San Jose in Jacksonville in Duval County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Kings Road - Florida’s First Highway

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 4, 2025

1. The Kings Road ~ Florida’s First Highway Marker

Inscription. From earliest times Indian trails threaded throughout Florida following ridges, beaches and river banks. Many of these trails were used by Spanish explorers and by pioneers. Early in England's 20-year ownership of Florida, 1763-1783, the Kings Road was built along old trails from St. Augustine to the St. Marys River and connected with other British roads in Georgia. Southward the road extended to New Smyrna. This British road was the first highway in Florida for unlike early trails, it was wide enough for wagons. A graded road with a ferry crossing at the Cow Ford on the St. Johns River, the Kings Road bisects the city today, approximating the route of U.S. Highway 1.

Erected 1975 by Jacksonville Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1763.

Location. 30° 14.753′ N, 81° 36.962′ W. Marker is in Jacksonville, Florida, in Duval County. It is in San Jose. It is at the intersection of Old Kings Road South and Hernando Road, on the right when traveling north

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on Old Kings Road South. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7373 Old Kings Rd S, Jacksonville FL 32217, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Florida’s First Coast.

It is also in the American South

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: San Jose Country Club (approx. 0.6 miles away); San Jose Estates Administrative Building (approx. 0.6 miles away); Old Philips Congregational Church (approx. 3.6 miles away); Philips ~ Craig Swamp Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); St. Nicholas Cemetery (approx. 3.8 miles away); Oriental Gardens (approx. 3.8 miles away); Douglas Anderson School (approx. 4 miles away); Millers Creek (approx. 4.2 miles away).

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 4, 2025

2. The Kings Road ~ Florida’s First Highway Marker

Touch for a list and map of all markers in Jacksonville.

More about this marker. After more than thirty years of being stored in a backyard of a nearby neighbor, this marker was restored and re-erected on June 4, 2025.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, June 4, 2025

3. The Kings Road ~ Florida’s First Highway Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 30, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 4, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 487 times since then and 162 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 4, 2025, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.