31 Jacksonville Facts: Most Populous City Of Florida

Jacksonville became a city in 1832, making it one of Florida's oldest cities!

Less than one percent of the land in Jacksonville is used for buildings and infrastructure. The vast majority of the land is dedicated to parks, forests, and other green spaces.

Did you know that Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida? With a population of over 830,000 people, it's no surprise that Jacksonville is one of the most important cities in the state.

It is estimated that Jacksonville receives about 21 million visitors each year. Some of Jacksonville's most popular attractions include the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, and Fort Clinch State Park. The city also hosts several major events each year, including the Florida-Georgia football game and the Gator Bowl.

The city also hosts a variety of amateur and collegiate sporting events each year. In this blog post, we will discuss 31 interesting facts about Jacksonville!

History

The first inhabitants of the Jacksonville area were Native Americans, who called the area 'Cowford' because of the many cattle that grazed in the area. The town was founded in 1822 by the seventh United States president and first military governor of Florida territory, Andrew Jackson (after whom the city is named).

Jacksonville played a key role during the American Civil War, and it was also home to some of Florida's earliest settlers.

The site of the first European settlement is marked by the Fort Caroline National Memorial.

The first thing built in what would become Downtown Jacksonville was Fort George, which was constructed in 1817 by the Spanish.

The population of Jacksonville in 1950 was just over 120,000 people.

The population of Jacksonville exceeded 1 million people for the first time in 1990.

Around the 1900s, the city became a hub for the movie industry and attracted many movie makers with low costs of labor and housing and a warm climate. Between the '60s and '70s, the city focused on industrial diversity.

Between 1926-27, the Florida Theatre of Jacksonville was built. Florida Theatre was one of the major buildings in Downtown Jax to have fully installed air conditioning.

Lenny Kuhn is a world-renowned artist who was born and raised in Jacksonville Beach.

Geography And Tourism

Jacksonville is located in northeast Florida on the St. Johns River. The city covers an area of about 840 sq. mi (2,175 sq. km), making it the largest city in Florida by land area. Jacksonville is a popular tourist destination for a variety of reasons. Jacksonville has over 80 mi (128.7 km) of coastline.

The Friendship Fountain in Downtown Jacksonville was the world's largest and tallest fountain when it was opened in 1965.

Jacksonville has a humid subtropical climate, with warm weather and high humidity throughout much of the year.

The city park and public beach, Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park in the city is 1.5 mi (2.4 km).

On the Trail Ridge, along the border with Baker County, is the highest point of the city, rising to 190 ft (58 m).

Jacksonville has 400 city parks and gardens, a national preserve, two national parks, two state parks, and an arboretum.

Nature lovers can explore Fort Clinch State Park or relax on one of Jacksonville's many beaches.

Jacksonville Zoo and Garden is located at the mouth of the Trout River, close to where the river joins St. Johns River. The zoo has more than 1,000 plants and 2,000 animal species.

On average, it rains about 111 days per year in Jacksonville. The average rainfall per year is 52 in (1.3 m).

Politics And Government

The politics of Jacksonville are dominated by the Democratic Party. The city is represented in the state legislature by six Democrats and one Republican, while its two congressional districts are represented by five Democrats and one Republican.

Lenny Curry is the current mayor of Jacksonville, assuming office on July 1, 2015.

The government of Jacksonville is headed by a mayor, who is elected to serve a four-year term.

The city council is also popularly elected and responsible for passing ordinances and resolutions to govern the city.

Other key officials in the government of Jacksonville include the sheriff, tax assessor, and property appraiser.

The City Hall of Jacksonville was first built to serve as a department store and its architect was Henry John Klutho.

It is a consolidated city-county government, which means that the city and county are both governed by the same officials.

A major part of the city comes under the fourth congressional district and John Rutherford, a Republican, represents it.

Jacksonville's mayor is the chief executive for the city. The first mayor of the city elected in 1832 was William J. Mills.

The Economy

The economy in Jacksonville is diversified, with healthcare, banking, insurance, manufacturing, and logistics being some of the major industries.

Port of Jacksonville is also a major contributor to the city's economy.

The airport in Jacksonville is a major hub for Delta Air Lines. It also serves as a hub for American Airlines, United Airlines, and JetBlue Airways.

Tourism is also important to the city's economy, with visitors spending over a billion dollars annually.

The city had about 2.8 million visitors staying overnight in 2008.

The four Fortune 500 companies, Southeastern Grocers, Fidelity National Information Services, Fidelity National Financial, and CSX corporation have their headquarters in Jacksonville.

The rapidly changing business culture benefitted the financial sector in Jacksonville, along with other cities like Charlotte, Atlanta, and Tampa. This city is also a great option for relocating staff.

Jacksonville is the largest employer in the United States military with a total economic impact of $6.1 billion every year. Many service organizations for veterans also have their headquarters in this city.

FAQs

Q. What is the city of Jacksonville known for?

A. Jacksonville is most well-known for its beaches and golf courses, but it also has a thriving business community and is home to several major corporations.

Q. What was Jacksonville, Florida's original name?

A. The original name of Jacksonville was 'Cowford.' It was called so due to a cattle crossing located near the river's narrow point.

Q. What county is Jacksonville in?

A. Jacksonville is located in Duval County, and in 1968, the city government consolidated with the county.

Q. What to do in Jacksonville?

A. Jacksonville is a great city to visit for its beautiful beaches, interesting history, and an array of cultural attractions. Some popular things to do in Jacksonville include visiting the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, touring Fort Clinch State Park, and relaxing on one of the area's many beaches.

Q. What is the population of Jacksonville, Florida?

A. The population of Jacksonville was estimated at 808,815 in 2010. As of 2020, the population increased to 949,611.

Q. Is Jacksonville, Florida a good place to live?

A. Jacksonville is a great city to live in for its beautiful beaches, interesting history, and an array of cultural attractions.

Q. Is Jacksonville, Florida expensive to live in?

A. Jacksonville is not as expensive to live in as some of the other larger cities in Florida, but it is not a cheap place to live either.