European discovery

Ponte Vedra Beach may have been first sighted by Juan Ponce de Leon on his search for the Fountain of Youth in 1513. Since Leon's precise landfall is unknown, this claim may be made by most communities on the east coast of Florida.

Previous name

In 1916 the community was known as Mineral City, and titanium (ilmenite) extraction was significant, as well as that of zircon and rutile.^[2] These minerals were recovered from beach sands by the commercial firm of the National Lead Company, under the leadership of Henry Holland Buckman and George A. Pritchard. During the First World War titanium was a component of poison gas, and therefore a strategic mineral. The golf courses created for recreational purposes by their company became the root of the present golf industry.

Current name

The present name of the place appears to be in honor of the city of Pontevedra (Ponte Vedra), capital city of the province of the same name in the region (province) of Galicia in Spain. In the Galician language (one of the four official languages of Spain, which language in fact more nearly resembles the Portuguese language), Ponte Vedra means "Pontus Veteri" (think "veteran pont". The Santa Maria, flagship of Christopher Columbus's 1492 voyage of discovery, was built in that town. http://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pontevedra

Submarines and saboteurs

During World War II the German submarine U-584 debarked four saboteurs at Ponte Vedra as part of the failed Operation Pastorius. The four German spies, all of whom had previously lived in the United States, came ashore on the night of June 16, 1942 carrying explosives and American money.^[3][4] After landing they strolled down the beach to Jacksonville Beach, where they caught a city bus to Jacksonville and departed by train for Cincinnati. The invaders were captured before they could do any damage. They were tried by a military tribunal and executed.^[5]

Ponte Vedra Beach is also the site of the Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve, a large nature preserve that includes miles of protected beaches, wetlands, and near-pristine woods.

Population:  29,500 - Average Household Size: 2.3 - Average New Home Value (excl. land): $269,148 - Mean Temperature: 70F - Average Rainfall: 50 inches - Median Age 40.9 years - Average Household Income:  $114,405

Ponte Vedra Beach was 50th on the list of 100 finalists for CNN and Money Magazine's 2005 List of the Best Places to Live. It was the first place in Florida to be named in that year and one of only four areas in the state to make the cut.

Famous athletes/celebrities from/residing in Ponte Vedra:

• Ron Duguay, former hockey player and coach
• Ben Nowland, Auburn University, center
• Fred Funk, professional golfer
• Len Mattiace, professional golfer
• David Duval, professional golfer
• Vijay Singh, professional golfer
• Jim Furyk, professional golfer
• Matt Kuchar, professional golfer
• Frank Lickliter, professional golfer
• Terry Jaymes, morning radio show host
• Todd Martin, professional tennis player
• Mark Brunell, quarterback, Washington Redskins
• Connie Fletcher, actress, All My Children
• Kim Alexis, supermodel
• Nancy Soderberg, Member of the former Clinton Administration
• Donna Orender, President of the WNBA
• Tony Boselli, former professional football player
• Christian Laettner, former pro basketball player
• Rick Rhoden, former professional baseball player, professional golfer
• Billy Kratzert, former professional golfer, golf commentator
• Bob Wenzel, former college baskteball coach, CBS college basketball commentator
• Mark McCumber, professional golfer
• Tim Finchem, Commissioner, PGA Tour

E L I Z A B E T H   H U D G I N S    9 0 4 . 5 5 3 . 2 0 3 2