The Top 10 Cities for African American Professionals series concludes this week with city number ten. For the past several weeks, help the list delivered information such as crime rate, vcialis 40mg employment opportunities, and institutions of higher education in a city. The purpose of this list is to provide people with an opportunity to receive an overview of a city without looking all over the internet.
Last week, Columbus, Ohio was in the spotlight. Urban Views Weekly looked into a city that prides itself on appealing to African American culture. Its African American district, King-Lincoln, allows both visitors and residents the chance to see the Black experience since the 1800s. It also looks out for Black entrepreneurs, holding conferences and varying services for Black-owned businesses. This week Urban Views Weekly looks at Jacksonville, Fla., a city that is also rich in African American history and is enthusiastic about helping them to become more successful.
The list:
- Washington, D.C.
- Houston, Texas
- Atlanta, Ga.
- Dallas, Texas
- Raleigh, N.C.
- New York City, N.Y.
- Charlotte, N.C.
- Indianapolis, Ind.
- Columbus, Ohio
- Jacksonville, Fla.
Info and numbers from cities taken from the United States Census Bureau website (census.gov) and city-data.com.
Jacksonville, Fla.
Gender percentage: 51.5 percent Female; 48.5 percent Male
Median Age: 35.0 years old
Percentage of African Americans: 30.7 percent
Jacksonville is a southern city that definitely has a lot to offer. Jacksonville tourism Leisure Communications Specialist, Patty Jimenez said that the city is ranked in the top 25 for arts in the United States. “You can really see that in our beautiful museums, our great galleries, the local art walks, and the murals all over town,” Jimenez said. Jacksonville is also known for its parks; they have the largest park system in the nation. “That means that no matter where you are, either downtown, at the beaches or our historic neighborhoods, you are never more than 15 minutes away from the eco-adventure of a lifetime,” Jimenez said.
In reference to its appeal to African Americans, Jacksonville is home to the LaVilla neighborhood. This was also known as the “Harlem of the South” because it was a jazz hotspot. Entertainers like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles visited LaVilla at one point in time.
Percentage of those with Bachelor’s Degree or higher: 24.7 percent
Edward Waters College is the oldest and first historically black college in Florida. It was originally built for the education of freed slaves. Today, EWC prides itself on being a university that cares about teaching, research and reaching out to the community (usnews.com/education). This year marks the end of EWC’s five-year strategic plan to improve the university financially, educationally, and culturally.
Another school in Jacksonville is the University of North Florida. According to Joanna Norris, Director of Public Relations at UNF, the school “recognizes that every student is an individual with different goals, learning styles and needs, so we really believe in individualized attention.” She also adds that “our students are provided opportunities for life-changing learning experiences, including internships, study abroad and other off-campus programs and dynamic research projects.” African Americans at UNF are the second largest demographic at 9.9 percent.
Average Salary: $48,143
Top Industries (according to Forbes.com): Defense and Transportation
Matt Galnor, Vice President of Public Affairs at the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce, said that the city has a lot of strong ties to the military. It’s no wonder the defense industry is one of the top in Jacksonville, especially with its naval presence. The Naval Air Station Jacksonville and Mayport Naval Station provide jobs to troops and civilian contractors. Oftentimes, when troops retire, they stay in Jacksonville. “Each year more than 3,000 people leaving the military chose to remain in the region,” Galnor said. He also adds that Jacksonville is “America’s Logistics Center” because it is responsible for receiving a lot of imports and exports, which also explains why transportation is a big industry there. One of the largest companies that has a logistics warehouse in Jacksonville is PenserSC, a company that specializes in the storage and transportation of products.
Crime Rate (total per 1,000 people): 47.66
Jacksonville has not been ranked as a dangerous city. It has been ranked as the tenth most unsafe place to drive, but as far as crimes it isn’t bad. In 2013, Jacksonville had 5,192 violent crimes and 34,871 property crimes. In terms of violent crimes, they had 93 murders, 342 rapes, and 1,372 robberies. In terms of property crimes, they had 7,644 burglaries, 25,577 thefts, and 1,650 motor vehicle thefts.
In conclusion …
Jacksonville is a very lively city. It prides itself on its arts community, seasonal festivals, and its numerous parks. It’s a city that’s about keeping residents happy, healthy, and entertained. It also pays homage to its history with the LaVilla African American neighborhood which has been in the midst of a long-term revitalization. In terms of history, Edward Waters College, Florida’s first HBCU, is in Jacksonville. Through coordinated efforts, the university is ending its strategic plan to improve itself. As a center for both military and logistics operations, Jacksonville is a city where African Americans can excel in competitive fields with even more competitive salaries.
