Jacksonville is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Florida and the twelfth most populous city in the United States by population. It belongs territorially to Duval County. Since 1968, the city and the county have had a unified administration, as a result of which Jacksonville became the largest city in the United States by area. According to 2012 data, the city itself has about 836 thousand residents, while together with the surrounding areas it has more than 1.3 million people.
Jacksonville is located in the northeast of Florida on the banks of the St. Johns River, which flows into the Atlantic Ocean 30 kilometers from the central part of the city downstream.
The settlement of Cowford, the future Jacksonville, was established in 1791 and received its original name thanks to a ford at a narrow point on the river used for crossing livestock (cow - cow, ford - ford). In 1822, the city received its present name in honor of Andrew Jackson, the first military governor of Florida and later the seventh President of the United States.
Jacksonville’s location on a navigable river near the Atlantic Ocean contributed to the city’s growth and the development of industry in the region. The deep-water port is the largest in the South and the second largest on the East Coast of the United States.
Today, this is a modern business and industrial city whose residents love comfort and strive for a high quality of life. At the same time, Jacksonville is a pleasant resort town with plenty of entertainment, attractions, and opportunities to enjoy both an active and a calm, quiet vacation.
ClimateThe climate in Jacksonville is humid subtropical, with mild winters and hot summers. Average annual high temperatures range from +18...+33 °C. In summer, thunderstorms often occur in the evening hours-this happens due to strong heating of the land and water combined with high humidity. Frosts occur in winter as well, but as a rule such periods are short-lived. Snow is rare, but usually it melts even in the air.
Compared with other cities in Florida, Jacksonville suffers from hurricanes to a lesser extent. A direct hit by the elements was recorded only once, in 1871.
Average precipitation is 1320 mm per year, with the highest amount falling from June to September.
