If you’ve landed here my guess is that you’re looking for information on Julington Creek Plantation (JCP). This is one of the original master planned communities in St. Johns, Florida. I’ll walk you through location, schools and amenities and what makes this a great place to call home.
Location of Julington Creek Plantation
JCP is located in St. Johns, FL which itself is located in the northwest corner of St. Johns County. If you’re unfamiliar with the area: the nearest city to the north is Jacksonville and the south is Daytona Beach. Additionally, you may occasionally hear this area referred to as the First Coast or more generally as Northeast Florida.
Location to this area is a big draw for many. Julington Creek is approximately 20 miles south of downtown Jacksonville and offers easy access to routes 295, 9B and I-95. Jacksonville International Airport offers a number of carriers and is approximately 40 miles north of the community. World class medical care is available via the Mayo Clinic campus on San Pablo Road in Jacksonville along with specialty care through Wolfson Children’s Hospital, various Baptist Medical Centers in the area, Flagler Health and Ascension.
Community History & Details
As a community, Julington Creek went under construction in 1994 and completed build out in 2022. The majority of Julington Creek falls under a CDD and there are HOA charges by neighborhood. Zoned for 6,400 residential units, the development spans approximately 4,100 acres and features more than 100 lakes, 1,200 acres of nature preserves and 7 miles of biking and jogging trails.
The community is divided into a series of approximately 45 neighborhoods that include a mix of single-family residences along with townhouse living. There are 3 gated communities (2 of the town house communities and then Plantation Estates). Plantation Estates also features its own pool area for residents.
Schools
The St. Johns County School district is a top draw for many and holds the distinction of being an A rated district and among the top in the state. For the 2023-2024 school year zoned schools included Julington Creek Elementary, Fruit Cove Middle School and Creekside High School. As always – school assignments reside with the district and are subject to change at any time.
The schools in the area are in a state of growth. Ratings are high – with the district consistently scoring atop the State in a number of categories and metrics. What is impressive is the sense of community instilled in each of the schools. At the lower levels the PTO associations work tirelessly to support the schools. Here they offer amazing events and opportunities for students and families. Through the middle school and high schools – you see administration and booster clubs working alongside the students to get these schools up and running and offering opportunities to students to get involved.
Pros & Cons of living in Julington Creek Plantation
As someone who previously called JCP home – I can offer my take on pros and even some cons of calling this community home. On the positive side: Amenities, convenience, location, award winning schools and community rank atop my list. The Plantation Club is a well-maintained center of activity for the community. Offerings include a lap pool, family pool and kiddie area (complete with play water structure) along with a playground, 8 Har-Tru tennis courts, locker rooms, skate park, basketball courts and fitness facilities. A second amenity center – known as the Aquatics Center – features another family pool, lap pool along with sand volleyball courts. Around the corner – is a park with playground for the youngest residents of JCP. Here, weekly food truck gatherings are a favorite among residents. There are plans to upgrade the Aquatics Facility.
On the negative side: There are a number of rentals available – many of which are owned by corporate landlords. This can lead to high levels of turnover in the neighborhoods and absentee landlords. However, I see the rentals as a positive when people decide they want to call a community home and transition from renter to buyer.
While a golf course is located within the community – this is a private club (Champions Club). Additionally, Julington Creek is not considered a golf cart community.
There is a commercial center featuring a grocery store, gas stations and pharmacies along with some other fun offerings (ice cream, bicycle shop, hair salon, boutique clothing shop and more). Residents have easy access to a branch of the St. Johns County Public Library and the St. Johns County Tax Collector (which is where motor vehicle services can be handled (think vehicle registration, drivers licenses and more).
Final Thoughts:
If you would like to talk about or visit homes in Julington Creek Plantation, please feel free to reach out (contact form, email or call) to me. I would love to hear what you are looking for in your new home and see what we can find that aligns with your individual needs.
Looking for additional information? Check out my YouTube video on JCP.