Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is a major city located in the state of Florida.

It sits on the Atlantic coast in the northeastern part of the state. The city is situated in the First Coast region. It straddles the St. Johns River. Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida.

It is also the largest city in the Southeast. The city is the largest by total area in the contiguous United States. This vast area includes both land and water. The Jacksonville metropolitan area has over 1.76 million residents. This makes it the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Florida.

The city's growth changed significantly due to consolidation. In 1968, the city and Duval County consolidated their governments. This process greatly increased the official population of Jacksonville. It also extended the municipal boundaries. Most of the population of Duval County now lives within the city limits. The 2020 U.S. census recorded 949,611 residents in the city proper. This consolidation helped shape the modern structure of the region. It allowed the city to manage a much larger geographic area.

Jacksonville serves as a vital hub for maritime and military operations. The riverine location makes it an ideal site for deep-water ports. The Port of Jacksonville, known as JAXPORT, is Florida's largest seaport by volume.

The city also hosts a massive military presence. This includes Naval Station Mayport and Naval Air Station Jacksonville.

The U.S. Marine Corps also maintains the Blount Island Command. Together, these bases and the nearby Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay create the third-largest military presence in the United States. These institutions are major drivers of the local economy.

The history of the region spans thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by the Timucua people.

On Black Hammock Island, researchers found pottery dating back to 2500 BCE. In the 16th century, the French established Fort Caroline near the St. Johns River.

However, a Spanish force attacked the fort in 1565. The Spanish destroyed the French settlement and renamed the area. For much of the time between 1565 and 1821, the region was part of Spanish Florida. During a brief period of British rule, a settlement grew at a place called Cow Ford.

This was a narrow point on the river used for crossing cattle.

American settlement began after Spain ceded Florida to the United States. In 1822, residents planned a town at the Cow Ford site. They named the town Jacksonville after Andrew Jackson. Jackson was the first military governor of the Florida Territory. He later became the seventh president of the United States. During the American Civil War, Jacksonville was a key supply point for cattle and hogs. The city changed hands several times between Union and Confederate forces.

Union forces eventually occupied the city in 1862 and held it for the rest of the war.

A major disaster reshaped the city in the early 20th century. On May 3, 1901, the Great Fire of 1901 destroyed downtown Jacksonville.

The fire started in a kitchen and spread through Spanish moss. In just eight hours, it consumed 146 city blocks. The blaze destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. It left approximately 10,000 people homeless. This event remains one of the worst disasters in Florida history. Following the fire, architect Henry John Klutho helped rebuild the city. He designed notable structures like the St. James Building.

In the 1910s, Jacksonville became a center for the film industry. More than 30 silent film studios were established there.

The city earned the nickname "Winter Film Capital of the World." This was due to the warm climate and excellent rail access. Eventually, the rise of Hollywood ended this era. Today, the local economy relies on different sectors. Banking, insurance, healthcare, and logistics are very important. Tourism also plays a large role. Many visitors come for the beaches or to play golf near Ponte Vedra Beach.

People from the city are called Jacksonvillians. Some also use the informal nicknames Jaxsons or Jaxons.