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I really don't have to add anything...but I will Just to point out that you are correct, downtown at one time was incredibly vibrant. Certain stretches felt like NYC (perhaps because so many New Yorkers wintered here). A couple random statistics that to me drive home the proper image of early 20th century Jacksonville: In 1912, 13 million passengers rode the private streetcar system. By 1930, the streetcar network stretched 59 miles. (Imagine if we had those numbers today) Of course, within a few years the entire system was bought out and shut down, roads began to dot the landscape, and the rest is history.
Jacksonville has been used as New York in a few movies. Downtown stood in for Manhattan in a movie with Keanu Reeves, can't remember the name but in it he is an attorney who made a deal with the devil... sorry i dont feel like looking it up now. "Lonely Hearts Club" with James Gandolfini was set in New York and Avondale stood in for suburban NYC, the architecture fit but they had to make sure to avoid palm trees in the background
I feel like if you're a beach lover, naturally one would gravitate toward an area where the beach can be utilized more...ie Jacksonville. It's warmer, therefore you'll be able to have more "beach days" by default, therefore enjoying more of a beach lifestyle. In Virginia, by mid-September, the beah season is done. In Jax it can be easily go into late October.....and starts back up sooner too...by Mid April beach days be BACK...VA beaches are still chilly til like mid-late may
I feel like if you're a beach lover, naturally one would gravitate toward an area where the beach can be utilized more...ie Jacksonville. It's warmer, therefore you'll be able to have more "beach days" by default, therefore enjoying more of a beach lifestyle. In Virginia, by mid-September, the beah season is done. In Jax it can be easily go into late October.....and starts back up sooner too...by Mid April beach days be BACK...VA beaches are still chilly til like mid-late may
Yep Opening of the Beaches is in April, but people form Michigan will visit in January and swim LOL
Jacksonville
+ warmer year round weather (more of a subtropical feel)
+ Florida vibe at the beaches
+ Bigger city
+ Prettier beaches IMO
+ last snowfall with accumulation was late 1980s (flurries happen every few years)
+ some reallyyyyy nice historical urban areas
+ extremely cheap COL in my opinion
- lots of crime in certain areas
- large population of just basic human trash (i moved here from buffalo and was amazed at the huge uneducated ghetto trash population both white and black)
- extremely hot and long summers
Virginia
+ much closer to the many large cities in the northeast
+ probably a more educated population as a whole
+ probably a better area to raise a family
- significantly cooler climate in the winter
I really dont know much abt Hampton Roads. I visited there recently for the first time and overall i was very impressed though, i just think its too cold. Personally i want to go more south (Tampa), but i would MUCH rather raise a family in VA then FL. Currently having no kids things like schools do not matter to me.
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Just to point out that you are correct, downtown at one time was incredibly vibrant. Certain stretches felt like NYC (perhaps because so many New Yorkers wintered here). A couple random statistics that to me drive home the proper image of early 20th century Jacksonville: In 1912, 13 million passengers rode the private streetcar system. By 1930, the streetcar network stretched 59 miles. (Imagine if we had those numbers today) Of course, within a few years the entire system was bought out and shut down, roads began to dot the landscape, and the rest is history.
