Middleburg, Florida facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Middleburg, Florida
Census-designated place
Top, left to right: Black Creek, Middleburg United Methodist Church, Middleburg High School, Jennings State Forest
Location in Clay County and the state of Florida
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Clay
Area
• Total	19.62 sq mi (50.81 km2)
• Land	19.62 sq mi (50.81 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	33 ft (10 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,881
• Density	656.66/sq mi (253.53/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	32050, 32068
Area code(s)	904
FIPS code	12-45350
GNIS feature ID	0286819

Middleburg is an unincorporated area and census-designated place (CDP) within Clay County in the U.S. state of Florida, located 26 miles (42 km) southwest of downtown Jacksonville and 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Green Cove Springs, the county seat of Clay County. As of the 2020 census,the population of Middleburg was 12,881.

It is home to Middleburg High School and to the Middleburg Historic District.

Geography

Middleburg is located northwest of the center of Clay County at 30°3′3″N 81°54′7″W / 30.05083°N 81.90194°W / 30.05083; -81.90194 (30.050783, -81.902013). Florida State Road 21 leads northeast 13 miles (21 km) to the Orange Park area and southwest 23 miles (37 km) to Keystone Heights.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Middleburg CDP has a total area of 19.6 square miles (50.7 km²), all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 13,008 people living in 4,891 housing units within the CDP. Between the 2000 and 2010 census, Middleburg realized a population increase of 2,670 individuals. The racial makeup of the CDP was 92.9% White, 3.1% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 24.87% under the age of 18, 75.13% age of 18 or over, and 10.36% age of 65 or over. The population is 49.7% female and 50.3% male.

History

United Methodist Church in the 1880s.

Middleburg began in the 19th century with several different names. It was first known as Clark's Ferry from the 1820s to 1833. The name derived from Asa Clark who ran the ferry until 1828. In 1828 the Black Creek Methodist Church was founded by Isaac Boring but the frontier Methodist society met in their own homes until the Methodist United Church was built in 1847. Fort Heilman protected settlers at Clark's Ferry where it was the "principal depot for the east coast of Florida." During the Seminole Wars Fort Heilman was used as a quartermaster workshop and storage depot but was abandoned after the war in 1841. From 1833 to 1850 the area was then known as Gary's Ferry after Samuel Y. Gary. On September 8, 1853 the area was finally called Middleburg. The new town traded in timber, citrus fruits and crops from farmland. When Clay county was created in 1858 Middleburg became the temporary county seat until 1874.

The 4th Massachusetts Cavalry had a small skirmish before raiding Middleburg during the American Civil War on October 23, 1864. The next day the 4th Massachusetts Cavalry set fire to a number of buildings and a hotel. The Federals retreated across Black Creek burning a bridge in the process. The Florida 2nd Cavalry caught up with the retreating 4th Massachusetts Cavalry in a skirmish at Halsey's Plantation.

The population numbered 700 in 1890. In 1895, a big freeze and lessening of the river trade caused the city to decline again.

Notable people

• Gary Barnidge, NFL tight end
• Lenny Curry, mayor of Jacksonville, Florida
• Roy Geiger, USMC World War II general
• Ashley Greene, actress
• Richard Owens, NFL tight end
• Donnie Van Zant, musician for 38 Special, Van Zant
• Johnny Van Zant musician for Lynyrd Skynyrd, Van Zant
• Slim Whitman, country singer and songwriter

Bands

• Fit for Rivals, rock band
• The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, rock band

See also

In Spanish: Middleburg (Florida) para niños