Jacksonville

Trouble? Not in this River City. Jacksonville, Florida's River City at the mouth of the meandering, northward flowing St. Johns, offers newcomers, residents and visitors lots of exciting choices and precious little trouble.

Located at the very core of a bustling metropolitan statistical area populated by 1 million residents, the city is practically surrounded by water--the intracoastal waterway, three major beachfront communities and then many miles of golden Atlantic beaches to the east and about 20 miles inland the broad, double bend of the St. Johns River winding through the city's center then turning eastward on the north side of town as it reaches toward its ocean home. You get the flow: Water lovers like it here; lots of properties are waterfront or waterview.

Home Sweet Home

The city's roots are working class, but a large middle class and a substantial upper class also occupy the contemporary scene, and there's housing for all. The city's downtown is undergoing an aggressive revitalization that includes high-end townhomes and large hotels. Springfield, an historic district contiguous to the downtown, is actively being restored. In addition, southern Duval County is undergoing expansive growth with many new home communities either planned or started. A "small town" Nocatee project, slated to cover 15,000 acres, will cost $5 billion to complete. A second large-scale project under consideration is a mixed-use retail shopping mall in the southern Jacksonville neighborhood of Deerwood. The 175- acre complex would include a string of connecting residential villages, a plaza, fountains, garden and entertainment center.

The city has abundant water access According to the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors, lower-priced homes on the Westside range from $60,000 to $80,000. On the Northside, they range from $40,000 to $80,000. The Southside/Mandarin area homes sell for $90,000 to $150,000; the Fleming Island homes in Clay County average $176,000; and the Jacksonville Beaches' homes cost between $90,000 and $150,000. Ponte Vedra Beach, located just outside the city in northern St. Johns County, consistently ranks as the most expensive area with average prices ranging from $293,000 to $320,000 and more than a few million-dollar homes.

During 1999 the median sales price of an existing single-family home was $105,000 in greater Jacksonville, $121,000 in Clay County and $305,000 in Ponte Vedra Beach. But as with real estate everywhere, location and amenities create fluctuations in price. If a home is on or near water, one of the region's 20-plus golf courses and country clubs, or in a security-conscious area with pass-through gates, it home costs more than a similar home on a conventional inland lot.

Single-family homes account for about 90 percent of the market, with condominiums making up 5 percent, followed by townhomes and mobile homes. New communities include Eagle Harbour in Clay County where homes sell for $150,000 to $250,000; Queens Harbour in Jacksonville where homes sell for $250,000 and up; and Lydia Estates in the Northside with homes priced between $140,000 to $170,000.

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Vital Stats

Four-county Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) of Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns counties

Area population: 1,008,633
Median age of residents 33.8

No. new citizens every year: 8,780
New job creation: 3.6 percent (1999)

Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent August, 1999
Cost of living: 97.98 percent (U.S. average = 100%)

Per capita income: $23,421
Median household effective buying income: $33,810

Rain & Shine

Weather is one reason newcomers and tourists flock to Florida. Jacksonville is no exception; in fact, many people prefer it to Miami's tropical climate because it has seasons of sorts. Summer temperatures range from the high 80s to mid 90s during the daytime and in the 70s at night. The average relative humidity is about 75 percent during the summer. In Jacksonville and vicinity, sunny days are the rule, but it rains at least a little 116 days a year. The truth is that it rains a lot in the Sunshine State; the Jacksonville area averages about 54 inches annually, but even this is a bonus since the summer is typically the rainy season and showers or thunderstorms often arrive in the late afternoon to cool off the residents. The average annual snowfall is zero--zip. But Jacksonville is one of the few places in Florida that might get a rare but light dusting of snow. During the winter months, temperatures average in the 50s.

Job Market

Major governmental employers include the Jacksonville Naval Air Station, Mayport Naval Station, Duval County Public Schools and the City of Jacksonville. More than 20 publicly traded companies make the urban area their corporate headquarters.

In Nassau County, the top private employers include Amelia Island Plantation (1,210), Smurfit-Stone (751), The Ritz Carlton (747), Rayonier (416), White Oak Plantation (351), S&G Packaging Co. (320) and Baptist Medical Center (278).

In Duval County that includes downtown Jacksonville, Winn Dixie Stores, Inc., with 15,000 employees, is the largest private employer. Other local powerhouses include Baptist/St. Vincents Health System (9,599), Convergys (7,000), First Union Bank (6,000), Nations Bank (6,000), BC/BS of Florida (5,064), United Parcel Services (4,768), Prudential (4,500), Florida Community College of Jacksonville (3,684) and ABC/JAX Liquors (3,000).

In St. Johns County, the top private employers include Northrop Grumman (1,400), Flagler Hospital (1,100), VAW of America (550), Luhrs Mainship Corporation (400), Tensolite (308) and Tree of Life (305).

Finally, Clay County's major private employers include Orange Park Medical Center (900), Gustafson's Dairy (350), Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. (298) and Joelson-Taylor Precast (250).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Getting Around

Business people love Jacksonville's location on two interstate highways, three major railroads, a major river and the Atlantic Ocean. Served by three airports, one international and two regional, the city is a transportation hub par excellence. Located about halfway between the central business district and the ocean, the massive 38-foot deep, 8-mile-long port handles 15 million tons of cargo annually and packs a $2 billion economic punch. The city's marketing pizzazz is symbolized by its five sister cities, two in Asia, two in Europe and one in South America.

Most residents need cars, however, because the contiguous city/county land area totals 841 square miles -- the largest city acreage in the continental United States. Jacksonville's Skyway is an elevated electric monorail system with nine cars that make eight stops on both sides of the St. John's River. The JTA -- Jacksonville Transit Authority -- bus system now operates 63 routes, employs 434 bus operators and maintenance employees, and has 173 vehicles in its active fleet. Reasonably priced water taxis also ferry citizens and visitors back and forth across the St. Johns River. For those who enjoy combining transportation with entertainment, river and ocean cruise outings beckon.

The Great Outdoors

Surf temperature averages 70 or higher from April through October, so the beaches provide year-round fun. In the winter, only the hardy actually swim or surf--often in wetsuits. And Northeast Florida beaches glow both glorious and golden. Besides Jacksonville Beach, American Beach, Neptune Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach, Jacksonville's Kathryn Abby Hanna Park on the northeast side of town near the naval station lures locals year-round with its 1.5 mile-long beach and 450 acres of activity complete with nature trail, freshwater fishing lakes, picnic area and campsites. Jacksonville Beach sports a 983-foot fishing pier popular with residents and tourists, anglers and strollers. Several lovely state parks offer nature trails and beaches adorned by protected, vegetation-covered sand dunes. (Jacksonville prides itself in nature's bounty and proves it with an award-winning recycling program.) Sheltered in a protected wildlife area, the one-of-a-kind campus of the University of North Florida features extensive nature trails.

Good Sports

Fun comes in many forms and with many faces. Jacksonville deserves its reputation as a sports town. The NFL franchise Jacksonville Jaguars is remarkably successful, the town has a minor league hockey team, the Lizard Kings, and a minor league baseball team, the Jacksonville Suns. The city also got its first arena football team recently, The Tomcats. Opportunities for water sports, tennis and golf abound. Or if you prefer to watch the pros, Ponte Vedra Beach at the south end of the region offers spectators a glimpse of some of the best. Professional Golfers' Association Tour headquarters and The Players Championship (TPC) tournament and courses call Ponte Vedra Beach home; so does The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). The annual Gator Bowl, played during the winter holiday season, attracts national interest.

Hot Times in the City

Several sporting events and festivals dot the calendar. In March, The Players Championship draws golfers' attention to the suburban Sawgrass links and the River Run puts serious runners on a 15,000-meter trot through the heart of the city and across its bridges. The three-day Jacksonvilles Jazz Festival headlines October's activity agenda, but tennis fans prefer to take in the ATP Tour Classic tourney. In December, excitement focuses on the Gator Bowl and its associated Light Parade, a festive combination of fireworks, marching bands, riverside entertainment, outdoor ice skating and lighted boats. The Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, now in its 20th year, is a week long festival with $500,000 in prize money.

Besides the convenient beach and nearby state parks, Jacksonville has entertainment for all ages. Kids love Adventure Landing, an interactive waterpark in Jacksonville Beach, the Jacksonville Zoological Gardens and the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, a fine art museum with a collection from 2000 BC to the present. Kidspace, a two-story treehouse at the Museum of Science & History, appeals to the young set and teens. The entire family likes to observe brewing and bottling operations at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery--and grownups get to sample the latest brews. Adults and seniors appreciate the town's high C.Q. (cultural quotient). Jacksonville has its own symphony orchestra and its own official band. The restored Times-Union Theater for the Performing Arts hosts 200 different events yearly in an architectural landmark; dramatic performances headline at the Ritz and Alhambra Dinner Theater. Galleries, museums and historic sites exist in such profusion that it's impossible to name them all.

Shop 'til You Drop

Not far from where Ponce De Leon landed in 1513, Jacksonville and the First Coast have been making history ever since. And the city has come a long way from its municipal birth in 1822 as a little place called Cowford on the north bank of the St. Johns. Nowadays the north bank is home to skyscrapers and The Jacksonville Landing, a fun place for browsing boutiques, shopping specialty stores, eating American or ethnic food and enjoying free, live entertainment. The Riverwalk, perfect for strolling or sitting, now graces both riverbanks, north and south. Antique shops are plentiful. The Avenues Mall features 125 stores in a contemporary setting. The historic Avondale Shopping District on the westside of town follows tree-lined St. Johns Avenue. On the southside, the San Marco Shopping District, an area rich in Spanish revival architecture houses lots of shops and restaurants.

Nightlife

But you're a night person? Don't worry. Jacksonville's nightlife opportunities -- clubs and restaurants and lounges -- offer a wide array of styles to please the city's younger adults. All age groups benefit from Jacksonville's ample supply of fine restaurants, however. Among Florida's Top 200, Florida Trend taps Jacksonville's Marker 32, Wilfried's 24 Mirimar, and The Wine Cellar for outstanding seafood and other continental favorites. In Jacksonville Beach, consider Giovanni's for Italian cuisine, and in Pone Vedra, visit The Augustine Grille in the Marriott at Sawgrass.

College Scene

A number of colleges and universities serve the Jacksonville region. Several two-year public schools are located in different communities including Florida Community College, St. Johns River Community College, Lake City Community College and Santa Fe Community College. Four-year universities include Bethune-Cookman, the University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, Webster University, Jones College, Edward Waters College and the University of St. Augustine.

Just for Seniors

Seniors like it here. Many enroll at FCCJ and learn something new. With no income tax, no inheritance tax, plenty to do and good weather to do it in, Jacksonville keeps its older citizens satisfied. The Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging provides local and regional information and referral for citizens 60 or older. Clay County's Council on Aging remains active. Anyone in Jacksonville and Duval County who is 60 or better (and spouses of any age) is eligible for Jacksonville Senior Services Program (JSSP), which provides a broad range of services and activities and 26 senior centers throughout its service area.