What Orange Park is actually like
Orange Park traces its founding to 1877, when the Florida Winter Home and Improvement Company platted the town on the St. Johns River; it was incorporated in 1879 by special act of the Florida Legislature. The site had a longer history before that as a plantation developed by Zephaniah Kingsley, and the town's prominence as a 19th-century winter resort drew notable visitors, including Ulysses S. Grant in January 1880.
Today Orange Park is a compact Clay County suburb directly along the St. Johns River, connected to Jacksonville by US-17 and I-295. Its 2020 Census population was 9,089, with a median age of 48.9 — notably older than the metro as a whole, consistent with its long-established, lower-turnover neighborhoods. Landmarks like Moosehaven, a historic retirement community founded in 1922, and the Club Continental estate anchor its riverside character.
The town operates its own municipal water and sewer utility rather than relying on the county authority — a distinguishing structural feature from most of its unincorporated Clay County neighbors, including nearby Fleming Island. Orange Park functions today as a walkable, historic riverside town center anchoring shopping and civic life for a wider unincorporated population that has grown up around it.
Home values in Orange Park
Zillow tracks home values city-by-city, not for every neighborhood within a city — Orange Park is one of the pockets that doesn't get its own figure. Rather than publish a citywide number that might not reflect this specific part of town, we're leaving pricing out of this particular guide for now.
Getting around
Primary access is via US-17 (Kingsley Avenue/Park Avenue), connecting north to I-295 and into Jacksonville; JTA runs a Clay County express park-and-ride bus route into the city.
Orange Park FAQ
Is Orange Park its own incorporated town, or part of unincorporated Clay County?
It's an incorporated town (established 1879) with its own town government, police, and utility department — distinct from surrounding unincorporated Clay County.
Who supplies electricity in Orange Park?
JEA is the sole electric provider within town limits; Clay Electric Cooperative serves some surrounding unincorporated areas.
Does Orange Park have flood risk since it's on the St. Johns River?
Being riverfront, parts of the area carry general flood exposure — Clay County saw significant Black Creek/St. Johns River flooding during Hurricane Irma in 2017. Always check FEMA flood maps for a specific address.
How far is Orange Park from downtown Jacksonville?
Roughly 15-18 miles via US-17 and I-295, about 20-30 minutes outside peak hours.
Who handles water and sewer?
The Town of Orange Park runs its own municipal utility department for water and sewer, separate from the county authority that serves surrounding unincorporated Clay County.