Jacksonville lines both banks of the St. Johns River, the state's longest river, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean about 20 miles from downtown. The St. Johns flows north for 310 miles before turning east to the ocean at Jacksonville. (For a special report on the St. Johns River, click here.)

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

The "River City" is Florida's most populous city as well as its leading financial and insurance center. Jacksonville has more than 800,000 residents, and the six-county Northeast Florida region has more than 1.1 million.

Population data from the U.S. Census Bureau for Jacksonville/Duval County:
2007 estimate: 849,159 
2000 actual:  778,879
Percent change: April 1, 2000, to July 1, 2007, 9.0 percent

There is room to grow on Florida's First Coast. When the city was consolidated with Duval County in 1968, Jacksonville became the largest city in land area in the contiguous United States, covering 841 square miles. The area's population increased by more than 21 percent between 1990 and 2000, making Jacksonville's commitment to managed growth especially important.

Jacksonville has one of the lowest overall costs of living in Florida and the U.S. The area's cost of living is 92.6 percent of the national average, with housing and utilities being the best bargains. The median age of Jacksonville residents is 35.3. The average household income is $50,475, while the median household income is $40,792.

The city's appeal has been reinforced by national media, including a steady ranking among the "top ten best places to live" by Money magazine. Plus, for the second time in fours years, Jacksonville tops Expansion Management Magazine's list of "America's Hottest Cities."