Hastings is an unincorporated census-designated place and agricultural center in St. Johns County, Florida, United States, southwest of St. Augustine. It was formerly an incorporated town, but it was dissolved in 2018 after a vote by residents. Its population was 1,262 at the 2020 census, up from 580 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Jacksonville, Florida metropolitan statistical area.

History

Henry Morrison Flagler built tourist hotels at St. Augustine in the late 19th century, including the Ponce de León Hotel. He needed a local source of fresh vegetables for his guests, so he persuaded Thomas Horace Hastings, his cousin, to develop a farm. A small community evolved into a town, which was named for its founder in 1890. Hastings is known as the "Potato Capital of Florida", with of potato farms, but it also produces cabbage, onions, eggplant, and ornamental horticulture.

Hastings in 1910 was a thriving town that was a stop on the Florida East Coast Railway. The population of approximately 1,200 people supported several general stores, a bakery, drug stores, meat markets, an ice plant, and cold storage.

In addition to farming, two companies manufactured barrels and a gristmill ground grain.

A bank and a hotel, three doctors, and a dentist were available. The town had water and sewer utilities and telephone and telegraph service. The local public school was good. The former FEC line is now part of the Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail, and a trailhead can be found in the community within the Cora C. Harrison Preserve.

On November 7, 2017, the voters of Hastings elected to dissolve the city with an 82% majority vote. St. Johns County officially took control of the area on March 1, 2018. The United States Census Bureau designated Hastings as a census-designated place in the 2020 census.

Demographics

As of the 2000 census,

Zoned schools include South Woods Elementary School, Gamble Rogers Middle School, and Pedro Menendez High School.

The Hastings High School was built in 1924 to provide education for the children of the farmers in the southwest corner of the county. In 1985 it closed, and the Hastings Branch of the St. Johns County Public Library is located in this building.

The only public school in the town after 2005 was the Hastings Youth Academy, an alternative school.

St. Johns County Public Library has a library in the former school.

Notable people

  • Derrick Ramsey (born 1956), Kentucky secretary of education and workforce development and former NFL player
  • Ron Waller, American football player

References

  • Hastings former town website