This sunny city is a desirable place to live for several reasons. It has a warm climate, excellent schools, plenty of healthcare facilities, and endless entertainment options. This leads to an increase in the population each year, especially those coming from the northern states of the United States. If you have ever considered moving to new homes in Jacksonville or are in the process of doing so, this article will help you.
A Bit of History
Located in the northeastern part of the state. It was founded in 1791 and was originally called Cowford, which means cow (cow) and Ford (Ford). In 1822, it was renamed in honor of Andrew Jackson, who had just resigned as military governor of Florida. Jackson later became president of the United States (from 1829 to 1837).
Directions to Jacksonville
The city is served by the international airport, which is located about 23 kilometers north of downtown. It receives flights from many American cities including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Washington, and Philadelphia. You can also get to Jacksonville by train, for example, from New York City (Silver Star and Silver Meteor lines) or Miami.
Weather Conditions
The climate in Jacksonville is humid and subtropical.
The summer months are a great time for beach vacations. Spring and fall are perfect for walking and cultural activities. And don’t be afraid of hurricanes! Hurricanes occur less often here than in other parts of Florida. But storm warnings are not uncommon.
April is the time for the One Spark Creative Startup Festival. For more than three decades, Jacksonville has hosted the Memorial Day Jazz Festival in May. And in September, the International Documentary Film Festival comes to town.
Transportation
Jacksonville is located on the St. Johns River and has a deep-water port through which much of its imports (e.g., European cars) in particular arrive. It is a major transportation hub.
Entertainment and Leisure in Jacksonville
Landing is a Downtown shopping district known for its vibrant nightlife. Throughout the year there are many festivals and other events. Landing is filled with waterfront restaurants, nightclubs, and unique stores. The most fun time here is around New Year’s Eve and the night before the annual University of Georgia/Florida soccer game. The holiday season includes fireworks displays in Landing, and on Christmas Day, they put up the largest Christmas tree in northeast Florida.
Jacksonville Events
In addition to the famous market, Jacksonville hosts a jazz and blues festival, the largest outdoor festival in Florida. The city also has its film festival, and the city’s public library holds a book festival. In July, there’s a six-day Kingfish Festival with half a million USD in prize money: about 1,000 boats take part.
Especially specific is the Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, which takes place on Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island. It’s about 90 kilometers from Jacksonville, but this annual summer event is fun and colorful: its focal point is each time a mock invasion of pirates terrorizes the locals. The festivities reward the drunkest pirate who manages to loot the most, and there’s also the nationally renowned Miss Wet T-shirt contest.
Neighborhoods of Jacksonville
Amelia Island is very beautiful and can be reached in about an hour’s drive. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the island was a pirate base from which Spanish ships were raided. It has since been named “Eight Flags Island”: it is the only place in the U.S. that has been ruled by eight different powers.
A visit to Kingsley Plantation, the original well-preserved southern plantation, might also be a curiosity.
Five kilometers from St. Augustine is Ottis Castle, modeled on Irish castles thousands of years old. It is well visible from the A1A and in the evenings is lit up with beautiful blue lights.
Interesting Facts about Jacksonville
At one time the area was a dainty tourist spot. Jacksonville was the end of the railroad tracks. But that’s not all the facts.
It’s worth noting that:
- Several skyscrapers are towering in Jacksonville’s downtown. The tallest building, the 42-story Bank of America Tower, is 188 meters tall.
- Popular downtown locations are the Jacksonville Landing complex and the waterfront portion of the Jacksonville RiverWalks. They are located on both banks of the river, the Northbank Riverwalk is over 3 km long and the Southbank Riverwalk is 2 km long.
- One of the city’s largest museums, the Jacksonville Museum of Contemporary Art, also known as MOCA Jacksonville, is just steps away from the Northbank Riverwalk.
- On the south waterfront in St. Johns River Park is the Friendship Fountain. When the fountain was built in 1965, it was positioned as “the tallest and largest fountain in the world.”
- Jacksonville’s Main Street Bridge, which crosses the river in the heart of Downtown, is one of the city’s most recognizable symbols. In addition to the four lanes, the bridge has pedestrian sidewalks, making it popular with joggers and pedestrians.
Jacksonville is served by an international airport located twenty-three kilometers from the downtown area. Planes arrive here from most American cities, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, New York, Washington, D.C., or Philadelphia.
The city is only increasing its former glory, and once again hundreds of residents walk the streets of Jacksonville. They enjoy their holidays in this cozy resort town. Numerous entertainment venues, pubs, cafes, restaurants, and clubs have sprung up in the city, attracting even more people here.
