Jacksonville, located in Florida, is the largest city in the state, and is informally known as the River City due to location being centralized on the banks of the St. Johns River. With a population of more than 1,313,228, the city generates great economic revenue from its significant port position but gets the bulk of it from various other sectors such as manufacturing and financial services, and even tourism, particularly related to golf. The city of Jacksonville generally has mild weather: short lived winters with the temperature going only a few degrees below freezing, and snowfall rarely occurring. However, the summers can be quite hot. When it comes to tourism attraction and the city's own cultural background, Jacksonville is greatly focused on a wide variety of recreational activities. Owing to its natural river beauty, the city is home to the largest urban park system of America, with parks located at about three hundred and thirty different locations, ranging over a vast land area. There are also a great number of theaters and performing arts facilities to be visited, including the famous Ritz Theatre, where performers such as Ray Charles and Ella Fitzgerald have performed. Many sporting events and food and music festivals are held every year in Jacksonville, some of which attract visitors from all over America. In addition to all this, Jacksonville also has a great number of art and history museums, as well as libraries, which illustrate the city's rich and diverse history.
Jacksonville was first inhabited between 12,000 and 16,000 years ago. The Timucua were the best known Native Americans to inhabit this area. There were about 150,000 of them. Then the Europeans came in the 1500s. The Timucua's population declined significantly due to the diseases brought by the European explorers and dwellers, and the others died in conflicts. In 1763, the Timucua were gone from the area.
Ponce de Leon discovered Northeast Florida in 1513. He and his Spanish fleet landed about 25 miles from today's Jacksonville. He then named the area Pascua Florida since their landing was dated on the Feast of Flowers. He claimed the area for the Spanish crown. Then he sailed off and searched for the eternal youth magic potion that was believed to be a hidden treasure of the new island. In 1562, The French arrived on Florida's east coast. Jean Rebault met and exchanged gifts with the native Timucua and claimed the land for the king of France.
The use of “Jacksonville” began in 1822 when a petition to the U.S. Secretary of State was submitted asking for the official recognition of the town as a port of entry. After Spain's ceding of Florida in 1819, Andrew Jackson became the first military governor of Florida. The Florida Legislative Council in 1832 approved the first charter of Jacksonville which was to create a town government. William Mills was Jacksonville's first mayor.
Jacksonville, Florida is the county seat of Duval County with more than 735,000 residents. The city is also known as the Bold New City. Some marketing people dubbed this city title 30 years ago. The denizens have loved the city and they can say that this is a great place for everyone especially for families to live, to work and to have fun. Living in this city is affordable. The great climate of Jacksonville is ideal for outdoor activities. There is a year-round fun in the clean and sparkling beaches in the city. Tourists have come to Jacksonville for surfing, swimming, wind-surfing, waterskiing and fishing. There are organized sports for the youngsters to senior citizens to enjoy. A lot of things can be done in this Bold New City. The neighborhoods in this city are terrific. Housing styles vary with homeowners' tastes. Victorian houses are common in the neighborhoods of Avondale and Ortega. San Marco and San Jose possess the Spanish charm in their architecture and landmarks.
The city has a great economy making transportation, medical, service and insurance industries available to its residents. The housing market here is one of the most reasonably priced. Taxes and municipal costs were significantly reduced plus Florida has no state income tax; hence, the city offers a quality and affordable cost of living.
Since Jacksonville, Florida has a diversified economy, there are many job opportunities for jobseekers in this city. The city's employment growth rate is 4.7 percent each year. The unemployment rate is at 3.6 percent, and is consistently below the state and national levels. The city is home to large companies like Bank of America, Medtronic, Mayo Clinic, Incepture, and JP Morgan Chase. These popular companies have the most Jacksonville jobs. The most common careers in Jacksonville are management, professional, and related jobs at 31 percent. Careers in sales and office are at 28 percent; while service occupations are at 14 percent. Most of the workers in Jacksonville, about 77 percent, work for companies. The 12 percent are working in the government offices and departments; while the 5 percent are self-employed.
Most listed job opportunities in the city are jobs for physical therapists, occupational therapists, sales representatives, and registered nurses. The leading industries of Jacksonville are hiring the most workers like food service contractors, catering services workers, hospital workers, miscellaneous information services workers and children's hospital workers. According to the government data, the jobs in Jacksonville have an average salary of $35,948. The households' median income is $44,173. The data revealed that jobs in Jacksonville, Florida have increased by 33 percent.
The dining community in Jacksonville, Florida has several specialty restaurants with different tasty cuisines that the tourists and locals can choose from. Some local favorites are the Ruby Tuesday's, Longhorn Steakhouse, Mill House Restaurant and Denny's. There are fine upscale restaurants and award-winning restaurants in the city as well, like the Matthew's Restaurant known for its Mediterranean cuisine; Sterling's of Avondale for American cuisine; and Roy's Jacksonville Beach for an Asian & European flair and known for its fresh seafood. Giovanni's Bar & Grill is known for its modern Italian cuisine. This restaurant is among the Top 200 restaurants in the Golden Spoon Awards for five consecutive years and is always listed in the Top 25 of Jacksonville's Top 25.
The restaurant has been in the business of serving savory cuisines with an elegant environment and excellent services for 38 years. Other fantastic restaurants are in the Five Points area of the city. The Sake House serves Japanese food like tasty tempura, sashimi, teriyaki and special rolls. The Pizza Palace on the Park has a variety of pizza choices and the location is fantastic as it is facing the lovely Riverside Park. There are several other restaurants with impeccable cuisines in Jacksonville, Florida that are surely loved by the tourists and residents alike.
Those who love to see the artistic and cultural side of Jacksonville can visit the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens established in 1961. The museum has an extensive collection of artworks. The Jacksonville Museum of Science and History also called as the MOSH, is one of Jacksonville's unique museums. The exhibits here are more on marine life and native wildlife. The children will really enjoy their educational tour in this place.
Jacksonville offers a variety of performances for the residents or tourists to be entertained. Performances range from rock concerts to symphonies. There are also ballet and modern dances, Broadway plays and operas and many more. Entertainment is plentiful here in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra is one of the best symphonies in Florida. The FCCJ Artist Series showcases various extraordinary performances like Off Broadway, Big Dance Spectaculars, International Opera, International Dance and more.
The Ritz Theatre & La Villa Museum features displays and presentations of music, art, poetry, drama and African American history. An assortment of musical performances, ballet and opera can be enjoyed in Florida Theatre. Theatreworks Inc. feature live productions of entertaining and educational plays for youngsters. River City Playhouse features the classics such as Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and Snow White that are the favorites of children and the whole family can take pleasure in. These are just some of the entertainments that Jacksonville, Florida is most proud of.
Jacksonville or the JAX offers tourists with beautiful beaches, natural features, museums and plentiful galleries for a great vacation to spend in this city. Jacksonville, Florida has many tourist attractions, some are historic and full of a rich past. The impressive coastline and beaches of this city have played an important part in the tourism of this fascinating city. The Adventure Landing and Shipwreck Island Water Park is a place to visit. It has many adventures like the Speedway, fast rides, water slides and rollercoaster. The Fort Caroline National Memorial is a notable tourist attraction standing near St. John's River. A riverfront site with trails and picnic areas is the Walter Jones Historical Park. The Veterans Memorial Wall is an awesome monument of black granite honoring the war heroes of Jacksonville.
Fort Matanzas National Monument is a Spanish built watchtower and this structure has been around for 250 years already. The Fort Clinch State Park is ideal for family adventures. The park has cycle trails, campsites and many other recreation sites. The second largest animal collection in the state is the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens. It has a multitude of aviaries, reptile houses, and animals like elephants, lions and jaguars. And for an adventure of zip-lines and rock climbing, Jungle Quest is the place to be.
Jacksonville, Florida Nightlife is a vibrant activity and has many options for anything to do after 6 P.M. There are places to enjoy such as bars that provide hot entertainments, dance clubs, Irish pubs, and outdoor patio bars. Or get a night escapade with friends for a cool dining adventure at night and simply have a good conversation. Amsterdam Sky Café in the downtown of Jacksonville would be a great venue for that. The café is decorated with sports memorabilia and stylish décor for an inviting feel. For those who love partying, there are also many places for bar activity. The Lynch's Irish pub is where good friends can hangout. This is a bar with pool tables and juke box and on other days, beers here could get dirt cheap.
The Ocean Club is where the younger crowd goes. The hot dance floor is flamed by the DJ's cool choice of music to keep the party upbeat. The Atlantic is a place for the 20s. It is a bar or club that's popular with young Jacksonville denizens. Sneakers Sports Grille is a mega-bar for sports enthusiasts. The place has big screens for maximum viewing of any sports event. An entertaining night awaits night goers where amateur singers take the spotlight for karaoke. Plush is Jacksonville's mega club with huge dance floor, couches, mirrors and VIP room. These are just some of the nightlife locations for the tourists or locals who want to get a night of adventure and socializing.
Hot fashion in Jacksonville, Florida includes skinny jeans, plaid and checkered shirts. Monogrammed accessories top the lists of trendsetters especially those who are still students. Teenage boys and young men have been wearing skinny jeans as well. Personalized items have also been a huge bomb of must-haves for the teens. The Silly Bands have been one of the most popular accessories for the elementary and high school students. According to stylists, fashion trends in Jacksonville, Florida this year are a blend of the ‘70s, ‘80s and 90's. Bohemian-style shirts, knit vests, leggings and novelty T-shirts and plaid shirts are among the best buys. Jeggings are also hot in Jacksonville. These are leggings designed similarly to tight jeans. Boys' fashion remains simple, plaid shirts, flannel shirts, polo shirts and novelty tees and skinny jeans are their choices. According to hairstylists the bob cut is still in and popular with young girls. Natural-looking highlights and lowlights for hair color are also in-style for this year.
In Jacksonville, Florida, shopping malls are plentiful and diverse ranging from antique malls to upscale malls and everything in between. The River City Marketplace is one of Jacksonville's most popular. It is the largest shopping center in Jacksonville. The Jacksonville Landing Riverfront Marketplace is also popular in this city and has more than a dozen shops. Regency Square Mall, Avenues Mall, St. John's Town Center, San Marco Square, Bayard Antique Village, Five Points are among the most visited shopping hubs of both the locals and visitors in Jacksonville.
Riverfit Gym is one of the best places to go for fitness activities. It offers state-of-the-art strength and cardio equipment, X classes and personal training. Visitors and residents can relax by visiting the popular spas and salons in the city. Body Wrap Masters & Spa features six treatments rooms. It also has a sauna and couple's room. The services offered here include slimming and detoxifying signatures, such as the Exclusive Fat Attacker, M'Lis Herbal Contour Body Wrap, and Mineral Body Wrap. Additional services like airbrush tanning, classic and deluxe facials, and massages are also available here.
The Seventh Wonder Day Spa ensures pleasurable services. It has been voted as the number one choice among the Jacksonville spas. This day spa offers skin care treatments, intensive skin care, body treatments, hands & feet treatments, threading and waxing as well. The California Trends in Jacksonville, Florida is both a day spa and a hair salon. They have a fantastic team of talented professionals and with good experience in hair design, skin care, massage and nail care. These are just some of the favorite day spas around Jacksonville. Getting a relaxing massage is a great thing to do after an exhausting tour around the city and marveling its beauty, or get ready for a night loaded with fun to experience another night of adventure around Jacksonville, Florida.
The city of Jacksonville, Florida attracts many wonderful hotels to the area with its fabulous dining and waterfront views. The city is a visitor's haven for fun and entertainment. Riverdale Inn Bed and Breakfast is lovely with comfort at its finest. With quaint rooms, this Victorian-style inn is the perfect resting place after a long day of exploring the nearby St. John River and Waterfront Park. Coffee lovers can walk to the Starbucks down the road and visit the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens; with over 5000 works of art to gaze upon and breathtakingly beautiful gardens, this gem is ready for visitors to discover. Guests can make themselves at home in this quiet, service-friendly establishment and kick off their shoes in front of the outdoor wood burning fireplace. Staybridge Suites-Jacksonville offers family-friendly accommodations with spacious suites. Jacksonville Zoo is nearby and a wonderful place for a family outing with kid-centered activities. A short drive will take guests to Jackson Beach for a splash in the water and Adventure Landing Water Park is fun for everyone, and a good way to cool down on hot summer days. Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront, located in the Saint Marco Historic District of downtown, offers visitors the chance to indulge in fine dining, shopping, and various boating activities along the river. Whether touring a museum and discovering new animals at the zoo, or simply enjoying a day on the water, the hotels in Jacksonville are a wonderful start to any vacation.
Public schools in Jacksonville are controlled by The Duval County Public Schools. It is the 15th largest school district in the nation as there are 155,000 students going to public schools in the Duval County. Two of the top 10 high schools in US in 2010 are in this district. In DCPS elementary schools serve from kindergarten through 5th grade, middle schools have grades 6 to 8 and 9 to 12 grades are in high schools. The district has 21 high schools, 28 middle schools and 105 elementary schools. Additionally there are 13 charter schools that use the rules and the curriculum of the Duval County School Board. Most of them orient on helping “risk” students. Paxton, Stanton and Jean Ribault high schools in Jacksonville participate in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.
There are also many private schools in Jacksonville. Largest of them are Episcopal High School, Boller School, Providence School, Trinity Christian Academy and two catholic schools – Bishop John J. Snyder High School and Bishop Kenny High School. Some smaller Catholic and Christian schools are also in the area. Clark School of the Deaf also has a campus in Jacksonville. Some of the largest universities in Jacksonville include Jacksonville University, University of North Florida, Edward Waters College, The Art Institute and others. Jacksonville University has 3,400 students and more than 160 academic staff. It offers 70 different programs at both undergraduate level and Master's level. The University has three colleges and the schools Creek system consists of 69% of the school. The public University of North Florida has a student body of 16,500 and employs over 5,000 faculty members. The president of the University is former mayor John Delaney. The Art Institute of Jacksonville is a private university. It offers bachelor degrees in Fine Arts like graphic design and interior design. There are also Bachelor of Arts and Associate of Arts programs.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority manages airports in Jacksonville. The commercial airport for passengers is the Jacksonville International Airport. Some smaller airports are also located in the area. Jacksonville International services 5.6 million passengers each year. Jacksonville is also accessible by boat transport. Public sea ports are run by Jacksonville Port Authority. The JAXPORT cruise terminal offers cruise services to the Bahamas, Mexico, Florida and other destinations. Around 170,000 passengers sail through Jacksonville every year. Jacksonville lies in a large area with low density. You can't reach most destinations by foot and need to use public transportation or drive a car yourself. Mass transit in Jacksonville is provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. It offers regular and express buses, trolleys in downtown area and the stadium shuttle. There is an elevated monorail called JTA Skyway that travels 2.5 miles from King Street parking to the Convention Center or downtown campus of Florida State College. Jacksonville Transportation Authority operates 180 vehicles and has 430 workers. There are 3,300 stops in the city and 28,200 people use public transit every day. The frequency of stops is usually more than half an hour, so you must plan ahead if you want to get somewhere in time. JTA also operates the paratransit for disabled and elderly people. Park-n-Ride is also available in the city. JTA has a hurricane plan to move civilians and emergency service personnel with public transit in case of a hurricane.
Two major railroads have headquarters in Jacksonville – CSX Transportation and Florida East Cost Railway. Amtrak also services the city with Silver Star and Silver Meteor trains. Taxi service is available in Jacksonville but due to the size and low density of the city and lack of demand, the prices are rather expensive. Renting a car is probably a better idea if you are planning to move around a lot.
Jacksonville is Florida's largest city by population and by the size of the land area. By 1968, the government of Jacksonville was consolidated. It is also the county seat of Duval County. Because of the city's consolidated nature, there is no separate county executive or legislature. Instead, the executive power is given to the mayor of Jacksonville, while the legislative execution is granted to the City Council.
As the Administrative Officer and Chief Executive, the mayor has a veto power on ordinances and resolutions which were passed by the City Council. The mayor can also hire or fire the leader of the different city departments. The law enforcement in the city is taken care of by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO), which is a combination of the forces of the Duval County Sheriff's Office and the Jacksonville Police Department. The City Council is composed of 19 members, all of whom are elected for a four-year term. The members are eligible for unlimited power in passing laws which will solve the needs of the community. These members are composed of the 14 city district representatives and the 5 other members, which represents the entire community at large.
The Council holds a meeting every second and fourth Tuesday of each month in the Council Chambers. The citizens are given the privilege to know what the leaders are planning for them and the city through a free copy of the Council Agenda. One may obtain the copy from the Legislative Services Division in the City Hall every Friday. The citizens may meet the council in person through the public comment section in the meetings. For more information regarding the local government of Jacksonville, you can visit the Jacksonville City Council at 117 West Duval St., Suite 425, Jacksonville Florida. You can also visit the official page at http://www.coj.net/default.htm.
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