Jacksonville, FL
| U.S. News Ratings | |
| Population: | 806,967 |
| Crime: | High |
| Cost of Living: | Average |
| Health Care: | Comprehensive |
| Housing Price: | Low |
| Income: | Average |
Located on the banks of the St. Johns River in northeastern Florida, Jacksonville is a bustling city with more than 806,967 residents and 68 miles of Atlantic coastline.
Jacksonville is brimming with parks--84,000 acres of green space--and glittering skyscrapers. It's hard to imagine the great fire that in 1901 destroyed much of the city's downtown in a single afternoon. The city's reconstruction brought with it modern buildings and plenty of open spaces.
Jacksonville is a fishing paradise. On Jacksonville Beach's 1,000-foot fishing pier, anglers have been known to catch trout, flounder, and sea bass. The city is peppered with urban ponds filled with freshwater fish such as bass, bream, and catfish. In addition, boats are available for charter for deep-sea fishing at nearby Fernandina, Mayport, and St. Augustine. The city also hosts the annual Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, held each July at Sisters Creek Park.
A vibrant art scene is another draw. Tthe Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens has a collection of American and European paintings. Modern exhibitions can be found at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville. The city also has a zoo, symphony orchestra, the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, and the restored 1920s-era Florida Theatre, which hosts 200 acts annually. Other attractions include the Southbank Riverwalk, a 1.2-mile boardwalk that parallels the St. Johns River, and the adjacent Jacksonville Landing, a popular shopping and dining area.
Football fans work themselves into a frenzy each fall when Jacksonville's NFL team, the Jaguars, takes the field. The annual football game between the University of Florida and the University of Georgia--a fierce rivalry--is held in Jacksonville, and so is the Gator Bowl. For runners, the city hosts the 15K Gate River Run each March. The Jacksonville area also boasts more than 60 golf courses, including Sawgrass, the PGA Tour headquarters, in nearby Ponte Vedra Beach.
Within a 10- to 15-minute drive from the city, residents can visit more than 50,000 acres of preserved parkland that includes trails for horseback riding, hiking, biking, and canoeing. The parks offer both paved and backcountry trails through grassy and wooded wetlands. Wildlife observers may fancy the Castaway Island Preserve, a salt marsh ecosystem that can be viewed from a wooden boardwalk.
Higher education institutions in Jacksonville include Jacksonville University, the University of North Florida, Florida Coastal School of Law, Edward Waters College, and the Art Institute of Jacksonville, a branch of Art Institutes International.
Major hospitals in Jacksonville include Baptist Health, St. Vincent's HealthCare, Shands Jacksonville, and the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville campus. The University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute is one of only five facilities devoted to this cancer treatment in the country.
The military and the healthcare sector are major drivers of Jacksonville's economy. The military is the city's largest employer, particularly the naval air station. Baptist Health, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, and the Mayo Clinic employ more than 20,000 people combined. Other large employers include the city government, Duval County Public Schools, Citigroup, CSX, and Bank of America. More than 80 companies have corporate or regional headquarters in Jacksonville, including three Fortune 500 corporations. Winn-Dixie's corporate headquarters and its grocery distribution center are located in Jacksonville, and Pilot Pen is in the process of relocating its U.S. headquarters from Trumbull, Conn., to Jacksonville. Small businesses also abound; more than 90 percent of Jacksonville businesses have fewer than 50 employees. There's no personal state income tax in Florida, and the state corporate income tax is 5.5 percent of Florida income.
The median home price in Jacksonville, $150,500, is far lower than in Orlando or Miami. Buyers will be able to scoop up foreclosed properties for even less money.
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