The City Magazine For Saint Augustine
So you want to move to St. Augustine, FL – welcome to the Oldest City! Moving involves a lot of stress. That’s an inescapable fact. But we’re here to make it a little easier with a comprehensive guide to moving to St. Augustine, FL from the people who have their pulse on everything happening in the Nation’s Oldest City. Here are the basics of setting up your life and settling in.
History
Established in September of 1565 by Spanish conquistador Pedro Menendez de Aviles, St. Augustine is the Nation’s oldest European-established city. The city was named after Roman Catholic St. Augustine, on whose feast day (August 28) the Spanish fleet first sighted land. Legend holds that years before, however, Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon first set foot in the St. Augustine area while searching for the fabled Fountain of Youth. After changing governmental hands from the Spanish to the British, back to the Spanish and finally to the United States, St. Augustine hit its renaissance in the 1800’s with the arrival of Standard Oil co-founder Henry Flagler and his business prowess. This luxurious gilded age led to Flagler building the Ponce de Leon Hotel (now Flagler College) and the Alcazar Hotel (now the Lightner Museum), taking over the Casa Monica Hotel, and starting the Florida East Coast railway to transport his guests throughout the state. Henry Flagler and his legacy firmly established St. Augustine as a resort community.
Getting your Utilities Setup in St. Augustine
Water
Water is provided by the city of St. Augustine within the city limits. To set up new service, visit the utility department at 50 Bridge Street downtown or visit their website at www.staugustinegovernment.com/residents/utility_service.cfm. A deposit is required as well as a turn-on fee.
Electricity
Power is provided by Florida Power and Light (FPL) and a deposit is required to begin service. For residences that have previously had power, it will take 24 hours to turn on and new residences could take up to 3 days after inspection.
Wireless and Cable
St. Augustine has two primary wireless and cable providers–AT&T U-Verse and Comcast Xfinity. Some services from each company are not provided in every part of the city, so make sure to check which are offered in your area.
Pet Registration
Residents within the city limits are required to register all pets annually. The fee is $3 for male and spayed female, $5 for unspayed female. Visit www.staugustinegovernment.com/residents/pet_registration.cfm to register your furry friends.
Driver Licenses
New residents are required to obtain a Florida driver license within 30 days of becoming a resident. The driver examination station is located at the St. Johns County Tax Collector’s Office at 4030 Lewis Speedway. Call 209-2250 for information.
Beach Pass
On certain beaches in St. Johns County, motor vehicles are permitted, but to be able to park from March 1st through September 30, you are required to have a pass. In season annual sales for residents are $40; out of season annual sales are $30. Daily passes are also available. For information and passes, visit www.sjcfl.us/beaches/passes.aspx or call 904-209-0331.
City Government
There are a few ways to contact the St. Augustine city government.
- Email: [email protected]
- Mail: P. O. Box 210 St. Augustine, FL 32085-0210
- Visit: 75 King Street, St. Augustine, FL 32084
For a full list of phone numbers, browse the city directory at staugustinegovernment.com.
County Government
There are a few ways to contact the St. Johns County government.
- Email at [email protected]
- Call: 904-209-0655
Browse the county directory for a full list of phone numbers and mailing addresses at sjcfl.us.
Local Media: Staying in the loop when you live in St. Augustine
In Print
Subscribe to St. Augustine Social online for the latest on loving life in the Ancient City. Don’t miss out on the best places to eat, visit, shop, and stay in touch easily with the local culture.
The Record is St. Augustine’s primary news source. Get the latest updates on happenings in the city either online or in print form by becoming a member through their website.
Local Radio Stations
- Beach 105.5 – St. Augustine’s everything station! With all the best new and classic music, you’re certain not to hear repeats here.
- WSOS 103.9 – Chart toppers from music’s golden age. Classic rock with everything from the Beatles to Elvis Presley to the Rolling Stones.
- WFCF 88.5 – The station run by Flagler College students. They’ve got music, daily shows, and interviews for local interest stories.
- WJCT 89.9 – Based out of Jacksonville, this is the National Public Radio station for the area. Get your fill of local and national news and the best of NPR’s national talk shows.
- WFOY 102.1 – Covering the other end of the political spectrum, Newstalk features weather, sports, news, and conservative talk radio hosts.
Local Television Stations
- Channel 4 – Local Jacksonville News
- Channel 12 – NBC
- Channel 25 – ABC
- Channel 30 – FOX, Action News Jax
Facebook Groups to Join
- I Love St. Augustine – Locals share news stories and articles of interest as well as ask questions and post pictures of the area.
- My Kind of Town- St. Augustine – A spotlight on upcoming events, interesting stories, history, and much more.
- Business Rant & Rave- St. Augustine – A closed group where members post reviews of local businesses. This is a must join if you’re a local business owner!
- St. Augustine News – A group to see and post the latest newsworthy happenings in the city.
VPK / Day Care Options in St. Augustine
Early education for your little ones is crucial, so finding the right Pre-kindergarten or daycare is no fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of task. Use the list below to make initial contact and peruse their websites to find the best option for you and your kids. If you’re looking for just some entertainment, check out the top activities in St. Augustine for your toddler!
Island Prep, 10 Months – Kindergarten
4171 A1A S,
St. Augustine, FL 32080
islandprep.com
904-471-1100
Moultrie Montessori, Pre-K – Third Grade
253 S. R. 16
St. Augustine, FL 32084
moultriemontessori.com
904-826-0216
Ancient City Baptist, Pre-K
27 Sevilla St,
St. Augustine, FL 32084
ancientcitybapist.org/christian-academy
904-829-3476
Memorial Presbyterian Church, Pre-K
32 Sevilla Street
St. Augustine Fl, 32084
memorialpds.org
904-829-6451
Cathedral Parish School, Pre-K – Eighth Grade
259 Saint George Street,
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
website: thecathedralparishschool.org
phone:904-824-2861
St. Augustine Public Schools
The St. Johns County school district is one of only five in the state to be ranked a Grade A district for eleven consecutive years. Teacher to student ratios are low on average so you can be assured that your student will get hands on attention from well-qualified and highly experienced educators. St. Johns County has high test scores and has received a number of awards over the years, so you can rest assured in a public school choice.
The St. Johns County school district is one of only five in the state to be ranked a Grade A district for eleven consecutive years. Teacher to student ratios are low on average so you can be assured that your student will get hands on attention from well-qualified and highly experienced educators. St. Johns County has high test scores and has received a number of awards over the years, so you can rest assured in a public school choice.
John A. Crookshank Elementary
1455 North Whitney Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-ces.stjohns.k12.fl.us
phone: 904-547-7840
W.D. Hartley Elementary
260 Cacique Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32086
www-wdh.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8400
R.B. Hunt Elementary
125 Magnolia Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32080
www-rbh.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-7960
Ketterlinus Elementary
67 Orange Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-kes.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8540
Otis A. Mason Elementary
207 Mason Manatee Way
St. Augustine, FL 32086
www-mes.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8440
Mill Creek Elementary
3750 International Golf Parkway
St. Augustine, FL 32092
www-mce.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-3720
Osceola Elementary
1605 Osceola Elementary Road
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-oes.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-3780
Palencia Elementary
355 Palencia Village Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32095
www-pes.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-4010
Timberlin Elementary
555 Pine Tree Lane
St. Augustine, FL 32092
www-tes.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-7400
St. Augustine Public Montessori School
7 Williams Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
staugustinemontessori.com
904-342-5350
Private Schools in St. Augustine, FL
Whatever your reason for the private school route, St. Augustine has a lot to offer. Regardless of religious leanings or educational style preference, the city boasts many elite private schools with highly trained educators whose first priority is giving your child the best school experience possible.
St. Johns Academy, K-12
1533 Wildwood Drive,
St. Augustine, Florida 32086
stjohnsacademy.com
904-824-9224
Beacon of Hope Christian School, K-12
1230 Kings Estate Road
St. Augustine, Florida 32086
beaconeagles.net
904-797-6996
Cathedral Parish School, K-8
259 Saint George Street,
Saint Augustine, FL 32084
thecathedralparishschool.org
904-824-2861
The Webster School
420 North Orange Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
webster.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-3860
Wards Creek Elementary
6555 State Road 16
St. Augustine, FL 32092
www-wce.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8730
R.J. Murray Middle School
150 North Holmes Blvd.
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-mms.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8470
Pacetti Bay Middle School
245 Meadowlark Lane
St. Augustine, Florida 32092
www-pbm.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8760
Gamble Rogers Middle School
6250 US Highway 1 South
St. Augustine, FL 32086
www-grms.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8700
Sebastian Middle School
2955 Lewis Speedway
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-sms.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-3840
Pedro Menendez High School
600 State Road 206 West
St. Augustine, FL 32086
www-pmhs.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8660
St. Augustine High School
3205 Varella Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-sahs.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8530
St. Johns Technical High School
2980 Collins Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-sjths.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8500
Gaines Alternative and Transition School
1 Christopher Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
www-gats.stjohns.k12.fl.us
904-547-8560
St. Joseph Academy, High School
155 State Road 207
St. Augustine, FL 32084
sjaweb.org
904-824-0431
Victory Preparatory School, K-12
110 Masters Drive
Saint Augustine, Florida 32084
victoryprep.org
904-810-0535
Matanzas Christian Academy, K-12
4255 US Highway 1 S, Ste 18
Saint Augustine, FL
matanzasacademy.com
904-794-1623.
Navigating your way around St. Augustine and getting to know your new city
St. Augustine is a fairly small city and not too much of a difficulty to navigate successfully. There are a few concentrated areas with sights, shopping, dining, and recreation. Here’s a basic run down to jumpstart knowledge of your new home.
About Downtown
Downtown St. Augustine is an idyllic and historically rich area with a concentration that makes it easy to explore on foot or bicycle. This section of the city boasts boutique shopping, local gourmet dining, historic landmarks, entertaining live theatre, bustling museums, and an unforgettable view of the waterway. If you want to immerse yourself in the culture of the city, this is the place to start.
About Vilano Beach
Turn off of San Marco Avenue on the Historic Coastal Highway, make your way over the Vilano Bridge, and you’ll find yourself in one of St. Augustine’s premiere beach communities. Quiet Vilano Beach is mostly residential with a few delicious dining options and beach shops. There are a number of public access beaches with parking all along the stretch of A1A.
About St. Augustine Beach
Just over the Bridge of Lions and a short drive up Anastasia Boulevard rests St. Augustine Beach, a bustling oceanside community with public access beaches, dining, shopping, and a pier that hosts events throughout the year (like a farmers’ market every Wednesday morning!). Grab a towel, set your internal clock to island time, and sit back.
About Crescent Beach
Just south of St. Augustine sits a beautiful stretch of Florida coastline that hasn’t yet been dotted with excessive commercial development. Crescent Beach is a perfect destination if you want to spend a day just relaxing in the sand or enjoying some active watersports like surfing, swimming, and boating.
About Princess Place Preserve
Princess Place Preserve is a pristine 1500-acre park just south of St. Augustine Beach. Situated on the Matanzas River, the preserve offers fishing, camping, hiking, swimming, canoeing and kayaking, and a wealth of history. It’s the best of Old Florida captured for your appreciation.
For further information on establishing your new St. Augustine life, utilize the local resource that is St. Augustine Social! Explore the best places to eat. Keep up to date with local events. Plan a shopping trip. Look for a new job.
Photography by Ed Taylor
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