About the Clay County, Florida Area
Clay County is a diverse mixture of suburban and rural areas spread over 592 square miles. The population is 136,930 with a projection of 157,000 by the year 2003. Its proximity to the urban amenities of Jacksonville and the more pastoral qualities of rural Clay County along with the most successful school system in the region make it the location of choice for many young families. A good many of its residents work in Jacksonville, a significant number being military and civilian employees at Naval Air Station Jacksonville.  

In addition to the best public schools in the area, Clay County offers post-secondary education at the branch campus of the St. Johns River Community College and St. Leo's University. State-of-the-art health care can be had at the Orange Park Medical Center, the new Baptist St. Vincent's Urgent Care facility, and the recently opened Orange Park Cancer Center. The Orange Park Kennel Club, Club Continental, Orange Park Country Club and many other recreational facilities offer leisure activities for residents. Orange Park Township, located just south of Jacksonville on the west side of the St. Johns River, has long been considered one of the most desirable residential communities in the area.  

Orange Park offers shopping at its own regional mall, complete with a 24 screen cinema, and a plethora of restaurants along Wells Road to tempt the palate of the most discriminating diner. Orange Park's explosive growth during the last decade continues to push southward along Highway 17 onto Fleming Island and the Doctors Lake area. Many new subdivisions and planned communities have emerged such as Pace Island, Hibernia Plantation, and Eagle Harbor; which features a golf course, a nature preserve, a pool and tennis complex, and a shopping village within its borders. The newest development along this busy corridor is Fleming Island Plantation by Centex just southwest of state road 220 and U.S. 17. 

State Road 220 is also witnessing a rapid rise in the rate of new home building in the area along Doctors Lake and west across Swimming Pen Creek all the way to Middleburg. County Fathers recently completed a sector plan for the area to manage growth and preserve the beauty and rural aspect of that part of the County.  

Middleburg, southwest of Orange Park, is the major population concentration for the center of the county. The area is home to the Ravines Golf and Country Club, a private residential community built on rolling hills, featuring homes and a golf course designed by PGA golfer and course designer Mark McCumber. For those who want large pieces of property, Middleburg offers multi-acre building sites. 

In addition to Orange Park and Middleburg, Clay County has three incorporated municipalities: Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, and Penney Farms. Clay County features water sports of all kinds on the county's many lakes and rivers, and neighborhood parks are found throughout the county, many with picnic areas and tennis courts. Golfers are challenged on a variety of public and private courses, including the course at Magnolia Point Golf & Country Club near Green Cove Springs. Magnolia Point is also a private residential community built on rolling hills featuring homes on a golf course designed by PGA golfer and course designer Mark McCumber, located minutes away from Jacksonville off Highway 17 just north of historic Green Cove Springs.  

Camping, biking, and nature watching are key attractions at Gold Head Branch State Park and camping is available at Kingsley Beach and Strickland's Landing on the banks of Kingley Lake. Jennings Forest is a wildlife management area that offers hunting for deer, turkey, wild hog, fox, squirrel, rabbit and other game during designated seasons. The county's new Black Creek/Ravines Conservation Area just north of County Road 218 at Green Road offers over 8000 acres of equestrian/hiking trails and primitive campsites along the banks of beautiful Black Creek. For the cycling, jogging and walking enthusiastic, the recently completed Black Creek Trail runs along the western side of U.S. 17 from Black Creek to Doctor's Lake.  

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