About Jacksonville, FL

Jacksonville is known for its ethnic and distinct neighborhoods. The North side which was initially marked as an industrial area has become a full-fledged residential area. The total land area in Jacksonville of 874.3 square miles makes it the largest in the United States in regard to land size. The city's population of 830,000 is bigger than Miami, Orlando, and any other city in the state.

Riverside Avenue is one of the most beautiful streets in the US with its linearly arranged bungalows, brownstone, and Mediterranean architecture of the 20th century. The strong oak trees compliment the look. Take a drive through and you'll feel like you're in another country. Other neighborhoods worth giving a look are Southside, San Marco, and Orange Park/Westside.

Aside from the wonderful neighborhoods in Jacksonville, the city has many other attractions. Jacksonville Landing is a collection of fine restaurants and shops on the waterfront that offers many options for entertainment to locals and tourists alike. Many events are hosted here including Art Walk and the Independence Day Celebration.

Another popular destination in Jacksonville is the Jacksonville Zoo and botanical gardens which are right next to each other. The zoo has been around for over 100 years and has been growing ever since. The zoo contains a diverse array of habitats and animals from all around the world. The Asian Botanical Garden and Trout River Garden make the botanical gardens a must see as well. Together, the zoo and the gardens are one of the treasures of the city.

But you cant talk about Jacksonville's treasures without mentioning it's beaches. Jacksonville's long pristine beaches are possibly the largest draw for the city. Here, people can fish, surf, kiteboard, jet ski, and more. The main beaches are the Jacksonville Beach, Mayport, Neptune Beach, and Point Verda Beach.

Looking for more to do in Jacksvonille? The city offers a number of venues for sports, arts, music and more. A few examples include Jacksonville Landing, The Oceanfront Seawalk Pavilion, The Florida Theater, Everbank Field.

Want to get outside of the city? Jacksonville has over 111,000 acres of preserved land. Much of which is green space dedicated to over 300 parks that give Jacksonville the distinction of having one of the largest urban parks system across the country.

Not enough? Visit the Bahamas, Key West, or any of the other Atlantic Ocean cruise destinations offered by Carnival and other cruise lines. Or stay inland and take advantage of the Intracoastal Waterway, the St. Johns River and several small lakes. It's not hard to find someone with a boat, and you can always find people to go surfing, fishing, or joyriding with.

But no matter what you do, whether on land or water, dogs are welcome just about everywhere. Jacksonville is a very dog friendly city.

Jacksonville is also very military friendly as well. There are two major military bases in Jacksonville - Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Naval Station Mayport.

Speaking of safety, hurricanes in Jacksonville are a thing. But luckily the city is in the northeast corner of the state where the storms are less likely to hit. The last hurricane to hit Jacksonville was in 1964 so it doesn't happen often.

Ready to move to Jacksonville? With the current job market there are plenty of options in healthcare, government, and finance. The unemployment in the city is below the national average. The cost of living is less expensive than some of the other big cities in Florida as well.