Jacksonville: Recreation

Sightseeing

The hub of Florida's First Coast has much to offer visitors with its theaters, museums, art galleries, riverboat cruises, beautiful fountains, outstanding musical events, and historic sites.

Jacksonville's miles of beautiful wide beach area has three main sections: Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Jacksonville Beach. The Jacksonville Beach Pier is a place known for fishing and people-watching; and artifacts, paintings, and lighthouse models are the focus at the American Lighthouse Museum in Jacksonville Beach. The beach's Seawalk Pavilion features music concerts at its 2,000-seat open air auditorium. The Pablo Historical Park, a few blocks off the beach, preserves the area's railroad history with a nineteenth-century station master's house, a railroad depot, and a 1911 steam locomotive. The nostalgic autoferry Jean Ribault carries visitors to the nearby fishing village of Mayport, home of a large commercial shrimp fleet, as well as to historic Fort George Island. Mayport Naval Air Station, one of the nation's largest navy ship facilities, is located in this charming community. Favorite beach area recreation and camping sites are the Kathryn Abbey Hanna State Park with 450 acres of picnic areas, salt and freshwater fishing, and Little Talbot Island State Park beach and campground.

Jacksonville's beautiful downtown area, which has seen more than a billion dollars in restoration, is centered around the shores of the St. Johns River. On the north bank of the river is Jacksonville Landing, a festive marketplace featuring fine dining, boutiques, and an open courtyard that frequently offers entertainment. Located at the landing is the Jacksonville Maritime Museum, which contains artifacts embracing all facets of the maritime scene from historical to technical. Across the river on the Southbank is the Riverwalk. Its wooden boardwalk, lined with shops, restaurants, and outdoor vendors, extends for more than a mile along the river, allowing visitors a wonderful view of the city's skyline. At the end of the Riverwalk is Friendship Park, the site of one of the tallest fountains in the world. Water taxis offer an enjoyable way to cross the St. Johns River.

The Jacksonville Zoological Gardens, located on the city's north side, consists of 89 acres and houses more than 1,000 animals. An African veldt (an open grazing area typical of southern Africa) has been recreated and visitors can experience it firsthand on a wood boardwalk. The Okavango Village is a replica of an African riverfront village that features a dock, wildlife exhibits, a petting zoo and a river shuttle back and forth from downtown. Tours that display all the steps of the beer-making process are available at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery. Visitors can also watch Oreo cookies and other confections move along the conveyor belt at the Peterbrooke Chocolatier production line on San Marco Boulevard. The World Golf Village is home to the World Golf Hall of Fame, a PGA Tour Academy, and an IMAX theater.

The Fort Caroline national memorial is the site of the first Protestant settlement in the United States. Established in 1564, the site overlooks the St. Johns River and includes a replica of the original fort. Located on Fort George Island, the 1792 Zephaniah Kingsley Plantation contains the remains of slave quarters. Nature walks are available at the Nature Trails at the University of North Florida, the only state university in the country located in a protected wildlife area. Self-guided and expert-guided walking tours of historical areas around the city are well worth the exploration.

Located 25 miles from the city, Fernandina Beach is a 300-year-old town that was once a haven for pirates and smugglers and today features many restored buildings and eighteenth-century homes. A half-hour south of Jacksonville by car is the nation's oldest city, St. Augustine. A walk along the recently restored St. George Street, with its authentic Spanish-Colonial homes and quaint shops, provides a view of more than 400 years of American history.

Camp Milton Historic Preserve is scheduled to be opened in September 2005. Named for Florida's Civil War governor, John Milton, the 124-acre park will feature an educational center, boardwalk, interpretive hiking trails, and a tree sanctuary.

Arts and Culture

From musical theater to contemporary drama, the arts are alive and well in Jacksonville. This is partly due to the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, which keeps the spotlight on the arts and encourages public and private partnerships to increase arts funding.

The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, one of the premier orchestras of the Southeast, offers classical performances with world-class guest artists in its more than 130 annual concerts at the Florida Theatre, the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, and in nearby communities. The Florida Community College at Jacksonville Artists Series brings top quality national and international entertainers to the Florida Theatre and to the Times-Union Center. The Alhambra Dinner Theatre, which has been producing professional Broadway style shows since 1967, features professional Equity actors.

Jacksonville's museums and galleries reflect the diverse historical and cultural interests of its residents. The Museum of Science and History features wonderful exhibits showing the history of the area, science and health demonstrations, and nature studies. An indoor playground at the museum and the adjacent Alexander Brest Planetarium bring fun to young and old alike. The Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art, on the city's south side, houses five galleries and features a collection of pre-Columbian artifacts as well as exhibits of painting, sculpture, and photography. Its adjacent outdoor sculpture garden is a famous place for picnicking. The Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, located in the restored former First Church of Christ Scientist, is one of seven in the nation that exists to display the historical manuscript collection of David and Marsha Karpeles. Surrounded by two acres of beautiful English and Italian waterfront gardens in Riverside, the Cummer Museum of Art is the largest museum in northeast Florida. Its permanent collection of more than 4,000 objects includes works from prehistoric, medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, 19th Century Impressionist, and modern art eras. The Ritz Theatre houses the LaVilla Museum, displaying a permanent collection of African American history. The Museum of Southern History features a collection of artifacts reflecting life in the southeastern United States, the Civil War, and genealogy of southern families. Other items of note are the Battle of Antietam replica, and more than 3,000 books, periodicals, military, and cultural items. Finally, the Jacksonville Maritime Museum is dedicated to artwork and large-scale models of maritime-related events and objects from the history of Jacksonville and the First Coast.

Festivals and Holidays

The Jacksonville Jazz Festival is the city's best-known annual event. This three-day celebration takes place in the spring, and draws classic and contemporary jazz and blues celebrities and includes the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. The JaxParks Family Fest, held each March, features games, entertainment, and food for the whole family. Also in the spring are the Jacksonville Film Festival; the 15K River Run; the World of Nations Celebration, which provides an opportunity to experience the food, culture, and traditions of various countries around the globe; and the Kuumba Festival, devoted to African cultures.

The Fiesta Playera dia de San Juan Bautista is an annual summertime festival paying tribute to St. John the Baptist and celebrating the customs and culture of Puerto Rico. It has been voted among the top 20 festivals in the region by the Southeast Tourism Society. The Juneteenth Celebration celebrates the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 with food, entertainment, and music. The Caribbean Carnival is held each autumn and features costumes, cuisine, and music. The Olustee Battle Festival re-enacts the 1864 Battle of Ocean Pond, a major Civil War battle, each winter.

Celebrations in Jacksonville are not limited to annual events. The First Wednesday Art Walk takes place on the first Wednesday of every month. On these days, Downtown Jacksonville is transformed into a walkable art gallery. A variety of art is displayed in dozens of historic buildings, and is accompanied by live bands, sidewalk artists, and street vendors.

Sports for the Spectator

More than 70,000 avid fans flock to watch the Jaguars of the National Football League, who play home games on Sundays from September to January at Alltel Stadium. This arena is also the site of two annual college event games: the Gator Bowl Classic and the University of Florida vs. University of Georgia contest. Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, built on the site of the former Jacksonville Coliseum in 2003, is the venue for the Jacksonville Barracudas hockey games as well as other sporting and entertainment events. Memorial Arena also houses the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame. Jacksonville's newest professional sports team is the Jade, who compete in the W League, a nationally organized women's soccer league in the United States.

Athletic enthusiasts in Jacksonville also enjoy the tennis championships organized by the Association of Tennis Professionals as well as March's Players Championship, which attracts 150,000 spectators to Sawgrass Resort, the toughest course on the Professional Golfer's Association tour. Up to 10,000 fans fill the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, a stadium constructed in 2003, to watch the Class AA Jacksonville Suns minor league team. The Kingfish off-shore fishing tournament in July draws nearly 50,000 people. The 42-mile Mug Race Regatta in May attracts both local and Olympic sailors for the longest river sailboat race in the world. Jacksonville has a year-round greyhound racing season at St. Johns Greyhound Racing Park, the Jacksonville Kennel Club, and the Orange Park Kennel Club.

Sports for the Participant

Jacksonville is home to the largest urban park system in the nation. Residents and visitors enjoy more than 82,000 acres of land that extends from the rivers to the beaches. Nearly 60 miles of free beaches avail themselves to boating, sailing, surfing, fishing, and swimming. Playgrounds, tennis courts, picnic areas, about 70 golf courses, and dozens of public pools offer more choices.

The Fort Clinch State Park, a restored Civil War fort built in 1847, has picnic grounds, beaches, and an ocean fishing pier. Adventure Landing features two miniature golf courses, batting cages, a go-cart track, an uphill water coaster, and Shipwreck Island water park. Hikers enjoy the trails at Timucuan Ecological Historic Preserve.

Shopping and Dining

Jacksonville is a shopper's delight, offering interesting shops downtown and arty shops along the beaches. Jacksonville Landing offers a festive marketplace atmosphere, with novelty and gift shops, name-brand apparel, antiques, toys, and locally made accessories along with entertainment venues. The Avenues Mall on the Southside and Regency Square in Arlington each offer more than 100 nationally known retailers. Avondale, one of the country's largest National Register of Historic Districts, is a charming place to stroll, shop, and dine. San Marco Square, in the style of St. Mark's Square in Venice, offers an open-air produce market, restaurants, and boutiques, together with a water fountain, bronze lions, and a gazebo.

Local fish camps and waterside restaurants with their fresh seafood fare add to the pleasure of dining in Jacksonville. Southern barbecue is also a tradition. A delectable selection of ethnic foods from Japanese to Greek to Indian or Tex Mex are offered by the city's many casual and upscale restaurants downtown or at suburban or beach locations.

Visitor Information: Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau, 550 Water St., Ste. 1000, Jacksonville, FL 32202; telephone (904)798-9111; toll-free (800)733-2668

Jacksonville: History

Town Founded on River Site

Historians hold that the Timucua tribe lived on the site of today's Jacksonville since before the year 2000 B.C. The first documented European visitors to the area were a group of French Huguenots, led by Rene de Laudonniere, who sailed into the mouth of the St. Johns River in 1562. They soon founded Fort Caroline (on the river north of the present downtown), which was captured by the Spanish during a bloody massacre in 1565. The Florida region became a territory of the United States in 1821, following a 300-year period of battles between Spain, France, and Great Britain. That same year Georgia plantation owner Isaiah D. Hart moved to the narrowest spot of the St. Johns River known as "Cowford," where cows were transported by ferry across the river. On this site in 1822 Hart laid out the plans for the town of Jacksonville, which he named after General Andrew Jackson, provisional governor of the Florida Territory who later became president. The small community of 100 people was chartered as a town and elected its first mayor in 1832. In 1845 Florida became a state. By 1859, when Jacksonville was chartered as a city, it had become the state's major port, exporting both timber goods and cotton.

Jacksonville During the Latter Nineteenth Century

Jacksonville was not part of the Confederacy during the time of the Civil War (1861–1865); however, both sides fought for the land and the Union Army occupied the city on four different occasions. Following the battle of Olustee, which took place in the city, wounded Union soldiers were brought to Jacksonville's homes and churches, some of which were converted to military hospitals. Union forces destroyed the city but it was quickly rebuilt.

During the second half of the nineteenth century, Jacksonville had a population of about 7,500 permanent residents and drew more than 75,000 tourists annually. Jacksonville began to grow and prosper during the 1870s with the development of its lumber and shipping industries. Like many other east Florida coastal areas, Jacksonville's beach communities became established with the development of the railway system. A group of Jacksonville businessmen united in the late 1800s to construct a rail system that ended at the beach east of town. In time deluxe hotels were built, beach property was sold, and in 1888 the first direct railroad service between the city and the North was established. That same year, 427 people were killed by a yellow fever epidemic that assailed the city.

Fire Causes Large-Scale Destruction

By 1900 the city had a population approaching 30,000 people. The new century dawned with the Great Fire of 1901 when embers from a stove ignited materials at the Cleveland Fiber Factory. Before it was extinguished, the fire had destroyed nearly 2,400 buildings, decimated 146 city blocks, killed 7 people, left 10,000 people homeless, and destroyed $15 million worth of property. Fortunately, the city was once again quickly rebuilt and the population grew to more than 91,000 people by 1920.

Briefly a Film Center; Industry Revives

Jacksonville was an important site for the early development of the film industry, and Florida's first motion picture studios opened there in 1908. The warm weather year round and the low cost of labor and housing boosted this development, which continued until the early 1920s, when the industry moved to California.

The population of Jacksonville stood at more than 173,000 people by 1940. Mayport Naval Base and two naval air stations were built in the city during the Second World War (1941–1945). Suburban sprawl during the 1950s resulted in a loss of population for the city, while the county population grew. In 1968 the city and Duval County consolidated, and Jacksonville grew in the rankings of U.S. cities by size from sixty-first to twenty-second.

In the period of the 1960s and 1970s local focus was directed toward industrial diversification and development of the city's port facilities. Redevelopment efforts transformed the downtown area, and new service industries, especially finance and insurance, were booming as the city entered the twenty-first century.

Jacksonville expanded into a new direction when it was awarded a team franchise by the National Football League in 1993. The Jacksonville Jaguars draw thousands of fans to the downtown area on a regular basis, adding lifeblood to the local businesses. This newfound football momentum sharply increased when the city hosted Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005, the smallest market ever to do so. "I hope this will be an experience that will introduce the city to the world," said Mayor John Peyton in the Los Angeles Times.

Historical Information: Jacksonville Historical Society, 317 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32202; telephone (904)665-0064; fax (904)665-0069

Jacksonville: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Duval County Public Schools, the 20th largest school system in the nation, serves about 127,500 students. The system is run by a seven-member Board of Education, who are elected for four-years terms, and who appoint the superintendent. A magnet school program permits students to choose to attend specialized schools in such areas as language, arts, or mathematics. The Duval County Public Schools enforce a mandatory uniform policy for elementary and middle school students throughout the district.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Duval County public schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.

Total enrollment: approximately 127,500

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 104

junior high/middle schools: 25

senior high schools: 17

other: 3 exceptional student centers, 5 special schools, 2 academies of technology, and 7 charter schools

Student/teacher ratio: 17:1

Teacher salaries

minimum: $31,000

maximum: $60,489

Funding per pupil: $5,672

There are 103 private schools in the Jacksonville area, with an enrollment of more than 15,000 students. Included are boarding schools and day schools, both coeducational and single sex. Many of these schools are church-related and some are for students with special needs.

Public Schools Information: Duval County Public Schools, 1701 Prudential Dr., Jacksonville, FL 32207; telephone (904)390-2126

Colleges and Universities

Nine institutions of higher learning serve the Jacksonville area. In addition, several satellite campuses, such as the Columbia College Navy Campus, established at naval bases also serve the civilian population. The University of North Florida, a state school, enrolls more than 12,000 students, and the privately run Jacksonville University has 2,100 students. The University of Florida in nearby Gainesville has 16 colleges and four schools. Florida Community College at Jacksonville has a student population of 41,000 full-time and part-time students, making it one of the largest such institutions in the country. Other higher education facilities include historically African American Edward Waters College; Jones College, specializing in business and computers; and St. Johns River and Lake City community colleges. There are five vocational/technical schools, including Florida Technical College and ITT Technical Institute.

The Florida Coastal School of Law and satellite campuses of Webster, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical, Central Michigan, Southern Illinois, and Florida A&M universities, and of St. Leo and Columbia colleges also serve Jacksonville-area students.

Libraries and Research Centers

The Jacksonville Public Libraries include the main library, 20 branches, and one bookmobile. The library has nearly 2 million volumes and subscribes to more than 2,400 periodicals. Special collections are devoted to Floridiana, music, and genealogy. There are at least 19 other libraries in the city. Some are affiliated with higher educational institutions, while others are associated with religious groups, research centers, or the U.S. Navy. Their collections focus on such areas as art, science, health care delivery, law, business, education, and liberal arts.

The Center for Local Government Administration, First Coast Technology Park, Center for Public Leadership, and the Institute of Police Technology and Management are associated with the University of North Florida. Jacksonville State University conducts research on mathematics and on business and economics.

Public Library Information: Jacksonville Public Libraries, 122 North Ocean Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202-3374; telephone (904)630-2665

Jacksonville1 City (1990 pop. 29,101), Pulaski co., central Ark., inc. 1941. The city has varied industries, including printing and publishing and the manufacture of electronic equipment, ordnance, and plastic and metal products. The Little Rock Air Force Base, primarily an airlift-training installation and located in Jacksonville, and defense-related industries are also economically important.

2 City (1990 pop. 635,230), consolidated (since 1968) with Duval co., NE Fla., on the St. Johns River near its mouth on the Atlantic Ocean; inc. 1832. The largest city in the state, it is one of the most important Southern centers of commerce, finance, and insurance on the Atlantic coast. Jacksonville is a rail, air, and highway focal point and a busy port of entry, with an international airport and ship repair yards and extensive freight-handling facilities. Lumber, phosphate, paper, and wood pulp are the principal exports; automobiles and coffee are among imports. The city also has a large and diverse manufacturing base. Jacksonville is a major East Coast center of U.S. navy operations; three important naval installations are in the area, including Jacksonville Naval Air station and the large Mayport base at the mouth of the St. Johns River.

Jacksonville has a significant retired community and is also a tourist resort, with ocean beaches, fishing and yachting facilities, and inland hunting areas. Educational facilities include Jacksonville Univ., the Univ. of North Florida, Edward Walters College, and Jones College. The city has a symphony orchestra, a jazz festival, a zoo, and museums and art galleries, and is the home of the National Football League's Jaguars and the Gator Bowl. Points of interest include the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Confederate monument in Hemming Park, and nearby Fort Caroline National Memorial (see National Parks and Monuments , table).

Settled in 1816 and named for Andrew Jackson, the first territorial governor of Florida, the city was laid out in 1822. The Seminole War and the Civil War (in which much of the city was destroyed) interrupted its growth, but with the development of a deepwater harbor and railroads in the late 19th cent., industry and commerce increased. A fire in 1901 destroyed a large part of the city; it was quickly rebuilt.

3 City (1990 pop. 19,324), seat of Morgan co., W central Ill.; laid out 1825, inc. 1867. Its industries include bookbinding and the manufacture of plastics and metal products. It is the seat of Illinois College and MacMurray College. Stephen A. Douglas and William Jennings Bryan lived there. Jacksonville was a station on the Underground Railroad.

4 City (1990 pop. 30,013), seat of Onslow co., E N.C., on the New River; settled c.1757. It is a trade center in a farm area, and produces foods and machinery. It is also a summer resort. Camp Lejeune, a U.S. marine corps training base, is adjacent to the city, and New River, a marine air station, is to the south; both installations play a major role in Jacksonville's economy. A state park is nearby.

JACKSONVILLE

JACKSONVILLE, city located on the Saint Johns River twenty miles from the Atlantic Ocean in northeast Florida. French Huguenots settled in the area in 1564 and built Fort Caroline. The Spanish took control of the area the following year, and the English followed in the late eighteenth century. In 1822, settlers laid out a town named for Andrew Jackson. The city was incorporated in 1832 and served as a base for blockade-runners during the Civil War. A fire destroyed much of the city in 1901 but it was quickly rebuilt. In 2000, Jacksonville was Florida's largest incorporated city, with a land area of 765 square miles and a population of 735,617. The population of the metropolitan area was 1,121,580. African Americans were the largest racial minority in Jacksonville—25 percent of the population. Jacksonville's consolidation with Duval County in 1968 ended much duplication of urban services and provided political access for minorities. It also kept middle-income residents as taxpayers and voters, while attracting national corporations to relocate, providing jobs and tax revenues. Crime, drugs, teenage pregnancies, school dropouts, and homelessness were serious problems for the city in the 1990s. The U.S. Navy is Jacksonville's largest employer. Banking, insurance, finance, medicine, transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and tourism are other major industries. The Jacksonville Jaguars expansion team in the National Football League began play in 1995 in an entirely new Gator Bowl. Downtown, the Jacksonville Landing and Riverwalk helped revitalize the waterfront. In 1995, a renaissance plan to include a new city hall and civic auditorium was under way, which by 2002 had resulted in a rebuilt Performing Arts Center, the Florida Theatre, and the Ritz Theatre, and had moved city hall to the St. James Building on Hemming Plaza. Historically, Jacksonville has been mainly a blue-collar city. In the 1980s, that image began to change with the establishment of new up-scale communities in Amelia Island and Ponte Verde, and the Professional Golf Association (PGA) Hall of Fame in adjacent Saint Johns County.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Martin, Richard A. A Quiet Revolution: Jacksonville-Duval County Consolidation and the Dynamics of Urban Political Reform. Jacksonville, Fla.: White Publishing, 1993.

Ward, James Robertson. Old Hickory's Town: An Illustrated History of Jacksonville. Jacksonville, Fla.: Florida Publishing, 1982.

James B.Crooks/a. g.

See alsoFrontier ; South, the: The New South ; Trading Posts .

Jacksonville: Communications

Newspapers and Magazines

Jacksonville's major daily (morning) paper is the Florida Times-Union. The Jacksonville Business Journal and the Jacksonville Daily Record are the area's business newspapers. Other weekly newspapers are the Florida Star Times, serving the black community, and the Florida Baptist Witness. Newspapers published in Jacksonville Beach include the semiweekly Beaches Leader and the weekly Sun-Times. Jacksonville Magazine is a monthly publication devoted to the city's attractions, community resources, and recreational opportunities. St. Augustine Catholic is a religious magazine published in Jacksonville.

Television and Radio

Jacksonville is served by seven television stations: six commercial and one PBS. There are 16 AM radio stations and 22 FM stations.

Media Information: Florida Times-Union, 1 Riverside Ave., PO Box 1949, Jacksonville, FL 32231; telephone (904)359-4111

Jacksonville Online

City of Jacksonville home page. Available www.coj.net

Downtown Jacksonville, Inc. Available www.downtownjacksonville.org

Duval County Public Schools. Available www.education central.org

Enterprise Florida. Available www.eflorida.com

Florida Times-Union. Available www.jacksonville.com

Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention & Visitors Bureau. Available www.jaxcvb.com

Jacksonville Historical Society. Available http://www.jaxhistory.com

Jacksonville Public Libraries. Available http://jpl.itd.ci.jax.fl.us

Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce. Available http://www.myjaxchamber.com

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Available www.mayoclinic.org/jacksonville

Selected Bibliography

Buker, George E., Jacksonville: Riverport-Seaport (Columbia, South Carolina: University of South Carolina Press, 1992)

Crooks, Arsenault, and Mormino, Jacksonville: The Consolidation Story, from Civil Rights to the Jaguars (Gainesville, Florida: University Press of Florida, 2004)

Crooks, James B., Jacksonville After the Fire, 1901-1919: A New South City (Jacksonville: University of North Florida Press, 1991)

Jacksonville Historical Society, Jacksonville in Vintage Postcards: Between the Great Fire and the Great War (Mount Pleasant, South Carolina: Arcadia Publishing, 2001)

Jacksonville: Population Profile

Metropolitan Area Residents

1980: 722,000

1990: 906,727

2000: 1,100,491

Percent change, 1990–2000: 21.3%

U.S. rank in 1980: 50th

U.S. rank in 1990: 47th

U.S. rank in 2000: 45th

City Residents

1980: 540,920

1990: 635,230

2000: 735,617

2003 estimate: 773,781

Percent change, 1990–2000: 15.8%

U.S. rank in 1980: 53rd

U.S. rank in 1990: 15th (State rank: 1st)

U.S. rank in 2000: 20th (State rank: 1st)

Density: 970.9 people per square mile (based on 2000 land area)

Racial and ethnic characteristics (2000)

White: 474,307

Black or African American: 213,514

American Indian and Alaska Native: 2,474

Asian: 20,427

Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander: 448

Hispanic or Latino (may be of any race): 30,594

Other: 9,816

Percent of residents born in state: 49.2% (2000)

Age characteristics (2000)

Population under 5 years old: 53,938

Population 5 to 9 years old: 55,679

Population 10 to 14 years old: 55,311

Population 15 to 19 years old: 51,816

Population 20 to 24 years old: 50,844

Population 25 to 34 years old: 114,352

Population 35 to 44 years old: 123,558

Population 45 to 54 years old: 96,664

Population 55 to 59 years old: 32,580

Population 60 to 64 years old: 24,960

Population 65 to 74 years old: 40,738

Population 75 to 84 years old: 26,678

Population 85 years and older: 8,499

Median age: 33.8 years

Births (Duval County, 2003)

Total number: 12,421

Deaths (Duval County, 2003)

Total number: 6,838 (of which, 130 were infants under the age of 1 year)

Money income (1999)

Per capita income: $20,337

Median household income: $40,316

Total households: 308,736

Number of households with income of . . .

less than $10,000: 27,216

$10,000 to $14,999: 16,735

$15,000 to $24,999: 38,253

$25,000 to $34,999: 40,276

$35,000 to $49,999: 52,391

$50,000 to $74,999: 57,369

$75,000 to $99,999: 26,044

$100,000 to $149,999: 17,492

$150,000 to $199,999: 4,010

$200,000 or more: 4,875

Percent of families below poverty level: 9.4% (43.9% of which were female householder families with related children under 5 years)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 51,021

Jacksonville: Introduction

Jacksonville is a cosmopolitan riverside city that is one of the largest cities in area in the United Sates. In addition to the miles of beautiful sea coastline nearby, tourists are drawn to this rapidly growing city by its sunny climate, recreational activities, culture, and a bustling downtown, as well as sites such as a restored Civil War fortress, America's oldest city (which is nearby), and the rich African American cultural heritage evident in many of its historical sites. With its variety of naval facilities that remain a major employer, Jacksonville is one of the most requested U.S. Navy duty stations.

Within comfortable driving distance from many large southeastern metro areas, Jacksonville is a major transportation and distribution center. Developments in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries attest to the success of the city's efforts to diversify and revitalize the downtown area, which had stagnated. City leaders successfully attracted new companies and retained existing businesses, and by 2004 Jacksonville was home to three Fortune 500 companies. Only 12 years after winning an NFL franchise, the Jacksonville Jaguars, the city hosted Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005.

Jacksonville consistently appears at the top of rankings in terms of quality of life and business. In March 2004 Inc. magazine named Jacksonville one of the top 10 large U.S. cities for doing business. Money magazine placed the city in the number three spot in its "Best Places to Retire" ranking in July 2004. And in the February 2005 issue of Men's Fitness, Jacksonville was ranked as one of the top 20 fittest cities in the nation.

Jacksonville

The City in Brief

Founded: 1816 (incorporated 1832)

Head Official: Mayor John Peyton (R) (since 2003)

City Population

1980: 540,920

1990: 635,230

2000: 735,617

2003 estimate: 773,781

Percent change, 1990–2000: 15.8%

U.S. rank in 1980: 53rd

U.S. rank in 1990: 15th (State rank: 1st)

U.S. rank in 2000: 20th (State rank: 1st)

Metropolitan Area Population

1980: 722,000

1990: 906,727

2000: 1,100,491

Percent change, 1990–2000: 21.3%

U.S. rank in 1980: 50th

U.S. rank in 1990: 47th

U.S. rank in 2000: 45th

Area: 758 square miles (2000)

Elevation: ranges from sea level to 71 feet

Average Annual Temperature: 68.0° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 51.3 inches

Major Economic Sectors: finance, insurance, government, manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade

Unemployment rate: 4.2% (December 2004)

Per Capita Income: $20,337 (1999)

2002 FBI Crime Index Total: 51,021

Major Colleges and Universities: University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Florida Community College at Jacksonville

Daily Newspaper: Florida Times-Union

Jacksonville: Transportation

Approaching the City

Jacksonville International Airport (JIA), only minutes from the central business district, recently expanded its passenger terminal and expects to service more than 8 million passengers annually by the year 2009. Most major airlines provide more than 230 flights in and out of the city every day. In addition to JIA, Jacksonville has two general aviation facilities, Craig Airport and Herlong Airport, which facilitate travel by private or corporate aircraft. Amtrak offers rail service.

Drivers approach Jacksonville via three major interstates that lead to the city (I-10, I-95 and I-295); U.S. Highways 1, 17, 90 and 301 also traverse the city. Beltways built around the city and main arteries linked to key locations make all parts of Jacksonville easily accessible.

Traveling in the City

The St. Johns River bisects the city and traveling across one or several bridges is commonplace. Seven bridges span the river within Duval County and the Intracoastal Waterway, and the area's many tributaries are crossed by dozens of small bridges. Local bus transportation is provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA). The Park-N-Ride service permits commuters to park in one of the JTA's outlying lots and ride the bus downtown. Community Transportation Services offers door-to-door transportation for the handicapped. The downtown area is also served by JTA's Automated Skyway Express, a monorail system.

Jacksonville: Health Care

Jacksonville's health care system has an approximately $2.5 billion annual impact on the local economy. There are more than 2,300 physicians in the area, 19 clinics, and 5 major general hospitals: University Medical Center, Baptist Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Vincent's Medical Center, and Columbia Memorial Hospital.

Jacksonville is home to a branch of the renowned Mayo Clinic, which provides medical diagnosis, treatment, and surgery in more than 50 specialties. Opened in 1986, the Jacksonville facility was the first extension of Mayo Clinic of Rochester, Minnesota. Between 1986 and 2003, its 316 staff physicians and scientists treated approximately 665,000 patients. In 2002 the clinic opened the doors of the Griffin Cancer Research Building, its first facility devoted primarily to cancer research. Patients of the Mayo Clinic who need hospitalization are admitted to nearby St. Luke's Hospital, a 289-bed facility that affiliated with Mayo Clinic in 1987.

Also affiliated with the Mayo Clinic of Jacksonville is the Nemours Children's Clinic, an ambulatory care center that provides subspecialty services for children with complex medical or surgical problems. Sixty pediatric specialists treat 38,000 children each year. The clinic, located on south bank of the St. Johns River, is connected to the Wolfson Children's Hospital.

Jacksonville: Convention Facilities

The Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, formerly the Jacksonville Railroad Terminal, is the largest convention facility in the region. It offers a 78,500 square foot exhibit hall in an architecturally interesting setting, with an additional 22 function rooms. The 1919 Neoclassical Revival railway terminal boasts a fully restored 10,000-square-foot ballroom (the Grand Lobby) and 22 meeting rooms. The convention center is connected to a nearby hotel by the Automated Skyway Express. The refurbished Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts includes 22,000 square feet of meeting space with a 3,200-seat concert theater, a 600-seat theater, and a new 1,800-seat symphony hall. The refurbished Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum multipurpose facility accommodates 10,000 people for meetings. Other meeting facilities are the restored Florida Theater, Conference Center at the Avenues, and the University Center at the University of North Florida, a 95,000 square foot, full-service conference and meeting facility.

Convention Information: Jacksonville and the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau, 550 Water St., Ste. 1000, Jacksonville, FL 32202; telephone (904)798-9111; toll-free (800)733-2668

Jacksonville: Municipal Government

The city of Jacksonville and Duval County voted in 1968 to establish a consolidated government designed to use all community resources in solving problems that affect the entire county area. The city's strong-mayor form of government is divided into 14 districts of nearly equal population, each of which is represented by a council member. Five additional council members represent the entire community as a whole. These 19 council members are the legislative body of Jacksonville, and are elected to four-year terms.

Head Official: Mayor John Peyton (R) (since 2003; current term expires June 2007)

Total Number of City Employees: 8,019 (2004)

City Information: City of Jacksonville, 117 W. Duval St., Jacksonville, FL 32202; telephone (904)630-CITY

Jacksonville: Geography and Climate

Jacksonville is located in the northeast corner of Florida on the banks of the St. Johns River, adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. The city has four distinct seasons: cool in spring and fall, mild in winter, and warm in summer with plenty of sunshine year round. There was only one serious hurricane in the twentieth century (Hurricane Dora in 1964) as natural phenomena form a weather shield for the area.

Area: 758 square miles (2000)

Elevation: Ranges from sea level to 71 feet

Average Temperatures: January, 53.5° F; July 81° F; annual average, 68.0° F

Average Annual Precipitation: 51.3 inches

Jacksonville Seaport on St John's River, ne Florida, USA. The largest city in the state, it served as a Confederate base during the Civil War, and developed as a port in the 19th century. Fire devastated the city in 1901. Industries: cigars, fruit canning, wood products. Pop. (2000) 735,617.

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