"Neptune Beach is a city in Duval County, Florida, United States. When the majority of communities in Duval County consolidated with Jacksonville, Florida in 1968, Neptune Beach, along with Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Baldwin, Florida, remained quasi-independent. Like the other towns, it maintains its own municipal government but its residents vote in the Jacksonville mayoral election and have representation on the Jacksonville city council. The population was 7,270 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 7,120.[1]
Neptune Beach was part of Jacksonville Beach until 1931 when residents voted to secede and incorporate as their own town. The name "Neptune Beach" was first applied to the area in 1922 when one of the few residents built his own train station, "Neptune", requiring the train to stop and take him to Mayport each day. Neptune Beach is part of the Jacksonville Beaches community." "Neptune Beach, Florida." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 30 May 2006, 19:13 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 23 Sep 2006 Neptune Beach @ Wikipedia.org
The City of Neptune Beach is a community of 7,500 residents located in Duval County on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Intracoastal Waterway on the west. The primary focus of the community is to protect the residential nature of the City and to maintain its high quality of life through strict growth management standards. Neptune Beach comprises approximately 2.5 square miles and is bounded by the City of Atlantic Beach to the north and the City of Jacksonville Beach to the south.
The name Neptune Beach has origins dating back to the year 1922 when Dan Wheeler built his own train station next to his home and named it Neptune. Mr. Wheeler had been informed that if he were to build a station, the train would be required to stop. The construction of the station eliminated his walking to Mayport in order to take the train to work in Jacksonville. The station was located where the Sea Turtle Inn is now located.
The area remained a part of Jacksonville Beach until the tax revolt of 1931, when on August 11, the residents of Neptune voted 113 to 31 to secede from Jacksonville Beach and incorporate the City of Neptune Beach.
The City operates under a City Manager-Council form of government. Residents elect a Mayor and four additional City Councilors which make up the City Council. The Council is responsible for enacting ordinances and resolutions which govern the City. The mayor presides over the council meetings. The City Council appoints a City Manager who serves as the chief executive officer and is charged with the enforcement of all ordinances and resolutions passed by the City Council. The Chief of Police, Public Services Director and Finance Director are appointed by the City Manager.