Downtown Palatka
Encyclopedia
Downtown Palatka is the central business district
of Palatka
, Florida
. According to the Palatka Community Redevelopment Agency, the district is bounded by Main Street to the north, Laural Street to the south, the St. Johns River
to the east, and Eleventh Street to the west, Historical Fort Shannon was located at the east end of downtown on the river, near what is today City Hall. Area transportation is conducted by Ride Solution
and connects downtown passengers to other core areas in Putnam County.
Public offices and services located in the downtown area:
, Tilghman House, Bronson-Mulholland House
, and the David Browning Railroad Museum
. Downtown also plays host to local festivals and events including, the Florida Azalea Festival
, Blue Crab Festival, and Mug Race
. Numerous other public gathers occur throughout the year. Murals have become a common sight on the streets of downtown. Headed by the Conlee Mural Committee, the group has transformed numerous building walls into works of art.
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
of Palatka
Palatka, Florida
Palatka is a city in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 10,033 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 10,796. It is the county seat of Putnam County and includes East Palatka. Palatka is the principal city of the Palatka...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. According to the Palatka Community Redevelopment Agency, the district is bounded by Main Street to the north, Laural Street to the south, the St. Johns River
St. Johns River
The St. Johns River is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida and its most significant for commercial and recreational use. At long, it winds through or borders twelve counties, three of which are the state's largest. The drop in elevation from the headwaters to the mouth is less than ;...
to the east, and Eleventh Street to the west, Historical Fort Shannon was located at the east end of downtown on the river, near what is today City Hall. Area transportation is conducted by Ride Solution
Ride Solution
Ride Solution is a non-profit agency that provides public transportation in the city of Palatka and Putnam County, Florida. The Palatka Union Depot serves as the systems hub, offering access to Greyhound and Amtrak routes. Inter-county routes connect Putnam County to Jacksonville's JTA and...
and connects downtown passengers to other core areas in Putnam County.
Public offices and services located in the downtown area:
- Palatka City Hall
- Palatka Gas Authority
- Palatka Housing Authority
- Palatka Police Department
- Palatka Post Office
- Palatka Union DepotPalatka (Amtrak station)The Palatka Amtrak station is a historic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in Palatka, Florida. It is located at 220 North Eleventh Street, on the corner of US 17-FL 100. It opened in 1909 and originally served as a junction with Florida Southern Railway, Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad and...
- Putnam County Chamber of Commerce
- Putnam County CourthousePutnam County Courthouse (Florida)The Putnam County Courthouse, built in 1909, is an historic brick courthouse building located at 410 St. Johns Avenue in Palatka, Florida It was designed by architects Robinson and Reidy in the Classical Revival style of architecture. C. D. Smith was the builder. It originally had a central cupola...
- Putnam County School Board
Arts and culture
The downtown area contains important local cultural landmarks such as the Larimer Arts CenterLarimer Memorial Library
Larimer Memorial Library is a historic library at 216 Reid Street in Palatka, Florida, United States. It was given to the Arts Council of Greater Palatka in 1992, and renamed the Larimer Arts Center. On March 12, 2008, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-External links:*...
, Tilghman House, Bronson-Mulholland House
Bronson-Mulholland House
The Bronson-Mulholland House, , is an historic site located at 100 Madison Street, in Palatka, Florida. Sunny Point was built in 1854. On December 27, 1972, it was added to the U.S...
, and the David Browning Railroad Museum
Palatka (Amtrak station)
The Palatka Amtrak station is a historic Atlantic Coast Line Railroad depot in Palatka, Florida. It is located at 220 North Eleventh Street, on the corner of US 17-FL 100. It opened in 1909 and originally served as a junction with Florida Southern Railway, Georgia Southern and Florida Railroad and...
. Downtown also plays host to local festivals and events including, the Florida Azalea Festival
Florida Azalea Festival
Dating back to the 1930s, the Florida Azalea Festival in Palatka, Florida is one of the state's oldest festivals. The festival, coinciding with the blooming of the azaleas, takes place every year on the first weekend of March. Most of the festivities take place in Downtown Palatka, but a large...
, Blue Crab Festival, and Mug Race
Mug Race
The Mug Race is an annual sailboat race held on Florida's St. Johns River. It claims to be the world's longest river race. Course placement is based on masts size. Masts 44 feet and under compete on the south course which starts in Palatka. Masts 44 feet and up compete on the north course starting...
. Numerous other public gathers occur throughout the year. Murals have become a common sight on the streets of downtown. Headed by the Conlee Mural Committee, the group has transformed numerous building walls into works of art.
Governance
Downtown Palatka, Inc. is a non-profit organization that represents area merchants and promotes local events in the downtown area. Palatka Community Redevelopment Agency is a organization established in 1983 to oversee the revitalization of downtown and the historic districts. Issues of concern to the agency include the presence of substandard or inadequate structures, a shortage of affordable housing, inadequate infrastructure, insufficient roadways, and inadequate parking.Historic Lemon Street
Technically, Lemon Street is the portion of St. Johns Avenue that extends into Downtown Palatka. The tree lined street serves as the main shopping district in the city. The area has made strides in becoming a 24-hour neighborhood, with new restaurants, bars and other establishments opening in recent years. During large events vehicular traffic is diverted and the street acts as the main pedestrian-way, housing vendors and entertainment.See also
- Palatka North Historic DistrictPalatka North Historic DistrictThe Palatka North Historic District is a U.S. historic district located in Palatka, Florida. The district is bounded by the St. Johns River, Bronson, North 1st, North 5th, and Main Streets. It contains 76 historic buildings, including the Bronson-Mulholland House and St. Mark's Episcopal...
- Palatka South Historic DistrictPalatka South Historic DistrictThe Palatka South Historic District is a U.S. historic district located in Palatka, Florida. The district is bounded by the St. Johns River, Oak, South 9th, and Morris Streets. It contains 243 historic buildings....
- Palatka HeightsPalatka HeightsPalatka Heights is a neighborhood southwest of downtown Palatka. The area is bordered by St. Johns Avenue to the north, Westover Drive to the west, and the Ravine Gardens State Park to the south. The neighborhood houses the Palatka Water Works, which provided citizens with water from 1886 until the...
- NewtownNewtown (Palatka)Newtown is a neighborhood of Palatka, Florida located west of downtown and includes portions of the central business district. The neighborhood was originally established as an African American community in the mid 1800's. Central Academy, Florida's first accredited African American high school,...
- East PalatkaEast Palatka, FloridaEast Palatka is a census-designated place in Putnam County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,654 at the 2010 census.-Geography:East Palatka is located at ....