Jacksonville Attractions

During the two world wars, Jacksonville was a boom town with a flourishing shipbuilding industry and military training areas.

Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida and one of the largest (in terms of area) in the whole U.S. It is the commercial, financial and industrial center of Northern Florida and due to its location near the mouth of the St John's River, it is a transportation hub as well.

The city's origins go back to the 16th century, when French troops and settlers established a community nearby named Fort Caroline. However, the Spanish overtook it and the area did not see much development until the British founded the town Cowford to serve travelers on the King's Road from Savannah to St Augstine.

The city of Jacksonville was officially established when the U.S. acquired Florida back from Spain in 1821. A year later, local settlers named the city for General Andrew Jackson, the first military governor of the territory.

It experienced major setbacks in its history, notably, yellow fever epidemics, fire, and the Seminole and Civil Wars.

Today, however, Jacksonville is a modern city with a growing economy and population. It is especially vibrant in the fields of insurance, banking, and tourism.