JACKSONVILLE
DUVAL COUNTY
WELCOME TO JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA,
THE RIVER CITY BY THE SEA
Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the United States. Duval County and the City of Jacksonville merged in 1986. Consolidation gave Jacksonville its geographical size and placed most of its metropolitan population within the city limits. With a population of 913,010, Jacksonville is a major city in the state of Florida and the southeastern United States. The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1,626,611.
The city is centered on the banks of the St. Johns River, about 25 miles (40 km) south of the Georgia state line and 340 miles (550 km) north of Miami. Due to its convenient location, excellent climate, reasonable cost of living, high quality of life and a business-friendly government, Jacksonville is a popular destination for corporate expansions and relocations. The waterways and lakes, a direct access to the Atlantic Ocean make it a paradise for water sports enthusiasts. But there is much more this wonderful city has to offer.
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A YOUNG BOLD CITY
Jacksonville is a waterfront city that combines great dining, a large variety of quality stores and boutiques, world-class shopping centers, many five star hotels and great nightlife. Jacksonville is a premier entertainment destination where top-notch entertainers from all around the world provide live concert performances. The city maintains it's own symphony orchestra and many theaters offer a wide variety of entertainment options. Jacksonville is also a popular venue for annual festivals and special events, such as Art Walk, the International Food & Wine Festival, the World of Nations Celebration, and lot's of other cultural happenings.
A GREEN CITY ON THE RIVER
Jacksonville operates the largest urban park system in the United States, providing facilities and services at more than 337 locations on more than 80,000 acres (320 km2) located throughout the city.
A COMMUNITY WITH A HEART
A community with accommodating nature, kind character, tolerance, friendliness, welcoming to newcomers, and lot's of southern charm.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS
Jacksonville has a subtropical climate with mild weather during winters and hot summers. The area is known for its plentiful sunshine and pleasant temperatures year-round.
REAL ESTATE INSIGHTS
If you’re thinking of purchasing real estate in Jacksonville, your first task is deciding between a home or a condo. A single-family home is an attractive choice because you can enjoy the privacy of owning your own home. The downside is private quality homes have a higher price tag and you’re responsible for maintenance and upkeep.
Condos are a popular choice if you want the perks of living in the downtown area along St. Johns River without the responsibility of owning a home. In addition, you’ll have access to amenities you might not find anywhere else. Downtown luxury condos can be more expensive, compared to single family homes.
In Jacksonville, the typical average single family house is a 3-bedroom, 2-bath home. Of course there are plenty of larger +4-bedroom, multi-bath homes available. Locations that are excellent are anywhere in the southern part of Jacksonville as well along the St. Johns River banks.
Jacksonville is also an ideal location for investment properties and a relatively safe bet. With a median lower than the Florida average, the youthful population is driving a growing startup scene, creating jobs, and enticing Millennials to relocate to Jacksonville. These factors ensure that there will be a continued demand for rental housing in the area and that Jacksonville investment properties deliver solid returns for investors looking to diversify their portfolios with real estate.
LOCATION
Jacksonville is perfectly located at the St. Johns River and Duval County's river banks stretch 160 miles from the North east to the southern county border. A highly desirable location with so much to do.
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT
A great location for property investments. The region has been classified as one of the best places to invest in real estate in Florida.
GETTING THERE IS EASY
Jacksonville has an international airport with direct connections to 31 cities and frequent service to the main hubs like Atlanta, New York, Miami, etc. Three municipal airports serving general aviation and private jets.
THE PEOPLE & LIFESTYLE
Living in Jacksonville means being part of a diversified community made up of friendly and warmhearted individuals and families from all levels of society, coexisting in perfect harmony. With its sparkling downtown skyscrapers, majestic bridges over the St. Johns River and major ocean seaport, Jacksonville is one of the most vibrant cities in the Southeast. The Jacksonville metropolitan area includes many beaches, a river and lake system, inter-coastal waterways and the region is very family friendly.
Jacksonville is a great place to live for an active lifestyle. The city is home to the largest park system in the country, close to beautiful beaches, salt marshes, hiking trails and coastal forests offer a glimpse of the original Florida. It's is a water sports enthusiast dream location with beautiful sunny weather and a subtropical climate. Living in Jacksonville doesn’t just put you in the best spot to enjoy Florida weather. Living here, you also get all the perks to living in Florida with a better location to the non-tropical areas of the country. This is unlike living in South Florida, which puts you close to the keys but a world away from everything else. The climate and lifestyle are uniquely different. Jacksonville attracts people of all ages and backgrounds. The area is known for hundreds of golf courses and residents enjoy outdoor activities like camping, hiking and cycling in various state recreation areas like Hanna Park and the Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. Such areas complement the beaches of Jacksonville with its waterways and expansive coastline for fishing, boating and other aquatic pastimes.
Jacksonville also has a growing restaurant scene in the San Marco and Southside neighborhoods. The fine and performing arts are best viewed at the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Cummer Museum, the Ritz Theatre and the Florida Theatre.
FAMILY FRIENDLY & GREAT SCHOOLS
Jacksonville is very family-friendly. There are plenty of things to do for kids. There are 211 public and 143 private schools, and 14 colleges / universities in Duval County. Many of them are highly rated and of top quality.
WATER SPORTS & RECREATION
The Jacksonville area is a natural playground, offering an abundance of activities and adventures for all ages.
DINING & HOSPITALITY
Jacksonville has a wide variety of dining options, from low-key to fine dining, in all parts of the city. From the traditional Thai restaurant, to the fried chicken at a traditional Dinner, to luxury 5-star dining, locals and visitors alike crave a unique farm to table scene.
JACKSONVILLE PHOTO GALLERY
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POPULATION
913,010 in JAX City and 1,626,611 in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Area
Jacksonville is the largest city by population in the State of Florida, and the largest city by area. It is the Duval county seat with which the city government consolidated in 1968. Consolidation gave Jacksonville its large geographical size and placed most of its metropolitan population within the city limits. With 913,010 inhabitants, Jacksonville is ranking #1 on top of Miami, Tampa, Orlando and other major cities in Florida. The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1,626,611. Population density in Duval County is about 1,156 people per square mile (in comparison, Miami-Dade County has a density of 1,371, New York City has 27,000 and Long Island NY has a density of 5,402). Jacksonville and Duval County are not very crowded.
MEDIAN AGE
35.6 Years
The median age is 35.6. The US median is 37.4 years. 46.45% of people in Jacksonville are married. The average household size is 2.59 people. The City of Jacksonville is offering a very attractive environment for young professionals.
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$ 98,958.00
The average household income in Jacksonville's southern area (Avondale Riverside, Mandarin, etc.) is $98,958. That's the region along the St. John's River and a more affluent location. The median household income of Jacksonville / Duval County is $ 49,554.00. In comparison the median household income in the State of Florida is 49,426.00
ECONOMY
Banking, Insurance, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Trade
With its diverse economic base, young, energetic population, and high quality of life, Jacksonville experienced substantial growth during the latter decades of the twentieth century and into the twenty-first. Next to a wide variety of high-tech and manufacturing facilities, import-export operations are a vital segment of Jacksonville's economy. The World Trade Center Jacksonville, one of six trade centers in the state, assists Florida companies to enter or expand into overseas markets. Along with an international trade library housing 2,500 volumes and 700 periodicals, it provides basic and intensive research, and offers monthly seminars on various trade topics.
Jacksonville is also a pilot city for TradeRoots, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Chamber Foundation, that studies the benefits that trade brings to local communities. The Jacksonville Port Authority manages the Free Trade Zone, an area in which goods arriving from a foreign country are temporarily exempt from import duties unless and until they are permanently delivered to the U.S. The city is home to Foreign Trade Zone #64 and there are designated customs facilities at the Jacksonville International Airport. The city's top exports are building materials, medical/health and beauty products, transportation equipment, food and restaurant equipment, construction equipment, packaging, generators, and chemicals. Jacksonville, once abandoned by the motion picture and television industry, is experiencing a renaissance.
The Jacksonville Film and Television Office was formed to attract film and video production to the area and helps streamline the production process. As a result, numerous motion pictures, television movies, commercials, and videos were produced in Jacksonville in recent years. Each movie or television series filmed there adds millions of dollars to the local economy, through housing, hiring of a local labor crew, catering, special heavy equipment rental, and expenses. The city was the filming location for the 2004 remake of the film The Manchurian Candidate.
EMPLOYMENT & OCCUPATIONS
4.0 % Unemployment Rate
There's no shortage of jobs in Jacksonville. The top industries in this area are finance, insurance, biomedics, high-tech, electric components, energy, aerospace, medical services, logistics, imports & distribution, and military. Jacksonville has the second-largest port on the eastern seaboard, making it a prime location for many companies. You'll also find military institutions throughout the area, as Jacksonville has the third-largest military presence in the United States. Several Navy facilities call Jacksonville home, as does the Florida Air National Guard, which bases its operations at Jacksonville International Airport.
SCHOOLS
Wide Variety up to Highly Rated
There are 211 public and 143 private schools, and 14 colleges / universities in Jacksonville / Duval County. Many of them are highly rated and of top quality. The number of A-rated and B-rated schools jumped for several local school districts, where A-rated schools leaped to 46 schools, up from 31 last year. School quality variates depending on location within the city limits.
Jacksonville's slogan shouldn't be "Where Florida Begins", but rather "Where Your Education Begins." The city has over 10 colleges and universities offering degree programs from accounting and criminal justice to business, engineering, aeronautics, chemistry and many more specialties. Jacksonville is also home to several institutions offering certifications in many professions. Named by Forbes as one of the top three cities to relocate to find a job, Jacksonville can help you take the next steps for your education and your career.
CRIME RATE
Much lower than Miami, slightly higher than National Average
Jacksonville's, crime rate, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 100, is 55. In direct comparison, the violent crime rate in Miami is 99. Overall Duval County has a much lower crime rate than other major metropolitan areas, but slightly higher than the national US average. It all depends on location. Some areas within the Jacksonville city limits report very low crime, other areas experience higher rates.
CLIMATE
Subtropical
The average year-round temp in the Jacksonville area is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 deg C). Golfers will be happy to know the abundant golf courses around the Amelia Island area are playable pretty much year round, as daytime temp averages during the coldest months are: December: 67 (F) high (19.4 deg C), 43 (F) low (6.1 deg C); January 65 (F) high (18.3 deg C), 39 (F) low (3.9 deg C); and February 69 (F) high (20.5 deg C), 43 (F) low (6.1 deg C). On average, there are 221 sunny days per year in Jacksonville, Florida. The July high is around 92 degrees Fahrenheit (33.4 deg C).
HURRICANE RISK
Very low compared to Southern Florida and the Gulf Coast
Compared to southeast Florida and the Gulf Coast, the North East Florida region (Jacksonville Metropolitan Area / First Coast) is less prone to being in the path of a hurricane. The greater Jacksonville area has suffered less damage from hurricanes than most other east coast cities. The strongest effect on Jacksonville was from Hurricane Dora (a category 2 storm) in 1964, the only recorded storm in the past 54 years to directly hit the First Coast with sustained hurricane force winds.
According to hurricane experts and forecasters there is no reason for you to cancel your plans to re-locate to Florida. By analyzing the tracks of tropical storms for the past 100 years, the experts have ranked which areas are most likely to be hit by a major hurricane and the geographical regions in Florida that are less prone to being in the path of a hurricane.
Southeast Florida (Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach), Key West and the Florida Keys, Southwest Florida (Fort Myers-Naples), West Florida (Tampa-St. Petersburg-Sarasota-Clearwater), Central Florida Atlantic coast (Melbourne-Cocoa Beach) and the Florida Panhandle (Pensacola-Panama City) are all areas with a much higher risk. The North East Florida region (First Coast) is a low risk area and this coastal region has a tremendous appeal.