Local Communities
Jacksonville Metropolitan Area
Culture
Did you know? Jacksonville ranks among the country’s top 20 art destinations.
Supported by a thriving "local eats" culture, Jacksonville's emerging generation of talented chefs is revitalizing the region’s finest flavors and culinary creations, giving rise to a fresh breed of Southern restaurants.
22 Miles of Beaches & Sunshine
With 1,100 miles of navigable water, Jacksonville has more shoreline than any other city in the nation.
The city also boasts the most extensive urban park system in the country: 80,000 acres of parks, including 400 City Parks, 7 State Parks, 2 National park sites and an Arboretum.
Military
The military employs over 30,000 active-duty personnel and nearly 20,000 civilians in the Jacksonville area and is the largest employer in the county.
Jacksonville Beach
Jacksonville Beach has a mix of everything from million dollar oceanfront homes, condos and affordable housing options. The downtown area is vibrant with musical venues, restaurants, and nightlife. The Sea Walk Pavilion is the focal point of beach festivals, which bring everything from blues and jazz legends to classical performances. Moonlight movies and Sunday afternoon concerts are a regular occurrence.
Atlantic Beach
Atlantic Beach offers a small-town atmosphere with easy access to the ocean. Stretching only about 25 blocks from north to south, Atlantic Beach is a closed-end community with a neighborhood feeling. The town center includes the landmark One Ocean Hotel & Spa, along with many quaint eateries and boutiques. Although part of the greater Jacksonville municipality, Atlantic Beach has its own mayor, city council, police and fire departments.
Neptune Beach
Neptune Beach is a small, quiet coastal community nestled on the northeast coast of Florida between Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville Beach. Neptune Beach has a comfortable, casual and laid-back atmosphere that invites people of all ages to enjoy the beach and other areas of natural beauty. The hard-packed sand is great for cycling and the waves are ideal for surfing.
Ponte Vedra Beach
The rich history of Ponte Vedra Beach and its pristine natural resources helped shape this community. In 1914, two young chemical engineers, Henry Holland Buckman and George A. Pritchard, discovered that Ponte Vedra’s beaches contained industrial minerals, including components necessary for the production of titanium and zirconium. The National Lead Company bought out the partners in 1916 and modern-day Ponte Vedra began to take shape when National Lead built a 9-hole golf course for its employees along with a log clubhouse and polo field in 1922. In 1937, the complex became the world-famous Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Today, Sawgrass is the global home to the PGA Tour and The Players Championship golf tournament. The area offers other championship golf courses against a backdrop of natural charm, world-class tennis facilities, breathtaking marshlands abounding with wildlife and of course, miles of beautiful, unspoiled white sand beaches.
Amelia Island | Fernandina Beach
Amelia Island is a peaceful seaport community with 13 miles of beautiful beaches, including Fernandina Beach, abundance of wildlife, and pristine waters. The Ritz-Carlton resort plays host to the annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, one of the nation’s top automotive concours events. The breathtaking island is a cherished destination for visitors and residents alike and repeatedly has been voted among the Top 10 North American Islands by Conde Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards. It is home to one of Florida’s oldest operating bars, the Palace Saloon, which is located within a 50-block area of buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Forget commercial shopping malls and restaurant chains; the island offers eclectic shops, galleries, and boutiques along with one-of-a-kind restaurants native to its exclusive culture.
