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The City of Jacksonville ranks as the 14th largest city in the United States in population with more than 800,000 residents.
The Jacksonville metropolitan area is in Duval County, which includes three beach cities and Clay, Baker, Nassau and St. Johns counties, has a population of more than 1,000,000 residents.
Jacksonville covers 841 square miles (217,559 hectares).
Jacksonville International Airport (JIA) is 15 minutes from downtown by car. It is served by 15 major and regional airlines that offer 250 daily flights to and from most major cities in the country and is an international gateway.
Fun Things to Do
PARKS
With 57,373 acres of parks, including state and federal lands, Jacksonville now ranks No. 1 among U.S. cities in gross acreage for parks and is in the top 10 in the percentage of acreage in the city devoted to park land. The wide variety of parks ranges from small neighborhood playgrounds for toddlers to biking, hiking and horse trails to athletic fields to boat ramps. There also are vast areas of unspoiled natural wilderness, much of it newly acquired by the city. From the quiet dignity of an oak forest, to the vastness of the salt marsh, Jacksonville's nature parks have an abundance of flora and fauna to satisfy the tastes of the casual observer or the dedicated nature hound. We ask that you share our special respect for the native inhabitants of these natural places.
BEACHES
As much for its beautiful beaches as anything, Jacksonville has become known as Florida's First Coast. Unlike much of the rest of Florida, the First Coast's miles of beaches remain relatively unspoiled and unfenced. The Beaches communities in Duval County -- Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Neptune Beach -- also offer some of the best sport fishing, boating and water sport opportunities in the country. A stroll along the beach might yield a collection of seashells, a view of the porpoise and northern right whales that cavort off the coast, or merely the relaxed state of mind that ocean waves can foster. Mayport Naval Station is home to many U.S. ships, including two aircraft carriers. Nearby, many fishing boats ply the waters for a variety of fish and shrimp.
JACKSONVILLE ZOO
The Jacksonville Zoo, north of downtown, is a natural wonderland growing and changing daily, with more than 1,000 rare and exotic creatures. Covering about 70 acres along the St. Johns River, the zoo has the only walking safari in Northeast Florida. A true family adventure, the Jacksonville Zoo offers an entertaining and educational experience for visitors and residents of Florida's First Coast. For more details, check out the zoo's web site.
SPORTS COMPLEX
Alltel Stadium
When it comes to spectator sports in Jacksonville, there's no question that football is king. And the king's throne is Alltel Stadium, which opened in August 1995, and is home of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. The stadium is the centerpiece of the city's sports complex on the eastern edge of Jacksonville's Downtown, on the western banks of the St. Johns River near the Hart and Mathews bridges. The 73,000-seat Alltel Stadium has been selected as the site of Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005. The stadium is also the site of two annual college games events -- the Gator Bowl Classic and the annual Southeastern Conference match up of Florida and Georgia. Occasional concerts and other special events are also held at the stadium.
Alltel Stadium was built in less than 20 months, faster than any major-league stadium has ever been built in North America. That allowed the Jaguars to be the first expansion team in sports history to play its first home game in its first season in a new stadium or arena.
The Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville
Thousands of baseball fans came out to celebrate the completion of the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, on April 4, 2003. Located northeast of the intersection of East Adams Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard in the Sports Complex, the new ballpark has a seating capacity of 10,000 and is home to the Jacksonville Suns. The red brick exterior complements both the new arena and the historic St. Andrews Church, which sits adjacent to the site.
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena
Construction is under way on the new Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. The arena is being built just west of A. Philip Randolph Boulevard in the Sports Complex. The red brick exterior will complement both the new baseball park and the historic St. Andrews Church, which sit directly across A. Philip Randolph. With a capacity of 16,000, it will attract national level entertainment that Jacksonville has missed out on in the past. The new arena will also be professional/NCAA sports capable to host arena football, hockey and basketball. The arena is expected to be completed in fall 2003.
The Duval County Veterans Memorial Wall that showcases the names of more than 1500 local military personnel who lost their lives while on active duty will remain at the current site and will be enhanced with the addition of a one to two acre park. A mayoral-appointed oversight committee is overseeing the planning and construction of this enhancement.
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