal Reserve Bank of Atlanta is located on Water Street at the southern bounds of LaVilla.
The southern part of the neighborhood was once a majorrailroad hub, with several rail lines meeting at Union Station (now thePrime F. Osborn III Convention Center), and probably not coincidentally, was also for a period Jacksonville's primary red light district.
LaVilla School of the Arts is a popular magnet middle school in Duval County that follows in the performance and art traditions of the Ritz/LaVilla area. Ritz Voices is a 100-member youth choir in the area.
TheClara White Mission is also located in LaVilla in the former Globe Theatre.[12]
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