Butler Beach, Florida

Path to the beach cut through the sand dunes at Frank B. Butler State Park, c. 1960

Cars pack the parking area at Butler Beach

Butler Beach, Florida
CDP
Location in St. Johns County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 29°48′1″N81°15′48″W / 29.80028°N 81.26333°W / 29.80028; -81.26333
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	St. Johns
Area [1]
• Total	2.66 sq mi (6.88 km2)
• Land	2.54 sq mi (6.59 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation	3 ft (1 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	4,978 [2]
• Density	1,956.76/sq mi (755.58/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
FIPS code	12-09630 [2]
GNIS feature ID	1867122 [3]

Butler Beach is a census-designated place (CDP) in St. Johns County, Florida, United States. The population was 4,978 at the time of the 2020 United States Census, up from 4,951 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Jacksonville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. Established by Frank B. Butler, ^[4] who had been successful operating a grocery store and became a political activist, it was a resort for African Americans. ^[5] The Lincolnville businessman bought land in the area between the Atlantic Ocean and the Matanzas River, and offered beach access to African Americans. It was the only beach open to them between Jacksonville and Daytona Beach. ^[6]

Geography

Beach-goers assembled for a group portrait by the bath house at Butler Beach

Butler Beach is located at 29°48′1″N81°15′48″W / 29.80028°N 81.26333°W / 29.80028; -81.26333 (29.800353, -81.263425). ^[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.5 square miles (6.5 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1990	3,377		—
2000	4,436		31.4%
2010	4,951		11.6%
2020	4,978		0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]

As of the census ^[9] of 2000, there were 4,436 people, 2,152 households, and 1,385 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,783.0 inhabitants per square mile (688.4/km²). There were 3,694 housing units at an average density of 1,484.8 per square mile (573.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 97.97% White, 0.29% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.41% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.49% of the population.

There were 2,152 households, out of which 13.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.06 and the average family size was 2.47.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 12.1% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 19.6% from 25 to 44, 34.4% from 45 to 64, and 29.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 54 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $46,319, and the median income for a family was $61,850. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $31,399 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $31,193. About 4.2% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.2% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

Education

It is in the St. Johns County School District. ^[10] Zoned schools include W. D. Hartley Elementary School, ^[11] Gamble Rogers Middle School, ^[12] and Pedro Menendez High School. ^[13]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved April 22, 2022.
3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "Frank B. Butler - St Augustine Historical Society". February 24, 2020.
5. Robertson, Ashley N. (2015). Mary Mcleod Bethune in Florida: Bringing Social Justice to the Sunshine State. Arcadia Publishing. p. 67. ISBN   978-1-62619-983-5.
6. "The Florida Black Heritage Trail".
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.
9. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
10. "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Butler Beach CDP, FL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved August 1, 2022. - Compare to the school zone maps.
11. "St. Johns County Elementary School Attendance Zones 2021 - 2022 W. D. Hartley Elementary School" (PDF). St. Johns County School District. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021. - See index of maps
12. "St. Johns County Middle School Attendance Zones 2021 - 2022 Gamble Rogers Middle School" (PDF). St. Johns County School District. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021. - See index of maps
13. "St. Johns County High School Attendance Zones 2021 - 2022 Pedro Menendez High School" (PDF). St. Johns County School District. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021. - See index of maps