SAN MARCO AREA NEIGHBORHOOD of JACKSONVILLE

SAN MARCO is a small and mainly upscale neighborhood southeast of downtown Jacksonville across the Saint Johns River. Developed in the 1920s the San Marco neighborhood is diverse but most popular with young professionals due to its trendy look. The key to the growth of the area was the construction in 1921 of the ST. JOHNS RIVER BRIDGE which made the area an accessible suburb.

The center of the community is THE SQUARE, an upscale commercial district which contains several key landmarks.

 The 1926 SAN MARCO BUILDING at 1978 San Marco was the headquarters of the original developers of San Marco, but today houses several fashionable stores. The Mediterranean Revival style fits the style of the oldest buildings.

Another downtown mark is the SAN MARCO THEATRE (1938) at 1996 San Marco. It is a neat Art Deco structure, but it should also be noted the area has a LITTLE THEATRE (1938) at 2032 San Marco to show its arty desires.

ST PAULS CHURCH (1888) was saved and moved to 1652 Atlantic Avenue to serve as the San Marco Preservation Hall.

Other buildings in San Marco include the original SOUTH JACKSONVILLE CITY HALL and the homes of the Swisher family. The CARL S. SWISHER VILLA ALEXANDRIA (1929) at 2234 River Road is a Mediterranean Revival.

Carl donated the Library at Jacksonville University and dozens of other civic structures. His father JOHN H. SWISHER, the original cigar manufacturer and founder of King Edward Cigars (once #1 in the world) built a mansion at 2252 River Road.

Probably the most famous public landmark is the LANDON HIGH SCHOOL & JUNIOR HIGH COMPLEX (1926) at 1819 Thacker Avenue, an Italian palace of a Mediterranean Revival structure designed by the notable firm of Marsh and Saxelbye who did the San Marco Building.