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St. Augustine, FL

Frequently asked questions

St. Augustine, FL

St. Augustine is a city in and the county seat of St. Johns County located 40 miles (64 km) south of downtown Jacksonville. The town is on the Atlantic coast of northeastern Florida. Founded in 1565 by Spanish explorers, it is the oldest continuously inhabited European-established settlement in the contiguous United States.

St. Augustine was founded on September 8, 1565, by Spanish admiral Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, Florida's first governor. He named the settlement San Agustín, for his ships bearing settlers, troops, and supplies from Spain had first sighted land in Florida eleven days earlier on August 28, the feast day of St. Augustine. The city served as the capital of Spanish Florida for over 200 years. It was designated as the capital of British East Florida when the colony was established in 1763; Great Britain returned Florida to Spain in 1783.

Spain ceded Florida to the United States in 1819. St. Augustine was designated one of the two alternating capitals of the Florida Territory, the other being Pensacola, upon ratifying the Adams–Onís Treaty in 1821. The Florida National Guard made the city its headquarters that same year. The territorial government moved and made Tallahassee the permanent capital of Florida in 1824.

St. Augustine is part of Florida's First Coast region and the Jacksonville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. It had a population of 14,329 at the 2020 census, up from 12,975 at the 2010 census. Since the late 19th century, St. Augustine's distinctive historical character has made the city a tourist attraction. Castillo de San Marcos, the city's 17th-century Spanish fort—constructed out of the sedimentary rock coquina—continues to attract tourists. St. George Street is a major pedestrian street that runs through the downtown area and includes over 30 historic houses and tourist attractions.

St. Augustine is located at 29°53′41″N 81°18′52″W (29.8946910, −81.3145170). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.7 square miles (27.8 km²), 8.4 square miles (21.7 km²) of which is land and 2.4 square miles (6.1 km²) (21.99%) is water. Access to the Atlantic Ocean is via the St. Augustine Inlet of the Matanzas River.

Health and wellness are integral to the lifestyle of St. Augustine's residents and visitors alike. Physiotherapy Associates (now ATI Physical Therapy) is providing individualized rehabilitation programs, sports performance enhancement, work injury prevention, and wellness services. HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers specializes in physical therapy for balance and vestibular disorders, orthopedic conditions, chronic pain management, and pre/post-surgical rehabilitation. NovaCare Rehabilitation is offering physical therapy services for sports injuries, orthopedic conditions, post-stroke rehabilitation, pediatric therapy, and women's health. Orthopedic Center of Florida provides orthopedic-focused physical therapy, including joint replacement rehabilitation, spine therapy, sports medicine, and hand therapy.

Top sites in St. Augustine, FL are Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum, and Lightner Museum.

Population: 15,596 (2023). ZIP code: 32084. Area codes: 904, 324. Elevation:0 ft (0 m). Area: 10.69 square miles (27.7 km²).

FAQs

What is special about St. Augustine, FL?

Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the United States. Forty-two years before the English colonized Jamestown and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, the Spanish established at St. Augustine this nation's first enduring settlement. The architectural legacy of the city's past is much younger, testimony to the impermanent quality of the earliest structures and St. Augustine's troubled history.

How expensive is St. Augustine, FL?

Augustine's housing expenses are 26% higher than the national average and the utility prices are 5% higher than the national average. Transportation expenses like bus fares and gas prices are 17% lower than the national average. St. Augustine has grocery prices that are 2% lower than the national average.

What is the best month to go to St. Augustine, FL?

The best time to visit St. Augustine is between March and May. During this time, you'll find fewer people, comfortable temperatures, and low hotel and airfare rates. Crowds are typically at their largest from June to August, while temperatures can drop into the 40s between December and February.

Sources

City of St. Augustine

Wikipedia

Travelusnews

Payscale

Citystaug

Physiotherapy Associates (now ATI Physical Therapy)

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital

Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers

NovaCare Rehabilitation

Orthopedic Center of Florida

Castillo de San Marcos National Monument

St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum

Lightner Museum 

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.