It was sometimes referred to as the "Coney Island of the West". The popsicle was first sold to the public at Neptune Beach in 1923. The park closed down in 1939.

The Alameda Works Shipyard was one of the largest and best-equipped shipyards in the country. Together with other industrial facilities, it became part of the defense industry buildup before and during World War II, which attracted many migrants from other parts of the United States