FLEMING ISLAND, FLORIDA

It is surrounded by the St. Johns River on its east side, Doctors Lake and Swimming Pen Creek on its north and west side, and Black Creek and wetland marshes on its southwest side.

The marshes touch the mainland so this erases the actual island status, but it is certainly "almost" an island. There is no doubt the first settlers considered it an island.

The population of the unincorporated community of Fleming Island is 29,864. 

Access to the island is on US-17 by bridges on the north and south tips of the island, and by County Road 220 from the west via a bridge across Swimming Pen Creek at the south end of Doctors Lake.

Fleming Island was originally settled by George Fleming, an immigrant from Ireland who lived in St. Augustine when Florida was still owned by Spain.

While in St. Augustine he helped defend the city and later in 1790 received a grant of 1,000 acres on what is now Fleming Island from the Spanish Governor of East Florida for his military service.

He married Sophia Fatio, daughter of Francis Philip Fatio who owned the 10,000 acre New Switzerland Plantation across the river from Fleming Island.

They were married in 1791 and soon after established a plantation on Fleming Island named "Hibernia" after the classical Latin name for Ireland.

After his death in 1821 the plantation was left to his son, Col. Lewis Michael Fleming.

Col. Fleming was married twice and fathered 10 children.  He had been severly wounded in the Seminole War and suffered a permanent limp as a result. He died in 1862.

The Union forces attacked the plantation and did some damage during the U.S. Civil War. His widow converted the war damaged plantation house into a tourist destination named the Hibernia Winter Resort.

The Fleming family became prominent in Florida. Col. Lewis Fleming's son, Francis Phillip Fleming, grew up on Hibernia Plantation and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War.

He served under four generals:  John Magruder, Joseph Johnston, John Bell Hood, and Robert E. Lee.  

Former Confederate veterans were very popular in Florida after the Civil War and many ran for office, including Mr. Fleming. He did so successfully and became Florida's 15th governor.  

A U.S. post office was built in Hibernia in 1849.  Hibernia endured a couple of name changes over the next few  years, but became Hibernia again in 1866. 

The post office finally closed in 1931 and mail went to Green Cove Springs about 7 miles south.

The drag racing venue drew some of the biggest names in the racing world, including Big Daddy Don Garlits. The dragway closed in the 1970s.

By the early 2000s all evidence of the airfield and dragway disappeared under the blades of bulldozers preparing the area for new developments. 

The airfield and dragway are remembered today by Thunderbolt Road and Thunderbolt Elementary School. The original name inspiration probably came from the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter plane.

Hibernia is still a place name on Florida and U.S. maps and many homes and buildings from the early days remain in the area. 

Most of Fleming Island - other than the small original Hibernia section - has been developed into upscale residential subdivisions. 

Realtor.com says the median listing price in 2026 for homes in these neighborhoods is $478,000.

One of the largest communities is Fleming Island Plantation.

It's a planned development on over 1,600 acres with many self contained amenties including a golf course, and tennis, basketball and volleyball courts.

It includes nearby Village Square with restaurants, shops, offices, medical facilities, library, and a YMCA facility.

Another even larger planned community is Eagle Harbor, a 3,000 acre family-friendly golf community.

Its amenities center includes a 185,000 gallon super swimming pool with a winding 110 foot water slide, diving boards, wading pools, beach area, and volleyball pit.

These major communities are on the west side of US-17.  There are also many homes in older established neighborhoods on the east side of the highway.

An example is Margaret's Walk, an upscale gated community on the very south end of Fleming Island. It has many large homes fronting the St. Johns River.

There are also many nice neighborhoods north of Margaret's Walk on the east side of US-17 between the highway and river all the way north to Doctors Inlet.

Among these established neighborhoods on the east side of US-17 is the original Hibernia.  An interesting church and adjacent cemetery are in this area.

St. Margarets Episcopal Church is an example of Florida Carpenter Gothic Churches written about on our website.

Several members of the Fleming family are buried in the St. Margaret's cemetery adjacent to the church. The graves include that of Col. Lewis Michael Fleming.

Also in this area is Holly Cottage, the only surviving building from the Hibernia Winter Resort.  It was built around 1897-1898 by Clement Acton Grisom as a private retreat while he and his wife stayed at the resort.

Mr. Grison was one of the owners of the White Star Line  that owned the unfortunate ocean liner Titanic. 

Grison died shortly after the Titanic sank in 1912, and the property was then acquired by the Fleming family.

Today the Holly Cottage is a private residence located on more than 4 acres with river views. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010 and is located at 6935 Old Church Road.

The last time I visted Fleming Island the property was for sale at a price of $2,000,000.  I believe the property sold in early 2025 at the asking price, but you can still see the listing here including 66 photos at Zillow as of July 18, 2026. 

This area is also home to the Hibernia Plantation development on the St. Johns River.  It is older than the communities on the west side of US-17 and has many homes that were built in the late 1980s and more recently.

Fleming Island is an interesting combination of modern upscale neighborhoods with enough original features to remind its residents of the island's early history.

A look at Realtor.com in 2026 shows quite a range of housing surrounding that median listing price of $478,000. 

There is a small condominium listed for $150,000 and a 6 bedroom 5.5 bath home listed for $2,200,000.

Doctors Lake Park
2399 Lakeshore Drive North, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Phone: (904) 284-6378
This serene waterfront park on Doctors Lake features a 320-foot fishing pier, covered picnic pavilion, kayak/paddleboard access and rentals, and scenic views. Perfect for fishing, picnicking, birdwatching, or a relaxing day by the water with family.

Black Creek Park and Trail
7890 Highway 17, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Phone: (904) 284-6378 (Clay County Parks)
An 8-mile paved multi-use trail ideal for walking, biking, or jogging that runs parallel to US-17. There are trailheads at Black Creek Park, Thunderbolt Park and Camp Chowenawaw Park.

Moccasin Slough Park
4393 Raggedy Point Road, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Phone: (904) 284-6378
A 255-acre family-friendly park with playgrounds (including a merry-go-round), fitness stations along trails, picnic areas, boat ramp, fishing pier, and short walking paths through natural areas for birdwatching and open play space.

The Island Theater
1860 Town Hall Circle, Suite 54, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Phone: (904) 254-1455
A vibrant community theater offering live musicals, plays, improv, and youth programs in an intimate venue. Great for catching performances, workshops, or family-friendly shows that showcase local talent.

Eagle Harbor Waterfront Park
1685 Lakeshore Drive North, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Phone: (904) 621-8362
A resort-style park with pools, waterfront access, picnic areas, and scenic views along the St. Johns River area. Ideal for swimming, relaxing by the water, or enjoying community events in a planned neighborhood setting (public access varies; check for hours).

St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church and Cemetery
6874 Old Church Road (or 6865 Pine Ave), Fleming Island, FL 32003
Phone: (904) 284-3030
A historic Carpenter Gothic wooden church (built 1875–1878, listed on the National Register) with a peaceful cemetery featuring graves of notable early settlers including the Flemings. Visit for history, architecture, and quiet reflection.

Fleming Island Town Center
Around 1605 County Road 220 / Town Center Blvd, Fleming Island, FL 32003
Explore shopping plazas with boutiques, casual dining (wood-fired pizza, seafood), and local vibes. Combine with nearby parks for a relaxed afternoon of browsing, eating, and people-watching in the community hub.

There are quite a few water oriented facilities in Fleming Island both on the St. Johns River and Doctors Lake. 

Black Creek is a well known canoe and kayaking paradise. The Fleming Island marina is a modern operation on the river at the US-17 bridge over Doctors Inlet.

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