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community portrait
Jacksonville
More than just gathering data, we're capturing elements that make each community distinctive.
Women Entrepreneurs
Some 13% of northeast Florida’s women business owners (seven-county area) gross more than $1 million in sales a year — nationally, that percentage is 3%. Nearly 80% of women business owners among the group started the business they run.
Hurricanes
Jacksonville has suffered fewer direct hits from hurricanes than any other part of Florida.
Taxes
Benefits of consolidation have included relatively lower taxes and greater government efficiency. Jacksonville officials like to brag that they have the lowest tax burden of any major city in Florida and the third-lowest nationwide. Jacksonville’s property tax rate is also the lowest of all major cities in Florida, according to the city. That may have to change, however: The city faces a fiscal crisis due to underfunding its pension obligations and also to a history of passing along the cost of growth to future residents. Mayor John Peyton has proposed a 14% increase in property taxes to stave off the crisis.
Largest City
Jacksonville is the largest city by area in the continental U.S. as a result of the 1968 consolidation of Duval County and city government.
Cost of Living
Jacksonville residents pay a little less than the national average for housing, healthcare, transportation and other goods and services with the exception of food — for which they pay slightly more. They pay slightly more for goods and services than the Florida average.
Duval was the largest county John McCain and Sarah Palin (at Jacksonville Landing) carried in the Southeast. |
Politics
Duval County is a GOP stronghold, even though there are far more registered Democrats (46%) than Republicans (37%). Supervisor of Elections Jerry Holland says the Dixiecrats — conservative Democrats — help keep Duval voting Republican; it was the largest county John McCain carried in the Southeast. The trend could be changing, though. After not electing a Democrat countywide since 1995, Duval sent a popular former councilman, Democrat John Crescimbeni, back to City Hall last November. But that was a special election held on presidential election day. The real test will be the spring 2011 city council races, which will include Crescimbeni’s bid for re-election and a mayoral race to replace John Peyton. About a dozen well-known names — all Republican — are already floating for the mayor’s race.
Duval County Voter Registration:
• Democrat: 241,145 • Republican: 193,071 • Other: 93,905
Total: 528,121
Consumer Behavior
Most popular boat in this city surrounded by both ocean and freshwater? The simple, flat-bottomed Carolina Skiff
Jacksonville is home to the largest percent block of champagne and sparkling wine drinkers in the state.