The Census Bureau released its 2024 city population estimates. In the summer of 2024, the bureau estimated Jacksonville to have 1,009,833 residents. It had the 10th largest numerical increase between summer of 2023 and 2024, and retained its rank as the 10th most populous city proper, likely to have been overtaken by Fort Worth within the 9 months. Check the report here:
https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2025/vintage-2024-popest.html
Interesting to see the city grow so much. Thoughts, comments, concerns?
Frankly? Underwhelmed.
Despite some recent promising developments, Jacksonville post-consolidation has long fallen short of its potential. You look at so many peer and once-peer cities who have really taken off in comparison but then see again and again this city managing to fall on its face instead of hitting its stride.
By no means is it too late to turn that around, but the cost of doing so is only going to rise, especially as things like the impact of tariffs or climate change or birth rates or migration or the growth of the suburbs come to a head. It's clearly not impossible, other cities are confronting those big challenges like housing costs and transportation and schools, but so far Jacksonville hasn't. I really hope that changes.
Anybody else remember "Millionth Mania" back in the day? I think the metro area was officially over a million residents or something. I remember events happening but there doesn't seem to be anything online about it. Surely I didn't dream the whole thing.
Quote from: Bativac on May 15, 2025, 07:04:49 PM
Anybody else remember "Millionth Mania" back in the day? I think the metro area was officially over a million residents or something. I remember events happening but there doesn't seem to be anything online about it. Surely I didn't dream the whole thing.
I was a kid but I definitely remember that being a big deal. Feels like it had to be around 1992-93.
As a lifelong resident, I both welcome and regret the growth of this city.
The lack of historic preservation, plowing under of amazing green spaces (for example, Palm Valley, SR 13 along the river in St. Johns County, under the Dames Pt. Bridge, woodlands everywhere, etc.), the decline of the urban core/downtown, lack of more robust neighborhood park planning, greatly increased traffic and traffic times to go anywhere, more crowded at our beaches and degradation of our river's ecosystem (for example, increased salinity killing cypress trees and reducing grass beds) weigh against more things to do, greater vibrancy, being more cosmopolitan, increased sophistication in some ways and places, finer dining, a growing economy, some improved City services, greater recognition of the City, etc. To some degree, most of Florida mirrors these offsets. Not much left of "old Florida."
I also miss the days when Jax was small enough that you could go anywhere or do anything and be sure to run into others you knew. It was, as they say, a big "small town." Some of that is still true, but much less so.
What hasn't changed much is the backwardness and back room dealing imposed on its citizens by less-than-stellar elected officials who mostly kowtow to the developers and other power brokers that back them, forfeiting many opportunities to elevate this City to greater heights. Also, the underwhelming philanthropy by many in the monied class that take so much but give so little back.
Quote from: copperfiend on May 15, 2025, 09:13:35 PM
Quote from: Bativac on May 15, 2025, 07:04:49 PM
Anybody else remember "Millionth Mania" back in the day? I think the metro area was officially over a million residents or something. I remember events happening but there doesn't seem to be anything online about it. Surely I didn't dream the whole thing.
I was a kid but I definitely remember that being a big deal. Feels like it had to be around 1992-93.
One year off! The Jax metro hit 1 million residents in 1994. At our current rate of growth, we will be celebrating "2 millionth mania" around 2030-2031