Springfield Historic District
This neighborhood located just north of Downtown offers awesome historic experiences along with its hip new restaurants, breweries and public art.
Established in 1869, and located adjacent to the north of Downtown Jacksonville, Springfield is the oldest neighborhood in Jacksonville and offers a variety of experiences for visitors and residents alike! This historic neighborhood is filled with restored mansions (and bungalows), hip restaurants, locally owned shops, some of the city's oldest parks, craft breweries and tons of southern charm with majestic oaks providing protective shade and a beautiful visual along its residential streets.
Things to do in Springfield:
Bicyclists, rejoice! According to WalkScore.com, Springfield is the most bikeable neighborhood in Jacksonville’s urban core. In 2018, Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council (SPAR) received a Neighbors Get Moving award from the City of Jacksonville, recognizing SPAR for it’s role in organizing and promoting wellness activities in the Springfield Historic District community. You’ll find bicycle repair stations in Henry J. Klutho Park (intersection of Pearl and 3rd St) and behind the SPAR building at 1321 N Main Street.
Visitors can enjoy a ride on the S-Line Urban Greenway, or easily ride to many of Jacksonville’s other attractions.
Henry J. Klutho Park is also home to the Springfield Disc Golf Course and Sculpture Walk Springfield.
SPAR will be hosting bike socials to other Jacksonville urban core neighborhoods in 2019, and we want you to join us!
February 2 – Riverside - Riverside Arts Market
April 19 – Downtown - Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Game
June 1 – Rail Yard District - S-Line Urban Greenway, Jacksonville Farmers Market, and Engine 15 Brewing Co.
September 8 – Eastside - Eastside Murals and Intuition Ale Works
October 12 – San Marco - San Marco & Aardwolf Brewing Company
December 17 – Springfield - Springfield Holiday Bike Ride
You can also Explore The Core on your own by checking out the suggested routes and activities.
Where to Eat & Drink in Springfield:
You’ll find a variety of fantastic and award winning dining options in Springfield, including 1 Foxy Lady Café & Catering, Bleu Chocolat Café, Crispy’s Springfield Gallery, Fred Cotton’s Landmark BBQ, Hola Mexican Restaurant, Icecapade Frozen Treats, The Cookbook Restaurant, Uptown Kitchen & Bar, and Wafaa N Mike’s Café .
For delicious coffee, don’t miss Social Grounds Coffee Company. When you’re ready to switch to beer, don’t miss Springfield’s breweries: Hyperion Brewing Company, Main & Six Brewing Company, and the soon-to-open Strings Sports Brewery. If you’re looking for a truly local experience, Shantytown Pub and Walnut Inn are Springfield’s favorite dive bars.
Annual Yearly Events in Springfield:
Springfield is home to some of Jacksonville’s favorite annual events!
Held each year in November, Jacksonville PorchFest is a music festival held on the welcoming front porches of Historic Springfield. This family-friendly, free event features musicians from a wide variety of genres and draws over 10,000 people to the neighborhood. PorchFest brings important attention to Springfield’s historic architecture and ongoing revitalization and highlights the breadth of musical talent in Jacksonville. Proceeds from the event are dedicated to SPAR’s arts programming and education fund.
There are two annual Home Tours in Springfield. The Spring Tour of Homes is held in May and is produced by SPAR. This tour has showcased the unique character of the community for over 40 years. Held in December, the Historic Springfield Holiday Tour of Homes is produced by Springfield Improvement Association and Archives (SIAA) and features beautiful historic homes that are decked out for the holidays.
Getting Here from Downtown:
Go north on Ocean Street, turn left onto E State Street/US-1 N then take the first right onto N Main Street/US-1 and that leads to the heart of Springfield.
