Scenes from a Little Town Called Jacksonville

riana: 16th Jan 2008 - 02:56 GMT

I moved here in 1989 and if you people hate Jacksonville now you would of really hated it back then, there was really nothing to do, and everyone here talked funny. Ive seen it grow over the years and now I call it home I have been a single mother for 10 years and if I were somewhere else I may have not been able to support my son, it's very affordable living. If you want something to do all you have to do is go out and look for it,I'm never bored,we have a NFL team, baseball, hockey concerts all the time at the Veterans memorial downtown, a beach, St Augustine festivals at the beach all summer,the circus is coming, lots of movie theatres, the St Johns town center,the landing,What else do you need? quit complaining and get a life, GET OFF THE COMPUTER!! Movies at the beach in the summer on Friday nights,lots of good resturants,THE BEACH IS WERE YOU NEED TO BE.start living life and have fun.. If your worried about the schools move to the beach and put your kids in school there. I just bought my first house last year, If I can do it anyone can..

riana: 16th Jan 2008 - 03:00 GMT

Get the folio weekly, it has all the upcoming events and everything going on for the weekends.

Beni: 16th Apr 2008 - 16:12 GMT

I lived in Jax for one and a half years. I don't like it. My main problem with the city is the lack of public transportation, the non-centralized infrastructure and the low intellect of the population. Best example for that is the Skyway, which is displayed on the first picture. Nobody uses that thing, because there is barely anybody living in the area it operates. You always have to worry about getting a DUI, since all your friends are living miles away, and the designated driver idea doesn’t really always strike in a city with a very low population density. I do not recommend that city at all.

imon: 18th Apr 2008 - 05:46 GMT

jacksonville has a cove ,yeah its looking decent,yes its trying to compete with other major cities,but it is a racist city ,it has the good ol' boy mentality, paysucksno matter what you say, housing might be a bit cheaper but it balances out with high price food,clothing etc,i hate the factthat companies do not give you a fair share to work, they basically shoot you down ,without giving you reasonable doubt, i hate that right to work mentality because it is b.s as fast as they hire you they can fire you and make up anyreason, jacksonville is boring, people hang more at the many wal-marts here, so consider this you'll like the change temporarily because i did , but now when i visit chicago my hometown i regret coming here,oh yeah whoever says it is safe ,remember #1 in murder,aids, alot of sexual predators,so be aware what you sacrifice for a nice home research because the schools here are not that great and i supposedly live in a good area southside,remember,big city landwise,with a lot of backwwod secrets

jeff: 25th Apr 2008 - 18:23 GMT

i've lived here for 22 years and have often complained about wanting to "get out of here". the problem seems to be once i'm somewhere else i miss home terribly. there is something that draws people here and northeast florida in particular. i've been to all corners of the u.s. and canada and i can honestly say there is no place quite like it. yes, it;s sprawled out, but you should think of it as more of "metropolitan" area which has many different neighborhoods. some neighborhoods do in fact suck and some can totally transport you. my advice, if you are moving here or visiting, do visit riverside. i suppose it's the more bohemian area of town. very liberal, very historic. one of the few neighborhoods that gives you the feel of living "in the city" stay the hell away from the south of the st. johns river. bunches of yuppies and vacuous wage slaves. also if you are a musician or just enjoy the arts in general there is quite a massive thriving scene here. you'd be surprised. i think the last thing i can say is if you moved here from somewhere else and "hate" it and can't understand why anyone would live here then you most probably live south of the river in one of the truly boring subdivision type areas where all you are going to do is interact with shallow punks and other misguided folks like yourself. open your minds and realize that the stereotype of the south only extends to some not all. good luck.

Johnny: 5th May 2008 - 00:44 GMT

The cost of living is cheaper here but it still sucks. Why don't we leave you ask? Because now we are stuck here with the housing market and all the other crap. Jacksonville could be a cool city like Orlando or Miami but not enough people care to make it. Plus the churches control so much of downtown that you really can have a good club or bar scene. My first clue about how much this city sucked was when I saw a liquor store go out of business across form JU.

anon (205.173.35.130): 5th May 2008 - 16:45 GMT

I have lived in Jacksonville for all of 3 months now, and I have to say that I haven't found it all that great. Once you get over the beach and the shopping/dining, there isn't much more that I have found to do. There are many organizations for young professionals, and the social scene leaves a lot to be desired. You have to drive to Valdosta or Orlando for a theme park, the traffic sucks for there to be so many different routes. I came from a smaller town, Tallahassee, where I lived for 7 years. I thought that this place would be more "city like" as opposed to the country feel of tallahassee, but boy was I wrong. Sprawl everywhere! I actually do like the downtown area, but like Jeff side, I live on the Southside, and there ARE a bunch of yuppies there! So far I am not impressed. The problem is that some folks have become so accustomed to their lifestyle that their views are a bit myopic. I am just counting this as a lesson learned.

anon (205.173.35.130): 5th May 2008 - 16:47 GMT

In reference to the above comment--there are NOT many organizations

Shaun: 6th May 2008 - 03:17 GMT

I moved to Jax in Sept and my lease is up in June. I am outta here! I'm from the D.C. area and I visited Jax all the time. My family and I decided to move here because of the sunshine and the price of living is cheap. Now I know that was not the best move. I live in Clay county and I see Confederate flags everywhere I go. People here are soo slow and can't drive. Everything is so far, this is the biggest small town ever. My kids schools are in an A school, they seem to like it , but get racist comments sometimes. The job market sucks, unless your a teacher or military. Wages are low, and about time you buy gas, food and pay high taxes, I couldn't have stayed in D.C. It was cool for a while, but we had enough.Time to go home!

James: 17th May 2008 - 19:13 GMT

I've lived in Jacksonville nearly my entire life (I'm 39). I find people who have issues with Jacksonville are not from here. The ones who complain the most are not from here. Jacksonville is great place to live. I do admit our public education totally stinks, but so does most of the nation's schools. Regarding the comment about N. B. Forrest HS, named after the former Confederate general. It was NOT named to honor his attachment to the KKK no matter what the NAACP tries to tell you, it was named to honor his leadership in the Confederate army. This is the South people. We are proud of our heritage. If you don't like Jacksonville get the hell out!

RAY ALAN: 20th May 2008 - 18:40 GMT

I have lived in jacksonville fla. all my life 51yrs. to be exact.First I cant belive Jacksonville fla. is being called a small town because there est.800,000 people reside here and it is the largest city in the U.S in terms of land area.BOY HAVE I SEEN CHANGES.To a once beautiful city with a population 250,000 to 300,000 people this city has become a real hellhole and I plan to leave.Crime and conjestion is unbelivable in fact currently Jacksonville is the murder capital of Florida for about the last 3 to 4 years.Because of a large black population that is out of control who cant stay off drugs and like to rape white women and rob gas stations is not a pretty picture.To make things worse they whine and complain like in other cities that white racism is to blame for there actions and behavior.Nice areas of town are not exempt either low income blacks have flooded apartment complexs and I could tell to you plenty of horror stories.If there is a family planning on moving here make sure you own firearms and educate your children. If there are girls in the family warn them of dangers or will propably get there panties pulled down and get aids OR WORSE.

Lisa: 20th May 2008 - 19:02 GMT

Spent the first half of my life trying to get away from Jacksonville. Now here I am in San Antonio texas, wishing for home. :O(

Melissa: 21st May 2008 - 01:40 GMT

I googled "I hate Jacksonville" just to see what I would find... and I have found this site here. The only reason I "dislike" Jacksonville is that I have been ripped from my home in Hollywood, FL because my husband and I couldn't afford a house down south and we did not want to raise our children there. This totally sucks for me, now I have no friends and only my husband's family here in jville.
It is beautiful, but my husband is too busy with work and studies to hang and show me fun stuff. I feel so alone here and now with two children I couldn't move back home if I wanted to. AS mush as I love home, the schools and people here in Jville in general are alot better.
OK, I guess I like jville I am just lonely for my old friends and family. I am stuck like chuck!

anon (205.173.35.130): 21st May 2008 - 19:45 GMT

To Ray Alan. Maybe you should leave. It is racist attitudes like yours that make other people think that Jacksonville is a racist place. Blacks are not the only ones who commit crimes or are low income. Thank you for your excellent representation of Jacksonville.

yeah yeah: 27th May 2008 - 13:06 GMT

i think its amazing how people are suggesting that jacksonville should become like miami or orlando in order to become more "entertaining"... havent any of you people taken a walk around outside or a swim in the ocean or are you really as lazy and overstimulated as most americans appear to be? HELLOOOO!!!! we have a ton of small beautiful trails and preserves with beautiful scenery as well as numerous nearby beaches (all of which are seemingly different in style and crowd-size) and historic ladmarks... most of those things dont even cost any money, but hey, if youre looking to spend some money to feel like youve gotten REAL ENTERTAINMENT, rent a f*cking surfboard and learn a new healthy hobby... its better than sitting on your ass and letting some one else do your entertaining for you... its shocking to think that people need to destroy all of the natural, cost-free, self-motivating and healthy entertainment to make this a "fun" city... dont you think there are enough "fun" cities in south florida? orlando is only 2 and a half hours away- drive there for a day at disney or do you need to go every day to feel entertained? some people are just lazy and like to blame there boredom on everything else- once jacksonville's natural beauty is completely destroyed, you will probably complain about the disgusting polluted air and how theres nothing pretty to look at... seriously, just go play outside for a bit- you might do your body, your pocket, and those who dont want to hear your bitching, some good

dan: 29th May 2008 - 06:44 GMT

Life in Jacksonville is what you make of it. No matter where you live, there will be folks who hate and love that place. There are valid reasons for both sides - it kind of comes down to personal preference, just like everything else in life! As for Ray Alan, please take some sort of English or writing course before attempting to go off about others. Your delivery comes off as both racist and ignorant, no matter what your intentions.

Jilch: 1st Jun 2008 - 22:00 GMT

I agree with several postings here. I love living here in Jax. I am a technology professional, who lives in the south side of the city, which is much cleaner than a lot of parts of town. I love the weather, the beaches, the fact that we have 4 seasons with neither one dominating the whole year. I totally disagree with those who say Jax is a 12 month sauna in terms of climate. There are a great many temperate days here. And culturally the city is growing. It all depends on where you put your life's focus. As a working professional I don't have time to go to entertainment except on weekends, and there IS plenty of stuff, just many of you aren't looking.

CJ: 30th Jun 2008 - 18:53 GMT

Hello! I found this website because a co-worker of mine is considering a move to North Florida. I told her about my experiences but she didn't believe me. Perhaps she'll believe you guys though so I'll pass this link along to her.

My husband and I lived in Jacksonville for 4 years and I hated it more than you could possibly imagine. It was the most racist, sexist and homophobic city I'd ever lived in. I tried to like the city. I even went so far as to take a job with the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau hoping it would boost my opinon of the city. It did boost my opinion of all of the beauty that the land has to offer, but I still found the people unbearable. As far as securing a job was concerned, I found that having a degree, years of experience and a positive attitude counted for absolutely nothing if you were Black! It was so horrible that we left Jacksonville 8 years ago and moved to Seattle where we are VERY, VERY happy. My husband and I both have great professional jobs and own a home in a safe neighborhood with people of all races. God Bless the great State of Washington for helping us restore our self esteem and dignity after Jacksonville had all but broken it down.

A: 11th Jul 2008 - 15:59 GMT

Jacksonville is a really nice place to live compared to a lot of places in the country.

There are really only 3 good public high schools (Stanton [top 10 in the US], Paxon [top 20 in the US], and Mandarin). And they just finished building one and will be finished building another in 2010.

Crime is only bad in certain areas. It's the same with the rednecks. They concentrate in certain areas.

It's only boring if you're too lazy to go out and find something to do (beaches, restaurants, movies, parks, whatever).

A: 11th Jul 2008 - 16:02 GMT

By the way, Duval county is Jacksonville. Clay county is not. Clay county is probably home to most of the small-minded people you are complaining about because its right next to Duval.

Anonymous: 17th Jul 2008 - 18:26 GMT

I've lived in 17 states and Jax. is the only place where I've been robbed. I've had 4 apartments broken into here (one of them several times). I've been beaten up and robbed walking down the street at least 20 times over the last 10 years. Most of the times I have had to walk anywhere for any reason, I was harassed at least once. Jacksonville is a very scary place for a small, clean-cut, young white guy. The west side is anyways, riverside kicks ass.

Anonymous: 17th Jul 2008 - 18:35 GMT

In fact, I can know for certain, that if I were to walk out my front door right now and walk as far as past Ureka Gardens apts. with my i-pod on- I would see many young black dudes standing around in a group on the side of the road there and they would aproach me like allways and say something like: "What-chu got for me cuz?" and proceed to pat my pockets and take my i-pod. If I gave them any kind of look for it they would smash my face of course. I am so certain that these things would happen exactly like this that I would bet you everything I own against $5.00

Anonymous: 17th Jul 2008 - 18:39 GMT

Oh yeah, I allmost forgot the best part. After they beat me up and stole my stuff they would follow me (at a distance)back to my house, then they would run up on me after I open the door and stick their gun in my face and walk through my house taking whatever they wanted. Then I would move, AGAIN.

anon (12.156.245.34): 25th Jul 2008 - 04:44 GMT

It's a very quiet, working class city. It's family and church oriented. It's also very poor, old and run down in many areas unfortunately.

diverdan363: 26th Jul 2008 - 04:36 GMT

Thank you jacksonville for lieing to us about the quality of air, its poluted, look at the rise in lung cancer in florida the diesel death zone, jaxport may offer jobs but did they mention that 60,000 deaths are the result of ship emissions, did the tell you about the river and the high content of mercury in the fih you eat. did they tell you about the children who suffer because of the toxics in the air?

diverdan363: 26th Jul 2008 - 04:45 GMT

city of jacksonville does not want you to know that the air polution in jacksonville is very bad so much so that you kids will suffer some type of breathing problems due to the develop going on around jacksonville. environmental rules are tossed out the door for the sake of jaxport expansion no eis statements because of the size of develop is under 10 acreas loop hole to by pass impact statements.have you ever wondered why no impacts statements is made available. it would stop the economic engine, you are a second class citizen next to jaxport air polution is placed on the back burners for the sake of the economic engine.

transplant: 28th Jul 2008 - 13:17 GMT

Older neighborhoods near downtown - Riverside, Avondale, Springfield, etc. make it easy to use your car less and get out into the world more. If you are really open-minded you can always find like groups that share your values. We recently joined the Unitarian Universalist Church here and now enjoy the companionship of smart, progressive, thoughtful folks. It has made a real difference. The beaches are wonderful, we're building an arboretum, downtown is cool fore 1st Wednesdays, our zoo is amazing. You have to be resourceful here, and avoid living in the sprawl, but you can have fun.

Barker777: 31st Aug 2008 - 15:47 GMT

I love Jacksonville. We moved here from Northern California and have not been back to Nor Cal since - 5 years now. Same as Nor Cal – spread out but if you can settle and wait for it to blow up into a major metropolitan area you will be happy you did. Start a business and watch it grow as the city does.
If you do not like it here you must be younger 20’s early 30’s? It has much to offer and being able to grow roots in a very up and coming city is a great opportunity. Fish, ride your Harley (killer places to see – river, ocean, historic, country, beach). Try to live on the south east side of the city..

scott: 19th Sep 2008 - 19:03 GMT

Happiness comes where ever you are...it is up to you to find it. Oh, and don't look for it in your neighborhood or part of town...it comes from within. Those of you who haven't found happiness, good luck...I'm staying in Jacksonville, FL.

pfffft: 24th Sep 2008 - 02:06 GMT

nice sentiment, scott...and i used to subscribe to that philosophy....until i moved to jacksonville, fl. as an airforce brat, i have seen a lot of this country AND planet...let me tell you, this town is gorgeous...but the people? not so much. i have never seen so much ignorance and negativity--and i lived in NYC for a year! people here are backward and rude! they don't even cover their mouths when they cough for crying out loud! and laziness like i have never seen! no wonder they lost the war!

AARON F,: 8th Oct 2008 - 22:13 GMT

I have lived in Jacksonville for over 26 years,I still think the city and 95% of the people in it suck.But no one SUCKS ass more then the JEA,rates increases,how the hell is it that you have a 400.00 electric bill,so you have to decide to pay and have lights or feed your kids...and yes i try to save as much as possible,my house is less then 5 yrs old,all energy efficient appliances,light bulbs,keep the air set high and heat set low.We do everything possible,but still have a hard time understanding WHY? does it cost as much for electric as a god damn car payment.JEA SUCKS ASS....im sure JIM the CEO makes a nice fat 6 figures.THANKS JEA. LOVE 4 EVER,AARON F

Jules: 11th Oct 2008 - 15:28 GMT

Okay....BORING is the reason my husband and I left Jacksonville in July '06. We did everything a modern Metropolitan couple could do. We lived on the river, we had season tickets with the Jags, we went to the beach for all of the festivals, we had stable employment, we visited all of the surrounding attractions (Jekyll Island, St. Augustine, Fernadina Beach, Ft.Lauderdale, Miami, the Keys, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, etc.....), we ate at some of Jax finest restaurants: Bistro X, Matthew's, Marker 32...you name it! And we did it over and over again......but still, we absolutely hated living there. We love city life...and Jacksonville doesn't offer the excitement of a large city. It is still a very low key, under educated, immature city just waiting to be awaken...but as long as "locals" are voted into city office and management, Jacksonville will never get the attention that it needs. Some of the locals we met while living there were afraid of going downtown because of the "crime". Well I'm here to say "THERE IS NO CRIME!" Having lived in Houston...just watching 30-45 min. of news footage dedicated to overnight city crime makes Jacksonville look like a bunch of silly hillbillies. Jacksonville doesn't know crime. We love Houston...now that's a diverse city...full of life....and with that comes REAL traffic...but we LOVE it. People are skilled, work hard and play hard, have social lives that involve a connection with other people--being single or married....it doesn't matter. Jacksonville has its "clicks"(immaturity) and that's why there is such a division between the Beaches (people across the ditch), the city, and the West-side (where people will be happy to tell you that's where Lynard Skynard got started--Woo Hoo!) The division is real and the reason that Jax will never be a "together" kind of place. Then you have your transient people from NY and retired people looking for the warmth of the sun during the winter. Now that's an exciting group of folks! So, my advice to all of you people looking to relocate to Jax from a major established city, "Don't do it!" You will long for the days that provide you with the excitement a city can bring...and you will miss your family members. My husband and I stuck it out for 6-7 LONG years....years off of our lives. Now we are back in our home state, Texas, and we plan to never leave again. If you are looking for opportunity, you will never find it in Jacksonville, FL.

jeff: 17th Oct 2008 - 16:35 GMT

Jacksonville is awesome if you aren't an overstimulated, whiny yuppie elitist. :) You are right, Jacksonville isn't Houston. In fact, it's got about 6 million less people and no fancy oil money like that aforementioned swamp nightmare of a metropolis. No, but seriously, if you are someone that doesn't need other people to plan out "fun" things for you to do, J-ville is just fine.

Tina: 19th Oct 2008 - 03:35 GMT

I think that Jacksonville has its moments, but to be honest drugs and crime have taken over. You can no longer turn the news on and not see who was shot that day. The city would have serious potential to be what it once was, but more people like to complain than get involved. I have lived here for 26 years and hate that its gone downhill so much. The kids here have not much to do unless they can afford certain athletic programs. Jacksonville has it wonderful features, but you can't enjoy doing them out of fear that you will get robbed on your way. The landing is beautiful, but there are not near enough activities that are planned. I was married to a police officer for the city of Jacksonville and he worked his tail off, but things have just turned so bad. I wouldnt recommend Jacksonville to someone that wants to raise a family unless you have the money to live on the "higher" end of town.

pfffft: 4th Nov 2008 - 00:15 GMT

this town is extremely "clickish"--they hate outsiders...

jeff: 5th Nov 2008 - 16:06 GMT

I think the word you are looking for is "clique-ish".

CobraaaB: 5th Nov 2008 - 17:09 GMT

Thays for clearing that up, because I was just sooo completely perplexed as to what they meant :-P

BethAnn: 2nd Jan 2009 - 14:05 GMT

Ugh...I hate living in Jacksonville!! My husband is in the military and we had to leave wonderful San Diego to come to this dump! I am not black, but this place is so racist it is not even funny! I think the people are rude and do not like anyone from the North. There is nothing to do here and downtown is a joke! I am not sure why they even bother to have a downtown area. I hope my husband can get out of the three years we are supposed to be here. I do not think I can handle living here for three years. Other than the cost of living, I do not see the attraction. I wish I could have stayed in San Diego. Everyone I have talked to that was in the military and got stationed here said "You are going to love Jacksonville". Hmmm...For the people who "love" Jacksonville, can you tell me why? Don't tell me it has "great" schools. What exactly do you like about it? I am sure it is not the boiled peanuts because they suck too. Where do you go to do fun things? In San Diego there were all kinds of nice, fun things to do.

adam: 8th Jan 2009 - 23:10 GMT

Okay, where do I begin? I have lived in Jacksonville for pretty much my entire life. I am 29 years old and I recently moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL which is a much better city to live in (culture, variety, nightlife, crystal blue water beaches, shopping, diversity, etc.). Prior to moving, I have done quite a bit of traveling: Boston, DC, Chicago, Miami, Colorado, Dallas, etc., so I have a pretty vast experience with other cities. The first thing I noticed living in Jacksonville, is that people and the city are behind times. I don't want to stereotype everyone, because there are some great people there, but they are outweighed by the rednecks and good ole country people flooding in from towns like Starke, Lawtey, Palatka, Callahan, Middleburg, etc. It's funny how Jacksonville people get so excited over new chain restaurants that have been open for years in other bigger cities like (Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs) which are both good, but break away from the chain restaurants Jacksonville people, try some of the local restaurants in Avondale, Riverside, and San Marco. Some Jacksonville people like to boast about how big the city (landwise) is, So!! Who cares? It's spread out and you have to drive everywhere, and there's under a million people living there, where a city like Miami has 5.4 million people in the greater Miami area. The transportation sucks in Jacksonville, esp the monorail to nowhere. People are so consumed with their chain restaurants (chilli's, carabbas, outback, longhorn steakhouse)that they don't even try to support new restaurants in Downtown, San Marco, and Riverside that are trying to change Jacksonville as a city. Chain restaurants are okay people, but there's more out there. Majority of Jacksonville people don't bother to check out anything cultural like the art museums, music festivals, or film festivals, for they are too busy trying to make it up to the Ale house to drink beer and watch a gator game. I was an active person in Jacksonville and tried to make the best of it. I went out supported downtown bars and restaurants, and I loved attending the Art Walk. I also spent time in the cities parks, and visited the beaches occasionally. Riverside is my favorite place in the city. It has culture and diversity, and the people are pretty cool. Even with that though, I found myself being bored. The more cities I traveled to in the US, the more I realized how boring Jacksonville can be. I don't hate Jacksonville, but I can def. say I don't ever want to live there again. When it comes to racism, it happens on both sides in Jacksonville, but it happens in every city. There is a large number of people in Jacksonville that in general are racist, homophobic, non-cultured, close-minded good ole country people who just don't know any better. The most culture or diversity they get is visiting Disney World year after year for vacation. Ft. lauderdale has been a great move for me. The city is amazing. There is tons of restaurants and bars to chose from. You can get any type of food you can think of from local and well known higher end chains. There is many neighborhoods that you can walk instead of driving everywhere, and best of all you are only 30-45 minutes away from West Palm Beach, Hollywood, and Miami. The beaches are also completely different than Jacksonville's. For one, the water is crystal clear and teal, and two, you can go to them year round, because it doesn't really get cold at all. For any of you like me that have been in Jax. your whole life, you should move. It's not a bad city, but it's time to break away and see things in a different light, but if you plan on staying, don't be a stereotype. Try something new and help change the reputation that it has gained over the years.

CV: 12th Jan 2009 - 13:57 GMT

Moved here from Denver to start a biz 4 LONG years ago. Biggest mistake of my life. What few waterfront restaurants that were here when we moved were torn down for condo development and left in a heap of rubble, what a waste since there were already so very few places to go, the quaintness of jax beach was replaced by greedy condo developers who are probably bankrupt.........road construction projects are everywhere and never seem to get completed...no bike paths (no wonder, almost all the people I have seen on bikes have a cigarette hanging out of their mouth)....the pavillion at Jax Beach is a homeless shelter instead of being used for entertainment purposes (oh, excuse me, they do show movies there 3 or 4 times a year...don't get too excited by this, as they are movies you can catch any day on cable).....

PB: 5th Feb 2009 - 00:10 GMT

Jacksonville is fantastic - a breath of fresh air compared to other places we have lived. Great people, great services, we hope we stay here for the long hall.

gg: 7th Feb 2009 - 23:01 GMT

jacksonville is the south. it's racist, and conservative, and narrow minded. people don't get out and coexist or attempt to be kind and friendly. there is a feeling of dread in this town for me.

jville is hot and sticky: 16th Feb 2009 - 19:37 GMT

jacksonville is full of stereotypical thugs...
im from arlington and thats all i see around here.down by the beach are skater punks, in the west side there are low life druggies, and southside mandarin area are full of albanians and bosnians that think they are black.

do not move here: 9th Mar 2009 - 03:59 GMT

I googled, like many of you, "I hate Jacksonville," and stumbled across this site. Let me begin this rant with a proper introductory sentence: I fucking hate this god-forsaken town. Not only are the people incredibly narrow minded (think, like, the day before we the people elected our first black president, the school board voted AGAINST changing the name of the high school that honors a klu klux klan founder) but you have to drive through hordes of traffic to get anywhere. (think obnoxious SUVs riddled with bush and cheney stickers and tacky "choose life" license plates.)
The city is run by the southern baptists. It is awful. I moved here for college and cheap rent and I am literally counting down the days till I move in August. Listen, if you like white trash, thugs, and an overall dreary feeling everyday of your life, THIS is the city for you. I cannot stress this enough folks, if you seek culture, art, and progressive neighbors, choose another city.

Also, Ray Alan, the incoherent fool towards the top of this page? Probably a perfect representation of the majority here. Gross.

not from jax~: 17th Mar 2009 - 05:12 GMT

Well for those who defend this city, i have lived all over this country, in big cities and not so big cities. This place is miserable. The racist red necks and the blacks have jointly ruined this city for good. I feel jax should not even be considered a part of florida, the map should be re-drawn to have jax as part of GA. This city is boring, filled with ignorant and rude people. There isnt anything actually happening here although the locals try to make it sound like there is plenty to do here. The people here are still living in the old times and are not open to outsiders. Even for those who are married with families this is a city to move. If anyone is looking to move to this city, think 10 times. Talk to those who have moved from other places to here and u'll know what i mean. As soon as the job market situation even shows a little change, i'm running out of this shit hole.

Mikdest: 20th Mar 2009 - 03:21 GMT

You should check out these sites en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Jacksonville,_Florida and also not to mention if it wasn't for the great oncologist here in Jacksonville Fl are the ones whom saved my daughters life from Retinoblastoma. Wolfson's forever I am in your debt. I would never think of moving because I would never trust anyone else to care for my child.

wouldn't you like to know: 2nd Apr 2009 - 03:41 GMT

I was born here, then I moved away. And well I found myself back here after being away for 13 yrs. When I got back I tried to give it a chance. I used to live in St. Pete which was an awesome place. everything you could think of you could do down there. Anyways back to my story. I went online to meet people and I ended up meeting my wife and settling down and having children. We moved our family away to a little town in southern putnam county. It sucked down there as far as the city went but family life was better. Then we came back to Jax. This place is probably the worst for raising children on public education. If you can't afford to send your children to a private school they are probably going to learn nothing but garbage. I'm not the best person here or the smartest but when you have the crime like it is on both black and white sides you don't have to be educated to see it. Alot of the things here are backwards and run by "affirmative action". In my opinion if you want the job go to school and get it. This city is so focused on making it right for black people that it is leaving out the others. Constant programs for black males in school to reduce the drop out rate, what about the other drop outs. They make their own choices as well as the other kids but there are no special programs for them. Most of the young people here have this I;ve got to live up to my ghetto roots so I can be a rapper or some sports player instead of growing up to just get a job and being a positive production of their surroundings. The crime rate for black on white crime is astronomical. A group of black males can confront people here and cause a scene and it's acceptable but if it were the other way around Jessie Jackson would be out here. Im not for one race over another as both are equally guilty but like I said before this city is geared more for making it right for black people. You have so much crime here in the predominately black areas but you cant say black people are guilty or your a racists and they have it hard. The people here have it hard because they chose to do the drugs they chose to break in the house they chose to rape the woman. But when you live in Jax it's ok to blame everyone else for your actions it's what everyone else does right. To the black people here it is the "white man's" fault for them being in the slums. See my above statement it's your fault. It is easier for a black family to get into a neighborhood to equalize the race so the area can't be deemed racist. Do like everyone else get a good job and do it yourself. I sure can't get the help to get in alot of the places that are handed to you but im the racist. I couldnt even get Govt. help for my family here. Im defaulted on my mortgage but I make to much to get medicaid or is it that im not black? In all the black statements here you can insert redneck also. not all black people are bad and not all white people are good. This city is racist and maybe thats why there are so many programs dedicated to black people, to hide the racism? Bottom line here is this city is jacked up. You cant feel safe walking down the street anywhere unless your with a group. I wont let my kids play outside by themselves in a fenced in yard with a big dog. Look at familywatchdog.org this place is riddled with sex offenders/predators. This city only has a hand full of good areas and those are jacked up by the "ghetto youth" trying to be someone. If there was so much to do in this city the kids wouldnt be the way they are. Jax is worried about nothing but your money and if your going to give it to First Baptist. As the above post states "Wolfsons children" is the best thing jax has to offer. If I were you and you had to move here I would look else where. Your going to feel dirty here and like someone up there said like it is pulling you apart emotionally. I feel broken spirited by being here, most of my adult life has been here and Im moving away in a couple of months. I hope I feel like the family who moved away and got their spirit back. I will kick the dirt off of my feet when I leave here. There is just something about Jax that makes you feel like you are being leeched of yourself. All depressed like this is it? this is the way life is? well if you live in Jax then yes this is what life is one dreary day here after another. You pray for sunshine just so you can feel moderately good about life. One last thing THIS PLACE SUCKS.........

wouldn\\\'t you like to know: 2nd Apr 2009 - 03:54 GMT

Try to find your happiness within when your walking down moncrief and you get robbed or shot for being white and weak. Its the truth not racism. hope you can find your happiness within there scotty

Fred M Pohl: 6th Apr 2009 - 23:27 GMT

My SOns Ex lived in JAcksonville With a fat slob for a girlfriend and her auntie was as foul mouthed as a truck driver in LAmplighter Mobile home PArk off 301 And her and her Aunt and her ex Hsuband a real lowlife HE was kicked out of the NAvy for posting Kiddie porn on the internet I hope enver to see thier like again

serenea: 19th May 2009 - 20:30 GMT

I have lived in Jacksonville for 10 years and basically hated every moment. It is true that there is no excitement whatsoever unless you live on the north side and frequent the police stations. I live in a nice multiracial neighborhood and my neighbors are nice. But over all natives have an attitude because I believe most have not lived any where else. It has the feel of a country bumpkin town, with a Jed Clampett mentality.To quote Adams's comment, "There is a large number of people in Jacksonville that in general are racist, homophobic, non-cultured, close-minded good ole country people who just don't know any better." The schools are lacking, The utility company rips customers off and crime is totally out of hand. Its not just the "bad" areas either. Everyone is entitled to there opinion but I say about 5% of Jacksonville natives are nice. The rest ???. If you are of the 5% and don't agree, just look past your circle of friends or stay awhile in another city. The nice thing about Jax is the beach but People...you have nothing to do with that!

killacozzy.com/selfportrait: 23rd May 2009 - 19:36 GMT

THE BAD PART: I've lived in this city for about seven or eight years. I moved from Detroit, Michigan. For the few years, my home was in Arlington, and I worked in Ponte Vedra. I drove 45 minutes to work every day through JTB traffic. For fun, my then-girlfriend and I went to the Beaches and basically people-watched at pretentious clubs. We had no friends because my then-girlfriend hated the people here. We moved to Mandarin (the middle-class family area) and despite having a nice home, our lives were the same: chain restaurants, shopping at tired stores, and making-fun of people having fun at Beaches nightclubs.

THE GOOD PART: When my then-girlfriend and I split up, I kept living in Mandarin. But I started exploring and hanging out in San Marco, Riverside, Downtown, and Springfield. I made a ton of really great friends—and even met my fiancée. Together, started a motion picture production company and began working from home. Sure, I have to drive for 20 to 30 minutes to get ANYWHERE in town, but the city is so huge, it's a reality.

THE CONCLUSION: I realized that through my ex-girlfriend's hatred of Jacksonville and her people, I mirrored the sentiment. And when I convinced myself that I hated everything about being here, I made myself miserable.

While Jacksonville does have some of the more vocal racists, homophobes, and haters I've seen between here and Detroit, it also has some truly amazing and friendly folks who tend to centralize toward the city areas.

My fiancée and I almost moved to New York City six months ago to start our movie business, but we decided to stay because of the many great opportunities this town has to offer.

Thanks to that decision, our film production company is now doing very well, and for this, we have the fledgling metropolis of Jacksonville to thank.

killacozzy.com/selfportrait: 23rd May 2009 - 19:40 GMT

(Pardon the typos:

...For the *first* few years...

...Together, *we* started a motion picture...)

Mr Tanner: 3rd Jun 2009 - 15:43 GMT

I lived in Jacksonville for 32 years, born and raised. Let me tell you about Jacksonville... growing up on the Westside near Woodstock Park in the 70’s, it was pretty decent. However the area quickly was infused with many different and cultural ethnicities that in some instances made these areas UN desirable to reside.

We moved to the San Pablo area in the early 80’s when there wasn’t anything out near girvin road except a four way stopsign. The schools were predominately white and the standard of living was again fair but not extravagant. In the late 80’s these areas again were fused with another wave of people such as the first wave hit the Westside in the early 80’s. I went to Southside Junior, Sandalwood, Arlington, Annie R Morgan, Windy Hill, Love Grove, Terry parker & Landon.

Out of all these schools I think Southside was the best experience for me, however going to school in Jacksonville is Tough. Very Tough.. There were and are still today many students who bring their street attitudes to school and get themselves and other students in trouble with them.

My daughter was born and raised in Jacksonville and she to elementary schools in the mid nineties, Love Grove.. This gem of a school was the ONLY reason my wife and I stayed, so she would finish. She started Landon in ’02 and my wife and I started to notice vast changes right away. She became withdrawn and almost non social. Then she started getting hassled by other students who even from my experiences were vicious.

My wife and I assured each other that we wouldn’t put her or my son through the type of experiences we went through growing up going to school in Jacksonville. We packed up and moved to the Midwest in 2003. I miss Jacksonville very much, but if you have children or a child. Take it from another parent and a lifelong resident to NOT make Jacksonville a choice.

The traffic is horrible in Jacksonville. This city was NEVER EVER intended for the amount of people now residing there. It also appears now that I have been gone for six years, which an extrondinary amount of racism appears to be present in or around almost every tone of local Jacksonville society.

I was a victim of a violent robbery and I cannot count how many times no matter where we lived that we or someone we knew was NOT affected by some sort of crime.

If I can prevent or change just one person or family view on Jacksonville then I consider this posting a worthwhile effort. If my post did help you change your mind I or my wife would appreciate any comments. Mechanism317@yahoo.com

the stylz: 6th Jun 2009 - 01:48 GMT

i love jacksonville fl. yes it can be "danger danger" but its nice too just dont be a pu$$y and dont go to where you dont belong and you'll be ok.put your feet down and pick your ass up you'll like it too. and yes you can graff here no problem just let your nutts hang abit. not to low now they will get cut off =)~

richy: 6th Jun 2009 - 20:03 GMT

Calling Houston home and calling J-ville redneck is hypocritical.Everyone knows that Texas is the REDNECK capitol of the universe.Houston is a backwards trailor trash redneck hellhole.I guess this Texan is in denial.I'm a Floridian, yes J-ville is backwards compared to the rest of the state, but Texas is consistantely hick.GEt it right Texas.

F*ck everybody hating Jacksonville: 9th Jun 2009 - 18:11 GMT

For all you ignorant ugly fat ass good for nothing dumb f*cks.. F*ck yall. Jacksonville is the greatest city in the world to me.. I was born and raised in Mandarin off of Old St. Augustine Rd. and I had the best life so far anybody can have. Yeah there somethings Jacksonville can do, build a theme park or what not but oh well, man when we grew up, we found something positive to do. We always had fun growing up. Alot of gifted people are here. I've been to Houston.. It sucks hard!!.. 70% of the women there are either pregnant with kids or carrying STDs.. It's slow and horrible and whoever said Houston is full of live... ummm try again.. You probably some fat ass diabetic f*ck who ride the bus all day and say this is entertainment.. Hoe sit down.. Orlando only got attraction.. D.C. full with AIDS.. how the hell the state capital be the poorest city in the nation and got a higher HIV rate then some country in Africa.. That place is beyond horrible.. ATL is the mecca of gay black men.. full of AIDS just like San Francisco and Dallas.. All these places yall bragging on is overrated then you can imagine.. We have our flaws in this city and my city aint perfect, but yall boring ass cities aint no better than mines when yall got some of the most ridiculous things and people i ever seen and met.. Jacksonville really got alot more to offer then the other big cities.. The crime is horrible here and thats the only thing I hate about my city.. The Crime and the person from Houston who said Jacksonville dont know real crime.. bitch we dont wanna know real crime.. we wanna stop crime so I dont have to walk out my house and watch my back everywhere I go.. The N.O. people running yall city so yall TX folks in general can't talk.. Texas and Alabama are the most racist states in the country and you got the nerves to talk about Jacksonville? Only nerds, lames and geeks would be on this site saying they hate jacksonville when all cities are basically the same.. Get a life and get off yall asses and go find something to do.. Ignorant idiots.. Duval County is great to live at.. I hope God bless you people soul because I guaranteed.. all of you people who got hate for jacksonville and live here before.. you'll be back lol.. and that be the funny thing because the same idiots like yall say that.. come right back and be happy to be back.. Pathetic ass people.. lmfaoo.. how the hell you type in google search.. i hate jacksonville.. you people really need a life.. I'm out

Tim: 16th Jun 2009 - 13:46 GMT

Jacksonville is full of forcibly undereducated black people and willfully undereducated white people. Only 14% of the population has beyond a high school education. If you want more out of life than going to the Baptist church on Sunday and gossiping about American Idol the rest of the week, this isn't the place for you.

Tim: 16th Jun 2009 - 13:47 GMT

PS - why doesn't Mayor Peyton come out of the closet?

B&R Native of Jville: 18th Jun 2009 - 18:00 GMT

On August 27, 1960, more than 200 whites attacked 34 Black youths with baseball bats and ax handles. No more than 43 years later On June 1, 2003, Matt Carlucci, a white Republican endorsed Glover (a Democrat) after being defeated in the open primary. Afterwards, Carlucci's business was vandalized with the words "NIGGER LOVER", and Glover's campaign headquarters was vandalized with "NO NIGGER MAYOR".

I was raised in this "good ole boy" town born in 1979 I've been called nigger by more than my fair share of whites and honestly I can't forget what I've heard and seen. I sat in school at Lee and heard the whites talk ill about a huge racist war they were going to start etc nothing has changed all has just been brushed up under the rug.

All of the events that go down in Jacksonville are marjority related and intended for non blacks. I read the local papers just to confirm that by each print. I've been to the concerts they host at the beaches and in metro park no different than any other city. I think that what most of these people are saying when they call Jacksonville boring has little to do with the entertainment but more to do with the atomosphere and cultural experience. Jacksonville has NONE! I was thinking of the early 20th century before Hollywood "Kalem Studios" first to open a permanent studio in Jacksonville and wanting to relive that moment considering I am a writer and working on a novel and screenplay but just like the conservative residents back then who objected to the hallmarks of this time's early movie industry has NOT changed. This town is too scared to become a prominent city for then those conservative residents will lose control. They like it their way or nothing else. We were going to get a theme park, but guess what they decided to build yet another "golf course" now I ask who's that golf course for? When we already have so many of them, did we really need another one? Like I stated this is a good ole boys town not a city just a big backwoods want to be city and that will never change.

B&R Native of Jville: 18th Jun 2009 - 20:07 GMT

After reading the rest of the posts I realized that most of you that have written in and hate Jacksonville are just a bunch of racist idiots. You NEVER put every person in one bucket. Have you talked to me or spoken to anyone in my family. We have generations of college educated black women and black men. What programs and or areas have you really lived in that you can speak on every black person living in this city. Now don't get me wrong, I know alot of ignorant blacks and whites, and hispanics etc... that live in Jacksonville and for the most part they are just like you, for the majority of them didn't grow up here! They moved here, so lets just say that all of the people you grew up with in the cities you love the most ventured here in this good ole boy town making it WORST than it was. I go out, I volunteer, and have worked with a lot of persons that aren't from Jacksonville, so I am wondering maybe its all of you who aren't originally from here that's the real cause of this city staying a hickville town. Half of you written on here hated the city before you actually moved here. I want to read what people have wrote who aren't set in their own ways but those who do have an open mind and not racist and prejudice. Read what you have written, these are your thoughts and the majority of you speaking ill of the "blacks" and "rednecks" are no different than those you are prejudice against. You are the racist people of this world. You have offended me as a black female with an education. And who says that an education means anything do you hold a degree or multiple degrees? I do, an associates and a bachelors what does that mean to you? Does it really matter how educated you are when you don't have an intelligent mind set? Yes I am speaking to the majority of you, just because you have an education on paper doesn't mean you are truly educated. You guys are blinded by your own setbacks that you choose to really get on here and blast a race of people and that has taken away from the actual discussion/forum here. I can go and research half of the cities you guys have mentioned as being better than Jacksonville and debate you long and hard on the fact that each of those cities in reference to the race of people that make up those cities are no different than those in Jacksonville.

State: California (CA)
City Population: 1,272,746
Murder: 65
Forcible Rape: 406
Robbery: 1,626
Aggravated Assault: 5,269
Burglary: 8,076
Larceny or Theft: 25,739
Car Theft: 12,567
Arson: 238
Data Source:
FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement

State: Florida (FL)
City Population: 776,417
Murder: 92
Forcible Rape: 213
Robbery: 2,344
Aggravated Assault: 4,080
Burglary: 8,910
Larceny or Theft: 30,043
Car Theft: 4,838
Arson: 283
Data Source:
FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement

State: Texas (TX)
City Population: 2,041,081

Murder: 278
Forcible Rape: 768
Robbery: 10,985
Aggravated Assault: 11,957
Burglary: 26,522
Larceny or Theft: 72,032
Car Theft: 21,451
Arson: 1,553
lOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS HOUSTON TX SEEM FAR INTO CRIME THAN MOST CITIES I HEARD THIS STATE MENTIONED AS BEING A WONDERFUL CITY/STATE TO MOVE TO...YEAH RIGHT I'LL DEFINITELY TAKE YOUR WORD ON IT. I CAN PULL UP MORE AND WE CAN JUST COMPARE AND I GUARANTEE THAT EVERY CITY IS THE SAME REGARDING CRIME ETC...ITS THE CITY AND THOSE WHO MAKE UP THE CITY REGARDING OUR CITY'S OFFICIALS JUST THINK ABOUT THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE OF THE PERSONS WE VOTE FOR TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. HOW MANY OF YOU VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, GO TO CITY OFFICIAL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS YOUR CITIES ISSUES REGARDING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL THAT IS AROUND YOU?

All of the negative information here is just based on opinions not the facts and opinions are just like "assholes" all of us got one.

anon (adsl-17-254-248.jax.bellsouth.net): 19th Jun 2009 - 18:40 GMT

The reason that people from somewhere else do the complaining about this dump. Is because we have lived in real cities. Not this imitation town. Red-necks dream come true. YAAAAAAALLLL can kiss my ass. I am out of this ignorant hick town.

Beth: 23rd Jun 2009 - 17:01 GMT

I had posted above a few months ago and came back to see if anyone listed any places to visit or things to do in Jax. So far nothing. I can see that the "locals" judging by the foul mouth language and vulgarities that were used, like to go to the local bars and drink and swear. I have a 18 month old and I am not going to go hang out at the bar. I have been to St. Augustine and liked it. I just don't understand why they don't fix up downtown Jax a little more. I am orginally from Baltimore and the inner harbor there is really nice. I have been to the beaches, and had fun. You can't go to the beach every weekend. I was just wondering if there were any nice places where you can go with your family and have a nice time. Yes, I do hate it here, and unfortunately I am stuck here for two more years. I have decided to try and make the best of it while I am here. And for B&R Native of Jville, I never criticized anyone in my post. All I said was that this place was very racist. If I were to write a post like some of the ones above on a Baltimore website, someone would hunt me down and shoot me. I guess I am just not used to seeing the confederate flag flying like it was the American flag. I myself have multiple degrees. I noticed your comparison of states and crime stats. I am only going to comment on California because I lived there. The population of California is much greater than Florida. Not to mention you have Mexico on the border that has thousands of people crossing each day. A lot of them illegally. Most of the crime in California is committed by illegal aliens. What about Florida? I don't see a country bordering Florida, so that means the majority of the crime is committed by citizens. Second, there are crimes that have higher rates in Florida than California. Considering the population is larger in California, that means those crimes are happening more often and to more citizens than in California. Third, Florida relies heavily on tourism, when the economy is poor tourism goes down. And that means crime goes up. Maybe Florida should try to invest in other avenues beside tourism. I can also see that the "locals" do not want their town to end up like Miami or South Beach, and that is fine. The only problem is, the times are changing. This is not 1940. If Jacksonville would spend a little money and stop concentrating on being the bible capital of the south, they may have more people who actually want to come here to live. Did you ever wonder why it so cheap to live here and so expensive to live in San Diego? That is beacuse they take pride in their city and they made it into a great place to work and bring your family on vacation. Why is everyone so pressed about getting a theme park? San Diego only has Sea World. They have made other things out there and every weekend they have something going on at the zoo or Balboa Park. Their downtown area is kept clean for the most part. I am not going to complain about being here anymore. Like I said, I do not like it here, but I guess it could be worse. I could be in Alaska!

Peter: 23rd Jun 2009 - 17:39 GMT

drink and swear? OH NOEZ! :-0 way to gloss over the allegations of drugs, crime and racism and tackle the really hard-hitting problems of vulgar language and alcohol consumption. *snicker*

Beth: 23rd Jun 2009 - 19:50 GMT

I really don't think I needed to further comment on the drugs, crime and racism since everyone else on here did it for me. I have never witnessed any drug use or crime around me. I lived in Baltimore and it was much worse up there. Drug and crime down here *snicker* This place reminds me of Mayberry. I am just waiting for Barney fife and Andy Taylor to come walking up to my door offering me a glass of lemonade!! Of course there is nothing like a bunch of drunk southerners to give cheap entertainment. I guess I found what the form of entertainment is around here. Drink, shoot your shotgun, hang a negro, and take the family out on a fanboat! Of course we will have to go to church on Sunday to seek forgiveness. LOL!!!

TAP: 25th Jun 2009 - 20:43 GMT

I have been in JAX now for 4 years. I love the fact it has a river and an ocean. I like the weather - you get a northern autumn here in the winter. Hugenot State Park is a great beach to bring your car and your dog. I have lived in major cities - Chicago, NY, San Fran. I have lived in smaller cities - Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, Shreveport, and Biloxi. I have lived in Navarre Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Key West, Florida. I think Jacksonville is by far the prettiest city I have lived in. I had family come visit from Sacramento and they fell in love with the whole area (from Savannah to St. Augustine). If you want to see real crime, move to Chicago, NY, etc. Traffic is much less than other places I have lived. If you want to see the "good ole boy network and racists move to Louisiana - Shreveport/Dallas area - what an awful place. Bad weather - move to San Fran, Colorado Springs or Chicago. I like the fact it is not an Orlando (Carni Town) or Miami (Sleezeville). What this town needs is the Jags to play a decent season or have some real gambling. Went out on that gambling boat near Mayport once and it sucked - the only thing I really miss about Vegas. After living in the Biloxi area - no place can compete with that food (yummy). If your bored here - I think you are probably bored where ever you live (everyone knows people like that). As they say, you can't have everything. JAX has most of what I want in a city and then some :)

Brez: 27th Jun 2009 - 23:58 GMT

LOL. I like how a lot of people came in here by typing "I hate Jacksonville" via Google. That just proves how much of a failure that city really is.

I've spent 6 years living in Jacksonville. I've tried to give it a chance and see what could be great about it. The city looks like a nice place and has a nice variety of stores and restaurants. The beaches look nice too. But all of that is just deceiving and anyone who's been here should know that. Jacksonville is boring as hell, lacks fun spots besides what I've mentioned, and has some of the most pathetic, rude, and ugly people I've ever seen. Thugs, racist rednecks, crackheads, cigarette-sucking elitist-wannabes; this city has them all.

Looking for a job in Jax? Well good luck on that. You have to really bust your ass to even get one yet it seems the employers are more interested in hiring the most retarded people they can find.

Speaking of retarded, look at schools. I've seen some pretty bad schools but they're first-class compared to what I've seen in Florida's asshole of a city. Jax is littered with F-schools with students speaking in ghetto trash, low-grade reading levels, and low test scores among other things. There's also plenty of teachers who are either pedophiles or focus more on money than actual teaching.

I could go on and on and on with everything I find bad in this city. Instead of moving to Whack-sonville, try Ft. Lauderdale or St. Augustine. Hell, I think any part of Florida is better.

And please ignore the people who recommend the lame ass city. They don't know a damn thing about fun places.

uncle jake: 14th Jul 2009 - 22:16 GMT

I'm glad people in JAX know Mayor Peyton is a closet FAG!!!!!!

Dave: 28th Jul 2009 - 15:20 GMT

I'd admit Jacksonville isnt the most pleasant city but no one is asking you to stay here, and what all other cities envy about Jacksonville is our since of pride and partnership in our community. We have so many organizations that make our city what it is today. We have HabiJax, a division of Habitat for Humanity, and statistic show that HabiJax is among all other Habitat for Humanity cities for helping build new houses. If you watch the news you can could have heard about the Be a Hero food drive. Our city donated a whopping 80,000 pound of food for needy people! There are so many events that make Jacksonville such a formed city I can't even name them all. First Coast News does A LOT of these events. Talk about shi**y.

The city is expecting even more people who would be moving to Jacksonville in future years, and were giving them some southern hospitality by cleaning up the neighborhood of Springfield and the Northside area. WHAT NOW!!! HATE ON IT!!!

and If you wanna see traffic drive your ass to Atlanta...traffic city galore.

BYE!!

Kelsey: 31st Jul 2009 - 20:31 GMT

I do not like Jacksonville. I've tried (still trying I guess)- since it doesn't look like we'll be able to leave any time soon. I despise it so much on a daily basis, that I just found this plethora of opinions when I literally googled "I hate Jacksonville FL" just to see if I was the only one. I'm not.

I don't think I have too high of expectations either. I come from a small town. I've seen my share of crime, poor education etc. That, I can have hope for. My husband and I sigh in disbelief so many times after daily venturing out to try new events, restaurants, opportunities to meet new people etc. and just simply do things as a family. We rake what we can off of Jax4kids.com for our 3 year old and have been scratching our heads so many times as to why they have so little to offer for kids around here. We've been able to know the lay of the land fairly quickly because we've driven everywhere trying to find options for living a good life here.

We end up going to Savannah, St. Augustine, Fernandina etc to have a good weekend.

I've never heard the "F" word so many times in public. I've never seen so many dirty looks exchanged for obvious racial distaste. I've never seen such unhappy people. Not even a bit of Texan politeness can bring folks here out of their funk. I've never seen so many people in the health care field out on their smoke break. Lots of negative conversations on cell phones.

You would think a nice long road headed toward the beach (Atlantic Blvd or Beach Blvd) would be full of great eating stops, culture and the coastal vibe many cities CAN have. No, instead you find run-down car dealerships, typical chain restaurants and complete randomness. I'd list more but I can't think of much. Fast food I suppose. Radio Shack. Hotels...uh

You might like the beaches of Jacksonville if you like to see people smoke on the beach, cheeto bags in the sand, rednecks driving 30 mph across the sand with their music blaring, disregarding small children and letting their dogs loose to eat your food.

I could write a huge list of what would make Jacksonville more appealing but I doubt any city officials or natives would care enough to change the way it is. Apparently they are content. There is a huge lack of progression here.

We've been here a little over a year, already moved once to a "better" neighborhood and it still is less than desirable. We'll leave as soon as we can.

Scott: 31st Jul 2009 - 20:41 GMT

Thank you "F*ck everybody hating Jacksonville" -- you sum up perfectly why most of us don't like it here. You are the personification of all that Jacksonville will EVER amount to.

killacozzy.com: 2nd Aug 2009 - 11:23 GMT

I understand that for a lot of folks, this city fails to meet expectations, especially when it comes to activities, apparently.

Outside of simply stating "there's nothing to do here", what activities EXACTLY are you looking for that you either wish were going on or have seen in other cities/municipalities that isn't happening in Jacksonville?

This is not confrontation, but rather genuine curiosity....

killacozzy.com: 2nd Aug 2009 - 11:24 GMT

"that aren't happening in Jacksonville?"

marissa: 4th Aug 2009 - 06:02 GMT

Ready to move to Florida. Can not decide Jacksonville or Tampa area or even Ft. Lauderdale. Me, my husband and 3 kids. What do you think?

Anonymous: 9th Aug 2009 - 02:19 GMT

Go to Tampa or Ft Lauderdale don't waste time in Jacksonville

Boca Raton....(Palm Beach County is TERRIFIC!!!!): 25th Aug 2009 - 17:05 GMT

I used to live in Boca Raton (Palm Beach County) for 10 years and moved to Jacksonville in 2007 to be with my fiance, now my husband--->(the only reason why I'm here in Jax). Living in Palm Beach County was sooooo AWESOME! There's so much to do and people had "class". If you like ritz and glitz this is the place to be. People dressed up better, less blacks, upscale living There's always something to do and places to go to. My salary in Boca Raton was $5,000 more than Duval County. If I would compare Jacksonville to where I used to live, JACKSONVILLE IS A GHETTO PLACE!!!!!!!! I don't feel safe here in Jax because there's so many shady people lurking around. I think it's hard to impress people who came from one of the best counties to live in.

Those people who think Jacksonville is awesome, maybe you have NOT lived in the best cities. I tried to love Jax...I really, really tried. At first, I thought it was me but when I read the other comments of people here...now I know that this place is not for me. I'll try to convince my husband to move back to Boca after my job contract ends next year. I CANNOT STAND LIVING IN JACKSONVILLE>>>It's the MOST BORING CITY!!!

SoSickOfJacksonville: 4th Sep 2009 - 04:14 GMT

I have lived in this Godforsaken Hell hole since 1990. Every single aspect of this "city" is crap. The city's "Mayor" touts the water ... horrible. If the water here is so good, then WHY THE FUCK DO I HAVE TO CHISEL IT OFF OF MY QUARTZ KITCHEN COUNTERTOP? Crime: Ha! Thugs run this city and the police can only hide in bushes to try to catch you speeding. No wonder the crime rate is so high. Try to find two city council members with a college degree IN ANYTHING. Try to find a school board member who has any idea what the teachers in the trenches have to deal with every single day. Try to find one idiot on Jacksonville's streets who knows how to drive the car they own. Art? ha! Culture? Hell, there's more live culture in a yogurt container than in this shit-hole. The education level is so very low. The city management is horrible, the traffic is absolutely awful, and the three universities in town cater to the stupid and the poor and those without hope of a future (I know... I teach at one). The Orchestra is good (but the seats go unfilled most of the time) - and the redecks who attend the Jaguar (NFL) games are drunk losers who are more proud of the number of plastic beer cups they collect at each game (before throwing up on you while walking down the ramps at the end of the game) than they are of their kids who struggle to survive third grade for the fourth time. Yeah... Jacksonville... real progressive. This place is a fucking FREAK SHOW!

SoSickOfJacksonville: 4th Sep 2009 - 04:22 GMT

In 1906 (I think) Jacksonville had a huge fire which destroyed most of what was then known as "the city." Before that, Jacksonville was creating a future for itself with tourism, agriculture, art, transportation, and manufacturing. After "the great fire," labor was hard to find. The city needed to be rebuilt. Who was enlisted to rebuild Jacksonville? Idiot, uneducated, uncultured farmers and farm-hands from south Georgia. They "rebuilt" the "city" and, unfortunately, never left. Jacksonville Florida has never, and will never, reach its potential. The education level here is shockingly low - and, for some inexplicable reason, is celebrated as "local charm." If you are reading this page, you must never come here. If you are already living here, then you are probably already dreaming of the day you can look into your rear-view mirror as you drive away and watch Jacksonville sink below the horizon.

Herb: 4th Sep 2009 - 17:10 GMT

I have lived in Jacksonville for 17 years. I then moved to New York City and all I can say it was the best thing I ever did. NYC is not for everyone, and the cost of living here is extremely high, but the culture, the entertainment and the overall experiences are second-to-none.

In Jacksonville, I wouldn't know real Italian food, only Olive Garden. In Jax, I would never get to try Indian food, Greek food, etc, and tell the difference between good pizza and bad pizza.

Whenver I come back to Jax to visit my parents, all I see is where once nice neighborhoods have decayed. In the early 80's, Jax was a very nice place, people were racist, but it was definitely a safe place to live. When I came to visit this past April, I actually felt unsafe. I couldn't imagine living here and consider it a nightmare to do so, but that is just me.

Beth: 10th Sep 2009 - 21:59 GMT

I saw someone above ask what type of activities are you looking for. Well, I have a 20 month old and I moved to one of those planned communities with the amenity center, pool, tennis, golf course etc..Everytime they have any kind of social gathering, your child has to be 5+ in age to attend. So I guess everyone that has a younger child is left out even though my HOA fees are paying for these so called activities. When I lived in San Diego, there were always activities at the zoo for children, they had Balboa Park which had numerous cultural events and fun days for children and families. There was seaport village that has cute shops and it was on the water and on the weekends they had festivities for families and even just adults. Even when I lived in Maryland ,we would go to Ocean City. There was a beach and a boardwalk with rides, games, restaurants, stores, bars, etc...The beach here seems to be lacking any kind of fun activities. I also went to Jacksonville landing and was disappointed. I guess since I grew up in Maryland, I was trying to compare it to the Inner Harbor there. There could be so much potential there. I also was driving around downtown and it seems like it is nothing but office buildings and industrial buildings. The Inner Harbor has an aquarium, the Constellation, an old submarine you can tour. Not to mention numerous shops, restaurants, bars, a huge mall called the gallery. The have a little Italy there that has great restaurants and they have festivals there ever so often. Baltimore has a football and baseball stadium and they seemed to have made it into a fun place after the game. Now, the crime in Baltimore is high along with the homeless people asking for handouts and camping out on the streets. All major cities have that, I guess you just have to deal with it. I much rather live in San Diego if I had to choose.

Now for the jerks that come on here and say f**K all of you people that hate Jacksonville, leave if you don't like it. I wish I could leave. I would leave tomorrow if I could. I have a husband who is in the military and have to stay. First, we can't afford two rent payments, two utility bills, etc... Second, would you want to be apart from your family considering they may be deployed the next duty station you go to? I think not. Third, Why should I have to leave? Maybe you should make improvements to your town so you can get more revenue and you wouldn't have to cut programs and raise property taxes. Maybe the mayor should study some cities that are destinations for families, couples, single people, and try and take a page out of their book. I usually don't comment on the places where I am living, I married my husband knowing we would end up in many different parts of the world. I am open minded and can adapt to most situations. I just can't help commenting on how this city could have so much potential for revenue and tourism. For those of you who do live here, don't you ever want to stop the increases in your property tax? Why don't you want to see this city become a nice tourist destination? Are you afraid that it will become to expensive to live here or something? I just can't figure out why the majority wants it to continue with it's downward trend and negative comments.

truth: 22nd Sep 2009 - 03:58 GMT

The only way to survive in this city is to purchase a handgun and plenty of booze.

anon (c-66-177-107-53.hsd1.fl.comcast.net): 24th Sep 2009 - 06:04 GMT

Wow I am SO glad that I am not the only one who hates living here. I moved here from northern Virginia and its has been hell for me.

The whole energy of this city is negative, I have never met so many rude and ignorant people, and it seems that you cannot trust anyone you meet. Luckily I did get two good things out of moving here. I met my fiance (who moved here a month after I did) and we have a daughter now, but now we are ready to pack up our small family and move away!! If only we could afford it ::sigh:: I do agree that this is a very beautiful place to live... I love the river, the beach, the view of downtown from Lakeside park, etc. But I think its the people here that make it suck. I am not saying that EVERYONE is rude or ignorant or racist or whatever but it seems the majority of people are. I have been here for over 3 years and still do not know anyone that I would consider a friend because every time I think I have made a "friend" they either stole from me, spread rumors about me, etc (and these are adults im talking about)

I work in retail so I am around a lot of people everyday and the attitude of most people here is just disgusting. I also do think there are a lot of racist people here, but it is on both sides. A lot of white people are racist towards black people but a lot of black people are also racist towards white people. Where I came from there was nothing like this... there were people from all races in my group of friends, and I could trust those friends.

I do have to say that the traffic here can be aggravating but if you want to sit in a real traffic jam try driving around in or just outside of washington dc at rush hour. That is the one thing I do not miss about Virginia.

Its also very sad when you have to fear for your safety just to stop and get gas at night. Not to mention the drugged up prostitutes that I always see walking down the street (im suprised no one has mentioned that yet)

I can see how some people may like living here, if you can afford to live in a decent area of town and are lucky enough to meet some of the few good people here... but this place is just not floating my boat.

and to the person who lived in Baltimore I can totally understand what you mean because once I got lost in downtown at night and it was scary!! lol

Jennifer Palm Beach Gardens: 2nd Oct 2009 - 03:39 GMT

Oh Please, Boca Raton "less blacks" we all know that Boca is a retirement community for the underworld that has migrated from Broward and Dade County. Including yourself which is the real reason your white collar criminal husband are in Jacksonville now. Do you not recall the non black person thats
killing people leaving the Town Centre mall? Remember the white woman pushed out her truck after being shot in the head by a white guy? Do you recall the poor mother and daughter that were tied together and excuted in the mall parking lot by
a non black person. Boca Raton you are ridiculous as everyone else no city is perfect and crime exists everywhere lowlife idiot whorebag!

inJax: 17th Oct 2009 - 04:18 GMT

7 years in Jax for my husband. I miss enthusiastic people. You're about 10 times more likely to be a part of a conversation about a going-out-of-business sale(!!!) than a)the most recent book someone is reading, b) anything involving emotional insight and openness, or c) someone being curious and inquisitive about you, or anything for that matter. It's like there's some fear of appearing weird, perhaps a byproduct of the many faces of Jacksonville intolerance.

I agree with a previous poster that the city is slow to welcome outsiders. I'm sure people from here would be happy to offer some counterexamples, but they probably haven't clockwatched through 50-million drunken conversations of "who did you go to high school with". And the drinking? It's treated as the end, not the means. You just get drunk in some place that's too loud to talk. So I go home wondering what's wrong with me, only to feel amazing when I visit friends in other cities and they're talking about interesting ideas (not just stuff they're going to buy), and stuff they've done (not just stuff they're GOING to do) and stuff they love (not just stuff they hate), and they lean in like they're interested (not cutting me off mid-sentence with a non-sequitur).

The black/white racism is omnipresent and baffling. There's a lot of racism against black culture, and I've never felt so excluded/disliked for being white. The rift is so, so deep. It's like you can't just be a person here, you have to be a TYPE of person.

I keep trying to like Jacksonville. It just takes so much suspension of disbelief.


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And then a 70's po-mo train on top. hasslehoff: 19th Apr 2005 - 15:53 GMT Having heard a lot about Jacksonville from an old friend who once lived there, yet never having seen any pictures of it. I have always imagined it to be more concrete-boxy than these photos portray it to be. I'm inrigued by its supposedly random juxtaposition of architectural forms. kobe: 19th Apr 2005 - 18:21 GMT that last photo is enchanting. i wonder how long those windows keep repeating? shaun: 1st Dec 2005 - 14:15 GMT bah, jacksonville is a pretty average looking city, those pictures show off a few weird parts though pretty boring place too jsr: ima graffiti this mother up Dale: 10th Dec 2006 - 22:20 GMT Heh I live in Jacksonville and yea its a pretty boring place and graffiti...good luck, this is a place of constant traffic. Dave: 26th Jan 2007 - 05:19 GMT Jacksonville is not boring. There is peace and quiet AND excitement and variety. It's hard to find another city that offers so many cross-sections of lifestyles and changes of scenery. You can choose to live in quiet places or you can choose to live in busy places with traffic and a faster pace. If you don't see that, then you're not looking. Get off your butt, get out, and you will enjoy Jacksonville -- it's truly one of the less pretentious and more enjoyable cities in the US. Klyph: 10th May 2007 - 18:40 GMT What was formerly said of Oakland, CA, is also true of Jacksonville: There's no "there" there. On the other hand, J'ville boasts 46% adult illiteracy, 33% high school drop-out rate, and the most murders per capita of any Florida city, and a high school named in honor of the founder of the KKK. Boring? You decide. anon (c-66-177-176-226.hsd1.fl.comcast.net): 16th May 2007 - 00:47 GMT I agree with Dave, Jacksonville is terrific! These 6 pictures are of buildings and over passes downtown...whoever photographed these should have ventured out to the beaches or intercoastal water-ways...Jacksonville is beautiful...if you don't like it LEAVE!!! annah: 17th Nov 2007 - 20:24 GMT Jacksonville is a great city to buid yourself up. It's easy to stay out of trouble if you are a teen, and if you have the proper mindset, you can really make something of yourself here, fccj is a great school. THen you can leave and explore other citys and realize there really is no place like jacksonville. I love to hate this city. Kim: 21st Nov 2007 - 18:17 GMT I live in Jacksonville, FL for the last 3 years and I still can't am unable to find anything to do. This is the most BORING city I have ever been in. I think once the housing market gets better, I want to move alot closer to Orlando, FL. Jacksonville needs to take a lesson or 2 from Orlando and get some sort of entertainment. It's not like they don't have the space to put whatever they want there!! They could easily put a six flags, mall of america anything entertaining to put it on the map. I HATE JACKSONVILLE, FL!!! The only thing that is good about Jacksonville, FL is the school my son goes to and THAT IS IT!! Will: 9th Dec 2007 - 09:11 GMT The last picture is the Jacksonville Electric Authority building. I owe them $110 currently. The Modis building is also interesting because it's like a 70's retro skyscraper. Oh and I love Jacksonville because there is no six flags. It's not boring either because we have a fair share of random stuff going on at all hours. The area in these pictures is actually pretty incredible. colavitos: 9th Dec 2007 - 10:38 GMT there is no such thing as a boring place. only boring people. Andrew: 14th Dec 2007 - 03:48 GMT I hate Jacksonville. I am from Atlanta and it was the biggest mistake of my life to move here. I have been here since Feb'07. In April of '08 when my lease is up, I will be doing something I have desired for months now: leaving this place and never coming back. Jacksonville is gross and so are the people who live here. Andrew: 14th Dec 2007 - 03:55 GMT --Addendum to previous message-- And just so people don't hate on me for saying what I did...Believe me, I have tried and tried and tried to find something I like about this city. It really makes me sad that I want to move so badly, and that I couldn't enjoy this place like some do. Well, I do enjoy some things about it...the outdoorsy things. However that alone isn't enough to make a city great. I have lived here almost a year now and still don't feel at home. stephen: 7th Jan 2008 - 22:52 GMT I would just like to say to the people who said bad things about jacksonville I would like to move but I have lived here for all my life and I love this city you people just have no life and like to sit at home there are plenty of things to do in jacksonville you people just need to leave if you hate it so much go move to a big city because if your talking about downtown jacksonville I believe we are not quite up to par with other large cities but we are getting there and they are trying to make it better riana: 16th Jan 2008 - 02:56 GMT I moved here in 1989 and if you people hate Jacksonville now you would of really hated it back then, there was really nothing to do, and everyone here talked funny. Ive seen it grow over the years and now I call it home I have been a single mother for 10 years and if I were somewhere else I may have not been able to support my son, it's very affordable living. If you want something to do all you have to do is go out and look for it,I'm never bored,we have a NFL team, baseball, hockey concerts all the time at the Veterans memorial downtown, a beach, St Augustine festivals at the beach all summer,the circus is coming, lots of movie theatres, the St Johns town center,the landing,What else do you need? quit complaining and get a life, GET OFF THE COMPUTER!! Movies at the beach in the summer on Friday nights,lots of good resturants,THE BEACH IS WERE YOU NEED TO BE.start living life and have fun.. If your worried about the schools move to the beach and put your kids in school there. I just bought my first house last year, If I can do it anyone can.. riana: 16th Jan 2008 - 03:00 GMT Get the folio weekly, it has all the upcoming events and everything going on for the weekends. Beni: 16th Apr 2008 - 16:12 GMT I lived in Jax for one and a half years. I don't like it. My main problem with the city is the lack of public transportation, the non-centralized infrastructure and the low intellect of the population. Best example for that is the Skyway, which is displayed on the first picture. Nobody uses that thing, because there is barely anybody living in the area it operates. You always have to worry about getting a DUI, since all your friends are living miles away, and the designated driver idea doesn’t really always strike in a city with a very low population density. I do not recommend that city at all. Beni: Not to speak of the homeless people of course imon: 18th Apr 2008 - 05:46 GMT jacksonville has a cove ,yeah its looking decent,yes its trying to compete with other major cities,but it is a racist city ,it has the good ol' boy mentality, paysucksno matter what you say, housing might be a bit cheaper but it balances out with high price food,clothing etc,i hate the factthat companies do not give you a fair share to work, they basically shoot you down ,without giving you reasonable doubt, i hate that right to work mentality because it is b.s as fast as they hire you they can fire you and make up anyreason, jacksonville is boring, people hang more at the many wal-marts here, so consider this you'll like the change temporarily because i did , but now when i visit chicago my hometown i regret coming here,oh yeah whoever says it is safe ,remember #1 in murder,aids, alot of sexual predators,so be aware what you sacrifice for a nice home research because the schools here are not that great and i supposedly live in a good area southside,remember,big city landwise,with a lot of backwwod secrets jeff: 25th Apr 2008 - 18:23 GMT i've lived here for 22 years and have often complained about wanting to "get out of here". the problem seems to be once i'm somewhere else i miss home terribly. there is something that draws people here and northeast florida in particular. i've been to all corners of the u.s. and canada and i can honestly say there is no place quite like it. yes, it;s sprawled out, but you should think of it as more of "metropolitan" area which has many different neighborhoods. some neighborhoods do in fact suck and some can totally transport you. my advice, if you are moving here or visiting, do visit riverside. i suppose it's the more bohemian area of town. very liberal, very historic. one of the few neighborhoods that gives you the feel of living "in the city" stay the hell away from the south of the st. johns river. bunches of yuppies and vacuous wage slaves. also if you are a musician or just enjoy the arts in general there is quite a massive thriving scene here. you'd be surprised. i think the last thing i can say is if you moved here from somewhere else and "hate" it and can't understand why anyone would live here then you most probably live south of the river in one of the truly boring subdivision type areas where all you are going to do is interact with shallow punks and other misguided folks like yourself. open your minds and realize that the stereotype of the south only extends to some not all. good luck. Johnny: 5th May 2008 - 00:44 GMT The cost of living is cheaper here but it still sucks. Why don't we leave you ask? Because now we are stuck here with the housing market and all the other crap. Jacksonville could be a cool city like Orlando or Miami but not enough people care to make it. Plus the churches control so much of downtown that you really can have a good club or bar scene. My first clue about how much this city sucked was when I saw a liquor store go out of business across form JU. anon (205.173.35.130): 5th May 2008 - 16:45 GMT I have lived in Jacksonville for all of 3 months now, and I have to say that I haven't found it all that great. Once you get over the beach and the shopping/dining, there isn't much more that I have found to do. There are many organizations for young professionals, and the social scene leaves a lot to be desired. You have to drive to Valdosta or Orlando for a theme park, the traffic sucks for there to be so many different routes. I came from a smaller town, Tallahassee, where I lived for 7 years. I thought that this place would be more "city like" as opposed to the country feel of tallahassee, but boy was I wrong. Sprawl everywhere! I actually do like the downtown area, but like Jeff side, I live on the Southside, and there ARE a bunch of yuppies there! So far I am not impressed. The problem is that some folks have become so accustomed to their lifestyle that their views are a bit myopic. I am just counting this as a lesson learned. anon (205.173.35.130): 5th May 2008 - 16:47 GMT In reference to the above comment--there are NOT many organizations Shaun: 6th May 2008 - 03:17 GMT I moved to Jax in Sept and my lease is up in June. I am outta here! I'm from the D.C. area and I visited Jax all the time. My family and I decided to move here because of the sunshine and the price of living is cheap. Now I know that was not the best move. I live in Clay county and I see Confederate flags everywhere I go. People here are soo slow and can't drive. Everything is so far, this is the biggest small town ever. My kids schools are in an A school, they seem to like it , but get racist comments sometimes. The job market sucks, unless your a teacher or military. Wages are low, and about time you buy gas, food and pay high taxes, I couldn't have stayed in D.C. It was cool for a while, but we had enough.Time to go home! James: 17th May 2008 - 19:13 GMT I've lived in Jacksonville nearly my entire life (I'm 39). I find people who have issues with Jacksonville are not from here. The ones who complain the most are not from here. Jacksonville is great place to live. I do admit our public education totally stinks, but so does most of the nation's schools. Regarding the comment about N. B. Forrest HS, named after the former Confederate general. It was NOT named to honor his attachment to the KKK no matter what the NAACP tries to tell you, it was named to honor his leadership in the Confederate army. This is the South people. We are proud of our heritage. If you don't like Jacksonville get the hell out! RAY ALAN: 20th May 2008 - 18:40 GMT I have lived in jacksonville fla. all my life 51yrs. to be exact.First I cant belive Jacksonville fla. is being called a small town because there est.800,000 people reside here and it is the largest city in the U.S in terms of land area.BOY HAVE I SEEN CHANGES.To a once beautiful city with a population 250,000 to 300,000 people this city has become a real hellhole and I plan to leave.Crime and conjestion is unbelivable in fact currently Jacksonville is the murder capital of Florida for about the last 3 to 4 years.Because of a large black population that is out of control who cant stay off drugs and like to rape white women and rob gas stations is not a pretty picture.To make things worse they whine and complain like in other cities that white racism is to blame for there actions and behavior.Nice areas of town are not exempt either low income blacks have flooded apartment complexs and I could tell to you plenty of horror stories.If there is a family planning on moving here make sure you own firearms and educate your children. If there are girls in the family warn them of dangers or will propably get there panties pulled down and get aids OR WORSE. Lisa: 20th May 2008 - 19:02 GMT Spent the first half of my life trying to get away from Jacksonville. Now here I am in San Antonio texas, wishing for home. :O( Melissa: 21st May 2008 - 01:40 GMT I googled "I hate Jacksonville" just to see what I would find... and I have found this site here. The only reason I "dislike" Jacksonville is that I have been ripped from my home in Hollywood, FL because my husband and I couldn't afford a house down south and we did not want to raise our children there. This totally sucks for me, now I have no friends and only my husband's family here in jville. It is beautiful, but my husband is too busy with work and studies to hang and show me fun stuff. I feel so alone here and now with two children I couldn't move back home if I wanted to. AS mush as I love home, the schools and people here in Jville in general are alot better. OK, I guess I like jville I am just lonely for my old friends and family. I am stuck like chuck! anon (205.173.35.130): 21st May 2008 - 19:45 GMT To Ray Alan. Maybe you should leave. It is racist attitudes like yours that make other people think that Jacksonville is a racist place. Blacks are not the only ones who commit crimes or are low income. Thank you for your excellent representation of Jacksonville. yeah yeah: 27th May 2008 - 13:06 GMT i think its amazing how people are suggesting that jacksonville should become like miami or orlando in order to become more "entertaining"... havent any of you people taken a walk around outside or a swim in the ocean or are you really as lazy and overstimulated as most americans appear to be? HELLOOOO!!!! we have a ton of small beautiful trails and preserves with beautiful scenery as well as numerous nearby beaches (all of which are seemingly different in style and crowd-size) and historic ladmarks... most of those things dont even cost any money, but hey, if youre looking to spend some money to feel like youve gotten REAL ENTERTAINMENT, rent a fcking surfboard and learn a new healthy hobby... its better than sitting on your ass and letting some one else do your entertaining for you... its shocking to think that people need to destroy all of the natural, cost-free, self-motivating and healthy entertainment to make this a "fun" city... dont you think there are enough "fun" cities in south florida? orlando is only 2 and a half hours away- drive there for a day at disney or do you need to go every day to feel entertained? some people are just lazy and like to blame there boredom on everything else- once jacksonville's natural beauty is completely destroyed, you will probably complain about the disgusting polluted air and how theres nothing pretty to look at... seriously, just go play outside for a bit- you might do your body, your pocket, and those who dont want to hear your bitching, some good dan: 29th May 2008 - 06:44 GMT Life in Jacksonville is what you make of it. No matter where you live, there will be folks who hate and love that place. There are valid reasons for both sides - it kind of comes down to personal preference, just like everything else in life! As for Ray Alan, please take some sort of English or writing course before attempting to go off about others. Your delivery comes off as both racist and ignorant, no matter what your intentions. Jilch: 1st Jun 2008 - 22:00 GMT I agree with several postings here. I love living here in Jax. I am a technology professional, who lives in the south side of the city, which is much cleaner than a lot of parts of town. I love the weather, the beaches, the fact that we have 4 seasons with neither one dominating the whole year. I totally disagree with those who say Jax is a 12 month sauna in terms of climate. There are a great many temperate days here. And culturally the city is growing. It all depends on where you put your life's focus. As a working professional I don't have time to go to entertainment except on weekends, and there IS plenty of stuff, just many of you aren't looking. CJ: 30th Jun 2008 - 18:53 GMT Hello! I found this website because a co-worker of mine is considering a move to North Florida. I told her about my experiences but she didn't believe me. Perhaps she'll believe you guys though so I'll pass this link along to her. My husband and I lived in Jacksonville for 4 years and I hated it more than you could possibly imagine. It was the most racist, sexist and homophobic city I'd ever lived in. I tried to like the city. I even went so far as to take a job with the Jacksonville Convention and Visitors Bureau hoping it would boost my opinon of the city. It did boost my opinion of all of the beauty that the land has to offer, but I still found the people unbearable. As far as securing a job was concerned, I found that having a degree, years of experience and a positive attitude counted for absolutely nothing if you were Black! It was so horrible that we left Jacksonville 8 years ago and moved to Seattle where we are VERY, VERY happy. My husband and I both have great professional jobs and own a home in a safe neighborhood with people of all races. God Bless the great State of Washington for helping us restore our self esteem and dignity after Jacksonville had all but broken it down. A: 11th Jul 2008 - 15:59 GMT Jacksonville is a really nice place to live compared to a lot of places in the country. There are really only 3 good public high schools (Stanton [top 10 in the US], Paxon [top 20 in the US], and Mandarin). And they just finished building one and will be finished building another in 2010. Crime is only bad in certain areas. It's the same with the rednecks. They concentrate in certain areas. It's only boring if you're too lazy to go out and find something to do (beaches, restaurants, movies, parks, whatever). A: 11th Jul 2008 - 16:02 GMT By the way, Duval county is Jacksonville. Clay county is not. Clay county is probably home to most of the small-minded people you are complaining about because its right next to Duval. Anonymous: 17th Jul 2008 - 18:26 GMT I've lived in 17 states and Jax. is the only place where I've been robbed. I've had 4 apartments broken into here (one of them several times). I've been beaten up and robbed walking down the street at least 20 times over the last 10 years. Most of the times I have had to walk anywhere for any reason, I was harassed at least once. Jacksonville is a very scary place for a small, clean-cut, young white guy. The west side is anyways, riverside kicks ass. Anonymous: 17th Jul 2008 - 18:35 GMT In fact, I can know for certain, that if I were to walk out my front door right now and walk as far as past Ureka Gardens apts. with my i-pod on- I would see many young black dudes standing around in a group on the side of the road there and they would aproach me like allways and say something like: "What-chu got for me cuz?" and proceed to pat my pockets and take my i-pod. If I gave them any kind of look for it they would smash my face of course. I am so certain that these things would happen exactly like this that I would bet you everything I own against $5.00 Anonymous: 17th Jul 2008 - 18:39 GMT Oh yeah, I allmost forgot the best part. After they beat me up and stole my stuff they would follow me (at a distance)back to my house, then they would run up on me after I open the door and stick their gun in my face and walk through my house taking whatever they wanted. Then I would move, AGAIN. anon (12.156.245.34): 25th Jul 2008 - 04:44 GMT It's a very quiet, working class city. It's family and church oriented. It's also very poor, old and run down in many areas unfortunately. diverdan363: 26th Jul 2008 - 04:36 GMT Thank you jacksonville for lieing to us about the quality of air, its poluted, look at the rise in lung cancer in florida the diesel death zone, jaxport may offer jobs but did they mention that 60,000 deaths are the result of ship emissions, did the tell you about the river and the high content of mercury in the fih you eat. did they tell you about the children who suffer because of the toxics in the air? diverdan363: 26th Jul 2008 - 04:45 GMT city of jacksonville does not want you to know that the air polution in jacksonville is very bad so much so that you kids will suffer some type of breathing problems due to the develop going on around jacksonville. environmental rules are tossed out the door for the sake of jaxport expansion no eis statements because of the size of develop is under 10 acreas loop hole to by pass impact statements.have you ever wondered why no impacts statements is made available. it would stop the economic engine, you are a second class citizen next to jaxport air polution is placed on the back burners for the sake of the economic engine. transplant: 28th Jul 2008 - 13:17 GMT Older neighborhoods near downtown - Riverside, Avondale, Springfield, etc. make it easy to use your car less and get out into the world more. If you are really open-minded you can always find like groups that share your values. We recently joined the Unitarian Universalist Church here and now enjoy the companionship of smart, progressive, thoughtful folks. It has made a real difference. The beaches are wonderful, we're building an arboretum, downtown is cool fore 1st Wednesdays, our zoo is amazing. You have to be resourceful here, and avoid living in the sprawl, but you can have fun. Barker777: 31st Aug 2008 - 15:47 GMT I love Jacksonville. We moved here from Northern California and have not been back to Nor Cal since - 5 years now. Same as Nor Cal – spread out but if you can settle and wait for it to blow up into a major metropolitan area you will be happy you did. Start a business and watch it grow as the city does. If you do not like it here you must be younger 20’s early 30’s? It has much to offer and being able to grow roots in a very up and coming city is a great opportunity. Fish, ride your Harley (killer places to see – river, ocean, historic, country, beach). Try to live on the south east side of the city.. scott: 19th Sep 2008 - 19:03 GMT Happiness comes where ever you are...it is up to you to find it. Oh, and don't look for it in your neighborhood or part of town...it comes from within. Those of you who haven't found happiness, good luck...I'm staying in Jacksonville, FL. pfffft: 24th Sep 2008 - 02:06 GMT nice sentiment, scott...and i used to subscribe to that philosophy....until i moved to jacksonville, fl. as an airforce brat, i have seen a lot of this country AND planet...let me tell you, this town is gorgeous...but the people? not so much. i have never seen so much ignorance and negativity--and i lived in NYC for a year! people here are backward and rude! they don't even cover their mouths when they cough for crying out loud! and laziness like i have never seen! no wonder they lost the war! AARON F,: 8th Oct 2008 - 22:13 GMT I have lived in Jacksonville for over 26 years,I still think the city and 95% of the people in it suck.But no one SUCKS ass more then the JEA,rates increases,how the hell is it that you have a 400.00 electric bill,so you have to decide to pay and have lights or feed your kids...and yes i try to save as much as possible,my house is less then 5 yrs old,all energy efficient appliances,light bulbs,keep the air set high and heat set low.We do everything possible,but still have a hard time understanding WHY? does it cost as much for electric as a god damn car payment.JEA SUCKS ASS....im sure JIM the CEO makes a nice fat 6 figures.THANKS JEA. LOVE 4 EVER,AARON F Jules: 11th Oct 2008 - 15:28 GMT Okay....BORING is the reason my husband and I left Jacksonville in July '06. We did everything a modern Metropolitan couple could do. We lived on the river, we had season tickets with the Jags, we went to the beach for all of the festivals, we had stable employment, we visited all of the surrounding attractions (Jekyll Island, St. Augustine, Fernadina Beach, Ft.Lauderdale, Miami, the Keys, Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota, etc.....), we ate at some of Jax finest restaurants: Bistro X, Matthew's, Marker 32...you name it! And we did it over and over again......but still, we absolutely hated living there. We love city life...and Jacksonville doesn't offer the excitement of a large city. It is still a very low key, under educated, immature city just waiting to be awaken...but as long as "locals" are voted into city office and management, Jacksonville will never get the attention that it needs. Some of the locals we met while living there were afraid of going downtown because of the "crime". Well I'm here to say "THERE IS NO CRIME!" Having lived in Houston...just watching 30-45 min. of news footage dedicated to overnight city crime makes Jacksonville look like a bunch of silly hillbillies. Jacksonville doesn't know crime. We love Houston...now that's a diverse city...full of life....and with that comes REAL traffic...but we LOVE it. People are skilled, work hard and play hard, have social lives that involve a connection with other people--being single or married....it doesn't matter. Jacksonville has its "clicks"(immaturity) and that's why there is such a division between the Beaches (people across the ditch), the city, and the West-side (where people will be happy to tell you that's where Lynard Skynard got started--Woo Hoo!) The division is real and the reason that Jax will never be a "together" kind of place. Then you have your transient people from NY and retired people looking for the warmth of the sun during the winter. Now that's an exciting group of folks! So, my advice to all of you people looking to relocate to Jax from a major established city, "Don't do it!" You will long for the days that provide you with the excitement a city can bring...and you will miss your family members. My husband and I stuck it out for 6-7 LONG years....years off of our lives. Now we are back in our home state, Texas, and we plan to never leave again. If you are looking for opportunity, you will never find it in Jacksonville, FL. jeff: 17th Oct 2008 - 16:35 GMT Jacksonville is awesome if you aren't an overstimulated, whiny yuppie elitist. :) You are right, Jacksonville isn't Houston. In fact, it's got about 6 million less people and no fancy oil money like that aforementioned swamp nightmare of a metropolis. No, but seriously, if you are someone that doesn't need other people to plan out "fun" things for you to do, J-ville is just fine. Tina: 19th Oct 2008 - 03:35 GMT I think that Jacksonville has its moments, but to be honest drugs and crime have taken over. You can no longer turn the news on and not see who was shot that day. The city would have serious potential to be what it once was, but more people like to complain than get involved. I have lived here for 26 years and hate that its gone downhill so much. The kids here have not much to do unless they can afford certain athletic programs. Jacksonville has it wonderful features, but you can't enjoy doing them out of fear that you will get robbed on your way. The landing is beautiful, but there are not near enough activities that are planned. I was married to a police officer for the city of Jacksonville and he worked his tail off, but things have just turned so bad. I wouldnt recommend Jacksonville to someone that wants to raise a family unless you have the money to live on the "higher" end of town. pfffft: 4th Nov 2008 - 00:15 GMT this town is extremely "clickish"--they hate outsiders... jeff: 5th Nov 2008 - 16:06 GMT I think the word you are looking for is "clique-ish". CobraaaB: 5th Nov 2008 - 17:09 GMT Thays for clearing that up, because I was just sooo completely perplexed as to what they meant :-P BethAnn: 2nd Jan 2009 - 14:05 GMT Ugh...I hate living in Jacksonville!! My husband is in the military and we had to leave wonderful San Diego to come to this dump! I am not black, but this place is so racist it is not even funny! I think the people are rude and do not like anyone from the North. There is nothing to do here and downtown is a joke! I am not sure why they even bother to have a downtown area. I hope my husband can get out of the three years we are supposed to be here. I do not think I can handle living here for three years. Other than the cost of living, I do not see the attraction. I wish I could have stayed in San Diego. Everyone I have talked to that was in the military and got stationed here said "You are going to love Jacksonville". Hmmm...For the people who "love" Jacksonville, can you tell me why? Don't tell me it has "great" schools. What exactly do you like about it? I am sure it is not the boiled peanuts because they suck too. Where do you go to do fun things? In San Diego there were all kinds of nice, fun things to do. adam: 8th Jan 2009 - 23:10 GMT Okay, where do I begin? I have lived in Jacksonville for pretty much my entire life. I am 29 years old and I recently moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL which is a much better city to live in (culture, variety, nightlife, crystal blue water beaches, shopping, diversity, etc.). Prior to moving, I have done quite a bit of traveling: Boston, DC, Chicago, Miami, Colorado, Dallas, etc., so I have a pretty vast experience with other cities. The first thing I noticed living in Jacksonville, is that people and the city are behind times. I don't want to stereotype everyone, because there are some great people there, but they are outweighed by the rednecks and good ole country people flooding in from towns like Starke, Lawtey, Palatka, Callahan, Middleburg, etc. It's funny how Jacksonville people get so excited over new chain restaurants that have been open for years in other bigger cities like (Cheesecake Factory and PF Changs) which are both good, but break away from the chain restaurants Jacksonville people, try some of the local restaurants in Avondale, Riverside, and San Marco. Some Jacksonville people like to boast about how big the city (landwise) is, So!! Who cares? It's spread out and you have to drive everywhere, and there's under a million people living there, where a city like Miami has 5.4 million people in the greater Miami area. The transportation sucks in Jacksonville, esp the monorail to nowhere. People are so consumed with their chain restaurants (chilli's, carabbas, outback, longhorn steakhouse)that they don't even try to support new restaurants in Downtown, San Marco, and Riverside that are trying to change Jacksonville as a city. Chain restaurants are okay people, but there's more out there. Majority of Jacksonville people don't bother to check out anything cultural like the art museums, music festivals, or film festivals, for they are too busy trying to make it up to the Ale house to drink beer and watch a gator game. I was an active person in Jacksonville and tried to make the best of it. I went out supported downtown bars and restaurants, and I loved attending the Art Walk. I also spent time in the cities parks, and visited the beaches occasionally. Riverside is my favorite place in the city. It has culture and diversity, and the people are pretty cool. Even with that though, I found myself being bored. The more cities I traveled to in the US, the more I realized how boring Jacksonville can be. I don't hate Jacksonville, but I can def. say I don't ever want to live there again. When it comes to racism, it happens on both sides in Jacksonville, but it happens in every city. There is a large number of people in Jacksonville that in general are racist, homophobic, non-cultured, close-minded good ole country people who just don't know any better. The most culture or diversity they get is visiting Disney World year after year for vacation. Ft. lauderdale has been a great move for me. The city is amazing. There is tons of restaurants and bars to chose from. You can get any type of food you can think of from local and well known higher end chains. There is many neighborhoods that you can walk instead of driving everywhere, and best of all you are only 30-45 minutes away from West Palm Beach, Hollywood, and Miami. The beaches are also completely different than Jacksonville's. For one, the water is crystal clear and teal, and two, you can go to them year round, because it doesn't really get cold at all. For any of you like me that have been in Jax. your whole life, you should move. It's not a bad city, but it's time to break away and see things in a different light, but if you plan on staying, don't be a stereotype. Try something new and help change the reputation that it has gained over the years. adam:* FYI. Read jule's comments. I completely agree. CV: 12th Jan 2009 - 13:57 GMT Moved here from Denver to start a biz 4 LONG years ago. Biggest mistake of my life. What few waterfront restaurants that were here when we moved were torn down for condo development and left in a heap of rubble, what a waste since there were already so very few places to go, the quaintness of jax beach was replaced by greedy condo developers who are probably bankrupt.........road construction projects are everywhere and never seem to get completed...no bike paths (no wonder, almost all the people I have seen on bikes have a cigarette hanging out of their mouth)....the pavillion at Jax Beach is a homeless shelter instead of being used for entertainment purposes (oh, excuse me, they do show movies there 3 or 4 times a year...don't get too excited by this, as they are movies you can catch any day on cable)..... PB: 5th Feb 2009 - 00:10 GMT Jacksonville is fantastic - a breath of fresh air compared to other places we have lived. Great people, great services, we hope we stay here for the long hall. gg: 7th Feb 2009 - 23:01 GMT jacksonville is the south. it's racist, and conservative, and narrow minded. people don't get out and coexist or attempt to be kind and friendly. there is a feeling of dread in this town for me. jville is hot and sticky: 16th Feb 2009 - 19:37 GMT jacksonville is full of stereotypical thugs... im from arlington and thats all i see around here.down by the beach are skater punks, in the west side there are low life druggies, and southside mandarin area are full of albanians and bosnians that think they are black. do not move here: 9th Mar 2009 - 03:59 GMT I googled, like many of you, "I hate Jacksonville," and stumbled across this site. Let me begin this rant with a proper introductory sentence: I fucking hate this god-forsaken town. Not only are the people incredibly narrow minded (think, like, the day before we the people elected our first black president, the school board voted AGAINST changing the name of the high school that honors a klu klux klan founder) but you have to drive through hordes of traffic to get anywhere. (think obnoxious SUVs riddled with bush and cheney stickers and tacky "choose life" license plates.) The city is run by the southern baptists. It is awful. I moved here for college and cheap rent and I am literally counting down the days till I move in August. Listen, if you like white trash, thugs, and an overall dreary feeling everyday of your life, THIS is the city for you. I cannot stress this enough folks, if you seek culture, art, and progressive neighbors, choose another city. Also, Ray Alan, the incoherent fool towards the top of this page? Probably a perfect representation of the majority here. Gross. not from jax~: 17th Mar 2009 - 05:12 GMT Well for those who defend this city, i have lived all over this country, in big cities and not so big cities. This place is miserable. The racist red necks and the blacks have jointly ruined this city for good. I feel jax should not even be considered a part of florida, the map should be re-drawn to have jax as part of GA. This city is boring, filled with ignorant and rude people. There isnt anything actually happening here although the locals try to make it sound like there is plenty to do here. The people here are still living in the old times and are not open to outsiders. Even for those who are married with families this is a city to move. If anyone is looking to move to this city, think 10 times. Talk to those who have moved from other places to here and u'll know what i mean. As soon as the job market situation even shows a little change, i'm running out of this shit hole. Mikdest: 20th Mar 2009 - 03:21 GMT You should check out these sites en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_from_Jacksonville,_Florida and also not to mention if it wasn't for the great oncologist here in Jacksonville Fl are the ones whom saved my daughters life from Retinoblastoma. Wolfson's forever I am in your debt. I would never think of moving because I would never trust anyone else to care for my child. wouldn't you like to know: 2nd Apr 2009 - 03:41 GMT I was born here, then I moved away. And well I found myself back here after being away for 13 yrs. When I got back I tried to give it a chance. I used to live in St. Pete which was an awesome place. everything you could think of you could do down there. Anyways back to my story. I went online to meet people and I ended up meeting my wife and settling down and having children. We moved our family away to a little town in southern putnam county. It sucked down there as far as the city went but family life was better. Then we came back to Jax. This place is probably the worst for raising children on public education. If you can't afford to send your children to a private school they are probably going to learn nothing but garbage. I'm not the best person here or the smartest but when you have the crime like it is on both black and white sides you don't have to be educated to see it. Alot of the things here are backwards and run by "affirmative action". In my opinion if you want the job go to school and get it. This city is so focused on making it right for black people that it is leaving out the others. Constant programs for black males in school to reduce the drop out rate, what about the other drop outs. They make their own choices as well as the other kids but there are no special programs for them. Most of the young people here have this I;ve got to live up to my ghetto roots so I can be a rapper or some sports player instead of growing up to just get a job and being a positive production of their surroundings. The crime rate for black on white crime is astronomical. A group of black males can confront people here and cause a scene and it's acceptable but if it were the other way around Jessie Jackson would be out here. Im not for one race over another as both are equally guilty but like I said before this city is geared more for making it right for black people. You have so much crime here in the predominately black areas but you cant say black people are guilty or your a racists and they have it hard. The people here have it hard because they chose to do the drugs they chose to break in the house they chose to rape the woman. But when you live in Jax it's ok to blame everyone else for your actions it's what everyone else does right. To the black people here it is the "white man's" fault for them being in the slums. See my above statement it's your fault. It is easier for a black family to get into a neighborhood to equalize the race so the area can't be deemed racist. Do like everyone else get a good job and do it yourself. I sure can't get the help to get in alot of the places that are handed to you but im the racist. I couldnt even get Govt. help for my family here. Im defaulted on my mortgage but I make to much to get medicaid or is it that im not black? In all the black statements here you can insert redneck also. not all black people are bad and not all white people are good. This city is racist and maybe thats why there are so many programs dedicated to black people, to hide the racism? Bottom line here is this city is jacked up. You cant feel safe walking down the street anywhere unless your with a group. I wont let my kids play outside by themselves in a fenced in yard with a big dog. Look at familywatchdog.org this place is riddled with sex offenders/predators. This city only has a hand full of good areas and those are jacked up by the "ghetto youth" trying to be someone. If there was so much to do in this city the kids wouldnt be the way they are. Jax is worried about nothing but your money and if your going to give it to First Baptist. As the above post states "Wolfsons children" is the best thing jax has to offer. If I were you and you had to move here I would look else where. Your going to feel dirty here and like someone up there said like it is pulling you apart emotionally. I feel broken spirited by being here, most of my adult life has been here and Im moving away in a couple of months. I hope I feel like the family who moved away and got their spirit back. I will kick the dirt off of my feet when I leave here. There is just something about Jax that makes you feel like you are being leeched of yourself. All depressed like this is it? this is the way life is? well if you live in Jax then yes this is what life is one dreary day here after another. You pray for sunshine just so you can feel moderately good about life. One last thing THIS PLACE SUCKS......... wouldn\\\'t you like to know: 2nd Apr 2009 - 03:54 GMT Happiness comes where ever you are...it is up to you to find it. Oh, and don't look for it in your neighborhood or part of town...it comes from within. Those of you who haven't found happiness, good luck...I'm staying in Jacksonville, FL. Try to find your happiness within when your walking down moncrief and you get robbed or shot for being white and weak. Its the truth not racism. hope you can find your happiness within there scotty Fred M Pohl: 6th Apr 2009 - 23:27 GMT My SOns Ex lived in JAcksonville With a fat slob for a girlfriend and her auntie was as foul mouthed as a truck driver in LAmplighter Mobile home PArk off 301 And her and her Aunt and her ex Hsuband a real lowlife HE was kicked out of the NAvy for posting Kiddie porn on the internet I hope enver to see thier like again serenea: 19th May 2009 - 20:30 GMT I have lived in Jacksonville for 10 years and basically hated every moment. It is true that there is no excitement whatsoever unless you live on the north side and frequent the police stations. I live in a nice multiracial neighborhood and my neighbors are nice. But over all natives have an attitude because I believe most have not lived any where else. It has the feel of a country bumpkin town, with a Jed Clampett mentality.To quote Adams's comment, "There is a large number of people in Jacksonville that in general are racist, homophobic, non-cultured, close-minded good ole country people who just don't know any better." The schools are lacking, The utility company rips customers off and crime is totally out of hand. Its not just the "bad" areas either. Everyone is entitled to there opinion but I say about 5% of Jacksonville natives are nice. The rest ???. If you are of the 5% and don't agree, just look past your circle of friends or stay awhile in another city. The nice thing about Jax is the beach but People...you have nothing to do with that! killacozzy.com/selfportrait: 23rd May 2009 - 19:36 GMT THE BAD PART: I've lived in this city for about seven or eight years. I moved from Detroit, Michigan. For the few years, my home was in Arlington, and I worked in Ponte Vedra. I drove 45 minutes to work every day through JTB traffic. For fun, my then-girlfriend and I went to the Beaches and basically people-watched at pretentious clubs. We had no friends because my then-girlfriend hated the people here. We moved to Mandarin (the middle-class family area) and despite having a nice home, our lives were the same: chain restaurants, shopping at tired stores, and making-fun of people having fun at Beaches nightclubs. THE GOOD PART: When my then-girlfriend and I split up, I kept living in Mandarin. But I started exploring and hanging out in San Marco, Riverside, Downtown, and Springfield. I made a ton of really great friends—and even met my fiancée. Together, started a motion picture production company and began working from home. Sure, I have to drive for 20 to 30 minutes to get ANYWHERE in town, but the city is so huge, it's a reality. THE CONCLUSION: I realized that through my ex-girlfriend's hatred of Jacksonville and her people, I mirrored the sentiment. And when I convinced myself that I hated everything about being here, I made myself miserable. While Jacksonville does have some of the more vocal racists, homophobes, and haters I've seen between here and Detroit, it also has some truly amazing and friendly folks who tend to centralize toward the city areas. My fiancée and I almost moved to New York City six months ago to start our movie business, but we decided to stay because of the many great opportunities this town has to offer. Thanks to that decision, our film production company is now doing very well, and for this, we have the fledgling metropolis of Jacksonville to thank. killacozzy.com/selfportrait: 23rd May 2009 - 19:40 GMT (Pardon the typos: ...For the first few years... ...Together, we started a motion picture...) Mr Tanner: 3rd Jun 2009 - 15:43 GMT I lived in Jacksonville for 32 years, born and raised. Let me tell you about Jacksonville... growing up on the Westside near Woodstock Park in the 70’s, it was pretty decent. However the area quickly was infused with many different and cultural ethnicities that in some instances made these areas UN desirable to reside. We moved to the San Pablo area in the early 80’s when there wasn’t anything out near girvin road except a four way stopsign. The schools were predominately white and the standard of living was again fair but not extravagant. In the late 80’s these areas again were fused with another wave of people such as the first wave hit the Westside in the early 80’s. I went to Southside Junior, Sandalwood, Arlington, Annie R Morgan, Windy Hill, Love Grove, Terry parker & Landon. Out of all these schools I think Southside was the best experience for me, however going to school in Jacksonville is Tough. Very Tough.. There were and are still today many students who bring their street attitudes to school and get themselves and other students in trouble with them. My daughter was born and raised in Jacksonville and she to elementary schools in the mid nineties, Love Grove.. This gem of a school was the ONLY reason my wife and I stayed, so she would finish. She started Landon in ’02 and my wife and I started to notice vast changes right away. She became withdrawn and almost non social. Then she started getting hassled by other students who even from my experiences were vicious. My wife and I assured each other that we wouldn’t put her or my son through the type of experiences we went through growing up going to school in Jacksonville. We packed up and moved to the Midwest in 2003. I miss Jacksonville very much, but if you have children or a child. Take it from another parent and a lifelong resident to NOT make Jacksonville a choice. The traffic is horrible in Jacksonville. This city was NEVER EVER intended for the amount of people now residing there. It also appears now that I have been gone for six years, which an extrondinary amount of racism appears to be present in or around almost every tone of local Jacksonville society. I was a victim of a violent robbery and I cannot count how many times no matter where we lived that we or someone we knew was NOT affected by some sort of crime. If I can prevent or change just one person or family view on Jacksonville then I consider this posting a worthwhile effort. If my post did help you change your mind I or my wife would appreciate any comments. Mechanism317@yahoo.com the stylz: 6th Jun 2009 - 01:48 GMT i love jacksonville fl. yes it can be "danger danger" but its nice too just dont be a pu$$y and dont go to where you dont belong and you'll be ok.put your feet down and pick your ass up you'll like it too. and yes you can graff here no problem just let your nutts hang abit. not to low now they will get cut off =)~ richy: 6th Jun 2009 - 20:03 GMT Calling Houston home and calling J-ville redneck is hypocritical.Everyone knows that Texas is the REDNECK capitol of the universe.Houston is a backwards trailor trash redneck hellhole.I guess this Texan is in denial.I'm a Floridian, yes J-ville is backwards compared to the rest of the state, but Texas is consistantely hick.GEt it right Texas. Fck everybody hating Jacksonville: 9th Jun 2009 - 18:11 GMT For all you ignorant ugly fat ass good for nothing dumb fcks.. Fck yall. Jacksonville is the greatest city in the world to me.. I was born and raised in Mandarin off of Old St. Augustine Rd. and I had the best life so far anybody can have. Yeah there somethings Jacksonville can do, build a theme park or what not but oh well, man when we grew up, we found something positive to do. We always had fun growing up. Alot of gifted people are here. I've been to Houston.. It sucks hard!!.. 70% of the women there are either pregnant with kids or carrying STDs.. It's slow and horrible and whoever said Houston is full of live... ummm try again.. You probably some fat ass diabetic fck who ride the bus all day and say this is entertainment.. Hoe sit down.. Orlando only got attraction.. D.C. full with AIDS.. how the hell the state capital be the poorest city in the nation and got a higher HIV rate then some country in Africa.. That place is beyond horrible.. ATL is the mecca of gay black men.. full of AIDS just like San Francisco and Dallas.. All these places yall bragging on is overrated then you can imagine.. We have our flaws in this city and my city aint perfect, but yall boring ass cities aint no better than mines when yall got some of the most ridiculous things and people i ever seen and met.. Jacksonville really got alot more to offer then the other big cities.. The crime is horrible here and thats the only thing I hate about my city.. The Crime and the person from Houston who said Jacksonville dont know real crime.. bitch we dont wanna know real crime.. we wanna stop crime so I dont have to walk out my house and watch my back everywhere I go.. The N.O. people running yall city so yall TX folks in general can't talk.. Texas and Alabama are the most racist states in the country and you got the nerves to talk about Jacksonville? Only nerds, lames and geeks would be on this site saying they hate jacksonville when all cities are basically the same.. Get a life and get off yall asses and go find something to do.. Ignorant idiots.. Duval County is great to live at.. I hope God bless you people soul because I guaranteed.. all of you people who got hate for jacksonville and live here before.. you'll be back lol.. and that be the funny thing because the same idiots like yall say that.. come right back and be happy to be back.. Pathetic ass people.. lmfaoo.. how the hell you type in google search.. i hate jacksonville.. you people really need a life.. I'm out Tim: 16th Jun 2009 - 13:46 GMT Jacksonville is full of forcibly undereducated black people and willfully undereducated white people. Only 14% of the population has beyond a high school education. If you want more out of life than going to the Baptist church on Sunday and gossiping about American Idol the rest of the week, this isn't the place for you. Tim: 16th Jun 2009 - 13:47 GMT PS - why doesn't Mayor Peyton come out of the closet? B&R Native of Jville: 18th Jun 2009 - 18:00 GMT On August 27, 1960, more than 200 whites attacked 34 Black youths with baseball bats and ax handles. No more than 43 years later On June 1, 2003, Matt Carlucci, a white Republican endorsed Glover (a Democrat) after being defeated in the open primary. Afterwards, Carlucci's business was vandalized with the words "NIGGER LOVER", and Glover's campaign headquarters was vandalized with "NO NIGGER MAYOR". I was raised in this "good ole boy" town born in 1979 I've been called nigger by more than my fair share of whites and honestly I can't forget what I've heard and seen. I sat in school at Lee and heard the whites talk ill about a huge racist war they were going to start etc nothing has changed all has just been brushed up under the rug. All of the events that go down in Jacksonville are marjority related and intended for non blacks. I read the local papers just to confirm that by each print. I've been to the concerts they host at the beaches and in metro park no different than any other city. I think that what most of these people are saying when they call Jacksonville boring has little to do with the entertainment but more to do with the atomosphere and cultural experience. Jacksonville has NONE! I was thinking of the early 20th century before Hollywood "Kalem Studios" first to open a permanent studio in Jacksonville and wanting to relive that moment considering I am a writer and working on a novel and screenplay but just like the conservative residents back then who objected to the hallmarks of this time's early movie industry has NOT changed. This town is too scared to become a prominent city for then those conservative residents will lose control. They like it their way or nothing else. We were going to get a theme park, but guess what they decided to build yet another "golf course" now I ask who's that golf course for? When we already have so many of them, did we really need another one? Like I stated this is a good ole boys town not a city just a big backwoods want to be city and that will never change. B&R Native of Jville: 18th Jun 2009 - 20:07 GMT After reading the rest of the posts I realized that most of you that have written in and hate Jacksonville are just a bunch of racist idiots. You NEVER put every person in one bucket. Have you talked to me or spoken to anyone in my family. We have generations of college educated black women and black men. What programs and or areas have you really lived in that you can speak on every black person living in this city. Now don't get me wrong, I know alot of ignorant blacks and whites, and hispanics etc... that live in Jacksonville and for the most part they are just like you, for the majority of them didn't grow up here! They moved here, so lets just say that all of the people you grew up with in the cities you love the most ventured here in this good ole boy town making it WORST than it was. I go out, I volunteer, and have worked with a lot of persons that aren't from Jacksonville, so I am wondering maybe its all of you who aren't originally from here that's the real cause of this city staying a hickville town. Half of you written on here hated the city before you actually moved here. I want to read what people have wrote who aren't set in their own ways but those who do have an open mind and not racist and prejudice. Read what you have written, these are your thoughts and the majority of you speaking ill of the "blacks" and "rednecks" are no different than those you are prejudice against. You are the racist people of this world. You have offended me as a black female with an education. And who says that an education means anything do you hold a degree or multiple degrees? I do, an associates and a bachelors what does that mean to you? Does it really matter how educated you are when you don't have an intelligent mind set? Yes I am speaking to the majority of you, just because you have an education on paper doesn't mean you are truly educated. You guys are blinded by your own setbacks that you choose to really get on here and blast a race of people and that has taken away from the actual discussion/forum here. I can go and research half of the cities you guys have mentioned as being better than Jacksonville and debate you long and hard on the fact that each of those cities in reference to the race of people that make up those cities are no different than those in Jacksonville. State: California (CA) City Population: 1,272,746 Murder: 65 Forcible Rape: 406 Robbery: 1,626 Aggravated Assault: 5,269 Burglary: 8,076 Larceny or Theft: 25,739 Car Theft: 12,567 Arson: 238 Data Source: FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement State: Florida (FL) City Population: 776,417 Murder: 92 Forcible Rape: 213 Robbery: 2,344 Aggravated Assault: 4,080 Burglary: 8,910 Larceny or Theft: 30,043 Car Theft: 4,838 Arson: 283 Data Source: FBI Report of Offenses Known to Law Enforcement State: Texas (TX) City Population: 2,041,081 Murder: 278 Forcible Rape: 768 Robbery: 10,985 Aggravated Assault: 11,957 Burglary: 26,522 Larceny or Theft: 72,032 Car Theft: 21,451 Arson: 1,553 lOOKING AT THESE NUMBERS HOUSTON TX SEEM FAR INTO CRIME THAN MOST CITIES I HEARD THIS STATE MENTIONED AS BEING A WONDERFUL CITY/STATE TO MOVE TO...YEAH RIGHT I'LL DEFINITELY TAKE YOUR WORD ON IT. I CAN PULL UP MORE AND WE CAN JUST COMPARE AND I GUARANTEE THAT EVERY CITY IS THE SAME REGARDING CRIME ETC...ITS THE CITY AND THOSE WHO MAKE UP THE CITY REGARDING OUR CITY'S OFFICIALS JUST THINK ABOUT THAT WE ARE WHERE WE ARE BECAUSE OF THE PERSONS WE VOTE FOR TO DO THE RIGHT THING IN OUR COMMUNITIES. HOW MANY OF YOU VOLUNTEER IN YOUR COMMUNITIES, GO TO CITY OFFICIAL MEETINGS TO DISCUSS YOUR CITIES ISSUES REGARDING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL THAT IS AROUND YOU? All of the negative information here is just based on opinions not the facts and opinions are just like "assholes" all of us got one. anon (adsl-17-254-248.jax.bellsouth.net): 19th Jun 2009 - 18:40 GMT The reason that people from somewhere else do the complaining about this dump. Is because we have lived in real cities. Not this imitation town. Red-necks dream come true. YAAAAAAALLLL can kiss my ass. I am out of this ignorant hick town. Beth: 23rd Jun 2009 - 17:01 GMT I had posted above a few months ago and came back to see if anyone listed any places to visit or things to do in Jax. So far nothing. I can see that the "locals" judging by the foul mouth language and vulgarities that were used, like to go to the local bars and drink and swear. I have a 18 month old and I am not going to go hang out at the bar. I have been to St. Augustine and liked it. I just don't understand why they don't fix up downtown Jax a little more. I am orginally from Baltimore and the inner harbor there is really nice. I have been to the beaches, and had fun. You can't go to the beach every weekend. I was just wondering if there were any nice places where you can go with your family and have a nice time. Yes, I do hate it here, and unfortunately I am stuck here for two more years. I have decided to try and make the best of it while I am here. And for B&R Native of Jville, I never criticized anyone in my post. All I said was that this place was very racist. If I were to write a post like some of the ones above on a Baltimore website, someone would hunt me down and shoot me. I guess I am just not used to seeing the confederate flag flying like it was the American flag. I myself have multiple degrees. I noticed your comparison of states and crime stats. I am only going to comment on California because I lived there. The population of California is much greater than Florida. Not to mention you have Mexico on the border that has thousands of people crossing each day. A lot of them illegally. Most of the crime in California is committed by illegal aliens. What about Florida? I don't see a country bordering Florida, so that means the majority of the crime is committed by citizens. Second, there are crimes that have higher rates in Florida than California. Considering the population is larger in California, that means those crimes are happening more often and to more citizens than in California. Third, Florida relies heavily on tourism, when the economy is poor tourism goes down. And that means crime goes up. Maybe Florida should try to invest in other avenues beside tourism. I can also see that the "locals" do not want their town to end up like Miami or South Beach, and that is fine. The only problem is, the times are changing. This is not 1940. If Jacksonville would spend a little money and stop concentrating on being the bible capital of the south, they may have more people who actually want to come here to live. Did you ever wonder why it so cheap to live here and so expensive to live in San Diego? That is beacuse they take pride in their city and they made it into a great place to work and bring your family on vacation. Why is everyone so pressed about getting a theme park? San Diego only has Sea World. They have made other things out there and every weekend they have something going on at the zoo or Balboa Park. Their downtown area is kept clean for the most part. I am not going to complain about being here anymore. Like I said, I do not like it here, but I guess it could be worse. I could be in Alaska! Peter: 23rd Jun 2009 - 17:39 GMT drink and swear? OH NOEZ! :-0 way to gloss over the allegations of drugs, crime and racism and tackle the really hard-hitting problems of vulgar language and alcohol consumption. snicker Beth: 23rd Jun 2009 - 19:50 GMT I really don't think I needed to further comment on the drugs, crime and racism since everyone else on here did it for me. I have never witnessed any drug use or crime around me. I lived in Baltimore and it was much worse up there. Drug and crime down here snicker This place reminds me of Mayberry. I am just waiting for Barney fife and Andy Taylor to come walking up to my door offering me a glass of lemonade!! Of course there is nothing like a bunch of drunk southerners to give cheap entertainment. I guess I found what the form of entertainment is around here. Drink, shoot your shotgun, hang a negro, and take the family out on a fanboat! Of course we will have to go to church on Sunday to seek forgiveness. LOL!!! TAP: 25th Jun 2009 - 20:43 GMT I have been in JAX now for 4 years. I love the fact it has a river and an ocean. I like the weather - you get a northern autumn here in the winter. Hugenot State Park is a great beach to bring your car and your dog. I have lived in major cities - Chicago, NY, San Fran. I have lived in smaller cities - Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, Shreveport, and Biloxi. I have lived in Navarre Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Key West, Florida. I think Jacksonville is by far the prettiest city I have lived in. I had family come visit from Sacramento and they fell in love with the whole area (from Savannah to St. Augustine). If you want to see real crime, move to Chicago, NY, etc. Traffic is much less than other places I have lived. If you want to see the "good ole boy network and racists move to Louisiana - Shreveport/Dallas area - what an awful place. Bad weather - move to San Fran, Colorado Springs or Chicago. I like the fact it is not an Orlando (Carni Town) or Miami (Sleezeville). What this town needs is the Jags to play a decent season or have some real gambling. Went out on that gambling boat near Mayport once and it sucked - the only thing I really miss about Vegas. After living in the Biloxi area - no place can compete with that food (yummy). If your bored here - I think you are probably bored where ever you live (everyone knows people like that). As they say, you can't have everything. JAX has most of what I want in a city and then some :) Brez: 27th Jun 2009 - 23:58 GMT LOL. I like how a lot of people came in here by typing "I hate Jacksonville" via Google. That just proves how much of a failure that city really is. I've spent 6 years living in Jacksonville. I've tried to give it a chance and see what could be great about it. The city looks like a nice place and has a nice variety of stores and restaurants. The beaches look nice too. But all of that is just deceiving and anyone who's been here should know that. Jacksonville is boring as hell, lacks fun spots besides what I've mentioned, and has some of the most pathetic, rude, and ugly people I've ever seen. Thugs, racist rednecks, crackheads, cigarette-sucking elitist-wannabes; this city has them all. Looking for a job in Jax? Well good luck on that. You have to really bust your ass to even get one yet it seems the employers are more interested in hiring the most retarded people they can find. Speaking of retarded, look at schools. I've seen some pretty bad schools but they're first-class compared to what I've seen in Florida's asshole of a city. Jax is littered with F-schools with students speaking in ghetto trash, low-grade reading levels, and low test scores among other things. There's also plenty of teachers who are either pedophiles or focus more on money than actual teaching. I could go on and on and on with everything I find bad in this city. Instead of moving to Whack-sonville, try Ft. Lauderdale or St. Augustine. Hell, I think any part of Florida is better. And please ignore the people who recommend the lame ass city. They don't know a damn thing about fun places. uncle jake: 14th Jul 2009 - 22:16 GMT I'm glad people in JAX know Mayor Peyton is a closet FAG!!!!!! Dave: 28th Jul 2009 - 15:20 GMT I'd admit Jacksonville isnt the most pleasant city but no one is asking you to stay here, and what all other cities envy about Jacksonville is our since of pride and partnership in our community. We have so many organizations that make our city what it is today. We have HabiJax, a division of Habitat for Humanity, and statistic show that HabiJax is among all other Habitat for Humanity cities for helping build new houses. If you watch the news you can could have heard about the Be a Hero food drive. Our city donated a whopping 80,000 pound of food for needy people! There are so many events that make Jacksonville such a formed city I can't even name them all. First Coast News does A LOT of these events. Talk about shi*y. The city is expecting even more people who would be moving to Jacksonville in future years, and were giving them some southern hospitality by cleaning up the neighborhood of Springfield and the Northside area. WHAT NOW!!! HATE ON IT!!! and If you wanna see traffic drive your ass to Atlanta...traffic city galore. BYE!! Kelsey: 31st Jul 2009 - 20:31 GMT I do not like Jacksonville. I've tried (still trying I guess)- since it doesn't look like we'll be able to leave any time soon. I despise it so much on a daily basis, that I just found this plethora of opinions when I literally googled "I hate Jacksonville FL" just to see if I was the only one. I'm not. I don't think I have too high of expectations either. I come from a small town. I've seen my share of crime, poor education etc. That, I can have hope for. My husband and I sigh in disbelief so many times after daily venturing out to try new events, restaurants, opportunities to meet new people etc. and just simply do things as a family. We rake what we can off of Jax4kids.com for our 3 year old and have been scratching our heads so many times as to why they have so little to offer for kids around here. We've been able to know the lay of the land fairly quickly because we've driven everywhere trying to find options for living a good life here. We end up going to Savannah, St. Augustine, Fernandina etc to have a good weekend. I've never heard the "F" word so many times in public. I've never seen so many dirty looks exchanged for obvious racial distaste. I've never seen such unhappy people. Not even a bit of Texan politeness can bring folks here out of their funk. I've never seen so many people in the health care field out on their smoke break. Lots of negative conversations on cell phones. You would think a nice long road headed toward the beach (Atlantic Blvd or Beach Blvd) would be full of great eating stops, culture and the coastal vibe many cities CAN have. No, instead you find run-down car dealerships, typical chain restaurants and complete randomness. I'd list more but I can't think of much. Fast food I suppose. Radio Shack. Hotels...uh You might like the beaches of Jacksonville if you like to see people smoke on the beach, cheeto bags in the sand, rednecks driving 30 mph across the sand with their music blaring, disregarding small children and letting their dogs loose to eat your food. I could write a huge list of what would make Jacksonville more appealing but I doubt any city officials or natives would care enough to change the way it is. Apparently they are content. There is a huge lack of progression here. We've been here a little over a year, already moved once to a "better" neighborhood and it still is less than desirable. We'll leave as soon as we can. Scott: 31st Jul 2009 - 20:41 GMT Thank you "Fck everybody hating Jacksonville" -- you sum up perfectly why most of us don't like it here. You are the personification of all that Jacksonville will EVER amount to. killacozzy.com: 2nd Aug 2009 - 11:23 GMT I understand that for a lot of folks, this city fails to meet expectations, especially when it comes to activities, apparently. Outside of simply stating "there's nothing to do here", what activities EXACTLY are you looking for that you either wish were going on or have seen in other cities/municipalities that isn't happening in Jacksonville? This is not confrontation, but rather genuine curiosity.... killacozzy.com: 2nd Aug 2009 - 11:24 GMT "that aren't happening in Jacksonville?" marissa: 4th Aug 2009 - 06:02 GMT Ready to move to Florida. Can not decide Jacksonville or Tampa area or even Ft. Lauderdale. Me, my husband and 3 kids. What do you think? Anonymous: 9th Aug 2009 - 02:19 GMT Go to Tampa or Ft Lauderdale don't waste time in Jacksonville Boca Raton....(Palm Beach County is TERRIFIC!!!!): 25th Aug 2009 - 17:05 GMT I used to live in Boca Raton (Palm Beach County) for 10 years and moved to Jacksonville in 2007 to be with my fiance, now my husband--->(the only reason why I'm here in Jax). Living in Palm Beach County was sooooo AWESOME! There's so much to do and people had "class". If you like ritz and glitz this is the place to be. People dressed up better, less blacks, upscale living There's always something to do and places to go to. My salary in Boca Raton was $5,000 more than Duval County. If I would compare Jacksonville to where I used to live, JACKSONVILLE IS A GHETTO PLACE!!!!!!!! I don't feel safe here in Jax because there's so many shady people lurking around. I think it's hard to impress people who came from one of the best counties to live in. Those people who think Jacksonville is awesome, maybe you have NOT lived in the best cities. I tried to love Jax...I really, really tried. At first, I thought it was me but when I read the other comments of people here...now I know that this place is not for me. I'll try to convince my husband to move back to Boca after my job contract ends next year. I CANNOT STAND LIVING IN JACKSONVILLE>>>It's the MOST BORING CITY!!! SoSickOfJacksonville: 4th Sep 2009 - 04:14 GMT I have lived in this Godforsaken Hell hole since 1990. Every single aspect of this "city" is crap. The city's "Mayor" touts the water ... horrible. If the water here is so good, then WHY THE FUCK DO I HAVE TO CHISEL IT OFF OF MY QUARTZ KITCHEN COUNTERTOP? Crime: Ha! Thugs run this city and the police can only hide in bushes to try to catch you speeding. No wonder the crime rate is so high. Try to find two city council members with a college degree IN ANYTHING. Try to find a school board member who has any idea what the teachers in the trenches have to deal with every single day. Try to find one idiot on Jacksonville's streets who knows how to drive the car they own. Art? ha! Culture? Hell, there's more live culture in a yogurt container than in this shit-hole. The education level is so very low. The city management is horrible, the traffic is absolutely awful, and the three universities in town cater to the stupid and the poor and those without hope of a future (I know... I teach at one). The Orchestra is good (but the seats go unfilled most of the time) - and the redecks who attend the Jaguar (NFL) games are drunk losers who are more proud of the number of plastic beer cups they collect at each game (before throwing up on you while walking down the ramps at the end of the game) than they are of their kids who struggle to survive third grade for the fourth time. Yeah... Jacksonville... real progressive. This place is a fucking FREAK SHOW! SoSickOfJacksonville: 4th Sep 2009 - 04:22 GMT In 1906 (I think) Jacksonville had a huge fire which destroyed most of what was then known as "the city." Before that, Jacksonville was creating a future for itself with tourism, agriculture, art, transportation, and manufacturing. After "the great fire," labor was hard to find. The city needed to be rebuilt. Who was enlisted to rebuild Jacksonville? Idiot, uneducated, uncultured farmers and farm-hands from south Georgia. They "rebuilt" the "city" and, unfortunately, never left. Jacksonville Florida has never, and will never, reach its potential. The education level here is shockingly low - and, for some inexplicable reason, is celebrated as "local charm." If you are reading this page, you must never come here. If you are already living here, then you are probably already dreaming of the day you can look into your rear-view mirror as you drive away and watch Jacksonville sink below the horizon. Herb: 4th Sep 2009 - 17:10 GMT I have lived in Jacksonville for 17 years. I then moved to New York City and all I can say it was the best thing I ever did. NYC is not for everyone, and the cost of living here is extremely high, but the culture, the entertainment and the overall experiences are second-to-none. In Jacksonville, I wouldn't know real Italian food, only Olive Garden. In Jax, I would never get to try Indian food, Greek food, etc, and tell the difference between good pizza and bad pizza. Whenver I come back to Jax to visit my parents, all I see is where once nice neighborhoods have decayed. In the early 80's, Jax was a very nice place, people were racist, but it was definitely a safe place to live. When I came to visit this past April, I actually felt unsafe. I couldn't imagine living here and consider it a nightmare to do so, but that is just me. Beth: 10th Sep 2009 - 21:59 GMT I saw someone above ask what type of activities are you looking for. Well, I have a 20 month old and I moved to one of those planned communities with the amenity center, pool, tennis, golf course etc..Everytime they have any kind of social gathering, your child has to be 5+ in age to attend. So I guess everyone that has a younger child is left out even though my HOA fees are paying for these so called activities. When I lived in San Diego, there were always activities at the zoo for children, they had Balboa Park which had numerous cultural events and fun days for children and families. There was seaport village that has cute shops and it was on the water and on the weekends they had festivities for families and even just adults. Even when I lived in Maryland ,we would go to Ocean City. There was a beach and a boardwalk with rides, games, restaurants, stores, bars, etc...The beach here seems to be lacking any kind of fun activities. I also went to Jacksonville landing and was disappointed. I guess since I grew up in Maryland, I was trying to compare it to the Inner Harbor there. There could be so much potential there. I also was driving around downtown and it seems like it is nothing but office buildings and industrial buildings. The Inner Harbor has an aquarium, the Constellation, an old submarine you can tour. Not to mention numerous shops, restaurants, bars, a huge mall called the gallery. The have a little Italy there that has great restaurants and they have festivals there ever so often. Baltimore has a football and baseball stadium and they seemed to have made it into a fun place after the game. Now, the crime in Baltimore is high along with the homeless people asking for handouts and camping out on the streets. All major cities have that, I guess you just have to deal with it. I much rather live in San Diego if I had to choose. Now for the jerks that come on here and say f**K all of you people that hate Jacksonville, leave if you don't like it. I wish I could leave. I would leave tomorrow if I could. I have a husband who is in the military and have to stay. First, we can't afford two rent payments, two utility bills, etc... Second, would you want to be apart from your family considering they may be deployed the next duty station you go to? I think not. Third, Why should I have to leave? Maybe you should make improvements to your town so you can get more revenue and you wouldn't have to cut programs and raise property taxes. Maybe the mayor should study some cities that are destinations for families, couples, single people, and try and take a page out of their book. I usually don't comment on the places where I am living, I married my husband knowing we would end up in many different parts of the world. I am open minded and can adapt to most situations. I just can't help commenting on how this city could have so much potential for revenue and tourism. For those of you who do live here, don't you ever want to stop the increases in your property tax? Why don't you want to see this city become a nice tourist destination? Are you afraid that it will become to expensive to live here or something? I just can't figure out why the majority wants it to continue with it's downward trend and negative comments. truth: 22nd Sep 2009 - 03:58 GMT The only way to survive in this city is to purchase a handgun and plenty of booze. anon (c-66-177-107-53.hsd1.fl.comcast.net): 24th Sep 2009 - 06:04 GMT Wow I am SO glad that I am not the only one who hates living here. I moved here from northern Virginia and its has been hell for me. The whole energy of this city is negative, I have never met so many rude and ignorant people, and it seems that you cannot trust anyone you meet. Luckily I did get two good things out of moving here. I met my fiance (who moved here a month after I did) and we have a daughter now, but now we are ready to pack up our small family and move away!! If only we could afford it ::sigh:: I do agree that this is a very beautiful place to live... I love the river, the beach, the view of downtown from Lakeside park, etc. But I think its the people here that make it suck. I am not saying that EVERYONE is rude or ignorant or racist or whatever but it seems the majority of people are. I have been here for over 3 years and still do not know anyone that I would consider a friend because every time I think I have made a "friend" they either stole from me, spread rumors about me, etc (and these are adults im talking about) I work in retail so I am around a lot of people everyday and the attitude of most people here is just disgusting. I also do think there are a lot of racist people here, but it is on both sides. A lot of white people are racist towards black people but a lot of black people are also racist towards white people. Where I came from there was nothing like this... there were people from all races in my group of friends, and I could trust those friends. I do have to say that the traffic here can be aggravating but if you want to sit in a real traffic jam try driving around in or just outside of washington dc at rush hour. That is the one thing I do not miss about Virginia. Its also very sad when you have to fear for your safety just to stop and get gas at night. Not to mention the drugged up prostitutes that I always see walking down the street (im suprised no one has mentioned that yet) I can see how some people may like living here, if you can afford to live in a decent area of town and are lucky enough to meet some of the few good people here... but this place is just not floating my boat. and to the person who lived in Baltimore I can totally understand what you mean because once I got lost in downtown at night and it was scary!! lol Jennifer Palm Beach Gardens: 2nd Oct 2009 - 03:39 GMT Oh Please, Boca Raton "less blacks" we all know that Boca is a retirement community for the underworld that has migrated from Broward and Dade County. Including yourself which is the real reason your white collar criminal husband are in Jacksonville now. Do you not recall the non black person thats killing people leaving the Town Centre mall? Remember the white woman pushed out her truck after being shot in the head by a white guy? Do you recall the poor mother and daughter that were tied together and excuted in the mall parking lot by a non black person. Boca Raton you are ridiculous as everyone else no city is perfect and crime exists everywhere lowlife idiot whorebag! inJax: 17th Oct 2009 - 04:18 GMT 7 years in Jax for my husband. I miss enthusiastic people. You're about 10 times more likely to be a part of a conversation about a going-out-of-business sale(!!!) than a)the most recent book someone is reading, b) anything involving emotional insight and openness, or c) someone being curious and inquisitive about you, or anything for that matter. It's like there's some fear of appearing weird, perhaps a byproduct of the many faces of Jacksonville intolerance. I agree with a previous poster that the city is slow to welcome outsiders. I'm sure people from here would be happy to offer some counterexamples, but they probably haven't clockwatched through 50-million drunken conversations of "who did you go to high school with". And the drinking? It's treated as the end, not the means. You just get drunk in some place that's too loud to talk. So I go home wondering what's wrong with me, only to feel amazing when I visit friends in other cities and they're talking about interesting ideas (not just stuff they're going to buy), and stuff they've done (not just stuff they're GOING to do) and stuff they love (not just stuff they hate), and they lean in like they're interested (not cutting me off mid-sentence with a non-sequitur). The black/white racism is omnipresent and baffling. There's a lot of racism against black culture, and I've never felt so excluded/disliked for being white. The rift is so, so deep. It's like you can't just be a person here, you have to be a TYPE of person. I keep trying to like Jacksonville. It just takes so much suspension of disbelief. Brez: 20th Oct 2009 - 17:12 GMT Jennifer, you clearly haven't stepped out of Jacksonville. At least Boca Raton has recognition while Jax is either thrown into obscurity or looked at as the failure it continues to be. It's time to get your head out of your ass and wake up to reality. Jacksonville sucks and will continue to do so as long as ignorant people like yourself exist as the city's majority. Robert: 20th Oct 2009 - 18:12 GMT Well, this for sure is one of the saddest articles in CN... it's so full of hatred, abhorrance and complains that someone with talent should really take advantage and write a long melodrama about it. anon: 3rd Nov 2009 - 23:14 GMT They already made a melodrama. It's all live action and is shown 24/7. Wanna know the name? JACKSONVILLE, FL Comment on this article.. 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