Where is Cosmo?

vernacular marker in Palm Springs Cemetery

Not many people are familiar with the area of Cosmo, even when it's right in their backyards (literally!)  Cosmo, now known as Fort Caroline, is located on the south side of Jacksonville.  I had not heard of Cosmo myself until I visited Palm Springs Cemetery where generations of Cosmo residents are buried.   Of course I was taken with some of the cemetery's vernacular markers:

But it is the cemetery's history that is most intriguing.  Palm Springs Cemetery is now located behind a gate, down a sandy road, and tucked between the backyard fences of two subdivisions.  Although its original community has been gobbled up by development,  Palm Springs is still the burial ground for generations of Cosmo descendants.  Cosmo was founded by freed Gullah Geechee people after the Civil War.   In the 1870/s, they migrated to Florida from the sea islands of Georgia and South Carolina. 

Fripp Plantation on St. Helena Island, S.C, 1863 (Image: Library of Congress Digital Collection)

The Gullah Geechee people are descendants of Africans who were enslaved on the rice, indigo and Sea Island cotton plantations of the lower Atlantic coast.   Most lived on the islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina.  Their isolation on outer bank islands allowed them to retain much of their African traditions.  Over time, the traditions evolved into a unique Gullah Geechee culture resulting in their own creole language, art, and cooking.

Palm Springs Cemetery tour by William Truitt

After the Civil War, the freed sea island slaves came down the St. John's River and settled in what came to be known as Cosmo.  Residents lived on farms and had their own post office, school and church.  But like the other Gullah Geechee communities along the East Coast (from Jacksonville to North Carolina), developers began to see the value of their land.   As the community became transformed by housing developments, Cosmo is now virtually unrecognizable to the few remaining descendants.

Emily Jane Murray (FPAN) talking with William Truitt and Ted Johnson (NPS, Fort Caroline)

Not much remains of Cosmo now but the cemeteries and the descendants who are working to preserve their history.  The Alexander Memorial United Methodist Church built in 1900 is the only remaining structure from the community.   Information on Cosmo's history is hard to come by but thankfully there is a historical marker in front of the church that gives the basic story:

Cosmo historical marker in front of Alexander Memorial United Methodist Church

The sign reads:

After the Civil War, freed slaves settled in an isolated area near Mill Cove on the St. Johns River. They survived by hunting, farming, mullet fishing, crabbing and harvesting oysters. In the heart of the community 40 acres of land was deeded to James Bartley on Nov. 7, 1877 by the Internal Improvement Fund - State of Florida. Land in Cosmo was also homesteaded by William Elliott (1821-1891), who is buried in the oldest grave found in the McCormick Cemetery located west of the Cosmo area on McCormick Boulevard.

“Several generations of the founding settlers are now buried in the Palm Springs Cemetery located off Fort Caroline Road in the center of the neighborhood. Old family names like Bartley, Williams, Buck, White, Demps and Cody can be found there. ..."

To learn more about Gullah Geechee history and culture visit:

Penn Center

Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor Commission

Jacksonville Gullah Geechee Nation CDC

I could only find a couple of newspaper articles on Cosmo which are listed below:


"Descendants of Slaves Work To Preserve Jacksonville Community Heritage" March 17, 2016

Remembering Cosmo: For about 100 years, families of former slaves made a life on East Arlington land,  January 18, 2015



TEXT:  Robbie Boggs, FPAN Staff
Photos:  FPAN Staff, except where noted