Jacksonville

Jacksonville, Florida 

Jacksonville, Florida's "First Coast" region's hub and the county seat of Duval County since 1822, is located in northeastern Florida. About 25 miles (40 km) south of the Georgia border, it is located along the St. Johns River close to where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Jacksonville merged with the majority of Duval county in 1968, making it one of the largest cities in the country (841 square miles [2,178 square km]). One of the most populated urban areas in the state is centered on the city. 

The Timucua peoples were the first to live in the area. The first European (French Huguenot) settlement in Florida, which was located where Fort Caroline National Memorial now stands, was destroyed by the Spanish conquistador Pedro Menéndez de Avilés in 1565. The area was first called Wacca Pilatka, which was later understood as Cowford during the English era. Wacca Pilatka is a Timucua phrase that means "cows' crossing" (1763–83). After Florida was purchased from Spain by the United States in 1822, the townsite was established and given the name Andrew Jackson in honor of the short-lived governor of the newly acquired territory. The city saw the development of industries like timber mills, but the Seminole Wars hindered its development. During the American Civil War, Union troops captured the city four times. In spite of a yellow fever epidemic (1888) and extensive fire damage, it evolved throughout the Reconstruction period into a winter resort and grew its industry (1901). Many German U-boat operations took place in the waters surrounding Jacksonville during World War II, including the sinking of a tanker and a brief invasion by German saboteurs in 1942. During the Persian Gulf War, the city's military port was the busiest in the country (1990–91). 

Jacksonville serves as the state's primary transportation and commercial hub and is a significant deepwater port of entry. Motor vehicles are one of the most significant goods transported through this vital wholesale distribution hub for the Southeast of the United States. The city serves as the central center for the regional rail and road networks, and its 1968-completed international airport is one of the busiest in the nation. Services like banking, insurance, and health care are also important to Jacksonville's economy, as are jobs at the two U.S. naval air installations nearby. Contact lenses and paper products are examples of manufactured goods; shipbuilding, fishing, and tourism are also significant industries. 

Sport fishing is a well-liked tourist activity in the nearby coastal villages of Mayport, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, and Ponte Vedra Beach. The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville Zoological Gardens, and Museum of Science and History are a few of the city's cultural institutions. A reconstructed plantation house and slave huts can be found at Kingsley Plantation on Fort George Island. The Jaguars are the local city's National Football League team. State parks on Big Talbot Island and Little Talbot Island are close by. Just north of the St. Johns River, the 72 square miles (185 square km) Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve, founded in 1988, protects a region of coastal wetlands, while Guana River State Park is to the south along the coast. Educational institutions include Jones College (1918), the Health Science Center of the University of Florida, Jacksonville University (1934), Florida Community College at Jacksonville (1966), Edward Waters College (1866), and University of North Florida (1965). Pop. (2010) 821,784; Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, 1,345,596; (2020) 949,611; Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, 1,605,848. Inc. 1832. 

Climate 

Jacksonville has a humid subtropical climate, which has hot, humid summers and mild to mild and dry winters, according to the Köppen climatic classification. While the driest months are from November through April, seasonal rainfall is concentrated in the warmest months from May through September, when brief but heavy downpours with thunder and lightning are frequent. 52 inches (1.3 meters) of rain fall on average per year. 

From 54.2 °F (12.3 °C) in January to 82.5 °F (28.1 °C) in July, the average monthly high temperature ranges from 65.5 to 91.9 °F (18.6 to 33.3 °C) all year long. 

Only 10 to 15 nights per year, on average, in Jacksonville are generally at or below freezing. Usually, such cold spells are brief. On January 21, 1985, Jacksonville International Airport's lowest temperature of 7 °F (14 °C) was recorded. Since 1911, Jacksonville has experienced three days with measurable snowfall, with the most recent one inch (2.5 cm) of snowfall and flurries occurring in December 1989 and 2010. 

Since 1871, just one hurricane has directly impacted Jacksonville. Direct hits are uncommon, which is explained by chance. However, due to storms that crossed the state from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, or that passed to the north or south in the Atlantic and brushed through the area, the city has encountered hurricane or near-hurricane conditions more than a dozen times. The only storm to hit the First Coast with sustained hurricane-force winds was Hurricane Dora in 1964, which had the most impact on Jacksonville. On the Saffir-Simpson Scale, the eye of the storm crossed St. Augustine with winds that had just just slowed to 110 mph (180 km/h). In 1979, Hurricane David brought winds of around 95 mph (150 km/h) as it passed 40 miles (64 km) offshore. In 1999, Hurricane Floyd mostly impacted Jacksonville Beach; the pier there was extensively damaged and later destroyed. 

In 2004, Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Jeanne, which made landfall south of the city, flooded Jacksonville. Tropical Storm Bonnie, which produced a tiny tornado, also caused some minor damage. The 2008 Tropical Storm Fay, which crisscrossed the state and caused four days of darkness in certain areas of Jacksonville, also caused damage. The Jacksonville Beach pier, which was rebuilt after Floyd, was damaged by Fay but not completely destroyed. On May 28, 2012, Tropical Storm Beryl made landfall close to Jacksonville Beach and brought winds of high to 70 mph (110 km/h) to Jacksonville. With gusts of 110 mph, Hurricane Matthew passed 37 miles (60 km) to the east. 250,000 people lost electricity as a result of the storm, which also caused widespread flooding of the St. Johns River and Atlantic Ocean. With gusts of 65 mph (100 km/h), Hurricane Irma in 2017 passed 75 miles (121 km) to the west. It broke the flood record set by Hurricane Dora in 1964 due to its strong storm surge and floods. 

Economy 

The St. Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean's proximity to Jacksonville were crucial to the development of the city and its economy. Jacksonville is the state's top transportation and distribution hub and a leading port for the importation of automobiles in the United States because to its enormous deepwater port. The city's economy is strong because to its wide economic diversification. Dairies, which previously dominated the local economy and included Gustafson's Farm and Skinner Dairy, are no longer as successful as they once were. Distribution, financial services, biomedical technology, consumer products, information services, manufacturing, insurance, and other businesses all play a significant role in the region's economy. 

Four Fortune 500 firms, including CSX Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, Fidelity National Information Services, and Southeastern Grocers, have their corporate offices in Jacksonville. The Home Depot is the owner of the Jacksonville-based Interline Brands. Florida Blue, Swisher International Group, BOA Merrill Lynch, Fanatics, Crowley Maritime, Web.com, Firehouse Subs, and Deutsche Bank are among other famous businesses with significant presences in or based in Jacksonville. More than 25,000 people work at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville, which is southwest of the city center. 

In 2008, Jacksonville received 2.8 million overnight tourists who spent close to $1 billion there. The significance of tourism was estimated by Research Data Services of Tampa. The $1.6 billion cumulative economic impact supported roughly 43,000 jobs, or 10% of the local labor force. 

Culture 

Numerous annual events of all kinds take place all year long in Jacksonville. Since March 1977, the annual Gate River Run has been held as a sporting event. [157] With approximately 13,000 participants, spectators, and volunteers, it is the largest race of its distance in the nation and the greatest sporting event in Jacksonville. It has been the US National 15 kilometers (9.3 km) road racing Championship since 1994. [158] The Gator Bowl for college football takes place on January 1. The event has been ongoing since 1946. The annual college football game between the rival Florida Gators and Georgia Bulldogs, sometimes referred to as the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party," has been played in Jacksonville virtually every year since 1933. The Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament is conducted in July for six days and is open to all levels of fishermen. Up to 1000 boats compete, and there are $500,000 in prizes up for grabs. Nearly 30,000 people watch. The largest Gay Pride parade in Northeast Florida, River City Pride, is held in Jacksonville. In Jacksonville's Riverside neighborhood, the parade and related activities typically take place over the course of a weekend, typically the first or second Saturday in October. In 1978, the first pride parade took place. 

Jacksonville hosts a number of cultural events as well. The second-largest jazz festival in the country is hosted in Jacksonville's downtown, while one of the biggest and oldest blues festivals, Springing the Blues, has been held on Jacksonville Beach since 1990. [160] Since 1993, Metropolitan Park has hosted the World of Nations Celebration, which offers a variety of activities, foods, and trinkets from other nations. 

The First Coast's Downtown Vision, Inc., an organization that aims to promote artistic talent and venues, sponsors The Art Walk, a monthly outdoor art festival that takes place on the first Wednesday of the month. Numerous breweries and an increasing number of distilleries may be found in Jacksonville. [161] Other occasions include the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair, which is held in November at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds and Exposition Center and features games, rides, food, entertainment, and livestock displays, and the Blessing of the Fleet, which has been taking place in March since 1985. One Spark is the biggest yearly crowdfunding competition where artists can present their projects and compete for a share of $300,000 in cash. Every Saturday from March to December, Riverside Arts Fair (RAM), an outdoor arts and crafts market on the Riverwalk, is held beneath the protection of the Fuller Warren Bridge. The Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks festival on July 4th, the lighting of Jacksonville's official Christmas tree at the Jacksonville Landing (since demolished), and the Jacksonville Light Parade of boats the following day are just a few examples of holiday celebrations. 

The VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, a 16,000-seat performance space that hosts sporting events and draws big-name performers, opened in 2003. It also contains the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame. It took the place of the antiquated Jacksonville Coliseum, which had been demolished on June 26, 2003, after being erected in 1960. The second-largest animal collection in the state is found at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. The Jacksonville Jaguars' former owners, Delores and Wayne Weaver, present the exhibit Range of the Jaguar at the zoo, which also has elephants, lions, and jaguars. It also features numerous aviaries with free flight, reptile cages, and other creatures. The amusement park Adventure Landing has locations in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach. The lone waterpark in Duval County, Shipwreck Island, is located in Jacksonville Beach. 

Theatre One of the longest continuously operating community theaters in the country, Jacksonville was founded in 1919 as the Little Theatre. Since 1967, the Alhambra Dinner Theatre, located on the Southside close to the University of North Florida, has presented professional performances frequently starring recognizable actors. Additionally, there are several well-known community theaters, including Players by the Sea in Jacksonville Beach and The 5 & Dime Theatre Co. in the city's center. Through a collaboration between Jacksonville Parks and Recreation (JaxParks) and the Art League of Jacksonville, a non-profit devoted to arts education, the Murray Hill Art Center was restored in February 2012. [162] The facility, which is located in the historic Murray Hill neighborhood, gives budding artists access to shared studio space as well as community arts programs. All year round, guests are welcome to activities and classes. 

There are two completely enclosed malls in Jacksonville. The Regency Square Mall, which debuted in 1967 and is located in the Arlington region on what used to be sand dunes, is the oldest. The Avenues Mall is the other. At the junction of US 1 and I-95 on the Southside, it opened for business in 1990. The Orange Park Mall, the third indoor shopping center in the metropolitan area, is located in Clay County, Florida, just outside of Jacksonville. 

On the south side of Jacksonville, the St. Johns Town Center opened its doors in 2005. In 2006, Jacksonville's River City Marketplace on the city's north side opened. Both of these malls are referred to as "open-air" malls because they do not all have the same types of retailers. 

Population 

Jacksonville is a city in the Florida counties of Duval and St. Johns. It serves as Duval County's county seat as well. It is the largest city in Florida and the 12th largest city in the United States as of 2020, with a population of 975,177. Jacksonville's population has grown by 2.69% since the most recent census, which showed a population of 949,611 in 2020, and is now rising at a pace of 1.33% yearly. Jacksonville has a population density of 1,305 persons per square mile, spanning over 875 kilometers. 

With a poverty rate of 18.15 percent, Jacksonville's average household income is $74,873. The median monthly cost of rent in recent years has been, and the median value of a home is. In Jacksonville, the median age is 35.9 years, 34.7 years for men and 37.5 years for women. 

Florida's capital, Jacksonville, is also the largest city in terms of area in the whole contiguous United States. President Andrew Jackson inspired the naming of Jacksonville. 

Top 2 News Websites 

First Coast News 

Jacksonville's Top Local News Source: Sports, Weather, and More. 

News4JAX 

Breaking news from News4Jax and WJXT Channel 4 in Jacksonville, Florida. Breaking news, headlines, weather, and sports for Jacksonville. Jacksonville, Florida's Channel 4 of The Local Station, WJXT, provides neighborhood news and other information. 

Current City Mayor 

In Florida, Jacksonville's mayor is Republican Lenny Curry. Curry began serving on July 1, 2015. The current term of Curry expires on July 1st, 2023. 

In Florida's Jacksonville, Curry (Republican Party) ran for re-election as mayor. Curry won the March 19, 2019, general election. 

Curry represented Florida as an at-large delegate to the 2016 Republican National Convention. He was one of the 99 Florida delegates who vowed to vote three times in favor of Donald Trump.

Curry has also served as the Florida Republican Party's previous chairman.