Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is a city located in Duval County, Florida, USA. It is the county seat of Duval County 6. Geographically, it is the largest city in the contiguous 48 states of the United States in terms of land area. It is also the largest city in Florida in terms of population in the city proper (ultimately ranking 14th in the country). The Jacksonville metropolitan area reached over one million residents in 1996. Jacksonville also has the distinction of being the largest city in the South outside of Texas. Jacksonville and Duval County are consolidated. All areas of Duval County are considered to be part of Jacksonville, but the communities of Baldwin, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach have their own municipal governments as well. The area of Jacksonville is 874.3 square miles (2,264.5 km²). Jacksonville was originally named Cowford because the St. Johns River is narrow there, allowing cattlemen to ford (herd) cows across the river. The city was renamed in 1822 for the first territorial governor of Florida and the future 7th U.S. President, Andrew Jackson. |
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| City motto: "Where Florida Begins" | |
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| Founded | 9 February 1832 |
| County | Duval County |
| Mayor | John Peyton (R) |
| Area - Total - Water |
2,264.5 km² (874.3 mi²) 302.1 km² (116.7 mi²) 13.34% |
| Population - City (2000) - Metropolitan - Density |
735,617 1,122,750 374.9/km² |
| Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5 |
| Latitude Longitude |
30°19' N 81°39' W |
| City of Jacksonville Official Website (http://www.coj.net) | |
Jacksonville is located at 30°19'10" North, 81°39'36" West (30.319406, -81.659999)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2,264.5 km² (874.3 mi²). 1,962.4 km² (757.7 mi²) of it is land and 302.1 km² (116.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 13.34% water.
Archaeological evidence indicates 6,000 years of human habitation in the area. The Timucua Indians were the predominate local tribe when European explorers arrived. The largest Timucua town in the region was Ossachite, which stood approximately where the courthouse stands today. Its name is the earliest recorded name for the area.
In 1513, Spanish explorers landed in Florida and claimed their discovery for Spain. In 1562, the French Huguenot explorer Jean Ribault explored the St. Johns River area and in 1564 the French established Fort Caroline. Spanish troops, led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, from nearby St. Augustine attacked the fort and drove off the French in 1565. Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763, who then gave control back to Spain in 1783. The first permanent settlement was founded at Cow Ford in 1791 and Florida became a United States territory in 1821. On June 15th, 1822 settlers sent a petition to the U.S. Secretary of State asking that Jacksonville be named a port of entry; this is the first recorded use of the name. The charter for a town government was approved by the Florida Legislative Council on February 9, 1832.
During the Civil War, Jacksonville was a key supply point for hogs and cattle leaving Florida and aiding the Confederate cause. Throughout most of the war, the US Navy maintained a blockade around Florida's ports, including Jacksonville. In October 1862 Union forces captured a Confederate battery at St. Johns Bluff and occupied Jacksonville. Throughout the war Jacksonville would change hands several times, though never with a battle. On February 20, 1864 Union soldiers from Jacksonville marched inland and confronted the Confederate Army at the Battle of Olustee which resulted in a Confederate victory. By the end of the war in 1865, a Union commander commented that Jacksonville had become "pathetically dilapidated, a mere skeleton of its former self, a victim of war."
Following the Civil War, during Reconstruction and afterward, Jacksonville and nearby St. Augustine became popular winter resorts for the rich and famous of the Gilded Age. Visitors arrived by steamboat and (beginning in the 1880s) by railroad, and wintered at dozens of hotels and boarding houses. The area declined in importance as a resort destination when Henry Flagler extended the Florida East Coast Railroad to the south, arriving in Palm Beach in 1894 and in the Miami area in 1896. Not even hosting the Subtropical Exposition, a Florida-style world's fair attended by President Grover Cleveland in 1888, served to provide a lasting boost for tourism in Jacksonville.
Jacksonville's prominence as a winter resort was dealt another blow by major yellow fever outbreaks in 1886 and 1888, during the latter of which nearly ten percent of the more than 4,000 victims, including the city's mayor, died. In the absence of scientific knowledge concerning the cause of yellow fever, nearly half of the city's panicked residents fled, despite the imposition of quarantines and the (ineffectual) fumigation of inbound and outbound mail. Not surprisingly, Jacksonville's reputation as a healthful tourist destination suffered.
During the Spanish American War, gunrunners helping the Cuban rebels used Jacksonville as the center for smuggling illegal arms and supplies to Cuba. Duval county sheriff, and future state governor, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward was one of many gunrunners operating out of the city. Author Stephen Crane travelled to Jacksonville to cover the war.
On May 3, 1901 hot ash from a shantyhouse's chimney landed on the drying moss at Cleaveland's Fiber Factory. At half past noon most of the Cleaveland workers were at lunch, but by the time they returned the entire city block was engulfed in flames. The fire destroyed the business district and rendered 10,000 residents homeless in the course of eight hours. Florida Governor William S. Jennings declared a state of martial law in Jacksonville and dispatched several state militia units to Jacksonville. Reconstruction started immediately, and the city was returned to civil authority on May 17. Famed New York architect Henry Klutho helped rebuild the city. Klutho and other architects, enamored of the "Prairie Style" of architecture then being popularized by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago and other Midwestern cities, designed exuberant local buildings with a Florida flair. While many of Klutho's buildings were demolished by the 1980s, a number of his creations remain, including the St. James Building from 1911 (a former department store that is now Jacksonville's City Hall) and the Morocco Temple from 1910. The Klutho Apartments, in Springfield, were recently restored and converted into office space by local charity Fresh Ministries. Despite the losses of the last several decades, Jacksonville still has one of the largest collections of Prairie Style buildings (particularly residences) outside the Midwest.
In the early 1900s, Jacksonville was a center of the fledgling motion picture industry. The city's warm climate, excellent rail access, and low costs all helped to make Jacksonville the "Winter Film Capital of the World". By the early 1910s, Jacksonville hosted over 30 studios employing over 1000 actors. However, some residents objected to the hallmarks of the early movie industry, such as car chases in the streets, simulated bank robberies and fire alarms in public places, and even the occasional riot scene. In 1917, a conservative mayor was elected on the platform of taming the city's movie industry. Subsequently the film studios opted to move to a more hospitable political climate in California.
The 1920s brought significant real estate development and speculation to the city during the great Florida land boom (and bust). Hordes of train passengers passed through Jacksonville on their way south to the new tourist destinations of South Florida, as most of the passenger trains arriving from the population centers of the North were routed through Jacksonville. Completion of the Dixie Highway (portions of which became U.S. Highway 1) in the 1920s began to draw significant automobile traffic as well. An important entry point to the state since the 1870s, Jacksonville now justifiably billed itself as the "Gateway to Florida."
A significant part of Jacksonville's growth in the 20th century came from the presence of navy bases in the region. October 15, 1940, Naval Air Station Jacksonville ("NAS Jax") on the westside became the first navy installation in the city. This base was a major training center during World War II, with over 20,000 pilots and aircrewmen being trained there. After the war, the Navy's elite Blue Angels were established at NAS Jax. Today NAS Jax is the third largest navy installation in the country and employs over 23,000 civilian and active-duty personnel.
In June 1941, land in the westernmost side of Duval County was earmarked for a second naval air facility. This became NAS Cecil Field, which during the Cold War was designated a Master Jet Base, the only one in the South. RF-8 Crusaders out of Cecil Field detected missiles in Cuba, precipitating the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1993 the Navy decided to close NAS Cecil Field and in 1999 this was completed. The land once occupied by this installation is now known as the "Cecil Commerce Center".
December 1942 saw the addition of a third naval installation to Jacksonville: Naval Station Mayport at the mouth of the St. Johns River. This port developed through World War II and today is the home port for many types of navy ships, most notably the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy. NS Mayport current employs about 14,000 personnel.
Jacksonville is also not far from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in St. Marys, Georgia, which is home to part of the US Navy's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) fleet.
The naval base became a key training ground in the 1950s and 1960s and as such, the population of the city rose dramatically. More than half of the residents in Jacksonville had some tie to the naval base, whether it be a relative stationed there, or due to employment opportunities, by 1970. While the city is more independent from the Navy today, it is still a strong influence in the community.
Jacksonville has a history of racial segregation and violence. This came to a head on "Ax Handle Saturday", August 27, 1960. A group of white men (allegedly some were also members of the Ku Klux Klan) armed with baseball bats and ax handles attacked civil rights protesters conducting sit-ins at segregated downtown restaurants. The violence spread, and the white mob started attacking all African-Americans in sight. Rumors were rampant on both sides that the unrest was spreading around the county (in reality, the violence stayed in relatively the same location, and did not spill over into the mostly-white, upper-class Cedar Hills neighborhood, for example). The police did not make an attempt to stop the violence until the "blacks started holding their own."
Before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African-Americans in Jacksonville were denied healthcare services at every hospital except the all-black Brewster Hospital, even when their condition was critical or life-threatening.
In the aftermath of the Civil Rights Act and Ax Handle Saturday, the previously segregated African-American and European-American communities worked together in open dialog, integration, and participatory government.
Despite the progress, racial tension was very evident when the public schools in Jacksonville were integrated in 1967. The black students attending integrated schools endured racial epithets, being spit on and, in some extreme cases, being stoned by their white classmates.
On June 1, 2003, John Peyton became Mayor of Jacksonville after defeating African-American Sheriff Nat Glover. Matt Carlucci, a white Republican endorsed Glover (a Democrat) after being defeated in the open primary. Afterwards, Carlucci's business was vandalized with the words "NIGGER LOVER", and Glover's campaign headquarters was vandalized with "NO NIGGER MAYOR". The only witness to the crime said he saw two black males running from the scene.
It should be noted that Nat Glover was the first (and only) African-American sheriff in the state of Florida since Reconstruction, winning two elections before running for mayor. Before he joined the police force, he was one of the youths who were involved in the axe handle riots.
After World War II, the government of the City of Jacksonville began to increase spending to fund new building projects in the boom that occurred after the war. Mayor Haydon Burns' "Jacksonville Story" resulted in the construction of a new city hall, civic auditorium, public library and other projects that created a dynamic sense of civic pride. However, the development of suburbs and a subsequent wave of "white flight" left Jacksonville with a much poorer population than before. Much of the city's tax base dissipated, leading to problems with funding education, sanitation, and traffic control within the city limits. In addition, residents in unincorporated suburbs had difficulty obtaining municipal services such as sewage and building code enforcement. In 1958, a study recommended that the City of Jacksonville begin annexing outlying communities in order to create the needed tax base to improve services throughout the county. Voters outside the city limits rejected annexation plans in six referendums between 1960 and 1965.
In the mid 1960s, corruption scandals began to arise among many of the city's officials, who were mainly elected through the traditional good ol' boy network. After a grand jury was convened to investigate, several officials were indicted and more were forced to resign. Consolidation began to win more support during this period, from both inner city blacks (who wanted more involvement in government) and whites in the suburbs (who wanted more services and more control over the center city). Lower taxes, increased economic development, unification of the community, better public spending and effective administration by a more central authority were all cited as reasons for a new consolidated government.
A consolidation referendum was held in 1967, and voters approved the plan. On October 1, 1968, the governments merged to create the Consolidated City of Jacksonville.
Jacksonville uses the Mayor-Council form of city government. The mayor is the Chief Executive and Administrative officer, called the Strong-Mayor form. He holds veto power over all resolutions and ordinances made by the city council. He also has the power to hire and fire the head of various city departments. The city council has nineteen members, fourteen of whom are elected from districts, and five who are elected at-large. Four municipalities within Duval County voted not to join the consolidated government. These communities consist of only 6% of the total population within the county. The municipalities are Baldwin, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach. Not all city services were merged, making for a less-than-full consolidation of the city-county. Several authorities remain independent of the combined city-county government, including the school board, electric authority, port authority, and airport authority. Fire, police, health and welfare, recreation, public works, and housing and urban development were all combined under the new government. The four separate communities provide their own services, while maintaining the right to contract the consolidated government to provide services for them. Under the new government structure, anyone living in Duval County is eligible to run for Mayor of the City of Jacksonville, even those living in the four separate municipalities.
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 735,617 people, 284,499 households, and 190,614 families residing in the city. The population density is 374.9/km² (970.9/mi²). There are 308,826 housing units at an average density of 157.4/km² (407.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 64.48% White, 29.03% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.78% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.33% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. 4.16% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 284,499 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% are married couples living together, 16.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% are non-families. 26.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.53 and the average family size is 3.07.
In the city, the population is spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 34 years. For every 100 females there are 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $40,316, and the median income for a family is $47,243. Males have a median income of $32,547 versus $25,886 for females. The per capita income for the city is $20,337. 12.2% of the population and 9.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 16.7% of those under the age of 18 and 12.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Traditionally, Jacksonville enjoys mild weather in the winter and hot weather in the summer. High temperatures average between 50 and 90 degrees (10-32 degrees Celsius) throughout the year. High heat indices are not uncommon for the summer months in the Jacksonville area. High Temperatures can reach mid to high 90s with heat index ranges of 105-115F. Conversely, the area can experience many freezes and hard freezes during the night in the winter months. In some years, the area sees snow, though this is uncommon.
Jacksonville is one of the few cities on the Eastern seaboard that have been spared from the wrath of numerous hurricanes. The only major hurricane to hit the city has been Hurricane Dora, in 1964 with winds that had just barely diminished to 110mph, making it a strong Category 2, borderline Category 3. This area receives a brush with a Tropical Storm or better every 3.05 years. While not directly impacted, this area did receive major wind damage from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004.
Rainfall averages around 52 inches a year, with the wetter months being June through September.
Jacksonville is home to Edward Waters College, Jacksonville University, and the University of North Florida, as well as the Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Trinity Baptist College, Jones College, Florida Technical College, Logos Christian College, and Florida Coastal School of Law.
Former mayor John Delaney has been president of the University of North Florida since July 2003, parlaying his widespread popularity in the city into a highly coveted spot of leadership in the state university system.
Interstate Highways 10 and 95 intersect in Jacksonville. Interstate Highway 10 ends at this intersection (the other end being in California). The eastern terminus of US-90 is in nearby Jacksonville Beach near the Atlantic Ocean. Additionaly, several other roads as well a major local expressway, J. Turner Butler Boulevard (SR 202) also connect Jacksonville to the beaches. Public transportation is provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. The city has the Jacksonville Skyway Monorail, which loops around the central business district and is fairly cheap to use. However, there are very few Skyway stations and as such, traffic is quite light.
Interstate 95 has a bypass route, I-295, which currently bypasses the city to the west. I-295 will eventually become a loop when State Road 9A is completed in the southeastern portion of the county. Jacksonville is also home to the world headquarters of CSX Transportation.
There are also numerous bridges over the St. Johns River at Jacksonville. They include (starting from furthest downstream) the Dames Point Bridge, the Mathews Bridge, the Isaiah D. Hart Bridge, the Main Street Bridge, the Acosta Bridge, the Fuller Warren Bridge (which carries I-95 traffic) and the Buckman Bridge (which carries I-295 traffic).
Major commercial air service in Jacksonville operates out of Jacksonville International Airport. Smaller planes can fly to Craig Airport on the southside and Herlong Airport on the westside. The city also operates an airfield at Cecil Commerce Center that is intended for aerospace manufacturing companies.
Amtrak passenger railroad serves Jacksonville from a station on Clifford Lane in the Northwest section of the city.
In 2003, the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal opened, providing cruise service to Key West, Florida, The Bahamas, and Mexico.
Jacksonville is home to a number of professional sports teams:
Jacksonville was named as the site for Super Bowl XXXIX, becoming the third city in the state of Florida (Miami and Tampa being the others) to host the event. The game was held on February 6, 2005 and featured halftime entertainment by former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. Due to the milder climate and lesser amount of hotel space, many media critics decried Jacksonville as a sub-standard host for a Super Bowl, although local leaders felt the criticism was unwarranted. The game itself was played under ideal football weather (about 55 degrees Fahrenheit), and the New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21.
Jacksonville is also a hub for the world famous golf opportunities of North Florida. In Ponte Vedra lies the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, one of the most famous golf courses in the world and home to the annual PGA TPC (The Player's Championship) tournament. Nearby St. Augustine is home to the World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame. Jacksonville also features dozens of other golf courses and country clubs.
Professional tennis is in town each year when the WTA holds the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island Plantation near Fernandina Beach, just north of Jacksonville. Other sports events include the annual Kingfish Tournament held in July, the Florida-Georgia football game, commonly known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" held every October, and the Gator Bowl held in early January. Both the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University also field athletic teams in a number of sports.
The city's biggest cultural event is the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, an annual event featuring many of the biggest names in jazz. Jacksonville also features two art museums, the Cummer Gallery of Art and the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra makes regular performances at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts near downtown.
Jacksonville also has significant natural beauty from the St. Johns River and Atlantic Ocean. The city center includes the Jacksonville Landing shopping center and the Riverwalk. Downtown Jacksonville has a memorable skyline with the tallest building being the Bank of America Building, constructed in 1990 with a height of 617ft (188m). Other notable structures include the Modis Building (once the defining building in the Jacksonville skyline, owned by Independent Life) with its distinctive flared base and the Riverplace Tower, which is the tallest pre-cast, post-tension concrete structure in the world.
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Some issues the city deals with today include how to fix the school system (including violence on school buses), controversies over a public high school named for Ku Klux Klan founder Nathan Bedford Forrest, and how to solve transportation problems (The Better Jacksonville Plan). Jacksonville also faces a double-edged sword of development. While the population increases, the city is forced to deal with maintaining an infrastructure that keeps up with this growth. Roads are increasingly clogged with more cars and public schools are crowded with more students. The city is struggling to keep a balance between traditionally lower taxes and accommodating its rising population.
Also, Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 presented a host of problems and challenges for the Jacksonville area. Many of the current transportation issues revolved around this event, and many services, such as the Jacksonville monorail system known as the Skyway, have been underutilized for many years. The Skyway, specifically, has been criticized in that it goes from "nowhere to nowhere" in its limited route.
Famous Jacksonville Music Artists
Famous Jacksonville Bands (chronological by year band was formed)
Jacksonville has several sister cities.[1] (http://www.jsca.org/) In 1967, Bahia Blanca, Argentina became Jacksonville's first sister city. In 1975, Murmansk, Russia became the second. In 1983, Masan, South Korea became the third. In 1984, Nantes, France became the fourth. In 1990, Yingkou, China became the fifth. In 2000, Port Elizabeth, South Africa became the sixth. The Sister Cities International in 2000 awarded Jacksonville's the Innovation Arts & Culture Award for the city's program with Nantes, France.
Jacksonville is the home of:
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Jacksonville is the home of:. The Patriots re-signed Troy Brown, who they released earlier in the Offseason. The Sister Cities International in 2000 awarded Jacksonville's the Innovation Arts & Culture Award for the city's program with Nantes, France. On April 29, the Patriots surprised many by bringing Doug Flutie, the former Boston College and Patriots quarterback most recently with the San Diego Chargers, back to the team as a veteran backup to Brady. In 2000, Port Elizabeth, South Africa became the sixth. During the 2005 NFL Draft, the Patriots used their first round pick on Logan Mankins, an offensive guard out of Fresno State. In 1990, Yingkou, China became the fifth. The offseason turned around however, with Tom Brady signing a new contract that would keep him in New England through the 2010 season, and the addition of Seattle linebacker Chad Brown. In 1984, Nantes, France became the fourth. Still, wanting to be a part of the team, Bruschi remarked that he would
reevalute his condition for playing football at the end of the 2005 season. In 1983, Masan, South Korea became the third. Troy Brown, the long-time Patriots receiver, was released for salary
cap reasons, surprising many after he had contributed on defense, offense, and special teams to help fill in for injured players
(but understandable given that he was entering a "dummy year" with an inflated cap number, Troy Brown was re-signed on May 23).
Other players who left include Joe Andruzzi, Keith Traylor, and Roman Phifer.
Also, Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005 presented a host of problems and challenges for the Jacksonville area. They also extended their overall winning streak to 21. The city is struggling to keep a balance between traditionally lower taxes and accommodating its rising population. On October 24 they broke the record for the most consecutive regular season victories at 18 after beating the New York Jets 13-7. Roads are increasingly clogged with more cars and public schools are crowded with more students. On October 10 they set the record for the number of consecutive wins (regular and post-season) in NFL history, at 19, after beating the 0-4 Miami Dolphins 24-10. While the population increases, the city is forced to deal with maintaining an infrastructure that keeps up with this growth. These moves paid off, as the Patriots finished the regular season at 14-2. Some issues the city deals with today include how to fix the school system (including violence on school buses), controversies
over a public high school named for Ku Klux Klan founder Nathan Bedford Forrest, and how to solve transportation problems (The Better Jacksonville Plan).
Jacksonville also faces a double-edged sword of development. Their biggest move was obtaining superstar running back Corey Dillon from the Cincinnati
Bengals. Other notable structures include the Modis Building (once the defining building in the Jacksonville skyline, owned by Independent Life) with its distinctive flared base and the Riverplace Tower, which is the tallest pre-cast, post-tension concrete structure in the world. A trick pass to linebacker Mike Vrabel in the end zone with just over 2:00 to play put the Patriots back in the lead, but Ricky Proehl tied it up with another touchdown to tie it 29-29. Brady then repeated his role from two years ago, moving the Patriots quickly downfield to force another Adam Vinatieri field goal with four seconds left. Downtown Jacksonville has a memorable skyline with the tallest building being the Bank of America Building, constructed in 1990 with a height of 617ft (188m). The third quarter was scoreless, but Antowain Smith scored on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it 21-10. Carolina scored two more touchdowns (neither of which were converted) to make it 22-21. The city center includes the Jacksonville Landing shopping center and the Riverwalk. After a defensive battle for most of the first half, the teams traded touchdowns late in the second quarter, then more quick strikes by both teams made the score 14-10 Patriots at halftime. Johns River and Atlantic Ocean. Super Bowl XXXVIII was one of the closest championship games ever played. Jacksonville also has significant natural beauty from the St. The Patriots were back in the Super Bowl, this time to face the Carolina Panthers. The Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra makes regular performances at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts near downtown. Despite only one offensive touchdown by the Patriots, they held on to win 24-14. The city's biggest cultural event is the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, an annual event featuring many of the biggest names in jazz. Jacksonville also features two art museums, the Cummer Gallery of Art and the Jacksonville Museum of Modern Art. The New England defense frustrated Colts quarterback Peyton Manning all day, forcing him to throw four interceptions (three to Ty Law) and sacking him three times. Both the University of North Florida and Jacksonville University also field athletic teams in a number of sports. The Patriots then faced the Indianapolis Colts for the AFC Championship. Other sports events include the annual Kingfish Tournament held in July, the Florida-Georgia football game, commonly known as "The World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party" held every October, and the Gator Bowl held in early January. An incomplete Steve McNair pass on 4th down with 1:40 left won the game 17-14 for New England. Professional tennis is in town each year when the WTA holds the Bausch & Lomb Championships at Amelia Island Plantation near Fernandina Beach, just north of Jacksonville. Played in a temperature of 5 degrees F, (making it the second-coldest game in NFL history) the Patriots and Titans kept it close until Vinatieri kicked the go-ahead field goal with 4 minutes left. Jacksonville also features dozens of other golf courses and country clubs. The first opponent was the Tennessee Titans. Augustine is home to the World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame. The Patriots had the NFL's best record at 14-2 and had home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Nearby St. The Patriots also shut out 3 opponents: the Dallas Cowboys (led by Bill Parcells), the Dolphins (in a snowy Gillette Stadium), and a revenge 31-0 win over Buffalo in the final game of the regular season. In Ponte Vedra lies the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, one of the most famous golf courses in the world and home to the annual PGA TPC (The Player's Championship) tournament. Several big plays marked the team's season: an 82-yard touchdown from Brady to Troy Brown in overtime in Miami, a 4th-quarter comeback in Denver known for an intentional safety, and a goal-line stand in Indianapolis where Edgerrin James was stopped by Willie McGinest on 4th and goal by from the 2 yard line in the dying seconds. Jacksonville is also a hub for the world famous golf opportunities of North Florida. The Patriots only lost one game the rest of the season, despite several injuries. The game itself was played under ideal football weather (about 55 degrees Fahrenheit), and the New England Patriots defeated the Philadelphia Eagles, 24-21. The following week the Patriots traveled to Philadelphia to take on the Eagles, who had also been shut out in their opener (17-0 at home by Tampa Bay), thus setting up the first NFL game matching two teams that had been shut out the week before since 1991, and the first game in the second week of a season between two teams that had been shut out in the first week since 1932 (the Patriots won this game 31-10). Due to the milder climate and lesser amount of hotel space, many media critics decried Jacksonville as a sub-standard host for a Super Bowl, although local leaders felt the criticism was unwarranted. But the surprise release of Lawyer Milloy days before the season opener (immediately dubbed "Lawyergate" by the press) shocked observers, and he ended up with the Buffalo Bills, who beat the Patriots 31-0 in Week 1. The game was held on February 6, 2005 and featured halftime entertainment by former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney. In the 2003 offseason the Patriots picked up several big-name players in free agency such as linebacker Roosevelt Colvin (Colvin was placed on the injured reserve due to an injury early on in the season), safety Rodney Harrison and defensive lineman Ted Washington. Jacksonville was named as the site for Super Bowl XXXIX, becoming the third city in the state of Florida (Miami and Tampa being the others) to host the event. The Patriots started the 2002 season on a high note too, winning their first 3 games. However, injuries and problems with the offensive and defensive lines cost the team down the stretch, and the team finished 9-7. They missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker. Jacksonville is home to a number of professional sports teams:. Bledsoe was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the 2002 off-season. In 2003, the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal opened, providing cruise service to Key West, Florida, The Bahamas, and Mexico. Brady was selected Super Bowl MVP. Amtrak passenger railroad serves Jacksonville from a station on Clifford Lane in the Northwest section of the city. After 42 years, the Patriots were Super Bowl champions. The city also operates an airfield at Cecil Commerce Center that is intended for aerospace manufacturing companies. Brady calmly led New England's offense downfield, missing only one pass, when Adam Vinatieri won it with a 48-yard field goal as time expired. Smaller planes can fly to Craig Airport on the southside and Herlong Airport on the westside. Louis scored two touchdowns to tie it at 17-17 with 1:30 to go. Major commercial air service in Jacksonville operates out of Jacksonville International Airport. After trailing 17-3 early in the fourth quarter, St. Hart Bridge, the Main Street Bridge, the Acosta Bridge, the Fuller Warren Bridge (which carries I-95 traffic) and the Buckman Bridge (which carries I-295 traffic). Belichick's defense held the Rams high-powered offense in check until the fourth quarter, forcing three turnovers (one returned by Ty Law for a touchdown and the other two leading to scores as well). They include (starting from furthest downstream) the Dames Point Bridge, the Mathews Bridge, the Isaiah D. Louis Rams, who had beaten the Patriots in the regular season. Johns River at Jacksonville. Brady was back to face the heavily-favored St. There are also numerous bridges over the St. With two special teams touchdowns and two Kordell Stewart interceptions in the fourth quarter, the Patriots stunned Pittsburgh 24-17 to advance to Super Bowl XXXVI. Jacksonville is also home to the world headquarters of CSX Transportation. After Brady was injured in the second quarter, Bledsoe (in his last appearance as a Patriot) came off the sideline and immediately threw a touchdown. Interstate 95 has a bypass route, I-295, which currently bypasses the city to the west. I-295 will eventually become a loop when State Road 9A is completed in the southeastern portion of the county. The team then went to Pittsburgh to face the favored Steelers in the AFC Championship. However, there are very few Skyway stations and as such, traffic is quite light. Kicker Adam Vinatieri tied the game with a 45-yard field goal in the final 30 seconds, and then won it 16-13 in overtime. The city has the Jacksonville Skyway Monorail, which loops around the central business district and is fairly cheap to use. In what Patriots fans saw as justice for Ben Dreith's controversial call in 1976, a Brady fumble was ruled an incomplete pass using the little-known "tuck rule". Public transportation is provided by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority. The Patriots opened the playoffs in a snowstorm against the Oakland Raiders in the last game ever played at Foxboro Stadium. Turner Butler Boulevard (SR 202) also connect Jacksonville to the beaches. Even after Bledsoe was healthy again, Brady continued as the starting quarterback. Additionaly, several other roads as well a major local expressway, J. The Patriots continued to pick up momentum through the season, and won 6 games in a row to capture the AFC East with an 11-5 record. The eastern terminus of US-90 is in nearby Jacksonville Beach near the Atlantic Ocean. But the big story was quarterback Tom Brady, who went his first four games (three of them wins) without throwing an interception. Interstate Highway 10 ends at this intersection (the other end being in California). Receivers Troy Brown and David Patten had career seasons, first-round draft pick Richard Seymour revitalized the defensive line, and Antowain Smith (a free agent signed from Buffalo) ran for 1000 yards. Interstate Highways 10 and 95 intersect in Jacksonville. Few could have predicted what happened during the rest of the season. Former mayor John Delaney has been president of the University of North Florida since July 2003, parlaying his widespread popularity in the city into a highly coveted spot of leadership in the state university system. Chris Slade had left for the Carolina Panthers, and Coates was long gone as well. Jacksonville is home to Edward Waters College, Jacksonville University, and the University of North Florida, as well as the Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Trinity Baptist College, Jones College, Florida Technical College, Logos Christian College, and Florida Coastal School of Law. It looked like a similar result was in the cards for the 2001 season, with Bledsoe injured in Week 2 and Glenn with a drug suspension and contract holdout. Rainfall averages around 52 inches a year, with the wetter months being June through September. After a tough season with lots of close losses, the Patriots finished 5-11. While not directly impacted, this area did receive major wind damage from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004. Luckily for the Patriots, Bill Belichick, hand-picked to be Parcells' successor with the Jets, quit after one day to join New England. This area receives a brush with a Tropical Storm or better every 3.05 years. The team started 6-2 but finished 8-8, and Carroll was fired. The only major hurricane to hit the city has been Hurricane Dora, in 1964 with winds that had just barely diminished to 110mph, making it a strong Category 2, borderline Category 3. With no running game and tough competition in the division the 1999 season was tough for the Patriots. Jacksonville is one of the few cities on the Eastern seaboard that have been spared from the wrath of numerous hurricanes. It opened in 2002. In some years, the area sees snow, though this is uncommon. After the Hartford plan was scuttled by delays, he eventually built Gillette Stadium next to the old stadium in Foxboro. Conversely, the area can experience many freezes and hard freezes during the night in the winter months. After not getting a deal from the city of Boston to replace the aging and inadequate Foxboro Stadium, Kraft announced in 1999 he was moving the team to Hartford, Connecticut. High Temperatures can reach mid to high 90s with heat index ranges of 105-115F. Backup quarterback Scott Zolak proved to be no match for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first playoff game. High heat indices are not uncommon for the summer months in the Jacksonville area. Bledsoe and Glenn were later both knocked out for the season, and the Patriots backed into the last playoff seed with a 9-7 record. High temperatures average between 50 and 90 degrees (10-32 degrees Celsius) throughout the year. After stumbling through the first half of the season (5-6 after the first 11 games), Bledsoe, playing with a broken finger, engineered late 4th-quarter comebacks against the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills to save the season. Traditionally, Jacksonville enjoys mild weather in the winter and hot weather in the summer. The game was an officially-sponsored activity that took place during Pro Bowl weekend. Out of the total population, 16.7% of those under the age of 18 and 12.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. Robert Edwards, a rookie draft pick, was his replacement but his career was over after a breakout rookie season by an injury he suffered in Hawaii while playing a game of flag football on the beach. 12.2% of the population and 9.4% of families are below the poverty line. Parcells convinced several players, including Curtis Martin, to join the Jets in time for the 1998 season. The per capita income for the city is $20,337. A late fumble (recovered by future Patriot Mike Vrabel) won the game for Pittsburgh, 7-6. Males have a median income of $32,547 versus $25,886 for females. After having an easy time with the Miami Dolphins in Foxboro, the injury-plagued Patriots met the Steelers in Pittsburgh for a rematch in the divisional playoff. The median income for a household in the city is $40,316, and the median income for a family is $47,243. In 1997 the Patriots still won the AFC East with a 10-6 record, but some key losses (including a loss to Parcells' Jets and a 4th-quarter collapse against the Pittsburgh Steelers) meant the team had to play in the wild card round. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.6 males. The new regime was immediately derided for botching draft picks, and the Patriots slipped back further in the standings during each of Carroll's years. For every 100 females there are 93.9 males. Parcells did take the Jets job in the offseason, and Pete Carroll was named the new coach. The median age is 34 years. The Packers won 35-21. In the city, the population is spread out with 26.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who are 65 years of age or older. In the days leading up to the game, rumors that Parcells was going to take the vacant head coaching job with the New York Jets were running rampant. The Patriots played the Packers close in the first half, but two long Brett Favre touchdowns and a kickoff return for a touchdown by Desmond Howard sealed New England's fate. The average household size is 2.53 and the average family size is 3.07. But relations between Kraft and Parcells were strained, and may have cost the team a championship. 26.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The Patriots blew out the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-3 in the divisional playoff, and held off the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-6 in the AFC Championship. The team advanced to Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers. There are 284,499 households out of which 33.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% are married couples living together, 16.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 33.0% are non-families. The Patriots finished 11-5, first in the AFC East, and gained a first-round bye. 4.16% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Linebackers Tedy Bruschi and Ted Johnson arrived on the scene to help McGinest and Slade. The racial makeup of the city is 64.48% White, 29.03% Black or African American, 0.34% Native American, 2.78% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 1.33% from other races, and 1.99% from two or more races. On defense, rookie safety Lawyer Milloy made an impact, as did Willie Clay (signed from the Detroit Lions) and second-year cornerback Ty Law. There are 308,826 housing units at an average density of 157.4/km² (407.6/mi²). In 1996 the team added wide receiver Terry Glenn, who did the same work to the passing game that Martin did to the running game. The population density is 374.9/km² (970.9/mi²). Bledsoe went down with injuries though, and the Patriots finished a lackluster 6-10. As of the census2 of 2000, there are 735,617 people, 284,499 households, and 190,614 families residing in the city. Curtis Martin joined the team for the 1995 season, giving the team a much-needed boost to the running game. Under the new government structure, anyone living in Duval County is eligible to run for Mayor of the City of Jacksonville, even those living in the four separate municipalities. The team finished 10-6 and won a wild card playoff spot. The Patriots were quickly turned away in the first round by the Cleveland Browns - the last team to beat New England in the regular season, and coached by future Pats hero Bill Belichick. The four separate communities provide their own services, while maintaining the right to contract the consolidated government to provide services for them. The Patriots won the game 26-20 in overtime, and did not lose a game for the rest of the regular season. Fire, police, health and welfare, recreation, public works, and housing and urban development were all combined under the new government. Bledsoe set single-game records for pass attempts and completions. Several authorities remain independent of the combined city-county government, including the school board, electric authority, port authority, and airport authority. The Patriots looked flat in the 1994 season until Drew Bledsoe sparked a second-half comeback against the Minnesota Vikings by switching to the no-huddle offense. Not all city services were merged, making for a less-than-full consolidation of the city-county. Louis after the season looked imminent, but Orthwein ended up selling the team to Boston businessman Robert Kraft instead. The municipalities are Baldwin, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach. A move to St. These communities consist of only 6% of the total population within the county. Bledsoe came back later in the season and won four in a row to end the season at 5-11, including a dramatic overtime win in the final week to knock the Dolphins out of the playoffs. Four municipalities within Duval County voted not to join the consolidated government. After losing the first four games, Bledsoe was injured and replaced with former Dolphins backup Scott Secules, who won one of his two games. The city council has nineteen members, fourteen of whom are elected from districts, and five who are elected at-large. Other draft picks such as tight end Ben Coates and linebackers Willie McGinest and Chris Slade, helped the team immediately. He also has the power to hire and fire the head of various city departments. This was only part of a major season of change in New England. Bill Parcells was hired as head coach, and even the logo and uniforms changed. He holds veto power over all resolutions and ordinances made by the city council. With the first pick in the 1993 draft, the Patriots selected quarterback Drew Bledsoe. The mayor is the Chief Executive and Administrative officer, called the Strong-Mayor form. Louis were circulating and the team finished 2-14. Jacksonville uses the Mayor-Council form of city government. Optimism was high entering the 1992 season, but rumors of a move to St. On October 1, 1968, the governments merged to create the Consolidated City of Jacksonville. Hugh Millen took over at quarterback partway through the season, and the Patriots improved to 6-10 with several upsets over playoff teams. A consolidation referendum was held in 1967, and voters approved the plan. Louis businessman James Orthwein, who had thoughts of moving the team to his hometown. Lower taxes, increased economic development, unification of the community, better public spending and effective administration by a more central authority were all cited as reasons for a new consolidated government. The new owner was St. Consolidation began to win more support during this period, from both inner city blacks (who wanted more involvement in government) and whites in the suburbs (who wanted more services and more control over the center city). First-year coach Rod Rust was fired and replaced by Dick MacPherson. After a grand jury was convened to investigate, several officials were indicted and more were forced to resign. The Colts win was the only one of the season, with the team finishing 1-15. In the mid 1960s, corruption scandals began to arise among many of the city's officials, who were mainly elected through the traditional good ol' boy network. Kiam's handling of the situation was called into question, and he ended up selling the team. Voters outside the city limits rejected annexation plans in six referendums between 1960 and 1965. Newspaper reporter Lisa Olson was sexually harassed by players Zeke Mowatt, Michael Timpson and Robert Perryman following a win over the Indianapolis Colts. In 1958, a study recommended that the City of Jacksonville begin annexing outlying communities in order to create the needed tax base to improve services throughout the county. 1990 became the most tumultuous season in Patriots history. In addition, residents in unincorporated suburbs had difficulty obtaining municipal services such as sewage and building code enforcement. Eason, Flutie and Grogan rotated the starting quarterback job as the Patriots finished 5-11. Much of the city's tax base dissipated, leading to problems with funding education, sanitation, and traffic control within the city limits. The season was over before it began - three of the team's biggest stars on defense (Andre Tippett, Garin Veris and Ronnie Lippett) were injured in one preseason game. However, the development of suburbs and a subsequent wave of "white flight" left Jacksonville with a much poorer population than before. In 1989 founder Billy Sullivan sold the team to Remington shaver magnate Victor Kiam. Mayor Haydon Burns' "Jacksonville Story" resulted in the construction of a new city hall, civic auditorium, public library and other projects that created a dynamic sense of civic pride. Neither quarterback could get New England to take the final step to the playoffs, and the Patriots finished 9-7. After World War II, the government of the City of Jacksonville began to increase spending to fund new building projects in the boom that occurred after the war. In 1988 Flutie played five games again before he was replaced by Eason. Before he joined the police force, he was one of the youths who were involved in the axe handle riots. Late-season injuries put the Patriots out of playoff contention at 8-7. It should be noted that Nat Glover was the first (and only) African-American sheriff in the state of Florida since Reconstruction, winning two elections before running for mayor. Many defensive stars for New England crossed the picket line. The only witness to the crime said he saw two black males running from the scene. Doug Flutie, the future Canadian Football League and Buffalo Bills star, played one game for the Patriots during a players' strike in 1987. Afterwards, Carlucci's business was vandalized with the words "NIGGER LOVER", and Glover's campaign headquarters was vandalized with "NO NIGGER MAYOR". The team did not return to the playoffs for eight years. Matt Carlucci, a white Republican endorsed Glover (a Democrat) after being defeated in the open primary. A late fourth-quarter touchdown pass from John Elway to Vance Johnson won it for Denver, and the Patriots' fate was sealed. On June 1, 2003, John Peyton became Mayor of Jacksonville after defeating African-American Sheriff Nat Glover. Eason stepped up the passing game (with Stanley Morgan getting nearly 1500 yards receiving) as New England won the AFC East with an 11-5 record, and traveled to Denver to take on the Broncos in the first round playoff game. The black students attending integrated schools endured racial epithets, being spit on and, in some extreme cases, being stoned by their white classmates. Indeed, the team had the worst rushing offense in the league that season. Despite the progress, racial tension was very evident when the public schools in Jacksonville were integrated in 1967. When John Hannah, still widely considered to be the greatest offensive lineman of all-time, retired before the 1986 season, a lot of people thought the Patriots' offense would collapse. In the aftermath of the Civil Rights Act and Ax Handle Saturday, the previously segregated African-American and European-American communities worked together in open dialog, integration, and participatory government. The final score was 46-10 Chicago. Before the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, African-Americans in Jacksonville were denied healthcare services at every hospital except the all-black Brewster Hospital, even when their condition was critical or life-threatening. But the Bears scored the next 46, including one touchdown by William "Refrigerator" Perry. Rumors were rampant on both sides that the unrest was spreading around the county (in reality, the violence stayed in relatively the same location, and did not spill over into the mostly-white, upper-class Cedar Hills neighborhood, for example). The police did not make an attempt to stop the violence until the "blacks started holding their own.". The Bears had not allowed a point in the playoffs, but the Patriots took an early 3-0 lead after a Walter Payton fumble in the first quarter. The violence spread, and the white mob started attacking all African-Americans in sight. Unfortunately for New England, the Bears had one of the greatest defenses of all time according to most experts. A group of white men (allegedly some were also members of the Ku Klux Klan) armed with baseball bats and ax handles attacked civil rights protesters conducting sit-ins at segregated downtown restaurants. The Patriots made an improbable run to Super Bowl XX, where they faced the Chicago Bears. This came to a head on "Ax Handle Saturday", August 27, 1960. The Patriots had lost 20 straight games in Miami at the time, but won this one, dominating the Dolphins defensively again en route to a 30-14 win. Jacksonville has a history of racial segregation and violence. In the divisional playoff against the Los Angeles Raiders the Patriots forced six turnovers and won 27-20, to set up an AFC Championship showdown against the rival Miami Dolphins. While the city is more independent from the Navy today, it is still a strong influence in the community. In the first round the Patriots beat the New York Jets to win their first playoff game since 1963. More than half of the residents in Jacksonville had some tie to the naval base, whether it be a relative stationed there, or due to employment opportunities, by 1970. New England won six straight games and finished 11-5, with a wild card playoff berth. The naval base became a key training ground in the 1950s and 1960s and as such, the population of the city rose dramatically. But Grogan broke his leg late in the season, and Eason got the starting job again. Marys, Georgia, which is home to part of the US Navy's nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) fleet. After struggling to start the 1985 season, new coach Raymond Berry replaced Eason with Grogan. Jacksonville is also not far from Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay in St. In 1984 the Patriots lost three straight games in December, and again missed the playoffs at 9-7. NS Mayport current employs about 14,000 personnel. The team again lost some key games, and finished out of the playoffs at 8-8. Kennedy. Rookie Tony Eason became the new quarterback for the 1983 season, but split duties for much of the mid-1980s with Grogan. This port developed through World War II and today is the home port for many types of navy ships, most notably the aircraft carrier USS John F. In 1982, a snowplow-aided 3-0 late-season win over the Miami Dolphins put the Patriots in the playoffs, but the first-round rematch in Miami was easily won by the Dolphins. Johns River. Coach Erhardt was fired and replaced by Ron Meyer. December 1942 saw the addition of a third naval installation to Jacksonville: Naval Station Mayport at the mouth of the St. With these performances in mind, a local sportswriter intimated that the team suffered from the "Bozo Syndrome," meaning that they played "like clowns in the clutch." The Patriots completely collapsed in 1981, finishing 2-14, including two losses to the Baltimore Colts which were the only two games the Colts won that year. The land once occupied by this installation is now known as the "Cecil Commerce Center". In 1980, with star running back Sam Cunningham holding out all season, the Patriots started 6-1 but finished 10-6, again out of the playoffs. In 1993 the Navy decided to close NAS Cecil Field and in 1999 this was completed. In 1979 the team lost three games in December to finish 9-7 and out of the playoffs. RF-8 Crusaders out of Cecil Field detected missiles in Cuba, precipitating the Cuban Missile Crisis. The Patriots became poster children for late-season failure through the late 1970s. This became NAS Cecil Field, which during the Cold War was designated a Master Jet Base, the only one in the South. The stunned team lost its first round playoff game to the Houston Oilers. In June 1941, land in the westernmost side of Duval County was earmarked for a second naval air facility. Owner Billy Sullivan suspended Fairbanks and hired Ron Erhardt on the spot to coach the final game. Today NAS Jax is the third largest navy installation in the country and employs over 23,000 civilian and active-duty personnel. Coach Chuck Fairbanks announced he would be leaving the team to take a job at the University of Colorado. After the war, the Navy's elite Blue Angels were established at NAS Jax. In a preseason game against the Raiders, wide receiver Darryl Stingley was paralyzed by Oakland's Jack Tatum, who has never apologized for the incident. The Patriots rebounded and finished 11-5, tops in the AFC East, but a bizarre incident hours before the last game of the season shocked the team. This base was a major training center during World War II, with over 20,000 pilots and aircrewmen being trained there. 1978 almost became an even bigger disappointment. October 15, 1940, Naval Air Station Jacksonville ("NAS Jax") on the westside became the first navy installation in the city. The Patriots finished 9-5, one game out of first place, and out of the playoffs. A significant part of Jacksonville's growth in the 20th century came from the presence of navy bases in the region. 1977 was a disappointing season, aided by contract holdouts by offensive linemen John Hannah and Leon Gray. An important entry point to the state since the 1870s, Jacksonville now justifiably billed itself as the "Gateway to Florida.". The referee, Ben Dreith, was not allowed to officiate Patriots games again. Highway 1) in the 1920s began to draw significant automobile traffic as well. Many Patriots fans to this day think that touchdown should never have happened, blaming a roughing-the-passer penalty earlier in the drive that should not have been called. Completion of the Dixie Highway (portions of which became U.S. The game was close and was settled in the final seconds with a touchdown run by Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler. Hordes of train passengers passed through Jacksonville on their way south to the new tourist destinations of South Florida, as most of the passenger trains arriving from the population centers of the North were routed through Jacksonville. The opponent was the Oakland Raiders, whose only regular season loss had come at the hands of New England. The 1920s brought significant real estate development and speculation to the city during the great Florida land boom (and bust). The Patriots finished 11-3 and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1963. In 1917, a conservative mayor was elected on the platform of taming the city's movie industry. Subsequently the film studios opted to move to a more hospitable political climate in California. Steve Grogan became New England's quarterback for the 1976 season. However, some residents objected to the hallmarks of the early movie industry, such as car chases in the streets, simulated bank robberies and fire alarms in public places, and even the occasional riot scene. The draft picks acquired in the Plunkett trade, used to select defensive backs Mike Haynes and Tim Fox set the stage for the team's first winning season in the NFL. By the early 1910s, Jacksonville hosted over 30 studios employing over 1000 actors. Plunkett was traded to the San Francisco 49ers after the season, and eventually won a Super Bowl with the Oakland Raiders. The city's warm climate, excellent rail access, and low costs all helped to make Jacksonville the "Winter Film Capital of the World". The Patriots finished 7-7 in 1974, but with injuries to Plunkett in 1975, slumped to 3-11 that season. In the early 1900s, Jacksonville was a center of the fledgling motion picture industry. Through the mid-1970s, the team showed signs of life, if only briefly. Despite the losses of the last several decades, Jacksonville still has one of the largest collections of Prairie Style buildings (particularly residences) outside the Midwest. In 1973 the team hired Chuck Fairbanks to lead it. The Klutho Apartments, in Springfield, were recently restored and converted into office space by local charity Fresh Ministries. During this time the Patriots consistently had losing records, and went through three coaches in four seasons. While many of Klutho's buildings were demolished by the 1980s, a number of his creations remain, including the St. James Building from 1911 (a former department store that is now Jacksonville's City Hall) and the Morocco Temple from 1910. Also new in 1971 was a new quarterback, first-round pick Jim Plunkett, taken with the draft's first overall selection, which the Patriots received for having finished worst overall in 1970. Klutho and other architects, enamored of the "Prairie Style" of architecture then being popularized by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Chicago and other Midwestern cities, designed exuberant local buildings with a Florida flair. Since it was located several miles outside Boston, the team was renamed the New England Patriots. Famed New York architect Henry Klutho helped rebuild the city. The following season, after bouncing around between four different stadiums in their first 11 years, Foxboro Stadium (originally called Schaefer Stadium) opened. Jennings declared a state of martial law in Jacksonville and dispatched several state militia units to Jacksonville. Reconstruction started immediately, and the city was returned to civil authority on May 17. In 1970 the Patriots became a member of the NFL pursuant to the merger of the AFL and NFL that had been agreed to three years earlier, but their first experience therein was anything but pleasant as they finished 2-12 and in sole possession of the newly-merged league's worst record. Florida Governor William S. In the late 1960's, fullback Jim Nance became a powerful offensive weapon for the Patriots, gaining 1,458 yards in 1966 and 1,216 in 1967, when he was the American Football League's MVP. The fire destroyed the business district and rendered 10,000 residents homeless in the course of eight hours. In 1963, eleven Patriots made the AFL All-star team, including Gino Cappelletti, Nick Buoniconti, and Babe Parilli. At half past noon most of the Cleaveland workers were at lunch, but by the time they returned the entire city block was engulfed in flames. Although the team made only two AFL playoff appearances, it had numerous stars. On May 3, 1901 hot ash from a shantyhouse's chimney landed on the drying moss at Cleaveland's Fiber Factory. The Boston Patriots played in the first-ever game in the American Football League, against the Denver Broncos on September 9, 1960. Author Stephen Crane travelled to Jacksonville to cover the war. The New England Patriots are a National Football League team based in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Duval county sheriff, and future state governor, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward was one of many gunrunners operating out of the city. Ted Washington. During the Spanish American War, gunrunners helping the Cuban rebels used Jacksonville as the center for smuggling illegal arms and supplies to Cuba. Mosi Tatupu. Not surprisingly, Jacksonville's reputation as a healthful tourist destination suffered. Andre Tippett. In the absence of scientific knowledge concerning the cause of yellow fever, nearly half of the city's panicked residents fled, despite the imposition of quarantines and the (ineffectual) fumigation of inbound and outbound mail. Irving Fryar. Jacksonville's prominence as a winter resort was dealt another blow by major yellow fever outbreaks in 1886 and 1888, during the latter of which nearly ten percent of the more than 4,000 victims, including the city's mayor, died. Jim Plunkett. Not even hosting the Subtropical Exposition, a Florida-style world's fair attended by President Grover Cleveland in 1888, served to provide a lasting boost for tourism in Jacksonville. Babe Parilli (born 1930). The area declined in importance as a resort destination when Henry Flagler extended the Florida East Coast Railroad to the south, arriving in Palm Beach in 1894 and in the Miami area in 1896. Ross O'Hanley. Visitors arrived by steamboat and (beginning in the 1880s) by railroad, and wintered at dozens of hotels and boarding houses. Jim Nance. Augustine became popular winter resorts for the rich and famous of the Gilded Age. Jon Morris (born 1942). Following the Civil War, during Reconstruction and afterward, Jacksonville and nearby St. Lawyer Milloy. By the end of the war in 1865, a Union commander commented that Jacksonville had become "pathetically dilapidated, a mere skeleton of its former self, a victim of war.". Pete Carroll. On February 20, 1864 Union soldiers from Jacksonville marched inland and confronted the Confederate Army at the Battle of Olustee which resulted in a Confederate victory. Harry Jacobs. Throughout the war Jacksonville would change hands several times, though never with a battle. Jim Lee Hunt. Johns Bluff and occupied Jacksonville. Steve Grogan. In October 1862 Union forces captured a Confederate battery at St. Larry Eisenhauer. Throughout most of the war, the US Navy maintained a blockade around Florida's ports, including Jacksonville. Bob Dee. During the Civil War, Jacksonville was a key supply point for hogs and cattle leaving Florida and aiding the Confederate cause. Jim Colclough (1936 - 2004). The charter for a town government was approved by the Florida Legislative Council on February 9, 1832. Gino Cappelletti (born 1934). Secretary of State asking that Jacksonville be named a port of entry; this is the first recorded use of the name. Ron Burton (1936-2003). On June 15th, 1822 settlers sent a petition to the U.S. Drew Bledsoe. The first permanent settlement was founded at Cow Ford in 1791 and Florida became a United States territory in 1821. Houston Antwine (born 1939). Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763, who then gave control back to Spain in 1783. Julius Adams. Augustine attacked the fort and drove off the French in 1565. 89 Bob Dee. Spanish troops, led by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, from nearby St. 79 Jim Lee Hunt. Johns River area and in 1564 the French established Fort Caroline. 78 Bruce Armstrong. In 1562, the French Huguenot explorer Jean Ribault explored the St. 73 John Hannah. In 1513, Spanish explorers landed in Florida and claimed their discovery for Spain. 57 Steve Nelson. Its name is the earliest recorded name for the area. 56 Andre Tippett. The largest Timucua town in the region was Ossachite, which stood approximately where the courthouse stands today. 40 Mike Haynes. The Timucua Indians were the predominate local tribe when European explorers arrived. 20 Gino Cappelletti. Archaeological evidence indicates 6,000 years of human habitation in the area. Lonie Paxton. The total area is 13.34% water. Adam Vinatieri. 1,962.4 km² (757.7 mi²) of it is land and 302.1 km² (116.7 mi²) of it is water. Richard Seymour. According to the United States Census
Bureau, the city has a total area of 2,264.5 km² (874.3
mi²). Rodney Harrison. Jacksonville is located at 30°19'10" North, 81°39'36" West (30.319406, -81.659999)1. David Givens. President, Andrew Jackson. Tim Dwight. The city was renamed in 1822 for the first territorial governor of Florida and the future 7th U.S. Deion Branch. Johns River is narrow there, allowing cattlemen to ford (herd) cows across the river. Josh Miller. Jacksonville was originally named Cowford because the St. Bethel Johnson. The area of Jacksonville is 874.3 square miles (2,264.5 km²). Asante Samuel. All areas of Duval County are considered to be part of Jacksonville, but the communities of Baldwin, Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach have their own municipal governments as well. Randall Gay. Jacksonville and Duval County are consolidated. Eugene Wilson. Jacksonville also has the distinction of being the largest city in the South outside of Texas. Ted Johnson. The Jacksonville metropolitan area reached over one million residents in 1996. Mike Vrabel. It is also the largest city in Florida in terms of population in the city proper (ultimately ranking 14th in the country). Willie McGinest. Geographically, it is the largest city in the contiguous 48 states of the United States in terms of land area. Vince Wilfork. It is the county seat of Duval County 6. Chad Brown. Jacksonville is a city located in Duval County, Florida, USA. Ty Warren. Husk Jennings. Kevin Faulk. Regency Centers. Daniel Graham. Sally Corporation. Christian Fauria. Florida Rock Industries. Matt Light. Gate Petroleum Company. Brandon Gorin. Landstar. Stephen Neal. Stein Mart. Russ Hochstein. Winn-Dixie. Dan Koppen. CSX Transportation. Patrick Pass. Palm and Cycad Arboretum at Florida Community College at Jacksonville. Doug Flutie. Shinedown (2001) Rock. Tom Brady. Yellowcard (1997) Pop Punk. Mike Haynes. Cold (1997) Hard Rock/Metal. John Hannah. Inspection 12 (1994) Pop Punk. Nick Buoniconti. Limpbizkit (1994) Rapcore. 69 Boyz (1993) Hip Hop. Rein Sanction (1989) Indie Rock. .38 Special (1975) Rock. Molly Hatchet (1975) Southern Rock. Blackfoot (1972) Rock/Southern Rock. Classics IV (1965) Pop Rock. Lynyrd Skynyrd (1964) Southern Rock. Mase (1977- ) hip hop star, preacher. Greg Eklund (1970- ) drummer of Everclear. Claude "Butch" Trucks (1947- ) drummer of Allman Brothers Band. Jackie Moore (1946- ) R&B singer. Bonds (1939- ) R&B singer. Gary U.S. Johnny Tillotson (1939- ) pop singer, songwriter, actor. Jo Ann Campbell (1938- ) country/pop singer & actress. Nick Todd (1935- ) pop singer. Pat Boone (1934- ) pop singer. Billy Daniels (1915-1988) big band singer, actor. Arthur "Blind" Blake (1893-1933) influential blues guitarist. Yoanna House (1980- ) fashion model. Laveranues Coles (1977- ) professional football athlete. Leanza Cornett (1971- ) Miss America 1993, television actress. Vince Coleman (1961- ) Major League Baseball player. Ray Mercer (1961- ) professional boxer. Mark McCumber (1951- ) professional golfer. Patrika Darbo (1948- ) television actress. Thagard (1943- ) NASA astronaut. Norman E. Bob Hayes (1942-2002) track & field/pro football athlete. LeeRoy Yarbrough (1938-1984) NASCAR auto racer. Philip Don Estridge (1937-1985) led development of original IBM personal computer. John Chaney (1932- ) college basketball coach. Wanda Hendrix (1928-1981) Hollywood actress. Cooper (1893-1973) Hollywood director, producer & writer. Merion C. Philip Randolph (1889-1979) African American civil rights activist. A. John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) musical composer, brother of James Weldon. James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) leading African American activist. WJEB Channel 59, carries religious programing from TBN. It later changed its call letters to WTEV (then became a UPN affiliate), the channel has broadcasted CBS programming since July 2002. WTEV Channel 47, originally an independent station with mainly Christian programming under the call letters of WXAO and later WNFT. WAWS Channel 30, the FOX affiliate. WJXX Channel 25, the ABC affiliate for the area since 1997. WPXC Channel 21, PAX used to be WBSG and simulcated the ABC network with WJXX from 1997 until 2000. WJWB Channel 17, the WB Formerly WJKS and the original ABC affiliate until 1980 when it became an NBC affiliate, only to change back to an ABC affliate in 1988, lost the ABC affiliation to start up WJXX in 1997, changed its call letters to WJWB and switched to WB network, and is the highest rated WB affliate in the nation. Formerly WFGA from 1957 to 1975, and an ABC affiliate from 1980 to 1988. WTLV Channel 12, an NBC affiliate since 1988. A radio station (89.9 FM) with the same callsign commenced broadcasts in 1972. WJCT Channel 7, a PBS affiliate broadcasting since 1958. WUFT Channel 5, the PBS affiliate for the University of Florida in Gainesville, but has higher ratings in the metro area than local PBS affiliate WJCT (see below). WJXT Channel 4, a longtime CBS affiliate before turning independent in 2002. Jacksonville Magazine. The Florida Star. The Jacksonville Advocate. Business Journal of Jacksonville. Jacksonville Free Press. Folio Weekly. The Daily Record. The Florida Times-Union. (now defunct). Jacksonville Lizard Kings of the ECHL ice hockey league. Jacksonville Barracudas of the SPHL ice hockey league. Jacksonville Suns, a Southern League minor league baseball team. Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. |