WELCOME TO JACKSONVILLE!

Jacksonville, the largest city in area in the continental United States, is a rapidly growing metropolitan city in Northeast Florida, with approximately 850,000 residents. Under its strong mayor form of government, residents elect a mayor and a 19-member City Council, with five at-large members and 14 members elected by district. John Peyton is Jacksonville's sixth mayor since the consolidation of Duval County and City of Jacksonville governments in 1968.

Due to its convenient location, mild climate, reasonable cost of living, high quality of life and a business-friendly government, Jacksonville is a popular location for corporate expansions and relocations. Its status as an intermodal transportation hub is another incentive, and the city is also a leading distribution center, with a transportation network embracing port and air cargo facilities, rail and trucking routes. Millions of tons of raw materials and manufactured goods move through the city annually.

This momentum continues to boost Jacksonville's stature in the national and international marketplace. In fact, Jacksonville is consistently rated one of the 'Hottest Cities in America' for business expansions and relocations in an annual poll featured in Expansion Management magazine. Ranked number eight in 2006, it has been in the top 10 for six straight years and is the only city to claim the number one spot three times. Meanwhile, Jacksonville ranked 11th in Inc. magazine's list of 'Best Cities for Doing Business' for 2006.

As a rapidly growing municipality, Jacksonville is recognized as a national leader in managing development. Peyton formed a growth management task force in 2005 which formed a vision for the next 25 years. The overall strategy involves balancing commercial and residential development with transit and infrastructure capacity and the preservation of green space.

One of Jacksonville's many natural assets is one of the largest urban park systems in the country. The active and passive parks and preservation lands are a key part of Jacksonville's quality of life. So are the miles of beaches and waterways, a major symphony orchestra, a sports and entertainment complex downtown and a myriad of special events that this sports-loving city hosts each year. The home of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars, the city welcomed its first Super Bowl in 2005.

With a growing population, a strong economy, diverse cultural and recreational opportunities and abundant natural resources, Jacksonville continues to distinguish itself as one of the nation's most dynamic and progressive cities.

GEOGRAPHY AND DEMOGRAPHY

Jacksonville lines both banks of the St. Johns River, the state's longest river, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean about 20 miles from downtown. The St. Johns flows north for 310 miles before turning east to the ocean at Jacksonville.

Jacksonville's deep-water port is the 14th largest in the U.S. and handles shipments from around the globe.

The 'River City' is Florida's most populous city as well as its leading financial and insurance center. Jacksonville has more than 800,000 residents, and the six-county Northeast Florida region has more than 1.1 million.

Population data from the U.S. Census Bureau for Jacksonville/Duval County:
2010 actual: 864,263  (An increase of 85,384 or 11.0 percent from the 2000 Census) 

There is room to grow on Florida's First Coast. When the city was consolidated with Duval County in 1968, Jacksonville became the largest city in land area in the contiguous United States, covering 841 square miles. The area's population increased by more than 11 percent between 2000 and 2010, making Jacksonville's commitment to managed growth especially important. 

Jacksonville has one of the lowest overall costs of living in Florida and the U.S. The area's cost of living is 92.6 percent of the national average, with housing and utilities being the best bargains. The median age of Jacksonville residents is 36.3. The mean household income is $65,491 while the median household income is $50,301, according to 2008 data from the American Community Survey.

The city's appeal has been reinforced by national media, including a steady ranking among the 'top ten best places to live' by Money magazine. Plus, for the second time in fours years, Jacksonville tops Expansion Management Magazine's list of 'America's Hottest Cities.'

CLIMATE

The city's climate is subtropical, but tends to be cooler than the Florida peninsula to the south. Winters can be marked by spells of cold weather, and limited snow or ice occur once every few years but outdoor events and sports outings can be comfortably accommodated year round.

The hottest month is July, with an average high of 92° F and an average low of 70° F. In January the average high temperature is 66° F and the average low is 41° F, though it is usually colder in December with an average high of 61° F and low of 38° F.

Normal annual precipitation is 51.3 inches, with the largest monthly totals accumulating from July through September.