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Rich in History
Native American tribes lived in the Jacksonville area for thousands of years before the first Europeans arrived in the middle of the 16th century. The Spanish, led by Juan Ponce de Leon, who named the area La Florida, settled here in 1513, nearly 100 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. Since that time, Jacksonville has been under French, Spanish and English rule; each nation attracted by the warm, sunny climate, abundant waterways and beautiful beaches that continue to draw tourists and residents to the region. Florida became part of the United States in 1845; today, Jacksonville’s multicultural history is reflected in its architecture, cuisine, cultural institutions and population.
Natural Beauty
With 68 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline, 300 miles of riverfront, abundant parks and forest land—and no snow—Jacksonville is an outdoor lover’s paradise. Its many nature trails are suited for leisurely strolls, vigorous hikes and spotting native wildlife. Wander the St. Johns River estuary and you’ll be amazed at the diversity of flora and fauna.
Jacksonville area beaches are wide, sandy and relatively unspoiled. You can soak up the sun, body surf the waves or perhaps catch a glimpse of the porpoises and right whales that inhabit the waters. The Beaches communities in Duval County -- Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach -- offer some of the best sport fishing, boating and water sport opportunities in the country.
Thriving Economy
Jacksonville has one of the lowest overall costs of living in Florida—with property prices much lower than comparable homes in the northeastern U.S. This factor, along with the superb quality-of-life it offers, makes Jacksonville one of the most livable cities in the country. It has been named one of the “top ten best places to live” by Money magazine and one of “America’s Hottest Cities” by Expansion Management magazine.
The job market is strong and diverse with major companies including General Motors, Southeast Toyota, U.S. Gypsum, Georgia Pacific, Northrop Grumman Corp. Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc, Vistakon, Medtronic Xomed (surgical products), and Dura Automotive Systems Inc. located here. Three naval air stations and the Kings Bay Submarine Base have an economic impact on the area of $6.1 billion annually. In addition, financial giants Citibank, HSBC, Merrill Lynch, Bank of America, American Express and Washington Mutual all have locations in Jacksonville, and the city is also becoming a favorite location for call center campuses.
Jacksonville is a natural transportation hub with a 38-foot deepwater port that ranks with New York as one of the top two vehicle-handling ports in the nation. The city has four airports, three seaports, a highway system that links the city to three major interstates, and a rail system served by three railroads—CSX, Norfolk Southern, and Florida East Coast.
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