Point La Vista is a cape (a bluff) located in Duval County, Florida, on the eastern bank of the St. Johns River, approximately three miles south of downtown Jacksonville. The name also refers to a residential subdivision situated on the cape. The community consists of single-family homes developed during suburban expansion from the mid-1920s through the 1980s on one of the city's most geographically distinct riverfront locations.
Geographic Details
The cape is located at approximately 30.2774620° N latitude and -81.6634283° W longitude. It is classified as a physical feature (cape) with an elevation of about 20 feet (6.1 meters). The area encompasses more than 400 acres, confirmed by Spanish Land Grants. Its GNIS (Geographic Names Information System) ID is 289120, recorded on October 19, 1979. The cape's scenic westward-facing vista overlooks a wide section of the St. Johns River.
Name Origin
The name "Point La Vista" dates from the government's La Vista triangulation station of 1876, which is no longer in use. The name translates from Spanish as "The Cape" or "The View."
History
Archaeological evidence indicates the cape has been inhabited for centuries. In 1896, archaeologist Clarence Bloomfield Moore excavated four mounds on the cape, with human remains and artifacts dating from the St. Johns II period (AD 900–1250) and the Swift Creek period (AD 300–800). These findings indicate occupation by the Timucua people.
During the British colonial era (1763–1783), when the area was part of East Florida, two large plantations operated on the cape: Orange Bluff Plantation, purchased by Joshua Yallowley in 1773, and the Jericho/Chichester Plantations, formed from land grants to Thomas and Kay Caudrey in the early 1770s.
During the Second Spanish Era (1784–1821), two plantations were established on the cape from Spanish Land Grants: Red Bank Plantation ("Banco Encamado"), a 450-acre grant to Francis Flora in 1793, and New Ross Plantation, built by Farquhar Bethune on a 145-acre property acquired in 1811. During the Patriot War of 1812–1814, an American militia unit burned down New Ross Plantation in retaliation for Bethune's loyalty to Spain, though Bethune later rebuilt it.
Modern Development
In 1904, R. Fleming Bowden, a Sheriff and Tax Collector, purchased 140 acres of undeveloped land known as "Point La Vista." The Bowden family lived on an estate there for over 50 years. The sale of the Bowden estate led to several developments, including:
- Granada (1925) – a 75-acre neighborhood featuring Mediterranean-style, Georgian brick, and ranch homes.
- Point La Vista (1965) – the subdivision that sits on the curve at the site of the old Bowden family estate, created by Joseph Davin of State Investment Company, featuring mid-century ranch and custom-built homes.
- Miramar Terrace (1926–1947) – a neighborhood of brick bungalows east of San Jose Blvd.
The modern suburbs of the Point La Vista cape end at Miramar Center, where San Jose Blvd. and Hendricks Avenue converge at the south end.
Other Uses of the Name
The name "Point La Vista" is also used for a separate community in Texas. Point La Vista is a property owners association community of approximately 530 lots located on the shores of Cedar Creek Lake near Malakoff and Caney City, Texas. This Texas community was incorporated as a non-profit corporation on July 22, 1985, and includes amenities such as a pool, pavilion, tennis court, boat ramp, and storage lot.
