Your Guide to Buying a Home in Jacksonville, FL

Buying a Home in Jacksonville, Florida

Jacksonville is located in Duval County

The City of Jacksonville and Duval County merged in 1968. Jacksonville's government structure consists of a single entity covering all of Duval County with the exception of the beach communities (Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach and Jacksonville Beach), and Baldwin.

Jacksonville is the largest city in land area in the contiguous United States, covering 841 square miles. The median age of Jacksonville residents is 33. Jacksonville, also known as "The River City,", sits near the mouth of the St. Johns River.

People who visit this area come to play. And why not? Jacksonville host's some of the finest resorts, golf courses and tennis facilities in the country.

Baseball
The Jacksonville Suns, a minor league affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, play all home games at Wolfson Park.

Boating
The City of Jacksonville manages the following docks: Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park, Huguenot Memorial Park, Metropolitan Park, and Southbank Riverwalk.

Nearby State and City parks: Anastasia State Recreation Area, Fort Clinch State Park, Huguenot Memorial Park, Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park and Little Talbot Island State Park.

Fishing Charters
The St. Johns River, the Intercostal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, offer boaters hundreds of miles of water to explore.

Business Information
Companies expanding or relocating here during the last five years have created more than 50,000 new jobs. A central location with access to road, rail, sea and air transportation has made Jacksonville the intermodal hub of the southeast United States.

Jacksonville's deep-water port is the 14th largest in the U.S. and handles shipments from around the globe.

Jacksonville's appeal as a premier place to do business has been reinforced by national media attention, including a steady ranking among the "top ten best places to live" by Money magazine. The January 1999 issue of Expansion Management Magazine ranks Jacksonville No. 1 in the country as a site for expansion or relocation. A growing economy, a strong workforce and an excellent living environment are just some of the reasons why you should do business in Jacksonville.

The Beaches Just 12 miles east of Jacksonville are what locals refer to as "The Beaches" -- Mayport, Atlantic Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, and farther south, South Ponte Vedra Beach, North Beach and Vilano Beach.

Besides the more than 50 miles of white-sand beaches, you will find a variety of shopping areas along Hwy. A1A. Which winds its way down the beaches, from Amelia Island to St. Augustine. The attractions, restaurants, and boutiques that fill these coastal areas provide an enjoyable recess.

ATP Tour International Headquarters
The home of the men’s professional tennis tour features grass, European red clay and cushioned hard courts, instruction by former Tour players, catering and banquet facilities, and is also the site of the Claude Nolan Tennis Classic each October. Restaurant, pro shop, private lessons and instructional clinics are open to the public.

BEAKS
Every year, the Bird Emergency Aid and Kare Sanctuary (BEAKS) raises and cares for thousands of injured wild birds, including eagles, pelicans, owls and ospreys.

Big Talbot Island
This undeveloped beach recreation area plays host to sun lovers and water sport enthusiasts who may drive and park on the sand.

The Buccaneer Trail Beginning on Hwy. A1A on Amelia Island, the 52-mile scenic route is one of the most beautiful drives in Florida. The Trail takes you past beautiful beaches, including Little Talbot Island State Park, and over several inlets and rivers. If you enjoy fishing, be sure to take along your tackle and pole.

From Amelia Island to the Trail's end in St. Augustine, historical sites such as Kingsley Plantation and the Castillo de San Marcos are just a turn away.

Huguenot Memorial Park
A beach area where surfing, boardsailing, fishing and swimming are popular activities.

Jacksonville Beach Fishing Pier
983-foot-long pier has long been a popular spot for anglers, surfers and sightseers.

Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park
A 450-acre oceanfront park with 1.5-mile-long beach, nature trails, picnic areas and 60 acres of freshwater fishing lakes. Mountain bikers enjoy the park's challenging off-road trails.

Kingsley Plantation
Florida's oldest-standing plantation where, during the early 1800s, produced sugarcane and Sea Island cotton. The original plantation house and ruins of the slave quarters still stand.