Jacksonville's Consolidation of 1967 marked the end of individual towns in Duval County, but it established Jacksonville, all 840 square miles of it, as the largest city in the continental United States. Jacksonville Revisited is a visual and written documentation of how the city has grown and developed since the introduction of postcard communication. The changes in commerce and landscape are illustrated and preserved through postcards.

This book explores Jacksonville's transformation into the largest city (by land area) in the contiguous United States with images of significant events in its history. Like many of the country's older cities, Jacksonville suffered from the negative impacts of rapid urban sprawl after World War II. Amid a declining tax base, public schools losing their accreditation, and government corruption scandals, Jacksonville voters approved a referendum to consolidate the struggling city with Duval County to create the "Bold New City of the South." These changes, along with many others, have continued to guide this Southern metropolis into the 21st century.

Beneath the asphalt and concrete of Southside's bustling streets lurks a fascinating and surprising history filled with stories from the past that rival anything found in a best-selling novel. From the remains of a Civil War gunboat to an elephant named Miss Chic, the vintage photographs in Images of America: Jacksonville's Southside feature vaudeville performers and lion tamers, peacocks and pioneers, alligators and bears, time capsules and Times Square, towers and turpentine, immigrants and entrepreneurs, Insta-Burger King and Storyland U.S.A., chain gangs and a giant orange T. Rex, underground tunnels, and even a profound "miracle in the pines."

Jacksonville is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and a great destination for tourists. The city is known for its rich history, beautiful beaches, diverse arts and culture scene, and outdoor activities. In this chapter, we will introduce you to some of the best things to do and places to visit in Jacksonville so that you can get the most out of your visit. Jacksonville is the largest city in Florida and has a population of about 900,000 people. The city is located in northeastern Florida and is an important port on the Atlantic Ocean. The city has a long history dating back to colonial times. It was founded by the Spanish in the 16th century and has developed into an important city over the centuries. The city is also known for its nature, including the St. Johns River, which flows through the city. The river offers numerous opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, boating and canoeing. The Guana Tolomato Matanzas National Estuarine Research Reserve is another great destination for nature lovers who want to explore the local wildlife and ecosystem. For sports enthusiasts, Jacksonville offers many options, including TIAA Bank Field, home of the NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars. There are also many golf courses in the city that appeal to both beginners and experienced players. When it comes to nightlife, Jacksonville has a lively scene with plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants. Jacksonville Landing and the Five Points neighborhood are particularly popular. Here you will find a wide range of bars and restaurants where you can enjoy delicious dishes and drinks.

You could call Jacksonville the secret city of Florida because even many natives have a tough time pinning down its defining features and best spots. But for anyone willing to dig beneath the surface, there’s no shortage of incredible sights, hidden histories and unusual relics just waiting to be discovered. Want to see the world’s largest Native American woodcarving, chart the roots of Southern rock, or eat curly fries at the barbecue joint that claims to have invented them? Secret Jacksonville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure is dedicated to telling the stories behind forgotten, mysterious and just plain interesting spots across Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Fernandina Beach, and the surrounding communities. Here you’ll find out where you can see a long forgotten Florida waterfall with connections to Jacksonville’s founder, and learn why there’s a tombstone in the middle of a neighborhood sidewalk. You’ll hear the stories behind local delicacies like Jacksonville-style garlic crabs, datil peppers, Mayport shrimp, and camel rider sandwiches. And of course, you’ll learn what exactly is up with that orange roadside dinosaur everyone’s always talking about. Jacksonville writer Bill Delaney has a deep passion for his hometown and a keen interest in underrepresented stories. From folklore to history and everything in between, join him to explore a side of the Bold City you can only find by leaving the welltrodden path.

The books in the Florida and the Caribbean Open Books Series demonstrate the University Press of Florida’s long history of publishing Latin American and Caribbean studies titles that connect in and through Florida, highlighting the connections between the Sunshine State and its neighboring islands. Books in this series show how early explorers found and settled Florida and the Caribbean. They tell the tales of early pioneers, both foreign and domestic. They examine topics critical to the area such as travel, migration, economic opportunity, and tourism. They look at the growth of Florida and the Caribbean and the attendant pressures on the environment, culture, urban development, and the movement of peoples, both forced and voluntary. The Florida and the Caribbean Open Books Series gathers the rich data available in these architectural, archaeological, cultural, and historical works, as well as the travelogues and naturalists’ sketches of the area in prior to the twentieth century, making it accessible for scholars and the general public alike. The Florida and the Caribbean Open Books Series is made possible through a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, under the Humanities Open Books program.

The Great Fire of May 3, 1901 marked at once the end and the beginning of the City of Jacksonville. A thriving port and a center for business and tourism until that point, Jacksonville was devastated by the conflagration, and yet, even before the ashes had cooled, a building boom began. Prominent and aspiring architects flocked to the area and the opportunities it afforded them to create a "twentieth century city." Jacksonville's ensuing era of reconstruction and growth, which would continue until the United States entered World War I in 1917, helped to define the city's present personality and appearance.

The city of Jacksonville has hundreds of buildings that have withstood the test of time. Yet these lasting landmarks tell only a portion of Jacksonville's history. Dozens of other buildings have been abandoned and left to wither, turning into shadows of their former grandeur. Each place has a rich and storied history that belies modern appearances, like the Annie Lytle Elementary School, now known as the most haunted landmark in the city, and the Jacksonville Brewing Company, which had to come up with a creative way to stay afloat (think ice cream) when Prohibition hit. Join local writers Ennis Davis and Robert Mann as they go behind the scenes of fourteen crumbling but ethereally beautiful structures to reveal their true pasts. Enhanced with stunning color photography, Reclaiming Jacksonville is a must-have for every resident of the River City.