The lost impact of streetcar lines on Riverside

Largely viewed as a city built for the automobile, things were not always this way in Jacksonville. Eight decades have passed since buses replaced streetcars as the city's primary mode of public transportation. As time has moved on, the idea of a sunbelt city being built and developed to accommodate the automobile has become common amongst its population. However, the reality of Jacksonville's situation is that for much of first century of its development, the autombile was not a dominant mode of travel.

<h1>Riverside Car Line Photo Tour</h1>

The route of the Riverside car line is highlighted in blue. The first streetcar line extended into Riverside was a horsecar line operated by Henry B. Plant’s Jacksonville Street Railway in 1886. In 1895-96, the line which terminated in Five Points, was converted into an electric streetcar line. In 1908, it was extended to Ortega and eventually to present day NAS Jax in 1918. Its former path through Riverside utilized Oak Street, King Street, Riverside Avenue and Aberdeen before turning south on Herschel Street into Avondale. At its height, it offered residents 6 minute headways and limited stop express car service between Aberdeen Street and downtown Jacksonville. Due to its popularity, it quickly became a magnet for commercial and multi-family residential structures during the Florida land boom.

Oak Street

Oak Street’s physical character changed after the extension of the Riverside car line to Ortega in 1908 and NAS Jax in 1918. As one of the city’s rapidly growing lines for ridership during the Florida land boom, Oak Street is home to a special linear blend of retail, multi-family and single family uses.

King Street

While the Riverside car line only utilized one block of King Street between Oak Street and Riverside Avenue, the King Street corridor developed into a commercial district. Part of its early 20th century attraction was its access to three streetcar lines (including North Riverside’s Lackawanna car line) and Riverside’s industrial district.

Riverside Avenue

Between King and Aberdeen Streets, the Riverside car line ran down Riverside Avenue. Providing frequent access to the rest of the city, the streets surrounding Riverside Avenue quickly filled up with a dense collection of residential structures.

Aberdeen Street

Aberdeen Street is one of the best visual reminders of Riverside’s streetcar era. The location of the Riverside car line’s tracks remains in the street’s brick paving pattern. Like the rest of the once popular transit route, Aberdeen is home to several multi-family structures as well.