Jacksonville

Jacksonville is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968.

History

Jacksonville's history dates back to thousands of years before the present day. The area was first inhabited by the Timucua people, and in 1564 it was the site of the French colony of Fort Caroline, one of the earliest European settlements in what is now the continental United States. Under British rule, settlement grew at the narrow point in the river where cattle crossed, known as Wacca Pilatka to the Seminole and the Cow Ford to the British. A platted town was established there in 1822, a year after the United States gained Florida from Spain; it was named after Andrew Jackson, the first military governor of the Florida Territory and seventh President of the United States.

Geography

Jacksonville is in the First Coast region of northeast Florida and is centered on the banks of the St. Johns River, about 25 miles (40 km) south of the Georgia state line and about 340 miles (547 km) north of Miami. The Jacksonville Beaches communities are along the adjacent Atlantic coast.

Economy

Jacksonville's economy is a balanced mixture of services, manufacturing, trade, and finance. The city's largest economic sectors are defense and transportation, with the city serving as a major military and civilian deep-water port. Other key sectors include health care, banking, logistics, insurance, and tourism.

Culture

Jacksonville is home to many prominent institutions and cultural venues, including the Florida Theatre, Jacksonville Symphony, Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, and Jacksonville Public Library.

Education

Jacksonville is served by Duval County Public Schools, which has some of the highest enrollment numbers in Florida. Higher education institutions in the city include the University of North Florida, Jacksonville University, and Florida State College at Jacksonville.

Sports

Jacksonville has a number of professional and semi-professional sports teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL), the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp of the Minor League Baseball (MiLB), and the Jacksonville Sharks of the National Arena League (NAL).

See also

• List of people from Jacksonville, Florida
• List of neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida