Jacksonville, Florida

{{Short description|Largest city in Florida, United States}}

{{Redirect|Jacksonville}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement

| name = Jacksonville

| official_name = City of Jacksonville and Duval County

| settlement_type = [[Consolidated city–county]]

| image_skyline = {{Multiple image

| perrow = 1/2/2/2/1

| total_width = 290

| caption_align = center

| border = infobox

| image1 = Jacksonville Skyline Panorama 2.jpg

| caption1 = [[Downtown Jacksonville]] skyline with [[Main Street Bridge (Jacksonville)|Main Street Bridge]]

| image7 = FloridaTheatre2k14.JPG

| caption7 = [[Florida Theatre]]

| image3 = Long bridge (Unsplash).jpg

| caption3 = [[Dames Point Bridge]]

| image4 = Jacksonville Terminal Complex, FL, US (03).jpg

| caption4 = [[Jacksonville Union Station]]

| image5 = Confederate Monument Pedestal (Jacksonville, Florida).jpg

| caption5 = [[James Weldon Johnson Park]]

| image6 = Jax FL Memorial Park statue1-01.jpg

| caption6 = [[Memorial Park (Jacksonville)|Memorial Park]]

| image2 = Eclips at Talleyrand Marine Terminal.jpg

| caption2 = [[Port of Jacksonville]]

| image8 = EverBankField2014.jpg

| caption8 = [[EverBank Stadium]]

}}

| image_flag = Flag of Jacksonville, Florida.svg

| image_seal = Seal of Jacksonville, Florida.png

| nickname = "Jax",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/jacksonville-featured-60-minutes-people-struggle-afford-housing/Y34AC36WJVDC5DGG4P4JAD5HVA/|publisher=ActionNewsJax|title=PRICED OUT OF JAX: Jacksonville's rental crisis featured on 60 Minutes|date=March 21, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> "The River City",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.jaxhistory.org/a-river-runs-through-it/|publisher=Jacksonville Historical Society|title=A River Runs Through It|date=July 2021 |access-date=March 22, 2022}}</ref> The Bold New City of the South

| motto = ''Where Florida Begins'', ''It's Easier Here''

| named_for = [[Andrew Jackson]]

| image_map = Duval County Florida Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Jacksonville Highlighted.svg

| map_caption = Location within Duval County

| pushpin_map = Florida#USA

| pushpin_label_position = Left

| pushpin_relief = 1

| pushpin_map_caption = Location within Florida##Location within the United States

| pushpin_label = Jacksonville

| coordinates = {{coord|30|20|13|N|81|39|41|W|region:US-FL_type:city(949,000)|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = [[United States]]

| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]

| subdivision_name1 = [[Florida]]

| subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]

| subdivision_name2 = [[Duval County, Florida|Duval]]

| established_title = Founded

| established_date = {{start date and age|June 15, 1822}}

| established_title2 = Incorporated

| established_date2 = {{start date and age|1832|02|09|mf=y}}

| established_title3 = Consolidated<ref>{{cite web |title=Consolidation |url=http://www.jaxhistory.org/consolidation-2/ |website=The Jacksonville Historical Society |access-date=October 9, 2018}}</ref>

| established_date3 = {{start date and age|1968}}

| government_footnotes =

| government_type = [[Strong-mayor|Strong Mayor–Council]]

| leader_party = [[Democratic Party (United States)|D]]

| governing_body = [[Jacksonville City Council]]

| leader_title = [[List of mayors of Jacksonville, Florida|Mayor]]

| leader_name = [[Donna Deegan]]

| unit_pref = Imperial

| total_type = Total

| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2021}}</ref>

| area_total_sq_mi = 874.46

| area_total_km2 = 2264.84

| area_land_sq_mi = 747.30

| area_land_km2 = 1935.49

| area_water_sq_mi = 127.16

| area_water_km2 = 329.35

| elevation_footnotes = <ref name="GR1" />

| elevation_ft = 16

| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]

| population_footnotes =

| population_total = 949611

| population_rank = [[List of North American cities by population|37th]] in North America<br />[[List of United States cities by population|11th]] in the United States<br />[[List of municipalities in Florida|1st]] in Florida

| population_metro_footnotes = <ref name="2020Pop">{{cite web |title=2020 Population and Housing State Data |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 22, 2021}}</ref>

| population_metro = 1733937 ([[List of metropolitan statistical areas|US: 39th]])

| population_density_sq_mi = 1270.73

| population_density_km2 = 490.63

| population_urban = 1,247,374 ([[List of United States urban areas|US: 40th]])

| population_density_urban_km2 = 840.1

| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 2,175.9

| population_demonym = Jaxon, Jacksonvillian

| timezone1 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]

| utc_offset1 = −5

| timezone1_DST = [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]]

| utc_offset1_DST = −4

| postal_code_type = [[ZIP Code]]s

| postal_code = 32099, 32201–32212, 32214–32241, 32244–32247, 32250, 32254–32260, 32266, 32267, 32277, 32290, 32246

| area_code = [[Area code 904|904]]

| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]

| blank_info = 12-35000

| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID

| blank1_info = 0295003<ref name=gnis>{{Cite GNIS|295003|Jacksonville, Florida}}</ref>

| website = [http://www.coj.net City of Jacksonville]

| pop_est_as_of = July 2022

| pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="2020sCitiesAndTowns">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022|publisher=US Census Bureau|website=Census.gov}}</ref>

| population_est = 971319

}}

'''Jacksonville''' is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeastern [[Florida]], the most populous [[city proper]] in the state and the [[List of United States cities by area|largest city by area]] in the [[contiguous United States]] as of 2020.<ref name="COJ2020">{{cite web |author1=Staff |title=Geography and Demography |url=https://www.coj.net/about-jacksonville/geography-and-demography |website=CityofJacksonville.net |publisher=City of Jacksonville and Duval County Government |access-date=August 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620110250/https://www.coj.net/about-jacksonville/geography-and-demography |archive-date=June 20, 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is the [[county seat|seat]] of [[Duval County, Florida|Duval County]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> with which the city government [[Jacksonville Consolidation|consolidated]] in 1968. Consolidation greatly increased its population relative to its extended size which placed most of its metropolitan population within the city limits. As of July [[2020 United States census|2022]], Jacksonville's population was 971,319,<ref name="QuickFacts">{{cite web |title=QuickFacts: Jacksonville city, Florida |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/jacksonvillecityflorida/POP010220 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 20, 2021}}</ref> making it the most populous city in the [[Southeastern United States]] and the largest in [[Southern United States|the South]] outside the state of Texas.<ref name=PopEstCities>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/tables/2010-2019/cities/totals/SUB-IP-EST2019-ANNRNK.xlsx|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places of 50,000 or More, Ranked by July 1, 2019 Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2019|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], Population Division|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref> With a population of 1,733,937, the [[Jacksonville metropolitan area]] ranks as Florida's fourth-largest metropolitan region.<ref name="2020Pop" />The metropolitan area consists of Clay County, St. Johns County, Nassau County, and Baker County

Jacksonville straddles the [[St. Johns River]] in the [[First Coast]] region of northeastern Florida, about {{convert|12|mi|km|0|abbr=off|sp=us}} south of the Georgia state line ({{convert|25|mi|km|0|abbr=on|disp=or}} to the urban core/downtown) and {{convert|350|mi|km|abbr=}} north of [[Miami]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://check-distance.com/route/jacksonville-fl/miami-fl|title=Distance from Jacksonville, FL to Miami, FL|website=check-distance.com|language=en|access-date=February 13, 2019}}</ref> The [[Jacksonville Beaches]] communities are along the adjacent Atlantic coast. The area was originally inhabited by the [[Timucua]] people, and in 1564 was the site of the French colony of [[Fort Caroline]], one of the earliest European settlements in what is now the continental United States. Under [[British Florida|British rule]], a settlement grew at the narrow point in the river where cattle crossed, known as ''Wacca Pilatka'' to the [[Seminole]] and the Cow Ford to the British. A [[plat]]ted town was established there in 1822, a year after the United States gained [[Spanish Florida|Florida]] from Spain; it was named after [[Andrew Jackson]], the first [[List of Governors of Florida|military governor]] of the [[Florida Territory]] and seventh President of the United States.

Harbor improvements since the late 19th century have made Jacksonville a major military and civilian [[port|deep-water port]]. Its riverine location facilitates [[Naval Station Mayport]], [[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]], the U.S. Marine Corps [[Blount Island Command]], and the [[Port of Jacksonville]], Florida's third largest seaport.<ref name=AAPA>[http://aapa.files.cms-plus.com/Statistics/2008%20U.S.%20PORT%20RANKINGS%20BY%20CARGO%20TONNAGE.pdf "US Port Ranking by Cargo Volume 2008"] American Association of Port Authorities</ref> Jacksonville's military bases and the nearby [[Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay]] form the third largest military presence in the United States.<ref name="Port of Jacksonville">[http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/USA_FL_Port_of_Jacksonville_225.php "Port of Jacksonville"] World Port Source, Port Detail</ref> Significant factors in the local economy include services such as banking, insurance, healthcare and logistics. As with much of Florida, tourism is important to the Jacksonville area, particularly tourism related to [[golf]].<ref>{{cite news|title= Golf tourism a boon for Northeast Florida|first= Abel|last= Harding|newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]]|date= April 3, 2010|url= http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/abel-harding/2010-04-02/golf-tourism-boon-northeast-florida|access-date= October 26, 2010|archive-date= April 8, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100408225955/http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/abel-harding/2010-04-02/golf-tourism-boon-northeast-florida|url-status= dead}}</ref><ref name=Britannica>{{cite encyclopedia |url= https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/298914/Jacksonville|title= Jacksonville|encyclopedia= Encyclopaedia Britannica|access-date=November 21, 2011}}</ref> People from Jacksonville are sometimes called "Jacksonvillians" or "Jaxsons" (also spelled "Jaxons").<ref name=Jaxson>{{cite web |url= http://news.wjct.org/post/what-do-you-call-someone-jacksonville |title= What Do You Call Someone From Jacksonville?|last1= Donges |first1= Patrick |date= April 17, 2014 |website= news.wjct.org |publisher= [[WJCT (TV)|WJCT]] |access-date=December 5, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Hillyer2014">{{cite book|first=Reiko|last=Hillyer|title=Designing Dixie: Tourism, Memory, and Urban Space in the New South|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2jXxAwAAQBAJ&pg=PT69|date=December 29, 2014|publisher=University of Virginia Press|isbn=978-0-8139-3671-0|page=69}}</ref><ref name="Davis2015">{{cite book|author=Ennis Armon Davis|title=Jacksonville|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eKCMCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA93|year=2015|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|isbn=978-1-4671-1468-4|page=93}}</ref><ref name="Aloszka2021">{{cite news |first1=John |last1=Aloszka |title=The River is Calling |url=https://eujacksonville.com/2021/03/22/the-river-is-calling/ |access-date=March 24, 2021 |work=Folio 2.0 / EU Jacksonville |date=March 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210324141635/https://eujacksonville.com/2021/03/22/the-river-is-calling/ |archive-date=March 24, 2021 |quote=And while there may be some division among Jaxsons when it comes to what should eventually fill the newly renamed Riverfront Plaza, Downtown leaders are wasting no time programming the space for the summer. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="TheJaxson2021">{{cite magazine |title=About The Jaxson |url=https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/about/ |access-date=March 26, 2021 |magazine=www.thejaxsonmag.com |date=2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122034919/https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/about/ |archive-date=January 22, 2021 |language=en |quote=Jaxson" is a traditional term for someone from Jacksonville, Florida... Launched by Modern Cities in association with WJCT Public Broadcasting, The Jaxson is a multimedia project dedicated to urbanism and culture on Florida's First Coast. |url-status=live }}</ref>

==History==

{{Main|History of Jacksonville, Florida}}

{{For timeline}}

===Early history===

{{main|New France|French Florida|Fort Caroline|Spanish assault on French Florida|Spanish Florida|East Florida}}

[[File:Jacksonville FL Fort Caroline Natl Mem Ribault mnmt detail01.jpg|thumb|left|150px|Replica of [[Jean Ribault]]'s column claiming Florida for France in 1562]]

The area of the modern city of Jacksonville has been inhabited for thousands of years. On [[Black Hammock Island]] in the national [[Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve]], a [[University of North Florida]] team discovered some of the oldest remnants of [[pottery]] in the United States, dating to 2500 BCE.<ref name=FTU>{{Cite news|title= The Mocama: New name for an old people|first= Matt|last= Soergel|newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]]|date= October 18, 2009 |url= http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-10-18/story/the_mocama_new_name_for_an_old_people|access-date= August 3, 2010}}</ref>

In the 16th century, the beginning of the historical era, the region was inhabited by the [[Mocama]], a coastal subgroup of the [[Timucua]] people. At the time of contact with Europeans, all Mocama villages in present-day Jacksonville were part of the powerful [[chiefdom]] known as the [[Saturiwa]], centered around the mouth of the [[St. Johns River]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Timucua|last= Milanich|first= Jerald|author-link= Jerald T. Milanich|year= 1999|publisher= Wiley-Blackwell|isbn= 0-631-21864-5|pages= 48–49|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cndrPgVY4VgC|access-date= July 12, 2011}}</ref> One early French map shows a village called ''Ossachite'' at the site of what is now downtown Jacksonville; this may be the earliest recorded name for that area.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Davis|first=Thomas Frederick|url=https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/northeast_fla_books/19/|title=History of Jacksonville, Florida and Vicinity, 1513 to 1924|journal=Books|publisher=University Press of Florida|year=1925|page=24}}</ref>

In 1562, French [[Huguenot]] explorer [[Jean Ribault]] charted the [[St. Johns River]], calling it the River of May because that was the month of his discovery. Ribault erected a stone column at his landing site near the river's mouth, claiming the newly discovered land for France.<ref name="Laudonniere2001">{{cite book|first=Rene|last=Laudonniere|others=Translated by Charles E. Bennett|title=Three Voyages|trans-title=L'histoire notable de la Floride|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jqrxOjZya4AC&pg=PR14|date=May 11, 2001|publisher=University of Alabama Press|language=en|isbn=978-0-8173-1121-6|page=14}}</ref> In 1564, [[René Goulaine de Laudonnière]] established the first European settlement on the St. Johns River, '''Fort Caroline''', near the main village of the Saturiwa.

[[Philip II of Spain]] ordered [[Pedro Menéndez de Avilés]] to protect the interests of Spain by attacking the French at Fort Caroline. On September 20, 1565, a Spanish force from the nearby Spanish settlement of [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]] attacked [[Fort Caroline]], and killed nearly all the French soldiers defending it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fcit.usf.edu/Florida/lessons/menendz/menendz1.htm |title= Pedro Menendez de Aviles Claims Florida for Spain |work=Exploring Florida.com |publisher=University of South Florida|access-date=August 3, 2010}}</ref> The Spanish renamed the fort as ''San Mateo'' and, following the expulsion of the French, St. Augustine became the most important European settlement in Florida. The location of Fort Caroline is subject to debate, but a reconstruction of the fort was established in 1964 along the St. Johns River.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fort Caroline National Memorial|url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/geo-flor/22.htm|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=April 18, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:NortheastFLRomans.png|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Northeast Florida showing Cow Ford (center) from [[Bernard Romans]]' 1776 map of Florida]]

Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763 as part of the [[Treaty of Paris (1763)|Treaty of Paris]] in the aftermath of the [[Seven Years' War]] (known as the [[French and Indian War]] on the North American front). The British soon constructed the [[King's Road (Florida)|King's Road]] connecting St. Augustine to [[Province of Georgia|Georgia]]. The road crossed the St. Johns River at a narrow point, which the [[Seminole]] called ''Wacca Pilatka'' and the British called the Cow Ford; these names reflected the use of the ford for moving cattle across the river there.<ref>{{cite book |title= Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage |last= Wood |first= Wayne |year= 1992 |publisher= [[University Press of Florida]] |isbn= 0-8130-0953-7|page= 22}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= The Indian Miscellany |last= Beach |first= William Wallace |year= 1877 |publisher= J. Munsel|page= [https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lqqAAAAAIAAJ/page/n126 125] |url= https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_lqqAAAAAIAAJ|access-date= July 12, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Wells|first=Judy|title=City had humble beginnings on the banks of the St. Johns|url=http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030200/ent_S0302FIR.html|access-date=July 2, 2011|newspaper=The Florida Times-Union|date=March 2, 2000|archive-date=October 9, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009090448/http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/030200/ent_S0302FIR.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The British introduced the cultivation of [[sugarcane]], [[indigo]], and fruits as [[cash crop]]s on [[Plantation complexes in the Southern United States|plantations]], in addition to exporting lumber. A large number of British colonists who were "energetic and of good character" were given land grants in the region and emigrated to the region, becoming the first English-speaking population in Florida. These colonists came from England, Georgia, South Carolina and Bermuda. British judges introduced the system of [[common law]] to Florida, resulting in the Floridian legal system utilizing concepts such as [[Jury trial|trial-by-jury]], [[habeas corpus]] and county-based government.<ref>Caroline Mays Brevard, Henry Eastman Bennett, ''A History of Florida,'' American Book Company (1913)</ref><ref>''The Land Policy in British East Florida'' by [[C. L. Mowat|Charles L. Mowat]] 1940</ref>

After their defeat in the [[American Revolutionary War]], Britain returned control of the territory to Spain in 1783 via the [[Peace of Paris (1783)|Peace of Paris]]. The settlement at the Cow Ford continued to grow.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

===Founding and 19th century===

{{main|Adams–Onís Treaty|Florida Territory|Florida in the American Civil War}}

[[File:JacksonvilleCivilWarLGHTBTTY.jpg|thumb|left|Section of a light battery by the [[St. Johns River]] during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]]]

After Spain ceded the [[Florida Territory]] to the United States in 1821, American settlers on the north side of the Cow Ford decided to plan a town, laying out the streets and plats. They named the town Jacksonville, after celebrated war hero and first Territorial Governor (later U.S. president) [[Andrew Jackson]]. Led by [[Isaiah Hart|Isaiah D. Hart]], residents wrote a charter for a town government, which the Florida Legislative Council approved on February 9, 1832.

During the [[American Civil War]], Duval County produced several units that fought for the [[Confederate States Army]]. At least two were raised out of Jacksonville: the [[Jacksonville Light Infantry]], a militia unit formed in 1859, and the Duval County Cow Boys, mustered in during the summer of 1861. Both units fought as part of the [[3rd Florida Infantry Regiment|3rd Florida Infantry]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Martin |first1=Richard A. |title=Defeat in Victory: Yankee Experience in Early Civil War Jacksonville |journal=The Florida Historical Quarterly |date=July 1974 |volume=53 |issue=1 |page=4 |url=http://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/ucf%3A25424}}</ref> The St. John's Greys, the Milton Artillery, and Company H of [[1st Florida Cavalry Regiment]] were also all formed by men from Jacksonville.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Proctor |first1=Samuel |title=Jacksonville during the Civil War |journal=Florida Historical Quarterly |date=April 1963 |volume=41 |issue=4 |page=345 |url=http://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/ucf%3A22393 |access-date=November 13, 2022}}</ref>

Jacksonville was also a key supply point for hogs and cattle shipped from Florida to feed the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] forces. The city was blockaded by [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] forces, who gained control of nearby [[Fort Clinch]]. Though no battles were fought in Jacksonville proper, the city changed hands several times between Union and Confederate forces. In the [[Skirmish of the Brick Church]] in 1862, Confederates won their first victory in the state.<ref name="Metro Jacksonville">{{cite web|title=Lost Church, Lost Battlefield, Lost Cemetery, Lost War|url=http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-mar-lost-church-lost-battlefield-lost-cemetery-lost-war#.VChumfldW8E|website=metrojacksonville.com|publisher=Metro Jacksonville|access-date=September 28, 2014}}</ref> However, Union forces captured a Confederate position at the [[Battle of St. Johns Bluff]], and occupied Jacksonville in 1862. Slaves escaped to freedom in Union lines. In February 1864 Union forces left Jacksonville and confronted a [[Confederate Army]] at the [[Battle of Olustee]], going down to defeat.

Union forces retreated to Jacksonville and held the city for the remainder of the war. In March 1864 a Confederate cavalry confronted a Union expedition in the [[Battle of Cedar Creek (Jacksonville)|Battle of Cedar Creek]]. Warfare and the long occupation left the city disrupted after the war.<ref>{{cite web|title=Events Leading up to the Battle of Olustee|url=http://battleofolustee.org/events.html|website=battleofolustee.org|publisher=battleofolustee|access-date=March 9, 2016}}</ref>

During [[Reconstruction era of the United States|Reconstruction]] and the [[Gilded Age]], Jacksonville and nearby St. Augustine became popular winter [[resorts]] for the rich and famous. Visitors arrived by [[steamboat]] and later by railroad. President [[Grover Cleveland]] attended the Sub-Tropical Exposition in the city on February 22, 1888, during his trip to Florida.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xjD5x9F1WyoC |title=Presidential visits to Florida ... – Google Books |access-date=July 1, 2010|last1=Osborne |first1=Ray }}</ref> This highlighted the visibility of the state as a worthy place for tourism. The city's tourism, however, was dealt major blows in the late 19th century by [[yellow fever]] outbreaks. Extending the [[Florida East Coast Railway]] further south drew visitors to other areas. From 1893 to 1938, Jacksonville was the site of the Florida Old Confederate [[Old soldiers home|Soldiers and Sailors Home]]; it operated a nearby cemetery.<ref>{{cite web|title=Old Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Home 1893 – 1938|work=Kirby Smith Camp #1209, Sons of Confederate Veterans|url=http://www.scv-kirby-smith.org/confederateHOME.htm|access-date=January 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728005902/http://www.scv-kirby-smith.org/confederateHOME.htm|archive-date=July 28, 2011}}</ref>

===20th and 21st centuries===

====1900 to 1939====

[[File:Firejax1901.jpg|thumb|Ruins of the courthouse and armory from the [[Great Fire of 1901]]]]

On May 3, 1901, downtown Jacksonville was ravaged by a fire that started as a kitchen fire. Spanish moss at a nearby mattress factory was quickly engulfed in flames and enabled the fire to spread rapidly. In a mere eight hours, it swept through 146 city blocks, destroyed over 2,000 buildings, left about 10,000 homeless and killed seven residents. The Confederate Monument in [[Hemming Park]] was one of the few landmarks to survive the fire. [[William Sherman Jennings|Governor William Sherman Jennings]] declared martial law and sent the state militia to maintain order; on May 17, municipal authority resumed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Great Jacksonville Fire of 1901|url=https://www.floridamemory.com/photographiccollection/photo_exhibits/jacksonvillefire/|publisher=Florida Memory|access-date=April 18, 2015}}</ref> It is said the glow from the flames could be seen in [[Savannah, Georgia]], and the smoke plumes seen in [[Raleigh, North Carolina]]. Known as the "[[Great Fire of 1901]]", it was one of the worst disasters in Florida history and the largest urban fire in the southeastern United States. Architect [[Henry John Klutho]] was a primary figure in the reconstruction of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecoastal.com/flashback/henry-j-klutho-the-architect-who-almost-single-handedly-redesigned-downtown-jacksonville/|title=Henry J. Klutho, The Architect Who Almost Single-Handedly Redesigned Downtown Jacksonville|date=September 26, 2018}}</ref> The first multi-story structure built by Klutho was the [[Dyal-Upchurch Building]] in 1902.<ref name="DYAL">{{cite news | title=Dyal-Upchurch – then and now | last=Penland | first=Dolly | url=http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2007/04/02/tidbits4.html | newspaper=[[Jacksonville Business Journal]] | date=March 30, 2007 | access-date=December 14, 2009}}</ref><ref name=JAH>{{cite web | last=Wood | first=Wayne | url=http://www.jaxhistory.com/Jax%20Arch%20Herit/D-27.htm | title=Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage, Dyal-Upchurch Building | access-date=December 14, 2009 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925105243/http://www.jaxhistory.com/Jax%20Arch%20Herit/D-27.htm | archive-date=September 25, 2009 | url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[St. James Building]], built on the previous site of the St. James Hotel that burned down, was built in 1912 as Klutho's crowning achievement.<ref>{{cite web|title=Henry John Klutho, 1912|url=http://www.prairieschooltraveler.com/html/fl/stjames/St.James.html|website=prairieschooltraveler.com|publisher=The Prairie School Traveler|access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecoastal.com/flashback/jax-evolved/st-james-building/|title=JAX EVOLVED: St. James Building|date=November 6, 2017}}</ref>

In the 1910s, northern film studios headquartered in New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago were attracted to Jacksonville's warm climate, exotic landscapes, excellent rail access, and cheap labor. More than 30 [[silent film]] [[Movie studio|studios]] were established over the decade, earning Jacksonville the title of "Winter Film Capital of the World". However, the emergence of [[Hollywood, Los Angeles, California|Hollywood]] as a major film production center ended the city's film industry. One movie studio site, [[Norman Studios]], remains in [[Arlington, Jacksonville, Florida|Arlington]]; it has been converted to the Jacksonville Silent Film Museum at Norman Studios.<ref name="normanstudios">{{cite web|url=http://www.normanstudios.org/ |title=The Jacksonville Silent Film Museum at Norman Studios |access-date=July 19, 2007 }}</ref>

[[File:JacksonvilleFL1914.jpg|thumb|right|Downtown Jacksonville in 1914]]

During this time, Jacksonville also became a banking and insurance center, with companies such as [[Barnett Bank]], [[Atlantic National Bank]], [[Florida National Bank]], [[Prudential Financial|Prudential]], Gulf Life, Afro-American Insurance, Independent Life and American Heritage Life thriving in the business district. The [[Walker Business College]] was opened {{Circa|1916}} in Jacksonville and advertised that it was the largest African American business school in the United States.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Du Bois |first=William Edward Burghardt |date=1920 |title=Walker Business College for Colored |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FgtFAQAAMAAJ |journal=[[The Crisis]] |volume=21-22 |language=en |publisher=Crisis Publishing Company |pages=39 |issn=0011-1422}}</ref>

====1940 to 1979====

[[File:Vice President Nixon delivering campaign speech in Hemming Park - Jacksonville, Florida.jpg|thumb|Crowd gathered for a campaign speech from [[Richard Nixon]] in Hemming Park, in October 1960.]]

During [[World War II]], The [[United States Navy|U.S. Navy]] became a major employer and economic force, constructing three Navy bases in the city, while the [[United States Marine Corps|U.S. Marine Corps]] established Blount Island Command.

Jacksonville, like most large cities in the United States, suffered from many negative effects of rapid [[urban sprawl]] after [[World War II]]. The construction of federal highways essentially subsidized development of suburban housing, and wealthier, better established residents moved to newer housing in the suburbs. After World War II, the government of the city of Jacksonville began to increase spending to fund new public building projects in the postwar economic boom. Mayor [[W. Haydon Burns]]' ''Jacksonville Story'' resulted in the construction of a new city hall, civic auditorium, public library and other projects that created a dynamic sense of civic pride. Development of suburbs led to a growing middle class who lived outside the urban core. An increasing proportion of residents in Jacksonville's urban core had a higher than average rate of poverty, especially as businesses and jobs also migrated to the suburbs.<ref name="census"/>

Given the postwar migration of residents, businesses, and jobs, the city's tax base declined. It had difficulty funding education, sanitation, and traffic control within the city limits. In addition, residents in unincorporated suburbs had difficulty obtaining municipal services, such as sewage and building code enforcement. In 1958, a study recommended the city of Jacksonville begin annexing outlying communities to create the needed larger geographic tax base to improve services throughout the county. Voters outside the city limits rejected annexation plans in six referendums between 1960 and 1965.

On [[Ax Handle Saturday|August 27, 1960]], a white mob attacked civil rights demonstrators in [[Hemming Park]] with clubs. The police largely stood by.

In 1962, a federal court ordered the city to prepare a plan for integration of public schools, in accordance with the ruling of the Supreme Court in ''[[Brown v. Board of Education]]'' (1954). A study found schools were in poor condition and poorly equipped.

On December 29, 1963, the [[Hotel Roosevelt fire]] killed 22 people, the highest one-day death toll in Jacksonville.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-12-28/story/roosevelt-hotel-fire-22-people-died-blaze-heroes-prevented-total-being|title=Roosevelt Hotel Fire: 22 people died in blaze, but heroes prevented that total from being even higher|last1=Soergel|first1=Matt|date=December 28, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2016|newspaper=[[The Florida Times-Union]]}}</ref> On September 10, 1964, [[Hurricane Dora]] made landfall near [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]], causing major damage to buildings in North Florida. Hurricane Dora was the first recorded hurricane to make a direct hit to North Florida.<ref>{{cite web|title=Remembering Hurricane Dora|url=http://www.jaxhistory.org/remembering-hurricane-dora/|website=Jax History|date=September 8, 2016|access-date=October 11, 2016}}</ref>

In the mid-1960s, corruption scandals arose among city and some county officials, who were mainly part of a traditional white Democratic network that had dominated politics for the decades since the [[Disfranchisement after Reconstruction era|disenfranchisement of most African Americans]] at the turn of the 20th century which effectively hollowed out the Republican Party. After a [[grand jury]] was convened to investigate, 11 officials were indicted and more were forced to resign.

[[File:Jax Consolidation Headline 1967.jpg|thumb|right|News of Jacksonville's consolidation from ''[[The Florida Times-Union]]'']]

In 1963 the [[Southern Association of Colleges and Schools]] threatened to withdraw accreditation of area schools in a year because of "instructional deficiencies". But voters refused to approve new taxes to improve school conditions. In late 1963, Duval County was spending $299 per student compared to the state average spending of $372 per student. In 1964 all 15 of Duval County's public high schools lost their accreditation.<ref>[http://www.qeafund.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Timeline-2016-Version.pdf "Public Schools in Duval County: Timeline of Major Events, 1864–2014"], Jacksonville Public Education Fund, 2014; accessed June 10, 2019</ref> This added momentum to proposals for government reform.

[[Jacksonville Consolidation]], led by [[J. J. Daniel]] and [[Claude Yates]], began to win more support during this period, from both inner-city blacks, who wanted more involvement in government after passage of the [[Voting Rights Act of 1965]], that provided federal oversight and enforcement of their right to vote, and whites in the suburbs, who wanted more services and more control over the central city. Lower taxes, increased economic development, unification of the community, better public spending, and effective administration by a more central authority were all cited as reasons for a new consolidated government.

When a [[Consolidated city-county|consolidation]] referendum was held in 1967, voters approved the plan with a 65 percent approval. On October 1, 1968, the city and county governments merged to create the Consolidated City of Jacksonville. Fire, police, health & welfare, recreation, public works, and housing & urban development were all combined under the new government. In honor of the occasion, then-Mayor [[Hans Tanzler]] posed with actress [[Lee Meredith]] behind a sign marking the new border of the "Bold New City of the [[American South|South]]" at Florida 13 and Julington Creek.<ref>{{cite web|title=Consolidation's Most Famous Photo |url=http://www.jaxhistory.com/journal11.html |work=Jax History Journal |publisher=Jacksonville Historical Society |access-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228013235/http://jaxhistory.com/journal11.html |archive-date=February 28, 2012 }}</ref> The consolidation created a 900-square-mile entity.

====1980 to present====

[[Image:JAX1982.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|[[Friendship Fountain]] and view of downtown Jacksonville in 1982]]

[[File:Jacksonville, Florida skyline.jpg|thumb|Jacksonville, Florida skyline at night]]

[[Tommy Hazouri]] supported passage of environmental regulations and reduced pollution odor during his single term as mayor, which began in 1987.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thecoastal.com/flashback/jacksonville-used-to-smell-really-really-bad/|title=Jacksonville Used to Smell Really, Really Bad|date=January 29, 2019}}</ref>

[[Ed Austin]] was elected as mayor in 1991. His most lasting contribution is the [[River City Renaissance]] program, a $235 million bond issued in 1993 by the city of Jacksonville which funded [[urban renewal]] and revamped the city's historic downtown neighborhoods. Austin oversaw the city's purchase and refurbishing of the [[St. James Building]], which is now used as Jacksonville's [[city hall]]. He was mayor in 1993 when Jacksonville was awarded its [[National Football League]] franchise, the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]].<ref name=Patton2011>Patton, Charlie: [http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2011-04-28/story/former-mayor-ed-austin-remembered-uncanny-moral-compass "Former Mayor Ed Austin remembered for 'uncanny moral compass'] Florida Times-Union, April 28, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/113008/jag_361775731.shtml#.V_wusfkrKM8|title=On Nov. 30, 1993, Jacksonville's NFL dream became a reality|last1=Stellino|first1=Vito|access-date=October 11, 2016|newspaper=[[The Florida Times-Union]]}}</ref>

The [[Better Jacksonville Plan]], promoted as a "blueprint for Jacksonville's future" and approved by Jacksonville voters in 2000, authorized a half-penny sales tax. This generated most of the revenue required for the $2.25 billion package of major projects, which have included road & infrastructure improvements, environmental preservation, targeted economic development, and new or improved public facilities.<ref>{{cite web|first=Will |last=Vasana |url=http://www.bringyouhome.com/betterjacksonville.html |title=Jacksonville Real Estate website: Better Jacksonville Plan |publisher=Bringyouhome.com |date=September 5, 2000 |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref>

In 2005, Jacksonville hosted [[Super Bowl XXXIX]], which was seen by an estimated 86 million viewers.<ref name="ratings20090118">{{cite web |url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/18/historical-super-bowl-tv-ratings/11044 |title=Historical Super Bowl Nielsen TV Ratings, 1967–2009 – Ratings |publisher=TVbytheNumbers |access-date=October 9, 2012 |archive-date=February 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208213536/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/01/18/historical-super-bowl-tv-ratings/11044 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The city has suffered damage in natural disasters. In October 2016, [[Hurricane Matthew]] caused major flooding and damage to Jacksonville, [[Jacksonville Beach, Florida|Jacksonville Beach]], [[Atlantic Beach, Florida|Atlantic Beach]] and [[Neptune Beach, Florida|Neptune Beach]], the first such damage in the area since 2004.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Thorbecke|first1=Catherine|title=Flooding Hits Jacksonville as Hurricane Matthew Nears|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/jacksonville-braces-possibly-catastrophic-damage-hurricane-matthew/story?id=42644357|access-date=October 10, 2016|publisher=ABC News|date=October 7, 2016}}</ref> In September 2017, [[Hurricane Irma]] caused record-breaking floods in Jacksonville, with a severity not seen since 1846.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Monroe|first1=Nate|title=Rising waters threaten neighborhoods along the river: San Marco, Riverside, Downtown|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2017-09-11/rising-waters-threaten-neighborhoods-along-river-san-marco-riverside-downtown|archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20170917070128/http://jacksonville.com/news/public-safety/2017-09-11/flooding-river-leaves-officials-rescue-mode-irma-moves-away|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 17, 2017|access-date=September 11, 2017|newspaper=Florida Times-Union}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Irma unleashes record flooding in Jacksonville, 'incredible' floods in Charleston|url=http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/09/11/irma-unleashes-record-flooding-in-jacksonville-incredible-floods-in-charleston.html|access-date=September 12, 2017|publisher=Fox News|date=September 11, 2017}}</ref>

As has been typical of other metropolitan areas across the country, suburban growth has continued around Jacksonville, where large areas of land were available for development, drawing more residents, businesses and jobs from the city. This has resulted in further demographic changes. The city's largest ethnic group, non-Hispanic white,<ref name="census">{{cite web|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/1235000.html |title=Jacksonville (city), Florida |work=State & County QuickFacts |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120611035758/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/12/1235000.html |archive-date=June 11, 2012 }}</ref> declined from 75.8% of the population in 1970 to 55.1% by 2010.<ref name="census1">{{cite web|title=Florida – Race and Hispanic Origin for Selected Cities and Other Places: Earliest Census to 1990 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812191959/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0076/twps0076.html |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}</ref>

==Geography==

[[File:Jacksonville by Sentinel-2, 2020-10-30.jpg|thumb|Satellite photo of Jacksonville]]

===Cityscape===

{{wide image|JaxpanoAcosta.png|1600px|align-cap=center|From left to right: Northbank Jacksonville skyline and the [[Main Street Bridge (Jacksonville)|Main Street Bridge]]}}

{{wide image|Jacksonville Acosta Bridge Panorama.jpg|1600px|align-cap=center|From left to right: Southbank Jacksonville skyline and the [[Acosta Bridge]]}}

{{Clear}}

===Topography===

{{More citations needed section|date=April 2021}}

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|874.3|sqmi|km2}}, making Jacksonville the largest city in land area in the [[Continental United States|contiguous United States]]; of this, 86.66% ({{convert|757.7|sqmi|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) is land and 13.34% ({{convert|116.7|sqmi|km2|abbr=on|disp=or}}) is water. Jacksonville completely surrounds the town of [[Baldwin, Florida|Baldwin]]. [[Nassau County, Florida|Nassau County]] lies to the north, [[Baker County, Florida|Baker County]] lies to the west, and [[Clay County, Florida|Clay]] and [[St. Johns County, Florida|St. Johns]] counties lie to the south. Jacksonville has a coast on the Atlantic Ocean with the [[Jacksonville Beaches]]. The city developed along both sides of the [[St. Johns River]]. The [[Trout River (Florida)|Trout River]], a major tributary of the St. Johns River, is entirely within Jacksonville.

Just south of Jacksonville and north of Saint Augustine is the boundary of where the Floridian Peninsula ends and Continental North America begins; Jacksonville is north of that line. While still in the North American Coastal plain, the topography begins to take on slight Piedmont characteristics. Like the Central Florida ridge and the Piedmont, the area begins sloping several miles inland. On the west side of Jacksonville, a series of low ridges predominate. The high point of Jacksonville rises to 190 feet above sea level on Trail Ridge, along the boundary with Baker County. This high point was developed into a landfill and leveled in the 1990s. Prior to that the ridge reached over 200 feet. Strip mining in the west side of Jacksonville has leveled the area.

Soil composition is primarily sand and clay rather than limestone, so few [[sinkhole]]s develop; however, deep, large diameter sinkholes do occur.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Chad|title=This could be the start of a big sinkhole season|url=http://www.gainesville.com/article/20120514/ARTICLES/120519772?p=1&tc=pg|access-date=May 17, 2012|newspaper=Gainesville Sun|date=May 14, 2012}}</ref>

===Architecture===

{{See also|Architecture of Jacksonville|List of tallest buildings in Jacksonville}}

The [[architecture of Jacksonville]] varies in style. Few structures in the city center predate the [[Great Fire of 1901]].<ref name=Metrojacksonville2>{{cite web |url= http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-jan-distinguish-jacksonville-the-great-fire-of-1901 |title=Distinguish Jacksonville: The Great Fire of 1901 |date= January 6, 2007 |publisher=Metro Jacksonville|access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> The city is home to one of the largest collections of [[Prairie School]] style buildings outside the Midwest.<ref name=pst>{{cite web |url= http://www.prairieschooltraveler.com/html/fl/lost/Lost-Treasures.html |title=Jacksonville's Lost Treasures |first= Wayne W. |last= Wood |publisher=Prairie School Traveler |access-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref> Following the Great Fire of 1901, [[Henry John Klutho]] came to influence generations of local designers with his works by both the [[Chicago school (architecture)|Chicago School]], championed by [[Louis Sullivan]], and the [[Prairie School]] of architecture, popularized by [[Frank Lloyd Wright]]. Jacksonville is also home to a notable collection of [[Mid-Century modern]] architecture.<ref name=Jhs>{{cite web |url=https://jaxhistory.wordpress.com/tag/mid-century-modern/ |title=When Does Modern Architecture Become Historic? |publisher=Jacksonville Historical Society |access-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref> Local architects [[Robert C. Broward]], [[Taylor Hardwick]], and [[William Morgan (architect)|William Morgan]] adapted a range of design principles, including [[International style (architecture)|International style]], Brutalism, Futurism and Organicism, all applied with an American interpretation generally referred to today as Mid-century modern design.<ref name="Jhs"/> The architecture firms of [[Reynolds, Smith & Hills]] (RS&H)<ref name=mj3>{{cite web |url=http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-apr-the-premature-destruction-of-downtown-jacksonville/page/2 |title=The Premature Destruction of Downtown Jacksonville |first=Ennis |last=Davis |date=April 12, 2012 |work=Urban Issues |publisher=Metro Jacksonville |access-date=April 24, 2016}}</ref> and [[KBJ Architects|Kemp, Bunch & Jackson]] (KBJ) have also contributed a number of important works to the city's modern architectural movement.

Jacksonville's early predominant position as a regional center of business left an indelible mark on the city's skyline. Many of the earliest skyscrapers in the state were constructed in Jacksonville, dating to 1902.<ref name=Metrojacksonville>{{cite web |url= http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-mar-a-century-of-floridas-tallest-skyscrapers |title= A Century of Florida's Tallest Skyscrapers |first=Ennis|last=Davis|date= March 6, 2008 |publisher=Metro Jacksonville |access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> The city last held the state height record from 1974 to 1981.<ref name=emp>{{cite web |url= http://www.emporis.com/buildings/118945/wells-fargo-center-jacksonville-fl-usa |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160308202842/http://www.emporis.com/buildings/118945/wells-fargo-center-jacksonville-fl-usa |url-status= dead |archive-date= March 8, 2016 |title= Wells Fargo Center, Jacksonville |publisher=Emporis |access-date=April 12, 2016}}</ref> The tallest building in Downtown Jacksonville's [[skyline]] is the [[Bank of America Tower (Jacksonville)|Bank of America Tower]], constructed in 1990 as the Barnett Center. It has a height of {{convert|617|ft|m|abbr=on}} and includes 42 floors.<ref name="SKY">{{cite web

|url = http://skyscraperpage.com/cities/?buildingID=3823

|title = Bank of America Tower

|access-date = December 7, 2008|publisher=SkyscraperPage.com}}</ref><ref name="PRR">{{cite web| title =Bank of America Tower, Jacksonville Florida| work =Portfolio – Current Properties| publisher =Parameter Realty Partners| url =http://www.parmco.com/portfolio/boa_tower.html| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20080216234713/http://www.parmco.com/portfolio/boa_tower.html| url-status =dead| archive-date =February 16, 2008| access-date =December 7, 2008}}</ref> Other notable structures include the 37-story [[Wells Fargo Center (Jacksonville)|Wells Fargo Center]] (with its distinctive flared base making it the defining building in the Jacksonville skyline),<ref>{{cite news |url=http://jacksonville.com/business/2011-03-05/story/no-more-modis-downtown-jacksonville-building |title=No more 'Modis' on downtown Jacksonville building |last=Turner |first=Kevin |work=[[The Florida Times-Union]] |date=March 5, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.news4jax.com/news/27968136/detail.html |title=Life After Modis: Tower To Get New Name |publisher=[[WJXT]] |date=May 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815225643/http://www.news4jax.com/news/27968136/detail.html |archive-date=August 15, 2011 |access-date=April 1, 2013}}</ref> originally built in 1972–1974 by the Independent Life and Accident Insurance Company, and the 28-floor [[Riverplace Tower]]. When this tower was completed in 1967, it was the tallest precast, [[Prestressed concrete|post-tensioned concrete]] structure in the world.<ref>{{cite web|author=Emporis GmbH |url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=riverplacetower-jacksonville-fl-usa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225002117/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/bu/?id=riverplacetower-jacksonville-fl-usa |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 25, 2010 |title=Riverplace Tower, Jacksonville |publisher=Emporis.com |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=101041&bt=2&ht=2&sro=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225002345/http://www.emporis.com/en/wm/ci/bu/sk/li/?id=101041&bt=2&ht=2&sro=1 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 25, 2010 |title=Tallest Buildings in Jacksonville |publisher=Emporis.com |date=June 15, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Jacksonville FL Marble Bank and Bisbee Bldg01.jpg|[[Laura Street Trio]] (1902–1912)

File:CarlingHotelJacksonville-2010-07-b.JPG|[[The Carling]] (1925)

File:11eforsyth.JPG|[[11 East Forsyth]] (1926)

File:OnePrudentialPlazaJacksonville-2010-07a.JPG|[[Eight Forty One]] (1955)

File:Riverplace Tower, Jacksonville, FL, US.jpg|[[Riverplace Tower]] (1967)

File:WellsFargoJaxFL.JPG|[[Wells Fargo Center (Jacksonville)|Wells Fargo Center]] (1974)

File:EverBank Center 2.JPG|[[TIAA Bank Center]] (1983)

File:Bofatower.jpg|[[Bank of America Tower (Jacksonville)|Bank of America Tower]] (1990)

</gallery>

===Neighborhoods===

{{Main|Neighborhoods of Jacksonville, Florida}}

There are more than 500 neighborhoods within Jacksonville's vast area.<ref name=CPACS>{{cite web |url=http://www.coj.net/Departments/Housing+and+Neighborhoods/Community+Development/CPACs/default.htm |title=Citizens Planning Advisory Committee (CPACs) |publisher=coj.net |access-date=November 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101108055248/http://www.coj.net/Departments/Housing%20and%20Neighborhoods/Community%20Development/CPACs/default.htm |archive-date=November 8, 2010 }}</ref> These include [[Downtown Jacksonville]] and its surrounding neighborhoods, including [[LaVilla]], [[Brooklyn, Jacksonville|Brooklyn]], [[Riverside and Avondale]], [[Springfield, Jacksonville|Springfield]], [[Eastside (Jacksonville)|Eastside]], [[Mandarin (Jacksonville)|Mandarin]], and [[San Marco (Jacksonville)|San Marco]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage |last= Wood |first= Wayne |year= 1992 |publisher= [[University Press of Florida]] |isbn= 0-8130-0953-7|pages= 3; 7}}</ref> Additionally, greater Jacksonville is traditionally divided into several amorphous areas, comprising large parts of Duval County. These are [[Northside, Jacksonville|Northside]], [[Westside, Jacksonville,|Westside]], [[Southside, Jacksonville|Southside]], and [[Arlington, Jacksonville|Arlington]], as well as the [[Jacksonville Beaches]].<ref name=McEwen>McEwen, John W. 2007. "The Vernacular Neighborhoods of Jacksonville, Florida: Can GIS Help Determine their Boundaries?" ''The Florida Geographer'', Vol. 38: 54–71.</ref>

Four municipalities have retained their own governments since consolidation; these are [[Baldwin, Florida|Baldwin]] and the three Jacksonville Beaches towns of [[Atlantic Beach, Florida|Atlantic Beach]], [[Neptune Beach, Florida|Neptune Beach]], and [[Jacksonville Beach, Florida|Jacksonville Beach]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Insiders' Guide to Jacksonville, 3rd Edition|last1= Carbone|first1= Marisa|first2=Sarah W. |last2=Reiss |first3=John |last3=Finotti |year= 2009|publisher= Globe Pequot|isbn= 978-0-7627-5032-0|pages= 181–182|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rlHWoqDYZHkC|access-date=May 10, 2011}}</ref> Four of Jacksonville's neighborhoods, [[Avondale, Jacksonville, Florida|Avondale]], [[Ortega, Jacksonville, Florida|Ortega]], [[Springfield, Jacksonville, Florida|Springfield]], and [[Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida|Riverside]], have been identified as U.S. [[historic district]]s and are in the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name=nrhp>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/FL/Duval/districts.html|title=National Register of Historical Places – FLORIDA (FL), Duval County|website=www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">

File:Jax FL Terminal POC04.jpg|[[LaVilla]]

File:FidelityNational2Jacksonville-Jul2009.JPG|[[Brooklyn (Jacksonville)|Brooklyn]]

File:Lauraforsyth.JPG|[[Northbank (Jacksonville)|Northbank]]

File:JaxFLSouthbank2014.jpg|[[Southbank (Jacksonville)|Southbank]]

File:Sphdqa.JPG|[[Springfield (Jacksonville)|Springfield]]

File:Jacksonville San Marco Square.JPG|[[San Marco (Jacksonville)|San Marco]]

File:StJohnsTCJax.jpg|[[Neighborhoods of Jacksonville#Southside|Southside]]

File:Public_School_No_13_-_3.jpg|[[Northside (Jacksonville)|Northside]]

File:The Mathews Bridge1.jpg|[[Neighborhoods of Jacksonville#Eastside|Eastside]] and [[Arlington (Jacksonville)|Arlington]]

File:Jax FL Old Ortega HD01.jpg|[[Ortega (Jacksonville)|Ortega]]

File:Jax FL Avondale HD01.jpg|[[Riverside and Avondale]]

File:Northshorehomejax.jpg|[[Tallulah-North Shore]]

</gallery>

===Climate===

{{climate chart

|Jacksonville

|42.9|64.3|3.29

|46.1|67.4 |3.18

|50.6|74.3 |3.95

|56.4|79.8 |2.64

|63.9|85.9 |2.48

|70.7|89.9 |6.45

|73.2|91.9 |6.55

|73.4|90.8 |6.79

|70.5|87.2 |8.19

|61.5|80.9 |3.93

|51.3|73.2 |2.11

|45.8|67.5 |2.80

|units = imperial

|float = right

|clear = both

|source =<ref name= NOAA/>}}

According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], Jacksonville has a [[humid subtropical climate]], with hot humid summers, and warm to mild and drier winters. Seasonal rainfall is concentrated in the warmest months from May through September, when brief but intense downpours with thunder and lightning are common, while the driest months are from November through April. Rainfall averages around {{convert|52|in|m}} a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/?n=climate|title=NWS Jacksonville, FL [Climate Page]|work=noaa.gov|access-date=February 1, 2011|archive-date=February 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210050613/http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jax/?n=climate|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Normal monthly mean temperatures range from {{convert|54.2|°F|1}} in January to {{convert|82.5|°F|1}} in July; high temperatures average {{convert|65.5|to|91.9|°F|°C}} throughout the year.<ref name= NOAA/>

The city of Jacksonville usually averages only about 10 to 15 nights at or below freezing. Such cold weather is usually short-lived.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/min32temp.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011217185325/http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/min32temp.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 17, 2001 |title=NOAA/National Climatic Data Center: Table-Mean Number of Days With Minimum Temperature 32 Degrees F or Less |publisher=Lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov |date=August 20, 2008 |access-date=July 1, 2010 }}</ref> The coldest temperature recorded at [[Jacksonville International Airport]] was {{convert|7|°F|0}} on [[January 1985 Arctic outbreak|January 21, 1985]]. Jacksonville has recorded three days with measurable snow since 1911, most recently a one-inch (2.5 cm) snowfall in December 1989<ref>{{cite web |title= Five Weirdest White Christmases: #3 Florida/Southeast (1989) |first= Jonathan |last= Erdman |work= The Weather Channel |date= November 14, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130520110349/http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/white-christmas-five-strangest_2011-11-14?page=4 |archive-date= May 20, 2013 |url= http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/white-christmas-five-strangest_2011-11-14?page=4 }}</ref> and flurries in December 2010.<ref>Anderson, Zac. "[http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_product=AWNB&p_theme=aggregated5&p_action=doc&p_docid=1346687A2D1590A0&p_docnum=24&p_queryname=10 December chill vying for record]". ''Sarasota Herald-Tribune''. December 27, 2010. p. A1.</ref>

Jacksonville has only received one direct hit from a hurricane since 1871. The rarity of direct strikes is attributed to chance.<ref name=TampaBayTimes>{{cite news |last1= Dawson|first1=Anastasia |last2=Johnson |first2=Corey G. |last3=Bedi |first3=Neil|date=October 6, 2017 |title= The city that never drains |url= http://www.tampabay.com/projects/2017/investigations/jacksonville-never-drains-hurricane/|work= [[Tampa Bay Times]]|location= [[St. Petersburg, Florida]] |access-date= August 30, 2018}}</ref> However, the city has experienced hurricane or near-hurricane conditions more than a dozen times due to storms crossing the state from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean, or passing to the north or south in the Atlantic and brushing past the area.<ref name=hurricanecity>{{cite web| url = http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/jacksonville.htm| title = Jacksonville, Florida's history with tropical systems| work = HurricaneCity| access-date = August 30, 2018}}</ref> The strongest effect on Jacksonville was from [[Hurricane Dora]] in 1964, the only recorded storm to hit the First Coast with sustained hurricane-force winds. The eye crossed St. Augustine with winds that had just barely diminished to {{convert|110|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}, making it a strong Category 2 on the [[Saffir–Simpson Hurricane Scale|Saffir-Simpson Scale]]. In 1979, [[Hurricane David]] passed offshore by {{convert|40|mi|km|0|abbr=off}}, bringing winds around {{convert|95|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}.<ref name=hurricanecity/> [[Hurricane Floyd]] in 1999 caused damage mainly to Jacksonville Beach; the Jacksonville Beach pier was severely damaged and later demolished.

In 2004, Jacksonville was inundated by [[Hurricane Frances]] and [[Hurricane Jeanne]], which made landfall south of the area, and suffered minor damage from [[Tropical Storm Bonnie (2004)|Tropical Storm Bonnie]], which spawned a minor tornado.<ref>[http://www.news4jax.com/weather/3648478/detail.html "Bonnie-Spawned Tornado Rips Through Northwest Jacksonville"] (August 13, 2004). [[WJXT]]. {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051111174953/http://www.news4jax.com/weather/3648478/detail.html|date=November 11, 2005}}</ref> Jacksonville also suffered damage from 2008's [[Tropical Storm Fay (2008)|Tropical Storm Fay]], which crisscrossed the state, bringing parts of Jacksonville under darkness for four days. Fay damaged, but did not destroy, the Jacksonville Beach pier that was rebuilt after Floyd. On May 28, 2012, Jacksonville was hit by [[Tropical Storm Beryl (2012)|Tropical Storm Beryl]], packing winds up to {{convert|70|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}}, which made landfall near [[Jacksonville Beach]]. [[Hurricane Matthew]] passed {{convert|37|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} to the east with winds of 110 miles per hour. It caused storm surge, extensive flooding of the Atlantic Ocean and St. Johns River, and wind damage; the storm knocked out power for 250,000 people.<ref name=TampaBayTimes/><ref name=hurricanecity/> In 2017, [[Hurricane Irma]] passed {{convert|75|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} to the west with {{convert|65|mi/h|km/h|-1|abbr=on}} winds.<ref name=hurricanecity/> It caused severe storm surge and flooding, passing the flood record of Hurricane Dora in 1964.<ref name=TampaBayTimes/>

{{Weather box

| location = Jacksonville, Florida ([[Jacksonville International Airport|Jacksonville Int'l]]), 1991−2020 normals,{{efn|Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1991 to 2020}} extremes 1871−present{{efn|Official records for Jacksonville were kept at downtown from September 1871 to December 1955, [[Imeson Field]] from January 1, 1956, to January 18, 1971, and at Jacksonville Int'l since January 19, 1971. For more information, see [http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/ ThreadEx].}}

| single line = Y

| collapsed = Y

| Jan record high F = 87

| Feb record high F = 89

| Mar record high F = 94

| Apr record high F = 95

| May record high F = 100

| Jun record high F = 103

| Jul record high F = 105

| Aug record high F = 102

| Sep record high F = 100

| Oct record high F = 96

| Nov record high F = 89

| Dec record high F = 85

| year record high F = 105

| Jan avg record high F = 80.4

| Feb avg record high F = 82.9

| Mar avg record high F = 86.4

| Apr avg record high F = 89.6

| May avg record high F = 94.1

| Jun avg record high F = 96.8

| Jul avg record high F = 97.4

| Aug avg record high F = 96.2

| Sep avg record high F = 93.4

| Oct avg record high F = 89.1

| Nov avg record high F = 84.6

| Dec avg record high F = 81.1

| year avg record high F = 98.4

| Jan high F = 65.5

| Feb high F = 68.9

| Mar high F = 74.3

| Apr high F = 79.8

| May high F = 85.9

| Jun high F = 89.9

| Jul high F = 91.9

| Aug high F = 90.7

| Sep high F = 87.1

| Oct high F = 80.8

| Nov high F = 73.1

| Dec high F = 67.5

| year high F = 79.7

| Jan mean F = 54.2

| Feb mean F = 57.5

| Mar mean F = 62.4

| Apr mean F = 68.1

| May mean F = 74.9

| Jun mean F = 80.3

| Jul mean F = 82.5

| Aug mean F = 82.1

| Sep mean F = 78.8

| Oct mean F = 71.2

| Nov mean F = 62.3

| Dec mean F = 56.7

| year mean F = 69.3

| Jan low F = 42.4

| Feb low F = 45.6

| Mar low F = 50.0

| Apr low F = 55.8

| May low F = 63.3

| Jun low F = 70.2

| Jul low F = 72.7

| Aug low F = 72.9

| Sep low F = 70.0

| Oct low F = 61.1

| Nov low F = 50.8

| Dec low F = 45.3

| year low F = 58.4

| Jan avg record low F = 25.3

| Feb avg record low F = 28.2

| Mar avg record low F = 32.6

| Apr avg record low F = 40.8

| May avg record low F = 50.7

| Jun avg record low F = 62.5

| Jul avg record low F = 68.2

| Aug avg record low F = 68.1

| Sep avg record low F = 60.5

| Oct avg record low F = 44.8

| Nov avg record low F = 33.1

| Dec avg record low F = 29.2

| year avg record low F = 23.5

| Jan record low F = 7

| Feb record low F = 10

| Mar record low F = 23

| Apr record low F = 31

| May record low F = 45

| Jun record low F = 47

| Jul record low F = 61

| Aug record low F = 63

| Sep record low F = 48

| Oct record low F = 33

| Nov record low F = 21

| Dec record low F = 11

| year record low F = 7

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 3.28

| Feb precipitation inch = 2.86

| Mar precipitation inch = 3.29

| Apr precipitation inch = 2.93

| May precipitation inch = 3.42

| Jun precipitation inch = 7.60

| Jul precipitation inch = 6.77

| Aug precipitation inch = 6.88

| Sep precipitation inch = 7.56

| Oct precipitation inch = 4.03

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.00

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.78

| year precipitation inch = 53.40

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 7.7

| Feb precipitation days = 7.7

| Mar precipitation days = 8.0

| Apr precipitation days = 6.0

| May precipitation days = 7.0

| Jun precipitation days = 14.1

| Jul precipitation days = 13.6

| Aug precipitation days = 15.1

| Sep precipitation days = 12.4

| Oct precipitation days = 8.0

| Nov precipitation days = 6.6

| Dec precipitation days = 7.7

| year precipitation days = 113.9

| Jan humidity = 74.9

| Feb humidity = 72.2

| Mar humidity = 71.2

| Apr humidity = 69.5

| May humidity = 72.7

| Jun humidity = 76.8

| Jul humidity = 77.7

| Aug humidity = 80.3

| Sep humidity = 80.8

| Oct humidity = 78.6

| Nov humidity = 77.7

| Dec humidity = 76.7

| year humidity = 75.8

| Jan sun = 189.4

| Feb sun = 193.8

| Mar sun = 257.9

| Apr sun = 286.4

| May sun = 303.9

| Jun sun = 283.6

| Jul sun = 282.0

| Aug sun = 262.4

| Sep sun = 228.2

| Oct sun = 214.6

| Nov sun = 193.9

| Dec sun = 183.6

| year sun = 2879.7

| Jan percentsun = 59

| Feb percentsun = 62

| Mar percentsun = 69

| Apr percentsun = 74

| May percentsun = 72

| Jun percentsun = 67

| Jul percentsun = 65

| Aug percentsun = 64

| Sep percentsun = 62

| Oct percentsun = 61

| Nov percentsun = 61

| Dec percentsun = 58

| year percentsun = 65

| source 1 = NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961−1990)<ref name = Extremes >

{{cite web

|url=http://threadex.rcc-acis.org/

|title=Threaded Extremes

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration }}</ref><ref name= NOAA>

{{cite web

|url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/getclimate.php?wfo=jax

|title = NowData − NOAA Online Weather Data

|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]

|access-date = May 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name="NOAA txt">

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013889&format=pdf

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| title = FL Jacksonville

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991−2020)

| access-date = May 31, 2021}}</ref><ref name= NOAA2>

{{cite web

| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG_IV/US/GROUP3/72206.TXT

| title = WMO climate normals for Jacksonville/WSO AP, FL 1961−1990

| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]

| access-date = May 15, 2014}}</ref>

| date = January 2012

| source =

}}

===Parks===

The City of Jacksonville has a unique park system, with various lands operated by the [[National Park Service]], [[Florida State Parks]] and the City of Jacksonville Department of Parks and Recreation. Jacksonville operates the largest urban park system in the United States, providing facilities and services at more than 337 locations on more than {{convert|80000|acre|km2}} throughout the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation+and+Community+Services/Recreation+and+Community+Programming/default.htm |title=Recreation and Community Services |access-date=March 24, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071218084039/http://www.coj.net/Departments/Recreation%20and%20Community%20Services/Recreation%20and%20Community%20Programming/default.htm |archive-date=December 18, 2007 }}</ref> A number of parks provide access for people to boat, swim, fish, sail, jetski, surf and waterski.

====National parks====

{{main|National Park Service}}

[[File:KingsleyPlantationSunset2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kingsley Plantation]], located within the [[Timucuan Preserve]]]]

The [[Timucuan Preserve]] is a U.S. [[National Preserve]] comprising over {{convert|46000|acre}} of [[wetland]]s and waterways. It includes natural and historic areas such as the [[Fort Caroline National Memorial]] and the [[Kingsley Plantation]], the oldest standing plantation in the state.

====State parks====

{{main|Florida State Parks}}

There are several state parks within the city limits of Jacksonville, these include [[Amelia Island State Park]], [[Big Talbot Island State Park]], [[Fort George Island Cultural State Park]], [[George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier State Park]], [[Little Talbot Island State Park]], [[Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve State Park]] and [[Yellow Bluff Fort Historic State Park]].

====City parks====

{{See also|List of parks in Jacksonville}}

• [[Springfield Park (Jacksonville)|Springfield Park]] is a public park on the southern bounds of the historic neighborhood of [[Springfield (Jacksonville)|Springfield]] (for which it is named), and is part of a network of parks that parallel Hogans Creek. The park opened in 1907 as Dignan Park, named for a former chairman of the city's Board of Public Works. In 1914, the park hosted the annual reunion of the [[United Confederate Veterans]], a gathering of former [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] soldiers. Five months after the reunion, the city renamed the park "Confederate Park". A [[Confederate monument]] was erected in 1915 honoring the Women of the Southland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/recreation-and-community-services/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/confederate-park.aspx|title=Confederate Park |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref> On August 11, 2020, the [[Jacksonville City Council|city council]] voted to change the name of the park to "Springfield Park".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Corley Peel, Jenese|date=August 1, 2020|title=Council OKs renaming Hemming Park after James Weldon Johnson|url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2020/08/11/city-council-to-discuss-renaming-hemming-park-5-others-in-jacksonville/|access-date=August 13, 2020|website=WJXT|language=en}}</ref>

{{wide image|Confederatepano.jpg|1100px|View of [[Downtown Jacksonville|downtown]], as seen from [[Springfield Park (Jacksonville)|Springfield Park]]}}

• [[Friendship Fountain]] is a large [[fountain]] in St. Johns River Park at the west end of [[Downtown Jacksonville]]'s [[Jacksonville Riverwalk|Southbank Riverwalk]]. It opened in 1965 as the world's largest and tallest fountain, and has been one of Jacksonville's most recognizable and popular attractions. The fountain's three pumps could push {{convert|17000|USgal|L}} of water per minute up to {{convert|100|feet|meters}} in height. It was designed by Jacksonville architect [[Taylor Hardwick]] in 1963 and in 2011, the city completed a $3.2 million renovation to the fountain and the surrounding park. It features a light show and music each evening.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/locations/l-93-friendship-fountain.aspx|title=Friendship Fountain|access-date=December 11, 2016|work=Downtown Vision Inc.|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220180008/http://www.downtownjacksonville.org/locations/l-93-friendship-fountain.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

• [[Hanna Park]] is a {{convert|1.5|mi|km|adj=on}} public beach and city park near Mayport in the [[Jacksonville Beaches]] area. It consists of {{convert|447|acre|km2}} of mature [[coast]]al [[Hammock (ecology)|hammock]], and was known as [[Manhattan Beach (Florida)|Manhattan Beach]], Florida's first beach community for African Americans during the period of [[segregation in the United States]]. Hannah Park also has a campground with both RV and tent sites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/kathryn-abbey-hanna-park.aspx|title=Hanna Park |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

[[File:HannaParkBoardwalk.JPG|thumb|right|[[Hanna Park]]]]

• [[Hemming Park]] is a {{convert|1.54|acre|m2|adj=on}} public park in the heart of the government center in downtown. Originally a [[village green]], it was the first park and remains the oldest park in the city. The area was established as a public square in 1857 by [[Isaiah Hart]], founder of Jacksonville. The first Wednesday of every month, Hemming Park is converted into the centerpiece of Jacksonville's Downtown Art Walk. The third Thursday of every month, Hemming Park hosts a night market called Jaxsons Night Market.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hemmingpark.org/park-history/|title=History of Hemming Park|access-date=December 11, 2016|work=Friends of Hemming Park|archive-date=December 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220135731/http://hemmingpark.org/park-history/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

• [[Henry J. Klutho Park|Klutho Park]] is an {{convert|18.34|acre|m2|adj=on}} public park, between downtown and the historic neighborhood of [[Springfield (Jacksonville)|Springfield]]. It is part of a network of parks that parallel Hogans Creek, Klutho Park being the largest, and was created between 1899 and 1901 on land donated by the Springfield Company. The park also housed the city's first zoo, opening at the park in 1914. The Hogans Creek Improvement Project of 1929–1930, designed by architect [[Henry J. Klutho]], turned much of the park grounds into a Venetian-style promenade.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/henry-j--klutho-park.aspx|title=Klutho Park |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

• [[Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail]] is a {{convert|14.5|mi|adj=on}} [[Rail Trail]] that extends northwest to [[Baldwin, Florida|Baldwin]]. It includes three separate paths; a multi-use asphalt trail for hiking, jogging, in-line skating or cycling; an off-road bike trail; and a horseback riding trail.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/jacksonville-baldwin-rail-trail.aspx|title=Jacksonville-Baldwin Rail Trail |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

• [[Jessie Ball DuPont Park]] is a {{Convert|7|acre|ha|adj=on}} park, home to [[Treaty Oak (Jacksonville, Florida)|Treaty Oak]], a massive 250-year-old tree in the Southbank.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/jessie-ball-dupont-park|title=Jessie Ball DuPont Park |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

• [[Metropolitan Park]] is a {{convert|32|acre|ha|adj=on}} waterfront park on the [[St. Johns River]], in the Sports Complex area of downtown. The multi-purpose facility contains an exhibition area, picnic and playground area, and a performance pavilion which has a capacity of 10,000 persons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/recreation-and-community-services/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/metropolitan-park.aspx|title=Metropolitan Park|access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

[[File:Jax FL Memorial Park statue1-05.jpg|thumb|right|[[Memorial Park (Jacksonville)|Memorial Park]]]]

• [[Memorial Park (Jacksonville)|Memorial Park]] is a {{convert|5.85|acre|m2|adj=on}} public park, on the [[St. Johns River]] in the historic neighborhood [[Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida|Riverside]]. Completed in 1924, it is the third oldest park in the city. Built to honor the 1,200 Floridians who died serving during [[World War I]], the notable [[Olmsted Brothers]] were commissioned to design the park, along with local architect [[Roy A. Benjamin]]. [[Charles Adrian Pillars]] designed the bronze sculpture, 'Life', prominently showcased in the park.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/memorial-park|title=Memorial Park|access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

• [[Riverside Park (Jacksonville)|Riverside Park]] is an {{convert|11.4|acre|ha|adj=on}} public park, in the historic neighborhood of [[Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida|Riverside]]. It is the second oldest park in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/riverside-park|title=Riverside Park |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

• [[Jacksonville Riverwalk|Riverwalk]] {{convert|2.0|mi|km}} along the St. Johns from Berkman Plaza to I-95 at the Fuller Warren Bridge while the Southbank Riverwalk stretches {{convert|1.2|mi|km}} from the Radisson Hotel to Museum Circle. Adjacent to Museum Circle is St. Johns River Park, also known as Friendship Park. It is the location of [[Friendship Fountain]], one of the most recognizable and popular attractions in Jacksonville. This landmark was built in 1965 and promoted as the "World's Tallest and Largest" fountain at the time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/parks-and-recreation/recreation-and-community-programming/parks/northbank-riverwalk-jacksonville-landing|title=Jacksonville Riverwalk |access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

• [[Veterans Memorial Wall]] is a tribute to local servicemen and women killed while serving in the US armed forces. A ceremony is held each Memorial Day, recognizing any service woman or man from Jacksonville who died in the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coj.net/departments/military-and-veterans-affairs/military-and-veterans-affairs/jacksonville-veterans-memorial-wall|title=Veterans Memorial Wall|access-date=December 11, 2016 |work=City of Jacksonville}}</ref>

====Other====

• [[Evergreen Cemetery (Jacksonville, Florida)|Evergreen Cemetery]] is a large historic cemetery added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on April 8, 2011.<ref name=evergreenjax>{{cite web|title=History & Growth of Evergreen|url=http://www.evergreenjax.com/history/|publisher=evergreenjax.com|access-date=December 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905094143/http://evergreenjax.com/history/|archive-date=September 5, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=metro>{{cite web|title=Evergreen Cemetery|url=http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-oct-evergreen-cemetery|publisher=metrojacsonville.com|access-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name=jacksonville>{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Hillary|title=evergreen cemetery|url=http://www.eujacksonville.com/pages/10-25-07/evergreencemetary.htm|publisher=eujacksonville.com|access-date=December 8, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131208180619/http://www.eujacksonville.com/pages/10-25-07/evergreencemetary.htm|archive-date=December 8, 2013}}</ref>

* [[Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens]] broke ground on a new center in April 2007 and held their grand opening on November 15, 2008.

* [[Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens]]

* [[Jacksonville National Cemetery]]

* [[Old City Cemetery (Jacksonville, Florida)|Old City Cemetery]]

* [[Tree Hill Nature Center]] is a nature preserve and environmental education center five minutes from Downtown Jacksonville.

==Demographics==

{|class="wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="float:right; margin:0 0 0.5em 1em; text-align:right; font-size:90%;"

|-

! style="background:tan; text-align:center" colspan="4"|<span style="color:black">City compared to county & state</span> 

|-style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"

!colspan=4|Jacksonville demographics

|-

|'''[[2010 United States Census|2010 Census]]'''||'''Jacksonville'''||'''Duval County'''||'''Florida'''

|-

|Total population||821,784||864,263||18,801,310

|-

|Population, percent change, 2000 to 2010||+11.7%||+11.0%||+17.6%

|-

|Population density||1,100.1/sq&nbsp;mi||1,133.9/sq&nbsp;mi||350.6/sq&nbsp;mi

|-

|[[White (U.S. Census)|White or Caucasian]] (including [[White Hispanic]])||59.4%||60.9%||75.0%

|-

|([[Non-Hispanic Whites|Non-Hispanic White or Caucasian]])||55.1%||56.6%||57.9%

|-

|[[Black (U.S. Census)|Black or African-American]]||30.7%||29.5%||16.0%

|-

|[[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic or Latino]]||7.7%||7.6%||22.5%

|-

|[[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]]||4.3%||4.2%||2.4%

|-

|[[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]] or [[Native Alaskan]]||0.4%||0.4%||0.4%

|-

|[[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]]||0.1%||0.1%||0.1%

|-

|[[Multiracial American|Two or more races (multiracial)]]||2.9%||2.9%||2.5%

|-

|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]]||5.2%||3.9%||3.6%

|}

{|class="wikitable sortable collapsible" style="font-size: 90%;"

|-

! Demographic profile !! 2020 <ref name="census"/> !! 2010<ref name="census"/>!! 2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Profile of General Demographic Characteristics: 2000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau }}</ref>!! 1990<ref name="census1"/> !! 1970<ref name="census1"/>

|-

| [[White American|White (Non-Hispanic)]] || 51.2% || 55.1% || 62.2% || 70.3% || 75.8%

|-

| [[African American|Black or African American]] || 31% || 30.1% || 29.0% || 25.2% || 22.3%

|-

| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] || 10% || 7.7% || 4.2% || 2.6% || 1.3%{{efn|From 15% sample}}

|-

| [[Asian American|Asian]] || 5.0% || 4.2% || 2.8% || 1.9% || 0.4%

|-

| [[Multiracial American|Mixed]] || 4.6% || 2.2%

|}

{{US Census population

|1850= 1045

|1860= 2118

|1870= 6912

|1880= 7650

|1890= 17201

|1900= 28429

|1910= 57699

|1920= 91558

|1930= 129549

|1940= 173065

|1950= 204275

|1960= 201030

|1970= 528865

|1980= 540920

|1990= 635230

|2000= 735503

|2010= 821784

|2020= 949611

|estyear= 2022

|estimate= 971319

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref><br />2010–2020<ref name="QuickFacts"/>

}}

Although incorporated in 1832, Jacksonville did not appear in the U.S. Census for the first time until 1850, when it recorded a population of only 1,045.<ref>{{Cite web|title=1850 Census of Population: Florida|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1850/1850a/1850a-32.pdf|access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref>

[[File:Ethnic Origins in Jacksonville, FL.png|left|thumb|Ethnic origins in Jacksonville]]

Today, Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida, and the [[List of United States cities by population|twelfth most populous city in the United States]]. {{As of|2010}}, there were 821,784 people and 366,273 households in the city.

[[File:Race and ethnicity 2010- Jacksonville (5559898547).png|thumb|left|Map of racial distribution in Jacksonville, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ff0000|White}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#0000ff|Black}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#00ffaa|Asian}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffa600|Hispanic}} {{legend inline|outline=white|white|text=⬤|textcolor=#ffff07|Other}}]]

{{As of|2010}}, those of Hispanic or Latino ancestry accounted for 7.7% of Jacksonville's population. Of these, 2.6% identified as [[Puerto Rican people|Puerto Rican]], 1.7% as [[Mexican people|Mexican]], and 0.9% as [[Cuban people|Cuban]].<ref name=HiLaJax>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Jacksonville, Florida Hispanic or Latino by Type: 2010 – 2010 Census Summary File 1 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 20, 2015 }}</ref>

{{As of|2010}}, those of African ancestry accounted for 30.7% of Jacksonville's population, which includes African Americans. Out of the 30.7%, 1.8% identified as [[Sub-Saharan Africa]]n, 1.4% as [[West Indian]] or [[Afro-Caribbean American]] (0.5% [[Haitian people|Haitian]], 0.4% [[Jamaican people|Jamaican]], 0.1% [[Afro-Caribbean|Other or Unspecified West Indian]], 0.1% [[Bahamian people|Bahamian]], 0.1% [[Barbadian people|Barbadian]]), and 0.6% as [[Black Hispanic]]s.<ref name=HiLaJax/><ref name=JAXpop>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Jacksonville, Florida Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 – 2010 Demographic Profile Data |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 20, 2015 }}</ref><ref name=JAXdemo>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Jacksonville, Florida: Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 20, 2015 }}</ref>

{{As of|2010}}, those of (non-Hispanic white) European ancestry accounted for 55.1% of Jacksonville's population. Of these, 10.4% identified as ethnic [[German people|German]], 10.2% as [[Irish people|Irish]], 8.8% as [[English people|English]], 3.9% as [[Italian people|Italian]], 2.2% as [[French people|French]], 2.0% as [[Scottish people|Scottish]], 2.0% as [[Scotch-Irish American|Scotch-Irish]], 1.7% [[Polish people|Polish]], 1.1% [[Dutch people|Dutch]], 0.6% [[Russian people|Russian]], 0.5% [[Norwegian people|Norwegian]], 0.5% [[Swedish people|Swedish]], 0.5% [[Welsh people|Welsh]], and 0.5% as [[French Canadian people|French Canadian]].<ref name=JAXdemo/>

{{As of|2010}}, those of Asian ancestry accounted for 4.3% of Jacksonville's population. Out of the 4.3%, 1.8% were [[Filipino people|Filipino]], 0.9% were [[Indian people|Indian]], 0.6% [[Asian people|Other Asian]], 0.5% [[Vietnamese people|Vietnamese]], 0.3% [[Chinese people|Chinese]], 0.2% [[Korean People|Korean]], and 0.1% were [[Japanese people|Japanese]].<ref name=JAXdemo/>

In 2010, 6.7% of the population identified as of American ancestry (regardless of race or ethnicity.)<ref name=JAXpop/><ref name=JAXdemo/> Some 0.9% were of [[Arab people|Arab]] ancestry, {{As of|2010|lc=y}}.<ref name=JAXdemo/>

{{As of|2010}}, there were 366,273 households, out of which 11.8% were vacant. 23.9% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.21. In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.<ref name=JAXdemo/><ref name=JAXage>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |title=Jacksonville, Florida: Age Groups and Sex: 2010 – 2010 Census Summary File 1 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 20, 2015 }}</ref>

In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $48,829, and the median income for a family was $59,272. Males had a median income of $42,485 versus $34,209 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,227. About 10.5% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.4% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those aged 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |title=Jacksonville, Florida: SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=November 20, 2015 }}</ref>

In 2010, 9.2% of the county's population was [[foreign born]], with 49.6% being [[Naturalized citizen of the United States|naturalized American citizens]]. Of foreign born residents, 38.0% were born in Latin America, 35.7% born in Asia, 17.9% were born in Europe, 5.9% born in Africa, 1.9% in North America, and 0.5% were born in Oceania.<ref name=JAXdemo/>

Jacksonville has the country's tenth-largest [[Arab]] population, with a total population of 5,751 according to the 2000 United States Census.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/c2kbr-23.pdf |title= The Arab Population: 2000 |date= December 2003 |work= Census 2000 Briefs |publisher= United States Census| access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Census reports on Arab-Americans for first time |author= Haya El Nasser|url= https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-11-20-arab-americans_x.htm|newspaper= [[USA Today]]|date= November 20, 2003 |access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref> Jacksonville has Florida's largest [[Filipino American]] community, with 25,033 in the metropolitan area as of the 2010 Census. Much of Jacksonville's Filipino community served in or has ties to the [[United States Navy]].<ref name="JAX2009">{{cite news |title=Festival highlights Jacksonville's Filipino culture |first=Deirdre |last=Conner |url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-06-18/story/festival_highlights_jacksonvilles_filipino_culture |newspaper=[[Florida Times-Union]] |date=June 18, 2009 |access-date=March 5, 2014 |archive-date=September 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927161905/http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-06-18/story/festival_highlights_jacksonvilles_filipino_culture |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{As of|2010}}, 87.1% of Jacksonville's population age five and over spoke only English at home while 5.8% of the population spoke Spanish at home. About 3.3% spoke other [[Indo-European languages]] at home. About 2.9% spoke [[Languages of Asia|Asian language]]s or [[Languages of Oceania|Pacific Islander languages]]/[[Oceanic languages]] at home. The remaining 0.9% of the population spoke [[Language|other languages]] at home. In total, 12.9% spoke another language other than English.<ref name=JAXdemo/>

As of 2000, speakers of English as a [[first language]] accounted for 90.60% of all residents, while those who spoke Spanish made up 4.13%, [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]] 1.00%, French 0.47%, Arabic 0.44%, German 0.43%, [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]] at 0.31%, Russian was 0.21% and Italian made up 0.17% of the population.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mla.org/map_data_results&SRVY_YEAR=2000&geo=&state_id=12&county_id=&mode=&lang_id=&zip=&place_id=35000&cty_id=&region_id=&division_id=&ll=&a=&ea=&order=r&pc=1 |title=MLA Data Center Results of Jacksonville, Florida |publisher=[[Modern Language Association]] |access-date=April 11, 2011}}</ref>

===Religion===

[[Image:StAndrewsEpiscopalJax.PNG|thumb|upright|[[St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Jacksonville)|St. Andrew's Episcopal Church]], built in 1887, is one of Jacksonville's oldest churches.]]

Jacksonville has a diverse religious population. The largest religious group is [[Protestant]]. According to the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] (ARDA), in 2010 the Jacksonville metropolitan area had an estimated 365,267 [[Evangelical Protestant]]s, 76,100 [[Mainline Protestants]], and 56,769 [[Black Protestant]]s, though figures for the latter were incomplete. There were around 1200 Protestant congregations in various denominations.<ref name=ARDA>{{cite web |url= http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/m/27260/rcms2010_27260_metro_tradition_2010.asp |title= Jacksonville, FL, Metropolitan Statistical Area |author= <!--Staff writer; no by-line.--> |date= 2010 |website= www.thearda.com |publisher= Association of Religion Data Archives |access-date= April 15, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140704121931/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/m/27260/rcms2010_27260_metro_tradition_2010.asp |archive-date= July 4, 2014 |url-status= dead }}</ref> Notable Protestant churches include [[Bethel Baptist Institutional Church]] and [[First Baptist Church of Jacksonville|First Baptist Church]], whose congregations separated after the Civil War and which are the city's oldest Baptist churches. Each has become very large. The [[Episcopal Diocese of Florida]] has its [[Episcopal see|see]] at [[St. John's Cathedral (Jacksonville)|St. John's Cathedral]]; the current building was completed in 1906.

{{Graph:Chart|width=100|height=100|type=pie|legend=Legend

|x=Evangelical Protestant (27%),Black Protestant (4%),Mainline Protestant (6%),Orthodox (>1%),Catholic (10%),Other (3%),Unclaimed (50%)

|y1=365267,56769,76100,3734,133155,39028,671543}}

Jacksonville is part of the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] [[Diocese of St. Augustine]], which covers seventeen counties in North Florida.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dosafl.com/communications-office/church-stats |title=Church Stats |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |website=www.dosafl.com |publisher=Diocese of St. Augustine |access-date=April 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416192341/http://www.dosafl.com/communications-office/church-stats |archive-date=April 16, 2014 }}</ref> ARDA estimated 133,155 Catholics attending 25 parishes in the Jacksonville metropolitan area in 2010.<ref name=ARDA/> The [[Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Jacksonville)|Basilica of the Immaculate Conception]] in Jacksonville, defined as a [[minor basilica]] in 2013, was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1992.<ref>[http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/FL/Duval/state.html Duval County listings] at National Register of Historic Places</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date= August 15, 2013 |title= Jacksonville's Immaculate Conception named a Minor Basilica |url= http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-08-15/story/jacksonvilles-immaculate-conception-named-minor-basilica |newspaper= The Florida Times-Union |access-date= December 5, 2013 }}</ref>

There are also two [[Eastern Catholic]] parishes, one of the [[Syriac Catholic Church]] and one of the [[Maronite Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dosafl.com/parish-life/eastern-rite-churches |title=Eastern Rite Churches |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2014 |website=www.dosafl.com |publisher=Diocese of St. Augustine |access-date=April 15, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175728/http://www.dosafl.com/parish-life/eastern-rite-churches |archive-date=April 16, 2014 }}</ref> In 2010 there were 2520 [[Eastern Orthodox]] Christians, representing four churches in the Eastern Orthodox communion, as well as congregations of [[Syriac Orthodox]], [[Armenian Apostolic Church|Armenian Apostolic]], [[Ethiopian Orthodox]], and [[Coptic Orthodox]] Christians.<ref name=ARDA/>

ARDA estimated 14,886 members of [[the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) and 511 [[Unitarian Universalism|Unitarian Universalists]] in 2010.<ref name=ARDA/> There were an estimated 8,581 [[Muslims]] attending seven mosques, the largest being the Islamic Center of Northeast Florida.<ref name=ARDA/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://icnef.org/ |title=Islamic Center of Northeast Florida, Inc.|access-date=July 19, 2007 }}</ref> The Jewish community, which numbered 6,028 in 2010,<ref name=ARDA/> is largely centered in the neighborhood of [[Mandarin (Jacksonville)|Mandarin]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Gerber |first=Ron |url=http://www.walk2shul.com/lif_articles/jacksonville-fl-jewish-community.php |title=Living the Jewish Life in Jacksonville, Florida |publisher=Walk2shul.com |access-date=February 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228123245/http://www.walk2shul.com/lif_articles/jacksonville-fl-jewish-community.php |archive-date=December 28, 2011 }}</ref> There are five [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]], two [[Reform Judaism|Reform]], two [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]], and one [[Reconstructionist Judaism|Reconstructionist]] synagogues. The [[Rohr Jewish Learning Institute]] teaches courses for the community.<ref name=ARDA/><ref>{{cite news|last1=Shorelines|title=Religion Notes|url=http://jacksonville.com/community/shorelines/2015-10-28/story/religion-notes|agency=Jacksonville.com|newspaper=Florida Times-Union|date=October 28, 2015}}</ref>

ARDA also estimated 4,595 [[Hinduism|Hindus]], 3,530 [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] and 650 [[Baháʼí Faith|Baháʼís]] in the Jacksonville area in 2010.<ref name=ARDA/>

==Economy==

{{Further|List of companies based in the Jacksonville area}}

[[File:CSXJAX15.JPG|thumb|right|[[CSX Transportation Building]] serves as headquarters for [[CSX Corporation]].]]

Jacksonville's location on the [[St. Johns River]] and the Atlantic Ocean proved instrumental to the growth of the city and its industry. Jacksonville has a sizable deepwater port, which helps make it a leading port in the U.S. for [[automobile]] imports, as well as the leading transportation and [[Distribution (business)|distribution]] hub in the state. The strength of the city's economy lies in its broad diversification. While the area once had many thriving dairies, such as [[Gustafson's Farm]] and [[Skinner Dairy]], this aspect of the economy has declined over time. The area's economy is balanced among [[Distribution (business)|distribution]], [[financial services]], [[biomedical technology]], [[consumer goods]], information services, manufacturing, insurance, and other industries.

Jacksonville is home to the headquarters of four [[Fortune 500]] companies: [[CSX Corporation]], [[Fidelity National Financial]], [[Fidelity National Information Services]] and [[Southeastern Grocers]].<ref>{{cite news |url= https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/states/FL.html |title= Fortune 500: Florida|work= money.cnn.com|access-date=October 25, 2011}}</ref> [[Interline Brands]] is based in Jacksonville and is owned by [[The Home Depot]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bray|first1=Chad|title=Home Depot to Buy Interline Brands for $1.6 Billion in Cash|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/23/business/dealbook/home-depot-to-buy-interline-brands-for-1-6-billion-in-cash.html?_r=0|access-date=July 22, 2015|newspaper=New York Times|date=July 22, 2015}}</ref> Other notable companies based in Jacksonville or with a large presence include [[Florida Blue]], [[Swisher International Group]], [[BOA Merrill Lynch]], [[Fanatics (sports retailer)|Fanatics]], [[Crowley Maritime]], [[Web.com]], [[Firehouse Subs]] and [[Deutsche Bank]]. [[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]], SW of downtown, employs more than 25,000 people.

In 2008, Jacksonville had 2.8 million visitors who stayed overnight, spending nearly $1 billion. A study by Research Data Services of Tampa quantified the importance of tourism. The total economic impact was $1.6 billion and supported nearly 43,000 jobs, 10% of the local workforce.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/business/2009/05/12/city-visitors-left-1-billion-here-in-08/15986103007/|title=City visitors left $1 billion here in '08|website=The Florida Times-Union}}</ref>

===Banking and financial services===

[[File:LaurastBOAT.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Bank of America Tower (Jacksonville)|Bank of America Tower]] on [[Laura Street]]]]

Jacksonville has long had a regional legacy in banking and finance. Locally headquartered [[Atlantic National Bank]], [[Florida National Bank]] and [[Barnett Bank]] dominated the industry in Florida from the turn of the 20th century through the 1980s, before all being acquired in a national wave of mergers and acquisitions throughout the entire financial sector. Acquired by [[NationsBank]] in 1997, Barnett Bank was the last of these banks to succumb to acquisition, and at the time was the largest banking merger in U.S. history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jacksonville.com: Barnett-NationsBank: Largest banking merger in U.S. history 8/29/97|url=http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/083097/2a1Barne.html#.WELfQDbru00|website=Jacksonville.com|publisher=The Florida Time-Union|access-date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> The city still holds distinction nationally and internationally, boasting two Fortune 500 financial services companies, [[Fidelity National Financial]] and [[FIS (company)|FIS]], FIS being well recognized as a global leader in [[financial technology]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Jacksonville companies move up on Fortune 500 list|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2016/06/06/jacksonville-companies-move-up-on-fortune-500-list.html|newspaper=Jacksonville Business Journal|access-date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> Headquartered on the banks of the St. Johns River in [[Downtown Jacksonville]], [[EverBank]] holds the title of largest bank in the state by deposits.<ref>{{cite news|title=TIAA Said to Be in Talks to Buy EverBank for Online Lending|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=August 3, 2016|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-03/tiaa-said-to-be-in-talks-to-buy-everbank-for-online-expansion|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> The city is home to other notable financial services institutions including [[Ameris Bancorp]], [[Atlantic Coast Financial]], [[Black Knight Financial Services]], [[MedMal Direct Insurance Company]], [[US Assure]], Jax Federal Credit Union, and [[VyStar Credit Union]]. The city is also home to the [[Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Jacksonville Branch|Jacksonville Branch]] of the [[Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Lockhart|first1=Dennis|title=Federal Reserve Bank Presidents|url=https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/bios/banks/pres06.htm|website=federalreserve.gov|publisher=Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System|access-date=December 3, 2016|archive-date=December 8, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161208013722/https://www.federalreserve.gov/aboutthefed/bios/banks/pres06.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Jacksonville's [[financial sector]] has benefited from a rapidly changing business culture, as have other [[Sunbelt]] cities such as [[Atlanta]], [[Tampa]], and [[Charlotte]]. In a concept known as [[nearshoring]], financial institutions are shifting operations away from high-cost addresses such as [[Wall Street]], and have shifted some trading functions to Jacksonville.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Levin|first1=Jonathan|title=Wall Street Is Hiring ... in Florida |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-01-25/wall-street-is-hiring-in-florida|website=Bloomberg.com|date=January 25, 2017|publisher=Bloomberg|access-date=January 25, 2017}}</ref> With relatively low-cost real estate, easy access by planes to New York City, high quality of life, and 19,000 financial sector employees, Jacksonville has become an option for relocating staff.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gray|first1=Alistair|title=Move over NY — here comes Jacksonville |url=https://www.ft.com/content/e1ece4fa-17ac-11e6-bb7d-ee563a5a1cc1 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/e1ece4fa-17ac-11e6-bb7d-ee563a5a1cc1 |archive-date=December 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|newspaper=Financial Times|date=May 15, 2016|access-date=December 3, 2016}}</ref>

[[Deutsche Bank]]'s growth in the city is an example of such change. Jacksonville is the site of Deutsche Bank's second largest US operation; only New York City is larger. They also are an example of a business that has moved operations to the suburbs.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pantazi|first1=Andrew|title=Shift in Jacksonville's financial industry also a shift away from downtown|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2016-06-05/story/new-york-too-expensive-so-jacksonville-steps-draw-high-paying-finance|website=Jacksonville.com|publisher=The Florida Times-Union|access-date=December 3, 2016}}</ref> Other institutions with a notable presence in Jacksonville include [[Macquarie Group]], [[Bank of America]], [[Wells Fargo]], [[JPMorgan Chase]], [[Citi]], [[Citizens Property Insurance]], [[Fidelity Investments]], [[Ally Financial]] and [[Aetna]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Pantazi|first1=Andrew|title=Jacksonville Area Employers|url=http://jaxusa.org/images/uploads/resources/Jacksonville_Large_Area_Employers.pdf|website=jaxusa.org|publisher=JAXUSA Partnership|access-date=December 3, 2016}}{{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Logistics===

[[File:CMA CGM Virginia - IMO 9351139 (3194444689).jpg|thumb|right|[[Container ship]] at [[Port of Jacksonville]]]]

Jacksonville is a rail, air, and highway focal point and a busy port of entry, with [[Jacksonville International Airport]], ship repair [[shipyard|yards]] and extensive freight-handling facilities. [[Lumber]], [[phosphate]], paper, cigars and [[Pulp (paper)|wood pulp]] are the principal exports; [[automobiles]] and coffee are among imports. The city's manufacturing base provides 4.5% of local jobs, versus 8.5% nationally.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-05-08/story/jacksonville-finishes-near-last-manufacturing-study |title= Jacksonville finishes near last in manufacturing study|author= Bauerlein, David|date= May 8, 2007|newspaper= Florida Times-Union |access-date=May 9, 2012}}</ref>

According to ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine in 2007, Jacksonville ranked third among the top ten U.S. cities as destinations for jobs.<ref>{{cite magazine| url = https://www.forbes.com/careers/2007/02/15/best-cities-jobs-leadership-careers_cx_hc_0216cityjobs_table.html| title = Table: Best Cities for Jobs| magazine = Forbes.com| date = February 16, 2007| access-date = December 20, 2007| last = Clark| first = Hannah|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070226094105/http://www.forbes.com/careers/2007/02/15/best-cities-jobs-leadership-careers_cx_hc_0216cityjobs_table.html|archive-date=February 26, 2007}}</ref> Jacksonville was ranked as the tenth-fastest growing city in the U.S.<ref>{{cite magazine| url = https://www.forbes.com/2007/10/31/property-cities-growth-forbeslife-cx_mw_1031realestate_slide_11.html| title = In Pictures: America's Fastest-Growing Cities| magazine = Forbes.com| date = October 31, 2007| access-date = December 20, 2007| last = Woolsey| first = Matt}}</ref>

To emphasize the city's transportation business and capabilities, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce filed ''Jacksonville America's Logistics Center'' as a trademark on November 9, 2007. It was formally registered on August 4, 2009.<ref>[http://business.zibb.com/trademark/jacksonville+america's+logistics+center/30464892 "Jacksonville America's Logistics Center"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702215644/http://business.zibb.com/trademark/jacksonville%20america%27s%20logistics%20center/30464892 |date=July 2, 2014 }} ZIBB Business News</ref> Cornerstone began promoting the city as "Jacksonville: America's Logistics Center" in 2009. Signs were added to the existing city limit markers on Interstate 95.<ref>Bauerlein, David: [http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-04-22/story/new_signs_help_tout_duval_county "New signs help tout Duval County"], ''Florida Times-Union,'' April 21, 2009</ref>

The [[Port of Jacksonville]], a [[seaport]] on the [[St. Johns River]], is a large component of the local economy. Approximately 50,000 jobs in Northeast Florida are related to port activity and the port has an economic impact of $2.7 billion in Northeast Florida:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bouchard4b.pbwiki.com/About%20Jaxport |title=Bouchard4B website: Things I didn't know about Jaxport |publisher=Bouchard4b.pbwiki.com |date=September 25, 2007 |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> The three maritime shippers who ship to [[Puerto Rico]] are all headquartered in Jacksonville: [[TOTE Maritime]], [[Crowley Maritime]], and [[Trailer Bridge]].

[[Cecil Commerce Center]] is on the site of the former Naval Air Station Cecil Field, which closed in 1999 following the 1993 [[Base Realignment and Closure]] (BRAC) decision. Covering a total area of {{convert|22939|acre|km2}}, it was the largest military base in the Jacksonville area. The parcel contains more than 3% of the total land area in Duval County ({{convert|17000|acre|km2}}). The industrial and commercial-zoned center offers mid to large-size parcels for development; it has excellent transportation and utility infrastructure, including the third-longest runway in Florida.

===Media and technology===

{{Main|Media in Jacksonville, Florida}}

[[File:ftuhq.jpeg|thumb|left|''[[The Florida Times-Union]]'' Building]]

''[[The Florida Times-Union]]'' is the major daily broadsheet newspaper in the State of Florida, headquartered in Jacksonville. Jacksonville.com is its official website. The ''[[Financial News & Daily Record]]'' is also a major daily broadsheet newspaper focused but specialized for those who work in business and legal communities. Weekly papers include the ''[[Jacksonville Business Journal]]'', an [[American City Business Journals]] publication focused on business news, ''[[Folio Weekly]]'', the city's chief [[alternative weekly]], and ''[[The Florida Star]]'' and the ''[[Jacksonville Free Press]]'', two weeklies catering to African Americans. ''Jax4Kids'', a monthly newspaper, caters to parents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.Jax4Kids.com/|title=Jax4Kids.com|website=www.jax4kids.com}}</ref> ''[[EU Jacksonville]]'' is a monthly entertainment magazine. ''The Coastal'' is also a local magazine that is only online that also publishes a quarterly paper edition.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thecoastal.com/about/|title=About The Coastal - Magazine in Jacksonville, FL and Northern St. Johns|website=The Coastal}}</ref>

When it comes to broadcast media, Jacksonville is considered after a certain point in time, after 2017, the 47th-largest local television market in the United States.<ref>[http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/2009-2010-dma-ranks.pdf "Local Television Market Universe Estimates"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317170600/http://blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/2009-2010-dma-ranks.pdf |date=March 17, 2011 }} Nielsen Media Research</ref> Despite its large population, Jacksonville has always been a small-to-medium-sized market because of population trends towards suburban and once-traditionally rural areas around Duval County, Florida. They are served by television stations affiliated with major American networks including but not limited to: [[WTLV]] 12 ([[NBC]]) and its sister station [[WJXX]] 25 ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]), [[WJAX-TV]] 47 ([[CBS]]) and [[WFOX-TV]] 30 ([[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]; with [[MyNetworkTV]]/[[MeTV]] on DT2), which operates WJAX-TV under a [[Local marketing agreement|joint sales and shared services agreement]], [[WJCT (TV)|WJCT]] 7 ([[PBS]]), and [[WCWJ]] 17 ([[The CW|CW]]). [[WJXT]] 4, [[WCWJ]]'s sister station, is a former longtime [[CBS]] affiliate that turned independent in 2002.

Jacksonville is also considered, after 2017, the 46th-largest local radio market in the U.S.<ref>[https://ratings.radio-online.com/cgi-bin/rol.exe/arb_menu_001 Nielsen Audio Ratings] Retrieved May 10, 2019.</ref> and is also dominated by two of the largest media groups in the United States that also dominates the American radio industry, including the following: [[Cox Communications|Cox Radio]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://coxradio.com/includes/stations/jacksonville.html |title=Cox Radio's Market Profile for Jacksonville, Florida |access-date=July 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703212158/http://coxradio.com/includes/stations/jacksonville.html |archive-date=July 3, 2007 }}</ref> and [[iHeartMedia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clearchannel.com/Radio/StationSearch.aspx?RadioSearch=Jacksonville |title=Clear Channel Radio Station List for Jacksonville, Florida |access-date=July 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070116115927/http://www.clearchannel.com/Radio/StationSearch.aspx?RadioSearch=jacksonville |archive-date=January 16, 2007 }}</ref> The dominant AM radio station in terms of ratings - or households to use an industry term tuning in, is [[WOKV (AM)|WOKV 690AM]], which is also the flagship station for the Jacksonville Jaguars.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wokv.com/ads/index.html |title=Inside wokv.com |access-date=July 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070612204549/http://wokv.com/ads/index.html |archive-date=June 12, 2007 }}</ref> In May 2013, WOKV began simulcasting on 104.5 FM as WOKV FM. There are two [[Radio broadcasting|radio stations]] currently broadcasting, after 2017, primarily contemporary American (U.S. Based) Pop music, and they are the following: [[WAPE-FM|WAPE 95.1]] which has somewhat dominated this niche for over 20 years but had competition originally based out of Atlanta, Georgia and Los Angeles, California linked to Ryan Seacrest. And more recently has been challenged to a certain extent by [[WKSL]] 97.9 FM (KISS FM).

For other popular genres of music, this would be [[WJBT]] 93.3 (The Beat) which is a mostly gangster-oriented [[hip hop music|Hip-Hop]]/[[rhythm and blues|R&B]] station and 96.9 The Eagle [[WJGL]] which is mostly a Classical or Hard Rock station, while its HD subchannel WJGL-HD2 operates an Urban CHR format under the moniker Power 106.1. [[WWJK|WWJK 107.3]] is its competitor specializing in Contemporary Rock music under the moniker "107.3 Planet Radio." And moreover, [[WEZI (FM)|WEZI 102.9]] is considered another competitor that specializes in Alternative R&B or Adult Contemporary that is often branded as "Easy 102.9" along with [[WEJZ|96.1 WEJZ]] branded as "96.1 WEJZ", [[WHJX|WHJX "Hot 106.5"]] specializing in urban adult contemporary, and WQIK 99.1 simply specializing in traditional [[country music|country]] or Americana as well as WGNE-FM 99.9, and [[WJCT-FM|WJCT]] 89.9 lastly being the local [[National Public Radio]] affiliate. Moreover, a Christian Contemporary alternative would be [[WJKV]] 90.9 FM that is also an [[Educational Media Foundation]] K-LOVE outlet.

===Military and defense===

[[File:US Navy 101207-N-6106P-001 Pilots assigned to the Vikings of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, pract.jpg|thumb|right|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]] at [[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]]]]

Jacksonville is home to three US naval facilities. Together with the nearby [[Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay]], Jacksonville is the third-largest naval complex in the country.<ref name="Port of Jacksonville"/> Only [[Norfolk, Virginia]] and San Diego, California are bigger. The United States military is the largest employer in Jacksonville and its total economic impact is approximately $6.1 billion annually. Several veterans' service organizations are also headquartered in Jacksonville, including [[Wounded Warrior Project]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5213/is_2005/ai_n19129622 |title=Bnet Business Network: Cities of the United States (2005)-Jacksonville: Economy |publisher=Findarticles.com |access-date=July 1, 2010 |year=2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125194525/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_gx5213/is_2005/ai_n19129622/ |archive-date=November 25, 2011 }}</ref>

[[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]] is a military airport {{convert|4|mi|km|0}} south of the central business district. Approximately 23,000 civilian and active-duty personnel are employed on the base. There are 35 operational units/squadrons assigned there. Support facilities include an airfield for pilot training, and a maintenance depot capable of tasks ranging from changing a tire to intricate micro-electronics, or total engine disassembly. Also on-site is a Naval Hospital, a Fleet Industrial Supply Center, a Navy Family Service Center, and recreational facilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrse/installations/nas_jacksonville/about/history.html|website=cnic.navy.mil|publisher=US Navy|access-date=May 26, 2016|archive-date=July 7, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707115029/http://www.cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrse/installations/nas_jacksonville/about/history.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:USS Bataan arrives at Naval Station Mayport 121102-N-IC228-001.jpg|thumb|right|{{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|6}} at [[Naval Station Mayport]]]]

[[Naval Station Mayport]] is a Navy Ship Base that is the third-largest fleet concentration area in the U.S. Mayport has a busy harbor capable of accommodating 34 ships, and an {{convert|8000|ft|m|adj=on}} runway capable of handling any aircraft used by the Department of Defense. Until 2007, it was home to the [[aircraft carrier]] {{USS|John F. Kennedy|CV-67|6}}, which locals called "Big John". In January 2009, the Navy committed to stationing a nuclear-powered carrier at Mayport when the official ''Record of Decision'' was signed. The port will require approximately $500 million in facility enhancements to support the larger vessel, which took several years to complete.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gibbons|first= Timothy J.|url= http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-01-15/story/mayport_carrier_decision_made_official|website=jacksonville.com|date= January 15, 2009 |title= Mayport carrier decision made official}}</ref> The carrier was projected to arrive in 2019; however, an amphibious group was sent before the carrier.<ref>[http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-02-13/story/no-carrier-mayport-near-future-if-all No carrier for Mayport in the near future, if at all], jacksonville.com. Retrieved on July 12, 2013.</ref>

[[Blount Island Command]] is a Marine Corps Logistics Base whose mission is to support the Maritime Prepositioning Force (MPF). This provides for rapid deployment of personnel to link up with pre-positioned equipment and supplies embarked aboard forward-deployed Maritime Prepositioning Ships (MPS).<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gibbons|first1=Timothy|title=Blount Island takes on bigger role in Marine logistics|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/military/2010-03-30/story/blount-island-takes-bigger-role-marine-logistics|access-date=May 26, 2016|newspaper=The Florida Times-Union|date=March 30, 2010}}</ref>

{{USS|Jacksonville|SSN-699|6}}, a [[Nuclear propulsion|nuclear-powered]] {{sclass|Los Angeles|submarine}}, is a U.S. Navy ship named for the city. The ship's nickname is ''The Bold One'' and [[Pearl Harbor]] is her home port.

The [[125th Fighter Wing|Florida Air National Guard]] is based at [[Jacksonville International Airport]].

Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville is on the St. Johns River next to Naval Station Mayport. Sector Jacksonville controls operations from [[Kings Bay, Georgia]], south to [[Cape Canaveral, Florida|Cape Canaveral]]. CGC ''Kingfisher'', CGC ''Maria Bray'', and CGC ''Hammer'' are stationed at the Sector. Station Mayport is co-located with Sector Jacksonville and includes {{convert|25|ft|m|adj=on}} response boats, and {{convert|47|ft|m|adj=on}} motor lifeboats.

==Culture==

===Leisure and entertainment===

{{See also|List of attractions and events in Jacksonville, Florida}}

[[File:Gator bowl jacksonville fl 1961.jpg|thumb|left|[[Gator Bowl Stadium]], now [[TIAA Bank Field]], where the annual [[Gator Bowl]] has taken place since 1946]]

Throughout the year, many annual events of various types are held in Jacksonville. In sports, the annual [[Gate River Run]] has been held annually since March 1977.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news4jax.com/sports/7905330/detail.html |title=March 11, 2006–10,000 Participate; Keflezighi Wins Gate River Run |publisher=News4Jax.com |date=March 11, 2006 |access-date=July 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090129202435/http://www.news4jax.com/sports/7905330/detail.html |archive-date=January 29, 2009 }}</ref> It has been the US National {{convert|15|km|mi|adj=|abbr=|sp=us}} [[road running|road race]] Championship since 1994 and is the largest race of its distance in the country with over 13,000 runners, spectators, and volunteers, making it Jacksonville's largest participation sporting event.<ref name="MSNBC">{{Cite web |last= |title=WJXT-TV, March 15, 2009-15K Take To Streets in 15K River |url=http://roovet.com/WJXT-TV--March-15--2009-15K-Take-To-Streets-in-15K-River |url-status=dead |access-date=June 17, 2023 |website=Roovet |language=en |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617201610/https://roovet.com/WJXT-TV--March-15--2009-15K-Take-To-Streets-in-15K-River }}</ref> In college football, the [[Gator Bowl]] is held on January 1. It has been continuously held since 1946. Also, the [[Florida–Georgia game]] (also known as the "World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party"), the annual [[college football]] game between the rival [[Florida Gators football|Florida Gators]] and [[Georgia Bulldogs football|Georgia Bulldogs]] has been held in Jacksonville almost yearly since 1933. For six days in July the [[Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament]] is held for fishermen of all skills. With $500,000 of prizes up for grabs, up to 1000 boats participate with almost 30,000 spectators watching. Jacksonville is also home of [[River City Pride]] which is Northeast Florida's largest Gay Pride parade. The parade and festivities usually take place over the course of the weekend, usually the first or second weekend in October in Jacksonville's Riverside neighborhood. The first pride parade was held in 1978.

A number of cultural events are also held in Jacksonville. The [[Jacksonville Jazz Festival]], held downtown, is the second largest [[jazz]] festival in the nation,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.superpages.com/cities/Jacksonville-FL.html |title=Superpages Travel reviews |publisher=Superpages.com |date=June 22, 2009 |access-date=July 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080131173508/http://www.superpages.com/cities/Jacksonville-FL.html |archive-date=January 31, 2008 }}</ref> while ''[[Springing the Blues]]'', one of the oldest and largest [[blues]] festivals, has been held in [[Jacksonville Beach, Florida|Jacksonville Beach]] since 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.blues.org/#ref=links_links |title=''The Blues Foundation's List of Festivals'' |publisher=Blues.org |access-date=November 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101026014126/https://blues.org/ |archive-date=October 26, 2010 }}</ref> The [[World of Nations Celebration]] has been held in [[Metropolitan Park]] since 1993, and features a number of events, food and souvenirs from various countries.

[[File:Hemming Plaza2.JPG|thumb|upright|right|[[Hemming Park]] hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year.]]

The Art Walk, a monthly outdoor art festival formerly on the first Wednesday of each month, was sponsored by Downtown Vision, Inc, an organization which works to promote artistic talent and venues on the First Coast. This Art Walk - renowned and attracted many art lovers and traditional artists alike participating from New York City and Los Angeles, California, used to be held at Hemming Park prior to 2017 before it was reduced in size and character, resembling somewhat like Central Park in New York City, and is now selectively held at MOCA at UNF indoors, in downtown Jacksonville after 2017.

Jacksonville is home to many breweries and a growing number of distilleries.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jaxbrews.com/jacksonville-bars/jacksonville-breweries/|title=Best Breweries in Jacksonville, Florida – Jax Brews|date=March 5, 2018|access-date=March 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310210820/http://jaxbrews.com/jacksonville-bars/jacksonville-breweries/|archive-date=March 10, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> Other events include the [[Blessing of the Fleet]] held in March since 1985 and the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair in November at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds and Exposition Center featuring games, rides, food, entertainment and livestock exhibition. [[One Spark]] is the largest annual [[crowdfunding]] event held for creators to showcase their ideas for a chance to win part of $300,000 in funding. [[Riverside Arts Market (RAM)]], an outdoor arts-and-crafts market on the Riverwalk, occurs every Saturday from March to December under the canopy of the Fuller Warren Bridge. Holiday celebrations include the Freedom, Fanfare & Fireworks celebration on [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4]], the lighting of Jacksonville's official [[Christmas tree]] at the [[Jacksonville Landing]] (now removed) on the day after [[Thanksgiving (United States)|Thanksgiving]] and the Jacksonville Light Parade of boats the following day.

The [[VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena]], opened in 2003, is a 16,000-seat multi-purpose [[arena]] featuring live sporting events that houses the Jacksonville Sports Hall of Fame. It is linked to Theatre Jacksonville and Players by the Sea, both non-profit theater companies, and attracts national and prominent local live theater performances. It replaced the outdated [[Jacksonville Coliseum]], built in 1960 and demolished on June 26, 2003. The [[Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens]] has the second largest animal collection in the state. The zoo features elephants, lions, and [[jaguar]]s, with an exhibit, ''Range of the Jaguar'', hosted by the former owners of the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]], [[Wayne Weaver|Delores and Wayne Weaver]]. It also has a multitude of reptile houses, free flight aviaries, and many other animals. [[Adventure Landing]] is an [[amusement park]] with locations in Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach. The Jacksonville Beach location contains Shipwreck Island, Duval County's only [[waterpark]].

[[Theatre Jacksonville]], a once prominent non-profit and for-profit theatrical production company, was organized in 1919 as the ''Little Theatre'' and is one of the oldest continually producing [[community theater]]s in the United States. [[Alhambra Dinner Theatre|Alhambra Theater & Dining]], opened in 1967 in Jacksonville as the Alhambra Dinner Theatre,<ref name="Soergel2022">{{cite news |last1=Soergel |first1=Matt |title=Out on Beach Blvd., Jacksonville's Alhambra dinner theater still entertaining after 55 years |url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/history/2022/11/15/jacksonville-alhambra-dinner-theater-still-drawing-florida-crowds/8318910001/ |work=The Florida Times-Union |date=November 15, 2022}}</ref> is the oldest continually operated [[dinner theater]] in the United States.<ref name="Richards2022">{{cite news |last1=Richards |first1=Anthony |title=Alhambra founder's legacy lives on years later |url=https://pontevedrarecorder.com/stories/alhambra-founders-legacy-lives-on-years-later,18112 |access-date=April 10, 2023 |work=The Ponte Vedra Recorder |date=June 30, 2022}}</ref> There are a number of other community theaters in Jacksonville, such as ''Players by the Sea'' near Jacksonville Beach,<ref name="Fletcher2015">{{cite book |last1=Fletcher |first1=Dorothy K. |title=Historic Jacksonville Theatre Palaces, Drive-ins and Movie Houses |date=2015 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-1-62585-294-6 |pages=70–71 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bL84CwAAQBAJ&pg=PA70}}</ref> the 5 & Dime Theatre Co. in downtown Jacksonville,<ref name="Brown2021">{{cite news |last1=Brown |first1=Will |title=Jacksonville theatre company 5 & Dime brings back live theater with locally written plays |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2021/08/19/5-and-dime-returns.html |access-date=April 10, 2023 |work=www.bizjournals.com |date=August 19, 2021}}</ref> the Murray Hill Art Center was reopened in February 2012, and is operated by the Art League of Jacksonville,<ref name="Whitehead2015">{{cite news |last1=Whitehead |first1=Christy |title=Jacksonville's Arts on the Go stops in Murray Hill |url=https://cm.jacksonville.com/offers-reg/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.jacksonville.com%2Fstory%2Fentertainment%2F2010%2F02%2F06%2Fjacksonvilles-arts-on-the-go-stops-in-murray-hill%2F15956864007%2F |access-date=April 10, 2023 |work=Florida Times-Union |date=February 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410213301/https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/2010/02/06/jacksonvilles-arts-on-the-go-stops-in-murray-hill/15956864007/ |archive-date=April 10, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> a nonprofit organization dedicated to arts education.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artsjax.org/|title=Art League of Jacksonville|website=artsjax.org}}</ref> The center is in the historic Murray Hill area and offers community arts classes.<ref name="Mathis2012">{{cite news |last1=Mathis |first1=Karen Brune |author1= |title=City OKs $412,000 build-out at NorthPort Logistics Center |url=https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2012/nov/16/city-oks-412000-build-out-northport-logistics-center/ |access-date=April 10, 2023 |work=Jacksonville Daily Record |date=November 16, 2012}}</ref>

Jacksonville has two fully enclosed shopping malls. The oldest is the [[Regency Square Mall (Jacksonville, Florida)|Regency Square Mall]], which opened in 1967 and is on former sand dunes in the Arlington area. The other is [[The Avenues (shopping mall)|The Avenues Mall]]. It opened in 1990 on the Southside at the intersection of I-95 and US 1. There is a third indoor mall in the metropolitan area, The Orange Park Mall, but it is just outside of Jacksonville in [[Orange Park, Florida]], in [[Clay County, Florida|Clay County]].

The [[St. Johns Town Center]] opened in 2005, on the south side of Jacksonville. [[River City Marketplace]] opened in 2006, on the north side of Jacksonville. Both of these are "open-air" malls, with a mix of stores but not contained under the same roof.

===Literature, film and television===

{{Main|Media in Jacksonville, Florida}}

[[File:GaumontStudios.jpg|thumb|left|Motion picture scene at [[Gaumont Film Company|Gaumont Studios]], 1910]]

A handful of significant literary works and authors are associated with Jacksonville and the surrounding area. Perhaps the most important is [[James Weldon Johnson]], who moved North and was influential in the [[Harlem Renaissance]]. In 1920 he also became the first African American to lead the [[NAACP]] civil rights organization. His first success as a writer was the poem "[[Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing]]" (1899), which his brother [[Rosamond Johnson]] set to music; the song became unofficially known as the "Negro National Anthem".<ref>{{cite book|last=Roberts|first=Brian|title=Artistic Ambassadors|pages=57–59}}</ref>

Already famous for having written ''[[Uncle Tom's Cabin]]'' (1852), northern writer [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]] published ''[[Palmetto Leaves]]'' in 1873. A [[travel guide]] and memoir about her winters in the town of [[Mandarin, Florida]], it was one of the first guides written about Florida and stimulated the state's first boom in the 1880s of tourism and residential development.

Jacksonville embraced the movies. [[Sun-Ray Cinema]], also known as the 5 Points Theatre and Riverside Theatre, opened in 1927. It was the first theater in Florida equipped to show the new "talking pictures" and the third nationally. It is in the [[Five Points (Jacksonville)|Five Points]] section of town and was renamed as the ''Five Points Theater'' in 1949.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.5pointsjax.com/theater.html|title=Theater|website=www.5pointsjax.com}}</ref>

The [[Florida Theatre]], also opened in 1927, is in downtown Jacksonville and is one of only four remaining high-style movie palaces that were built in Florida during the [[Mediterranean Revival Style architecture|Mediterranean Revival architectural]] boom of the 1920s. Since that time, Jacksonville has been chosen by a number of film and television studios for [[location shooting]]. Notable motion pictures that have been partially or completely shot in Jacksonville since the silent film era include the classic thriller, ''[[Creature from the Black Lagoon]]'' (1954).<ref name="Movies Filmed in Jacksonville"/>

Since the late 20th century, the city has attracted numerous film companies, which shot ''[[The New Adventures of Pippi Longstocking]]'' (1988), ''[[Brenda Starr (1989 film)|Brenda Starr]]'' (1989), ''[[G.I. Jane]]'' (1997), ''[[The Devil's Advocate (1997 film)|The Devil's Advocate]]'' (1997), ''Ride'' (1998), ''[[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)|Why Do Fools Fall in Love]]'' (1998), ''[[Forces of Nature (1999 film)|Forces of Nature]]'' (1999), ''[[Tigerland]]'' (2000), ''[[Sunshine State (film)|Sunshine State]]'' (2002), ''[[Basic (film)|Basic]]'' (2003), ''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]'' (2004), ''[[Lonely Hearts (2006 film)|Lonely Hearts]]'' (2006), ''[[Moving McAllister]]'' (2007), ''The Year of Getting to Know Us'' (2008), ''[[The Ramen Girl]]'' (2008) and ''[[Like Dandelion Dust]]'' (2009).<ref name="Movies Filmed in Jacksonville">{{cite web|last=Jenkins|first=Edward|title=About Jacksonville|url=http://jacksonville.about.com/od/historystatsfunfacts/tp/Movies-Made-In-Jacksonville.htm|work=About.com|publisher=The New York Times Company|access-date=November 27, 2011|archive-date=October 21, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111021074312/http://jacksonville.about.com/od/historystatsfunfacts/tp/Movies-Made-In-Jacksonville.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Notable television series or made-for-television films that have been partially or completely shot in Jacksonville include ''[[Inherit the Wind (1988 film)|Inherit the Wind]]'' (1988), ''[[Orpheus Descending]]'' (1990), ''[[Saved by the Light]]'' (1995), ''[[The Babysitter's Seduction]]'' (1996), ''[[First Time Felon]]'' (1997), ''[[Safe Harbor (film)|Safe Harbor]]'' (2009), ''[[Recount (film)|Recount]]'' (2008), ''[[American Idol]]'' (2009), and ''[[Ash vs Evil Dead]]'' (2015).

===Museums and art galleries===

[[File:Cummer Museum, Jacksonville, FL, US (02).jpg|thumb|right|[[Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens]]]]

The [[Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens]] is an [[art museum]] in Jacksonville's [[Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida|Riverside]] neighborhood. It was founded in 1961, following the death of Ninah Mae Holden Cummer, who bequeathed her art collection, house and gardens to the museum. Its galleries display one of the world's three most comprehensive collections of [[Meissen porcelain]], as well as large collections of American, European, and Japanese art. The grounds contain two acres of Italian and English gardens begun by Ninah Cummer.<ref name=museums>{{cite book |title= Insiders' Guide to Jacksonville, 3rd Edition|last= Reiss|first= Sarah W. |year= 2009 |publisher= Globe Pequot |isbn= 978-0-7627-5032-0|pages= 82–83|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rlHWoqDYZHkC|access-date= September 15, 2011}}</ref>

The [[Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville]] (MOCA Jacksonville) is a [[contemporary art]] museum funded and operated as a "cultural resource" of the [[University of North Florida]]. Tracing its roots to the formation of Jacksonville's Fine Arts Society in 1924, it opened its current {{convert|60000|sqft|m2|-3|adj=on}} facility in 2003 next to the Main Library downtown. The museum features eclectic permanent and traveling exhibitions, and a collection of over 700 works.<ref name=museums/>

The [[Museum of Science & History]] (MOSH), in downtown's [[Southbank Riverwalk]], specializes in science and local history exhibits. It features a main exhibit that changes quarterly, plus three floors of nature exhibits, an extensive exhibit on the history of Northeast Florida, a hands-on science area, and the area's only [[astronomy]] theater, the [[Bryan Gooding Planetarium]].<ref name=museums/><ref>Chapin, Veronica: [http://www.aguidetoflorida.com/information/florida/13/ Jacksonville Travel] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031153941/http://www.aguidetoflorida.com/information/florida/13/ |date=October 31, 2010 }}</ref><ref name=Patton2007>{{cite news |title= Planetarium will be new star again at MOSH |first= Charlie |last= Patton |url= http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/2010-07-07/story/museum-officials-expect-planetarium-upgrades-attract-more-visitors |newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]] |date= July 7, 2010 |access-date=March 26, 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Jax FL Museum of SH pano01.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.25|[[Museum of Science and History]]]]

[[Kingsley Plantation]] is a historic [[plantations in the American South|plantation]] built in 1798. The house of [[Zephaniah Kingsley]], barn, kitchen, and slave cabins have been preserved.

Alexander Brest, founder of Duval Engineering and Contracting Co., was the benefactor for the [[Alexander Brest Museum and Gallery]] on the campus of [[Jacksonville University]]. The exhibits are a diverse collection of [[Ivory carving|carved ivory]], [[Pre-Columbian]] artifacts, [[Steuben Glass Works|Steuben glass]], [[Chinese ceramics|Chinese porcelain]] and [[cloisonné]], [[Tiffany glass]], [[Edward Marshall Boehm|Boehm]] porcelain, and rotating exhibits of the work of local, regional, national and international artists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.inusa.com/tour/fl/jacksonv/brest.htm |title=INUSA tourguide: Jacksonville, Florida |publisher=Inusa.com |access-date=July 1, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713050649/http://www.inusa.com/tour/fl/jacksonv/brest.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2011 }}</ref>

Three other art galleries are at educational institutions in town. [[Florida State College at Jacksonville]] has the Kent Gallery on their westside campus and the Wilson Center for the Arts at their main campus. The University Gallery is on the campus of the [[University of North Florida]].<ref>{{cite web |title=www.florida-arts.org – school |url=https://roovet.com/Florida-Division-of-Cultural-Affairs--University-and-College-Art-Spaces |access-date=May 14, 2009 |website=Roovet}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, University and College Art Spaces</ref>

The Jacksonville [[Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum (Jacksonville)|Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum]] is a branch of the world's largest private collection of original manuscripts and documents. The museum in Jacksonville is in a 1921 neoclassical building on the outskirts of downtown.<ref name=Patton2001>{{cite news |title= Jacksonville's Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum has the write stuff |first= Charlie |last= Patton |url= http://jacksonville.com/entertainment/arts/2011-03-01/story/jacksonvilles-karpeles-manuscript-library-museum-has-write-stuff |newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]] |date= March 1, 2011 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Get it documented |first= Charlie |last= Patton |url= http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012101/dss_5172793.html |newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]] |date= January 21, 2001 |access-date=September 13, 2011}}</ref> In addition to document displays, an antique-book library has numerous volumes dating from the late 19th century.

The [[Catherine Street Fire Station]] building is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]; it was relocated to Metropolitan Park in 1993. It houses the Jacksonville Fire Museum and features more than 500 artifacts, including an 1806 hand pumper.

The [[LaVilla Museum]] opened in 1999 and features a permanent display of African-American history. In addition, the art exhibits are changed periodically.

The city has several outstanding historical properties, some of which have been adapted to new uses. These include the Klutho Building, the [[Morocco Temple|Old Morocco Temple Building]], the [[Palm and Cycad Arboretum]], and the [[Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center]], originally built as Union Station train depot. The [[Jacksonville Historical Society]] showcases two restoration projects: the 1887 [[St. Andrew's Episcopal Church (Jacksonville, Florida)|St. Andrews Episcopal Church]] and the 1879 Merrill House, both near the sports complex.

The Jacksonville Naval Museum opened in 2022 with the museum ship [[USS Orleck|USS ''Orleck'']] as its centerpiece. This museum gives tribute to the city's naval history.

===Music===

[[File:Florida Theater.JPG|thumb|left|[[The XX]] performing at the [[Florida Theatre]]]]

[[File:Ritz Theater 1 (Jacksonville, Florida).jpg|thumb|left|[[Ritz Theatre (Jacksonville)|The Ritz Theater]], opened in 1929 in the LaVilla neighborhood. Renovated in 1999.]]

The [[Ritz Theatre (Jacksonville)|Ritz Theatre]], opened in 1929, is in the [[LaVilla, Jacksonville, Florida|LaVilla]] neighborhood of the northern part of Jacksonville's downtown. The Jacksonville music scene was active in the 1930s in LaVilla, which was known as "Harlem of the [[Southern United States|South]]".<ref>[http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-may-ashley-street-the-harlem-of-the-south "Ashley Street: The Harlem of the South"] Metro Jacksonville, History</ref> Black musicians from across the country visited Jacksonville to play standing room only performances at the [[Ritz Theatre (Jacksonville)|Ritz Theatre]] and the ''Knights of Pythias Hall''. [[Cab Calloway]], [[Duke Ellington]], [[Ella Fitzgerald]], and [[Louis Armstrong]] were a few of the legendary performers who appeared. After his mother died when he was 15, [[Ray Charles]] lived with friends of his mother while he played piano at the Ritz for a year, before moving on to fame and fortune. The Ritz Theatre was rebuilt, and reopened in October 1999.

The [[Jacksonville Jazz Festival]] has been held for than 40 years. It takes place over the three-day Memorial Day weekend, and includes the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition.

During the 1960s, the [[Classics IV]] was the most successful pop rock band from Jacksonville. [[Southern Rock]] was defined by the [[Allman Brothers Band]], which formed in 1969 in Jacksonville. [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]] achieved near cult status and inspired [[Blackfoot (band)|Blackfoot]], [[Molly Hatchet]] and [[38 Special (band)|.38 Special]], all successful in the 1970s. The 1980s were a quiet decade for musical talent in Jacksonville.

The [[Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts]] consists of three distinct halls: the ''Jim & Jan Moran Theater'', a venue for touring Broadway shows; the ''Jacoby Symphony Hall'', home of the [[Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra]]; and the ''Terry Theater'', intended for small shows and recitals. The building was originally erected as the Civic Auditorium in 1962 and underwent a major renovation and construction in 1996.

The next local group to achieve national success was the [[nu metal]] band [[Limp Bizkit]], formed in 1994. Other popular acts from Jacksonville were [[hip hop music|hip hop]] acts [[95 South]], [[69 Boyz]], and the [[Quad City DJ's]]. The bands [[Inspection 12]], [[Cold (band)|Cold]], and [[Yellowcard]] were also well known and had a large following. After 2000, [[Fit For Rivals]], [[Burn Season]], [[Evergreen Terrace]], [[Shinedown]], [[The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus]], [[Electric President]], and [[Black Kids]] became notable bands from the city.

===Sports===

{{Main|Sports in Jacksonville}}

[[File:JaguarsEverbank15.jpg|thumb|right|[[The Star-Spangled Banner]] performed before a [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] game at [[TIAA Bank Field]]]]

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! Club !! Sport !! League !! Venue (capacity)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Jaguars]]

| [[American football|Football]]

| [[National Football League|NFL]]

| [[TIAA Bank Field]] (69,428)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp]]

| [[Baseball]]

| [[International League|IL]]

| [[121 Financial Ballpark]] (11,000)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Giants]]

| [[Basketball]]

| [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|ABA]]

| [[VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena]] (14,100)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Icemen]]

| [[Ice hockey]]

| [[ECHL]]

| VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (13,000)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Sharks]]

| [[Indoor American football|Indoor football]]

| [[National Arena League|NAL]]

| VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena (13,000)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Axemen]]

| [[Rugby league]]

| [[USA Rugby League|USARL]]

| [[Hodges Stadium]] (12,000)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Armada FC]]

| [[Soccer]]

| [[National Premier Soccer League|NPSL]]

| Hodges Stadium (12,000)

|-

| [[Jacksonville Saints]]

| [[Australian Rules Football]]

| [[United States Australian Football League|USAFL]]

| Willowbranch Park

|}

Jacksonville is home to one [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major league]] [[professional sports|sports team]], the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] of the [[National Football League]] (NFL). The Jaguars joined the NFL as an [[expansion team]] in the 1995 season; they play their home games at [[TIAA Bank Field]].<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.profootballhof.com/history/team.aspx?franchise_id=15|title= Jacksonville Jaguars|work= profootballhof.com|publisher= Pro Football Hall of Fame|access-date= October 27, 2010|archive-date= December 29, 2010|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101229231151/http://www.profootballhof.com/history/team.aspx?franchise_id=15|url-status= dead}}</ref> In 2005, Jacksonville hosted [[Super Bowl XXXIX]]. The [[PGA Tour]], which organizes the main professional [[golf]] tournaments in the U.S., is headquartered in the suburb of [[Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida|Ponte Vedra Beach]], where it holds [[The Players Championship]] every year.<ref>{{cite book |title= Mike Weir: The Road To The Masters|last= Rubenstein|first= Lorne|author-link= Lorne Rubenstein|year= 2004|publisher= Random House|isbn= 0-7710-7574-X|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pkkkgTvNDMsC|access-date=October 27, 2010}}</ref>

Jacksonville is also home to several [[minor league]]-level teams. The [[Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp]], a [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A]] [[baseball]] team, have played in Jacksonville continuously since 1970 and have consistently been near the top of their league in attendance.<ref name=Pahigian201>{{cite book |title= The Ultimate Minor League Baseball Road Trip: A Fan's Guide to AAA, AA, A, and Independent League Stadiums|last= Pahigian|first= Josh|year= 2007|publisher= Globe Pequot|isbn= 978-1-59921-024-7|page= 201|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=1DaQ8oNXuE0C|access-date= October 27, 2010}}</ref><ref name="Jumbo Shrimp">{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20070103&content_id=41270954&sid=t564&vkey=team4|publisher=Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp|access-date=November 21, 2016|archive-date=August 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180828001723/http://www.milb.com/content/page.jsp?ymd=20070103&content_id=41270954&sid=t564&vkey=team4|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Jacksonville Sharks]], who began play in 2010, were the champions of the [[Arena Football League]]'s [[ArenaBowl XXIV]] in 2011<ref>{{cite news |title= Arena football team to be Sharks|newspaper= [[Jacksonville Business Journal]]|date=November 18, 2009 |url= http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/11/16/daily23.html|access-date=October 27, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Sharks win ArenaBowl on final play|first= Don |last= Coble |url= http://jacksonville.com/sports/football/sharks/2011-08-12/story/sharks-win-arenabowl-final-play|newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]] |date= August 12, 2011|access-date=September 2, 2011}}</ref> and now play in the [[National Arena League]], where they have won two league championships. The [[Jacksonville Axemen]] are a semi-professional [[rugby league]] team founded in 2006, and now play in the [[USA Rugby League]].<ref name=Code13>{{cite web|url=http://www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/01/12/breakaway-league-launched-in-the-us/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110116021032/http://www.code13rugbyleague.com/2011/01/12/breakaway-league-launched-in-the-us/ |archive-date=January 16, 2011 |title=Breakaway league launched in the US |date=January 12, 2011 |work=code13rugbyleague.com |access-date=January 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[Jacksonville Giants]] [[basketball]] team started play in the new [[American Basketball Association (2000–present)|American Basketball Association]] in December 2010. The Giants won the [[2011–12 ABA season|2012 ABA Championship]] in March 2012 in [[Tampa, Florida]].<ref>{{cite news |title= ABA pro basketball team coming to Jacksonville|first= Jeff|last= Elliott|newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]]|date= October 20, 2010|url= http://jacksonville.com/jeff-elliott/2010-10-20/story/aba-pro-basketball-team-coming-jacksonville|access-date=November 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Jacksonville Giants will tip off Dec. 4|first= Ashley |last= Gurbal|newspaper= [[Jacksonville Business Journal]]|date= November 10, 2010|url= http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2010/11/10/jacksonville-giants-will-tip-off-dec-4.html|access-date=November 24, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Jacksonville Giants romp in overwhelming debut|first= Mike|last= Zima|newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]]|date= December 5, 2010|url= http://jacksonville.com/sports/basketball/2010-12-05/story/jacksonville-giants-romp-overwhelming-debut|access-date=December 6, 2010}}</ref> The [[Jacksonville Armada FC]] is a soccer team that began play in the [[North American Soccer League (2011–2017)|North American Soccer League]] (NASL) in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last= Soergel |first= Matt |date= February 18, 2014 |title= Jacksonville soccer team to be called the Jacksonville Armada FC |url= http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-02-18/story/jacksonville-soccer-team-be-called-jacksonville-armada-fc |newspaper= [[The Florida Times-Union]] |url-access= subscription |access-date= February 18, 2014 |archive-date= July 2, 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170702112216/http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-02-18/story/jacksonville-soccer-team-be-called-jacksonville-armada-fc |url-status= dead }}</ref> The [[Jacksonville Icemen]] is a [[minor league]] ice hockey team in the [[ECHL]] that began play in the 2017–18 season. The team plays its home games at [[VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena]].

[[All Elite Wrestling|All Elite Wrestling (AEW)]] is a [[professional wrestling]] promotion based in Jacksonville and a competitor of [[WWE]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mazique |first1=Brian |title=10 Things You Should Know About AEW (All Elite Wrestling) |website=[[Forbes]] |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/brianmazique/2019/01/04/10-things-you-should-know-about-aew-all-elite-wrestling/#1be9d116514c |access-date=May 26, 2019}}</ref>

[[College sports]], especially [[college football]], are popular in Jacksonville. The city hosts the [[Florida–Georgia game]], an annual [[college football]] game between the [[University of Florida]] and the [[University of Georgia]] and the [[Gator Bowl|TaxSlayer Gator Bowl]], a post-season college football [[bowl game]]. Jacksonville's two universities compete in [[NCAA]] [[Division I (NCAA)|Division I]]: the [[University of North Florida]] [[North Florida Ospreys|Ospreys]] and the [[Jacksonville University]] [[Jacksonville Dolphins|Dolphins]], both in the [[Atlantic Sun Conference]].<ref>{{cite news |title= UNF officially moves to Division I|first= Smits|last= Gary|newspaper= [[Jacksonville Business Journal]]|date=July 9, 2009 |url= http://jacksonville.com/sports/college/north_florida_ospreys/2009-07-09/story/unf_officially_moves_to_division_i|access-date=October 31, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ju.edu/about.aspx |title=About JU |year=2010 |work=www.ju.edu |publisher=Jacksonville University |access-date=October 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100924112727/http://ju.edu/about.aspx |archive-date=September 24, 2010 }}</ref>

==Government and politics==

===Government===

{{Main|Government of Jacksonville}}

[[File:Jacksonville City Hall (South face).JPG|thumb|left|[[St. James Building]], currently housing Jacksonville City Hall]]

In 1968 Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated their governments in the [[Jacksonville Consolidation]]. This eliminated a separate county executive or legislature, and supplanted these positions with the Mayor of Jacksonville and the City Council of the City of Jacksonville, respectively. Because of this, voters who live ''outside'' of the city limits of Jacksonville but ''inside'' Duval County may vote in elections for these positions and run for them. In 1995, [[John Delaney (Florida politician)|John Delaney]], a resident of [[Neptune Beach, Florida|Neptune Beach]] within Duval County, was elected as mayor of the city of Jacksonville.

Jacksonville is organized under the [[city charter]] and provides for a "strong" [[Mayor–council government|mayor–council]] form of city government. The [[Mayor of Jacksonville]] is elected to four-year terms and serves as the head of the government's executive branch. The [[Jacksonville City Council]] comprises nineteen members, fourteen representing [[single-member district|single-member]] [[electoral district]]s of roughly equal populations, and five elected for [[at-large]] seats. The mayor oversees most city departments, though some are independent or quasi-independent. Law enforcement is provided by the [[Jacksonville Sheriff's Office]], headed by an elected [[sheriff]]; public schools are overseen by [[Duval County Public Schools]], and several services are provided by largely independent authorities. The mayor holds veto power over all resolutions and ordinances made by the city council and also has the power to hire and fire the heads of various city departments.

As before the consolidation, some government services are operated independently of city and county authority. In accordance with Florida law, the elected school board has nearly complete autonomy. Jacksonville also has several quasi-independent government agencies which only nominally answer to the consolidated authority, including [[JEA|electric authority]], port authority, transportation authority, housing authority and airport authority. The main environmental and agricultural body is the Duval County Soil and Water Conservation District, which works closely with other area, state, and federal agencies.

[[File:DonnaDeegan.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[Donna Deegan]], the current [[List of mayors of Jacksonville, Florida|mayor of Jacksonville]]]]

The [[Jacksonville Housing Authority]] (JHA) is the quasi-independent agency responsible for public housing and [[subsidized housing]] in Jacksonville. The Mayor and City Council of Jacksonville established the JHA in 1994 to create a community service-oriented, public housing agency with innovative ideas and a different attitude. The primary goal was to provide safe, clean, affordable housing for eligible low and moderate income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. The secondary goal was to provide effective social services, work with residents to improve their quality of life, encourage employment and self-sufficiency, and help residents move out of assisted housing. To that end, JHA works with [[HabiJax]] to help low and moderate income families to escape the public housing cycle and become successful, productive, homeowners and taxpayers.

===Politics===

{{Main|Politics of Jacksonville}}

The present mayor is [[Donna Deegan]], who assumed office on July 1, 2023.<ref name="Mazeke">{{cite news |last1=Mazeke |first1=Jim Piggott, Kendra |title=History in the making: Donna Deegan sworn in as first woman to lead the River City |url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/07/01/history-in-the-making-donna-deegan-to-be-sworn-in-jacksonvilles-first-woman-mayor/ |work=WJXT |date=July 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701180458/https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/07/01/history-in-the-making-donna-deegan-to-be-sworn-in-jacksonvilles-first-woman-mayor/ |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |access-date=July 3, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> Deegan's predecessor was [[Lenny Curry]].

<ref>[http://jacksonville.com/slideshow/2015-07-01/new-mayor-and-sheriff-sworn-lenny-curry-and-mike-williams-take-oath-office#slide-1 INAUGURATION DAY: Lenny Curry and Mike Williams Take Oath of Office] Retrieved July 1, 2015</ref>

Most of the city lies in the [[Florida's 4th congressional district]], and is represented by Republican [[Aaron Bean]]. Most of central Jacksonville is in the [[Florida's 5th congressional district|5th district]], represented by Republican [[John Rutherford (Florida politician)|John Rutherford]]. The 4th and 5th districts have been characterized by analysts as some of the most [[Gerrymandering|gerrymandered]] districts in the country<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/05/15/americas-most-gerrymandered-congressional-districts/ |title=America's most gerrymandered congressional districts |last1=Ingraham |first1=Christopher |date=May 15, 2014 |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=May 21, 2014}}</ref> In 2014, the Florida Supreme Court ordered the state legislature to redraw at least eight of the congressional districts to correct inequities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/10/one-of-americas-snakiest-congressional-districts-has-just-been-trashed-by-the-florida-supreme-court/|title=One of America's weirdest congressional districts has just been trashed by the Florida Supreme Court|last1=Miller|first1=Michael|last2=Kirkpatrick|first2=Nick|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=November 21, 2018}}</ref>

In 2010, Duval County's [[crime rate]] was 5,106 per 100,000 people, according to the [[Florida Department of Law Enforcement]]. The county's murder rate had been the highest among Florida's counties with a population of 500,000 or more for eleven years in 2009, leading to widespread discussion in the community about how to deal with the problem. In 2010, Duval County's violent crime rate decreased by 9.3% from the previous year, with total crime decreasing 7.3%, putting the murder rate behind [[Miami-Dade County, Florida|Miami-Dade County]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Results are in: Duval County no longer state murder capital |first=Dana|last=Treen|url=http://jacksonville.com/news/crime/2011-04-26/story/results-are-duval-county-no-longer-state-murder-capital|newspaper=[[The Florida Times-Union]] |date=April 26, 2011|access-date=April 28, 2011}}</ref>

Jacksonville and Duval County historically maintained separate police agencies: the Jacksonville Police Department and Duval County Sheriff's Office. As part of consolidation in 1968, the two merged, creating the [[Jacksonville Sheriff's Office]] (JSO). The JSO is headed by the elected Sheriff of Jacksonville, currently T.K. Waters.<ref name="Gibson2022">{{cite news |last1=Gibson |first1=Travis |title=T.K. Waters sworn in as Jacksonville's new sheriff during emotion-filled ceremony |url=https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/11/20/tk-waters-to-take-oath-of-office-to-become-jacksonvilles-new-sheriff/ |work=WJXT News 4 Jax |date=November 20, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221120160120/https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/11/20/tk-waters-to-take-oath-of-office-to-become-jacksonvilles-new-sheriff/ |archive-date=November 20, 2022 |access-date=April 11, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> The sherrif's office is responsible for law enforcement and corrections in the county.

==Education==

{{Main|Education in Jacksonville, Florida}}

===Primary and secondary education===

{{Main|Duval County Public Schools}}

[[File:Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville.JPG|thumb|[[Duval County Public Schools]] headquarters]]

{{See also|List of high schools in Florida#Duval County|l1=List of high schools in Jacksonville}}

Public primary and secondary schools in Jacksonville and Duval County are administered by [[Duval County Public Schools]], which is governed by an elected, seven-member [[Duval County School Board]]. In the 2009–2010 school year, the district enrolled 123,000 students. It administers 172 total schools, including 103 elementary schools, 25 middle schools, 19 [[High school (North America)|high school]]s, three K–8 schools, and one 6–12 school, as well as 13 charter schools and a juvenile justice school program.<ref name=ourschools>{{cite web|url=http://www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/new%20residents/aboutdcps.asp#schools |title=About dcps: our schools |year=2010 |publisher=[[Duval County Public Schools]] |access-date=April 28, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415083553/http://www.duvalschools.org/static/aboutdcps/new%20residents/aboutdcps.asp |archive-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> Of these, 62 are designated [[magnet schools]].<ref name=ourschools/>

Three of Jacksonville's high schools, [[Stanton College Preparatory School]], [[Darnell-Cookman School of the Medical Arts]] and [[Paxon School for Advanced Studies]] regularly appear at the top of ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine's annual list of the country's top public high schools, coming in respectively at #3, #7, and #8 in the 2010 edition.<ref name=NEWSWEEK>Mathews, Jay: [http://www.newsweek.com/feature/2010/americas-best-high-schools/list.html America's Best High Schools: The List] ''[[Newsweek]]'' magazine, June 13, 2010. Retrieved April 28, 2011.</ref> Five other schools, [[Douglas Anderson School of the Arts]] (#33), [[Mandarin High School]] (#97), [[Duncan U. Fletcher High School]] (#205), [[Sandalwood High School]] (#210), and [[Englewood High School (Florida)|Englewood High School]] (#1146) were also included in the list.<ref name="NEWSWEEK" />

The [[Roman Catholic Diocese of St. Augustine]] operates a number of Catholic schools in Jacksonville, including two high schools, [[Bishop Kenny High School]] and [[Bishop John J. Snyder High School]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bishopsnyder.org/|title=Bishop Snyder High School – Jacksonville Florida|website=Bishop Snyder High School}}</ref> Other private schools in Jacksonville include [[Arlington Country Day School]], the [[Bolles School]], Trinity Christian Academy, and the [[Episcopal School of Jacksonville]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Insiders' Guide to Jacksonville, 3rd Edition|last=Reiss|first=Sarah W. |year=2009 |publisher=Globe Pequot |isbn=978-0-7627-5032-0|pages=189–190|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rlHWoqDYZHkC|access-date=May 10, 2011}}</ref>

===Colleges and universities===

{{Further|List of colleges and universities in metropolitan Jacksonville}}

Jacksonville is home to a number of institutions of higher education. The [[University of North Florida]] (UNF), opened in 1972, is a public institution and a member of the [[State University System of Florida]]. [[Jacksonville University]] (JU) is a private institution founded in 1934. [[Edward Waters College]], established in 1866, is the oldest college in Jacksonville and the state's oldest [[historically black college]]. [[Florida State College at Jacksonville]] is a [[state university|state college]] and a member of the [[Florida College System]], offering two-year [[associate's degree]]s as well as some four-year [[bachelor's degrees]]. The [[University of Florida]] has its second campus of the [[J. Hillis Miller Health Science Center]] in Jacksonville.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |url= https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/298914/Jacksonville|title= Jacksonville|encyclopedia= Encyclopædia Britannica|access-date=November 21, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title= Insiders' Guide to Jacksonville, 3rd Edition|last= Reiss|first= Sarah W. |year= 2009 |publisher= Globe Pequot |isbn= 978-0-7627-5032-0|pages= 184–187|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rlHWoqDYZHkC|access-date= May 10, 2011}}</ref>

Other colleges and universities in Jacksonville include [[Trinity Baptist College]], and [[Jones College (Jacksonville)|Jones College]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Insiders' Guide to Jacksonville, 3rd Edition|last= Reiss|first= Sarah W. |year= 2009 |publisher= Globe Pequot |isbn= 978-0-7627-5032-0|page= 187|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rlHWoqDYZHkC|access-date= May 10, 2011}}</ref> Also in the area are [[St. Johns River State College]], a [[state university|state college]] with campuses in [[Clay County, Florida|Clay]], [[St. Johns County, Florida|St. Johns]], and [[Putnam County, Florida|Putnam]] Counties, and [[Flagler College]] in [[St. Augustine, Florida|St. Augustine]].<ref>{{cite book |title= Insiders' Guide to Jacksonville, 3rd Edition|last= Reiss|first= Sarah W. |year= 2009 |publisher= Globe Pequot |isbn= 978-0-7627-5032-0|page= 184|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=rlHWoqDYZHkC|access-date= May 10, 2011}}</ref> The [[Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science]] also offers educational programs from its [[Mayo Clinic Jacksonville]] campus.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://college.mayo.edu/academics/mayo-clinic-alix-school-of-medicine/choosing-mayo-clinic/training-locations/|title=Training Locations - Choosing Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic College of Medicine & Science|first=Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and|last=Science|website=Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">

File:UNF Student Union pic.jpg|[[University of North Florida]]

File:JU2014.JPG|[[Jacksonville University]]

File:Building A, FSCJ.JPG|[[Florida State College at Jacksonville]]

File:Jax FL Waters College Admin Bldg sq pano02.jpg|[[Edward Waters University]]

</gallery>

===Public libraries===

{{Main|Jacksonville Public Library (Florida)}}

[[File:Jacksonville Main Library 2008.jpg|thumb|right|Jacksonville Main Library]]

The [[Jacksonville Public Library (Florida)|Jacksonville Public Library]] had its beginnings when May Moore and Florence Murphy started the Jacksonville Library and Literary Association in 1878. The Association was populated by various prominent Jacksonville residents and sought to create a free public library and reading room for the city.<ref name="jplhistory">{{cite web|url=http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/history.html |title=Jacksonville Public Library: A History |access-date=August 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210549/http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/history.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>

Over the course of 127 years, the system has grown from that one room library to become one of the largest in the state. The Jacksonville library system includes the Main Library and 20 branches, ranging in size from the {{convert|54000|sqft|m2|-2|abbr=on}} West Regional Library to smaller neighborhood libraries like Westbrook and Eastside. The Library annually receives nearly 4 million visitors and circulates over 6 million items. Nearly 500,000 library cards are held by area residents.<ref name="jplprofile">{{cite web|url=http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/factsheet.html |title=Jacksonville Public Library: Profile |access-date=August 19, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927210602/http://jaxpubliclibrary.org/lib/factsheet.html |archive-date=September 27, 2007 }}</ref>

On November 12, 2005, the new {{convert|300000|sqft|m2|-4|abbr=on}} [[Jacksonville Public Library (Florida)#Main Library|Main Library]] opened to the public, replacing the 40-year-old [[Haydon Burns Library]]. The largest public library in the state, the opening of the new main library marked the completion of an unprecedented period of growth for the system under the [[Better Jacksonville Plan]].<ref name="betterjax">{{cite web|url=http://www.betterjax.com/ |title=The Better Jacksonville Plan |access-date=July 19, 2007 }}</ref> The new Main Library offers specialized reading rooms, public access to hundreds of computers and public displays of art, an extensive collection of books, and special collections ranging from the African-American Collection to the recently opened Holocaust Collection.<ref name="jplhistory"/>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===

{{Main|Transportation in Jacksonville, Florida}}

[[File:DamesPBJFL.jpg|thumb|upright|left|The [[Dames Point Bridge]] (officially the [[Napoleon B. Broward|Napoleon Bonaparte Broward]] Bridge) is a [[cable-stayed bridge]] over the [[St. Johns River]]. Construction began in 1985 and was completed in 1989.]]

====Roadways and bridges====

There are seven bridges over the [[St. Johns River]] at Jacksonville. They include (starting from furthest downstream) the [[Dames Point Bridge|Napoleon Bonaparte Broward Bridge (Dames Point)]] (which carries Interstate 295 Eastern Beltway traffic), the [[Mathews Bridge|John E. Mathews Bridge]], the [[Hart Bridge|Isaiah D. Hart Bridge]], the [[Main Street Bridge (Jacksonville)|John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge (Main Street)]], the [[Acosta Bridge|St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge]], the [[Fuller Warren Bridge]] (which carries [[Interstate 95 in Florida|I-95]] traffic) and the [[Buckman Bridge|Henry Holland Buckman Bridge]] (which carries [[Interstate 295 (Florida)|I-295 North/South]] traffic). Also, next to the Acosta Bridge is a large jackknife railroad bridge built in the 1920s by Henry Flagler's FEC Railroad.

Beginning in 1953, tolls were charged on the Hart, Mathews, Fuller Warren and Main Street bridges to pay for bridge construction, renovations and many other highway projects. As Jacksonville grew, toll plazas created bottlenecks and caused delays and accidents during rush hours. In 1988, Jacksonville voters chose to eliminate toll collection and replace the revenue with a ½ cent local sales tax increase. In 1989, the toll booths were removed.

[[Interstate 10 in Florida|Interstate&nbsp;10]] (I-10) and [[Interstate 95 in Florida|I-95]] intersect in Jacksonville, forming the busiest freeway interchange in the region with 200,000 vehicles each day.<ref>{{cite news |last= Hannan |first= Larry |url= http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-06-07/story/work-jacksonvilles-interstate-intersection-end-early-next-year |title= Jacksonville's scrambled I-10/I-95 intersection transforming traffic until 2011 |work= The Florida Times-Union |location= Jacksonville, FL |date= June 7, 2010}}</ref> I-10 ends at this intersection (the other end being in [[Santa Monica, California]]). Additionally, [[Florida State Road 202|State Road&nbsp;202]] (J. Turner Butler Boulevard) provides freeway access to the Jacksonville beaches from I-95 on the Southside.

I-95 has a [[bypass route]], [[Interstate 295 (Florida)|I-295]], which [[ring road|encircles]] the downtown area. The major freeway interchange at I-295 and SR 202 was finally completed on December 24, 2008. [[Florida State Road 9B|SR&nbsp;9B]] was completed in late 2019, and connects I-295's southeast corner to the Bayard Area.<ref>{{cite news |last=Nelson |first=Tony |date=January 29, 2009 |title=What's in a direction? On I-295 in 2010, it depends |work=Roovet News |location=Jacksonville, FL |url=https://roovet.com/What-s-in-a-direction--On-I-295-in-2010--it-depends |url-status=dead |access-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-date=June 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230617231252/https://roovet.com/What-s-in-a-direction--On-I-295-in-2010--it-depends }}</ref> The SR 9B freeway will be called I-795 when it is completed. [[U.S. Route 1 in Florida|U.S. Highway&nbsp;1]] (US 1) and [[U.S. Route 17 in Florida|US&nbsp;17]] travel through the city from the south to the north, and [[U.S. Route 23 in Florida|US&nbsp;23]] enters the city [[Concurrency (road)|running concurrently]] with US 1. In downtown, US 23 splits from US 1 and quickly runs to its southern terminus.

The eastern terminus of [[U.S. Route 90 in Florida|US&nbsp;90]] is in nearby [[Jacksonville Beach, Florida|Jacksonville Beach]] near the Atlantic Ocean.

US 23's other end is in [[Mackinaw City, Michigan]].

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Several regional transportation projects have been undertaken in recent years to deal with congestion on Jacksonville freeways. A $152 million project to create a high-speed interchange at the intersection of Interstates 10 and 95 began in February 2005, after the conclusion of [[Super Bowl XXXIX]]. Construction was expected to take nearly six years with multiple lane flyovers and the requirement that the interchange remain open throughout the project. The previous configuration used single lane, low speed, curved ramps which created backups during rush hours and contributed to accidents.<ref>Hannan, Larry: [http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-08-11/story/remodeled-intersection-i-10-i-95-almost-done-after-nearly-6-years "I-95/I-10 construction is almost done"] Florida Times-Union, August 11, 2010</ref>

Also, construction of SR 9B (future [[Interstate 795 (Florida)|Interstate 795]]), is currently underway.

{{Clear}}

<gallery>

File:I95555.jpg|I-95 passing by downtown Jacksonville

File:Jacksonville Acosta Bridge Panorama.jpg|[[Acosta Bridge]]

File:Mathews Bridge.jpg|[[Mathews Bridge]]

File:Fuller Warren Bridge, Jacksonville FL 1 Panorama.jpg|[[Fuller Warren Bridge]]

File:MSBJaxFL.jpg|[[Main Street Bridge (Jacksonville)|Main St Bridge]]

File:HartBridgeJax.jpg|[[Hart Bridge]]

File:Dames Point Bridge, Jacksonville FL Pano 2.jpg|[[Dames Point Bridge]]

File:Buckman Bridge, Jaxsonville FL Panorama 1 3667.jpg|[[Buckman Bridge]]

</gallery>

====Transit system====

{{main|Jacksonville Transportation Authority}}

[[File:Skywaytrain.JPG|thumb|right|upright|[[Jacksonville Skyway]]]]

The [[Jacksonville Skyway]] is an automated [[people mover]] connecting [[Florida State College at Jacksonville]] downtown campus, the Northbank central business district, [[Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center|Convention Center]], and Southbank locations. The system includes 8 stops connected by two lines. The existing train is a UMIII [[monorail]] built by Bombardier. The guideway consists of concrete beams which rest atop an unusually large support structure not used in most monorail systems. Maximum speed for the train is {{convert|48|km/h|mph|abbr=on}}.<ref>[http://www.monorails.org/tMspages/Jcksnvl.html "Monorails of North America"] The Monorail Society Website</ref>

A monorail was first proposed in the 1970s as part of a mobility plan hoping to attract interest from the Urban Mass Transit Administration's Downtown Peoplemover Program. The initial study was undertaken by the Florida Department of Transportation and Jacksonville's planning department, who took the Skyway project to the [[Jacksonville Transportation Authority]] (JTA) in 1977. Following further development and a final 18-month feasibility study, the UMTA selected Jacksonville as one of seven cities to receive federal funding for an automated people mover. Two other related projects are Miami's Metromover and Detroit's People Mover. UMTA's approved plan called for the construction of a {{convert|2.5|mi|km|adj=on}} Phase I system to be built in three segments.

====Modal characteristics====

In 2014, the Jacksonville was among the top large cities ranked by percentage of commuters who drove to work alone (80 percent).<ref>{{cite web|author=Freemark, Yonah|publisher=The Transport Politic|access-date=May 4, 2018|url=https://www.thetransportpolitic.com/databook/travel-mode-shares-in-the-u-s/|title=Travel mode shares in the U.S.|date=August 24, 2016}}</ref> According to the 2016 American Community Survey, 80 percent of city of Jacksonville residents commuted in single-occupancy vehicles, 8.6 percent carpooled, 2.6 percent used public transportation, and 2.7 percent walked. All other forms of transportation combined for 1.7 percent of the commuter [[modal share]], while 4.5 percent worked out of the home.<ref name=acs2016>{{cite web|publisher=Census Reporter|title=Means of Transportation to Work by Age|access-date=May 4, 2018|url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B08101&geo_ids=16000US1235000&primary_geo_id=16000US1235000}}</ref>

Some patterns of car ownership are similar to national averages. In 2015, 8.3 percent of city of Jacksonville households lacked a car, which increased slightly to 8.7 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Jacksonville averaged 1.62 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Car Ownership in U.S. Cities Data and Map|journal=Governing|date=December 9, 2014|url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/car-ownership-numbers-of-vehicles-by-city-map.html|access-date=May 4, 2018}}</ref>

====Rail====

[[Image:CSX 5508 ready to put office car on Silver Meteor atJacksonville, FL November 18, 1986 02 (22144391504).jpg|thumb|right|CSX 5508 ready to put office car on [[Silver Meteor]]]]

[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides daily service from the [[Jacksonville (Amtrak station)|Jacksonville Amtrak Station]] on Clifford Lane in the northwest section of the city. Two trains presently stop there, the ''[[Silver Meteor]]'' and ''[[Silver Star (passenger train)|Silver Star]]''. Jacksonville was also served by the thrice-weekly ''[[Sunset Limited]]'' and the daily ''[[Silver Palm (Amtrak)|Silver Palm]]''. Service on the ''Silver Palm'' was cut back to [[Savannah, Georgia]] in 2002. The ''Sunset Limited'' route was truncated at [[San Antonio|San Antonio, Texas]] as a result of the track damage in the Gulf Coast area caused by [[Hurricane Katrina]] on August 28, 2005. Service was restored as far east as [[New Orleans]] by late October 2005, but Amtrak has opted not to fully restore service into Florida.

Jacksonville is the headquarters of two significant freight railroads. [[CSX Transportation]], owns a large building on the downtown riverbank that is a significant part of the skyline. [[Florida East Coast Railway]] and [[RailAmerica]] also call Jacksonville home.

====Airports====

{{main|Jacksonville Aviation Authority}}

[[File:Jacksonville Int'l.JPG|thumb|upright|left|[[Jacksonville International Airport]]]]

Jacksonville is served by [[Jacksonville International Airport]] {{airport codes|JAX|KJAX|JAX}}, 13 miles north of downtown, with 82 departures a day to 27 nonstop destination cities. Airports in Jacksonville are managed by the [[Jacksonville Aviation Authority]] (JAA). Smaller aircraft use [[Jacksonville Executive at Craig Airport]] {{Airport codes|CRG|KCRG|CRG}} in Arlington, [[Herlong Recreational Airport]] {{airport codes||KHEG|HEG}} on the Westside, and [[Cecil Airport]] {{airport codes|VQQ|KVQQ|VQQ}}, at [[Cecil Commerce Center]]. The state of Florida has designated Cecil Airport a space port, allowing horizontal lift spacecraft to use the facility.

====Seaports====

{{main|Jacksonville Port Authority}}

Public seaports in Jacksonville are managed by the [[Jacksonville Port Authority]], known as JAXPORT. Four modern deepwater ({{Convert|40|ft|m|abbr=}}) seaport facilities, including America's newest cruise port, make Jacksonville a full-service international seaport. In FY2006, JAXPORT handled 8.7 million tons of cargo, including nearly 610,000 vehicles, which ranks Jacksonville second in the nation in automobile handling, behind only the [[Port Authority of New York and New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leg.state.fl.us/data/session/2002/House/bills/analysis/pdf/2002h0945.tr.pdf |title=The Florida Legislature Archive: BILL# HB945 RELATING TO the Jacksonville Seaport Authority |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref>

The 20 other maritime facilities not managed by the Port Authority move about 10 million tons of additional cargo in and out of the St. Johns River. In terms of total tonnage, the Port of Jacksonville ranks 40th nationally; within Florida, it is third behind Tampa and Port Everglades.

In 2003, the [[JAXPORT Cruise Terminal]] opened, providing cruise service for 1,500 passengers to [[Key West, Florida]], the [[Bahamas]], and Mexico via [[Carnival Cruise Lines]] ship, [[Grand Celebration|Celebration]], which was retired in April 2008. For almost five months, no cruises originated from Jacksonville until September 20, 2008, when the cruise ship [[Carnival Fascination|Fascination]] departed with 2,079 passengers.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wells|first= Judy|url=http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/092108/met_334781617.shtml|title= Florida Times-Union, September 21, 2008, Fascination to write home about}}</ref> In Fiscal year 2006, there were 78 cruise ship sailings with 128,745 passengers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jaxport.com/ |title=The Jacksonville Port Authority |publisher=Jaxport |access-date=July 1, 2010}}</ref> A JaxPort spokesperson said in 2008 that they expect 170,000 passengers to sail each year.<ref>Turner, Kevin: [http://jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/091908/bus_333991407.shtml Florida Times-Union, September 19, 2008, "Carnival back with bigger, better ship, the Fascination"]</ref>

[[Jacksonville Fire and Rescue]] operates [[Fireboats of Jacksonville, Florida|a fleet of three fireboats]].<ref name=MenOfValorJacksonville>{{cite news | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=opQCI2XxDZgC&q=jacksonville+fireboat&pg=PA94| title = Men of Valor: A History of Firefighting in Jacksonville Florida, 1886–1996| publisher = Bluefish Books| first = John W. | last = Cowart | date = March 1, 2006| page = 71,94–96,130| isbn = 9781411683006| access-date = December 9, 2013}}</ref> Its vessels are called on to fight approximately 75 fires per year.<ref name=FemaFireboatsThenAndNow>{{cite book| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=sKNLPbi41A4C&q=jacksonville+fireboat&pg=PA23| title = Special Report: Fireboats; Then and Now| author = US Fire Administration| publisher = [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]]| page = 6,7,15,23| access-date = December 9, 2013| quote = One consistent feature of most fireboat training programs is the training for the fireboat captain or master. Often this individual is different from the officer assigned to coordinate fire attack. Though not required in all cases—mainly because fireboat vary in size—most fireboat captains are certified/licensed through the United States Coast Guard for operations of a vessel up to 100 tons. In some jurisdictions, such as Jacksonville, Florida, all crew members are required to be USCG-licensed regardless of what position they are assigned on the boat.}}</ref>

The [[Mayport Ferry]] connects the north and south ends of State Road A1A between Mayport and Fort George Island, and is the last active ferry in Florida. The state of Florida transferred responsibility for ferry operations to JAXPORT on October 1, 2007.

===Utilities===

{{main|Jacksonville Electric Authority}}

[[File:JEAHQ.jpeg|thumb|right|[[JEA]] headquarters in [[downtown Jacksonville]]]]

Basic utilities in Jacksonville (water, sewer, electric) are provided by [[JEA]] (formerly the Jacksonville Electric Authority). According to Article 21 of the ''Jacksonville City Charter'',

<blockquote>JEA is authorized to own, manage and operate a utilities system within and outside the City of Jacksonville. JEA is created for the express purpose of acquiring, constructing, operating, financing and otherwise have plenary authority with respect to electric, water, sewer, natural gas and such other utility systems as may be under its control now or in the future.<ref>[http://library.municode.com/HTML/12174/level3/CHRELA_PTACHLACHJAFL_ART21JE.html "Article 21. -JEA"] Municode website, Jacksonville City Charter</ref></blockquote>

[[TECO Energy|People's Gas]] is Jacksonville's natural gas provider. [[Comcast]] is Jacksonville's local cable provider. [[AT&T Corporation|AT&T]] (formerly [[BellSouth]]) is Jacksonville's local phone provider, and their [[U-Verse]] service offers TV, internet, and VoIP phone service to customers served by fiber-to-the-premises or fiber-to-the-node using a [[Video ready access device|VRAD]]. The city has a successful recycling program with separate pickups for garbage, [[Green waste|yard waste]] and recycling. Collection is provided by several private companies under contract to the City of Jacksonville.

===Health===

{{Further|List of hospitals in Florida}}

[[File:LifeFlight Helicopter Landing Pad - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Landing pad at Baptist Medical Center Downtown]]

Major players in the Jacksonville health care industry include [[St. Vincent's HealthCare]], [[Baptist Health (Jacksonville)|Baptist Health]] and [[UF Health Jacksonville]] for local residents. Additionally, [[Nemours Foundation|Nemours Children's Clinic]] and [[Mayo Clinic Jacksonville]] each draw patients regionally.

The TaxExemptWorld.com website, which compiles [[Internal Revenue Service]] data, reported that in 2007, there are 2,910 distinct, active, tax exempt/non-profit organizations in Jacksonville which, excluding Credit Unions, had a total income of $7.08 billion and assets of $9.54 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taxexemptworld.com/search.asp?pg=91&type=os&criteria=FL&rc=4198&ra=&ri=&re=&prevpage=90&city=Jacksonville|title=Nonprofit Organization & 501C3 Lookup by City – TaxExemptWorld|website=www.taxexemptworld.com}}</ref>

There are 333 charitable organizations with assets of over $1 million. The largest share of assets was tied to Medical facilities, $4.5 billion. The problems of the homeless are addressed by several non-profits, most notably the [[Sulzbacher Center]] and the [[Clara White Mission]].

==Notable people==

{{Main|List of people from Jacksonville, Florida}}

==Sister cities==

{{See also|List of sister cities in Florida}}

Jacksonville's [[sister cities]] are:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jsca.org |title=Jacksonville Sisters Cities Association |access-date=September 9, 2018 |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610083536/http://www.jsca.org/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{flagicon|ARG}} [[Bahía Blanca]], Argentina (1967)

• {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Murmansk]], Russia (1975), Dormant status<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.jsca.org/ Dormant status since 2017}}</ref>

• {{flagicon|KOR}} [[Changwon]], South Korea (1983)

• {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Nantes]], France (1984)

• {{flagicon|CHN}} [[Yingkou]], China (1990)

• {{flagicon|RSA}} [[Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality|Nelson Mandela Bay]], South Africa (2000)

• {{flagicon|BRA}} [[Curitiba]], Brazil (2009)

• {{flagicon|PRI}} [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]], Puerto Rico (2009)

{{div col end}}

In 2000, [[Sister Cities International]] awarded Jacksonville the Innovation Arts & Culture Award for the city's program with Nantes.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}}

==See also==

* [[Duval County, Florida]]

* [[Jacksonville metropolitan area|Greater Jacksonville]]

* [[List of people from Jacksonville, Florida]]

* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Duval County, Florida]]

* [[New World Publications]] (1972)

==Notes==

{{notelist}}

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

* Bartley, Abel A. ''Keeping the Faith: Race, Politics, and Social Development in Jacksonville, Florida, 1940–1970,'' Greenwood Publishing, 2000.

* Bean, Shawn. ''The First Hollywood: Florida and the Golden Age of Silent Filmmaking'', University Press of Florida, 2008.

* Cassanello, Robert. ''To Render Invisible: Jim Crow and Public Life in New South Jacksonville.'' Gainesville, FL: University Press of Florida, 2013.

* Cowart, John Wilson. ''Crackers and Carpetbaggers: Moments in the History of Jacksonville, Florida.''

* Cowart, John Wilson. ''Heroes all: a history of firefighting in Jacksonville.''

* Crooks, James B. ''[https://original-ufdc.uflib.ufl.edu/AA00061986 Jacksonville After the Fire, 1901-1909]'', University Press of Florida, 1991.

* Crooks, James B. ''Jacksonville: The Consolidation Story, from Civil Rights to the Jaguars,'' University Press of Florida, 2004.

* Foley, Bill; Wood, Wayne (2001). ''The great fire of 1901'' (1st ed.). Jacksonville, Florida: The Jacksonville Historical Society.

* Jackson, David H., Jr., [http://palmm.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/islandora%3A1929 "'Industrious, Thrifty, and Ambitious': Jacksonville's African American Businesspeople during the Jim Crow Era,"] ''Florida Historical Quarterly,'' 90 (Spring 2012), 453–87.

* Mason, Jr., Herman. ''African-American Life in Jacksonville,'' Arcadia Publishing, 1997.

* Merritt, Webster. [https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ufl2.uf00103093_00001 ''A Century of Medicine in Jacksonville and Duval County''], University of Florida Press, 1949.

* Oehser, John. ''Jags to Riches: The Cinderella Season of the Jacksonville Jaguars,'' St. Martins Press, 1997.

* Schafer, Daniel. ''[https://digitalcommons.unf.edu/anniversary10_materials/2/ From scratch pads and dreams: A ten year history of the University of North Florida],'' University of North Florida, 1982.

* Wagman, Jules. ''Jacksonville and Florida's First Coast,'' Windsor Publishing, 1989.

* Williams, Caroyln. ''Historic Photos of Jacksonville,'' Turner Publishing Company, 2006.

==External links==

• {{Official website|http://www.coj.net/about-jacksonville.aspx}}

* [http://www.VisitJacksonville.com/ Visit Jacksonville], official tourism website of Jacksonville

• {{curlie|Regional/North_America/United_States/Florida/Localities/N/Jacksonville|Jacksonville}}

• {{osmrelation|119008}}

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