I don't think you will see this in the Chamber's literature:Quote
Jacksonville, Fla.
Overall rank: 6
Depression rank: 2
Suicide rank: 9
Crime (property and violent) rank: 23
Divorce rate rank: 7
Cloudy days: 144
Unemployment rate (December 2008): 7.6%
*Editor's Note: BusinessWeek.com ranked 50 of the largest metros based on a variety of factors including depression rates, suicide rates, divorce rates, crime, unemployment, population loss, job loss, weather, and green space. The most heavily weighted factors were the depression, suicide, jobs (unemployment and job loss), and crime rates. The depression rate is based on survey and aggregated insurance reporting information at time of discharge, doctor's office visits, and insurance process filings. The suicide rate is for 2004 and comes from The 2007 Big Cities Health Inventory‚Ã,,ù compiled by the National Assembly of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO). The crime risk indexes for property and crime used for the scoring were based on FBI crime reporting for the seven most-recent available years. Divorce rates and 2009 population change come from the U.S. Census. The number of cloudy days came from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
Article at: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/feb2009/bw20090226_526384.htm
I believe it. With the lack of cultural and social things to do in this disjointed city of ours, it is no wonder people get depressed. We are a pretty boring city. We also do not have a very high concentration of high paying jobs and we have a relatively high crime rate.
There is much to be happy about in Jacksonville, but I can certainly see why many people are unhappy in this city.
What could make our city happier? Get rid of last call in downtown, bring higher paying jobs, work to create more vibrant meeting areas (downtown core). Socially, Jacksonville is too conservative. We are not a fun city. It also seems that people get married and/or have kids way too early in this city, not giving young folks enough time or opportunity to experience freedom from responsibility (hence leading to future regret and possibly higher divorce rates).
Just my 2 cents.
Maybe it's because there aren't enough convenient, safe and viable mass transit options? Or enough ground-level retail?
:)
I think it all starts with education. This city is seriously lacking in that area.
the city is so spread out. The down town is occupied by homeless and service caters to them. There is not much fun activity. But #2 in depression rate is still shocking.
That list is a joke. There are great cities that EVERYONE would like to live on the list.
agreed...Portland at #1?
This list is obviously skewed by # of cloudy days....although I think the 144 estimate for Jax. may be too high.
overall, the list is useless!
I disagree... the list does great things for Businessweeks internet hits and advertising. ;)
portland is a nice city but it is also a city lack of excitement. There are actually medical study show more clouds make people depressed. I do not think the unhappiness of Jacksonville is the same unhappiness of Portland.
All the happy families are the same. Each unhappy family has unhappiness of its own.
I'm sorry but this list seems almost backwards. Aside from Seattle at the botton of the list and Detroit near the top, it seems the list of cities gets gets progressively less desirable as it goes from first to last.
Look at how beautiful the half of the cities on the list are, seriously.
now i'm depressed...
Quote from: chipwich on March 04, 2009, 02:09:40 AM
Socially, Jacksonville is too conservative. We are not a fun city. It also seems that people get married and/or have kids way too early in this city, not giving young folks enough time or opportunity to experience freedom from responsibility (hence leading to future regret and possibly higher divorce rates).
Just my 2 cents.
While I think as a whole this list is crap ... you hit on something here I've been thinking for a long time. I don't want to seem like I'm attacking anyone’s views/values, but it does seem as if the conservative (i.e. Baptist) "no sex till you're married" pushes people to get married very young before they really know who they are. (also when I say "pushes" I mean that guys will do anything for sex, even get married, especially young guys) Then add to that ignorance about birth control and you end up with kids very young on top of that. It just seems like a cocktail for a miserable life.
I'm not saying that everyone who marries young or waits until marriage is miserable, I'm just saying that I didn't know what I wanted from like if I wanted kids or even who I was at 18-25 years old and that seems to be when they are getting hitched ant popping out kids like it's going out of style.
The other end of the spectrum seems to be the "hood rat/trailer trash" who has children out of wedlock at a very young age (16-19) and never finishes their education. This seems to be equally if not more miserable. However I'm not sure these folks are intelligent enough to be miserable in their situation. (this group describes most of my extended family FWIW)
My list...
St. Louis
Philadelphia
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Seattle
Washington, DC
Atlanta
The entire state of Alabama
The entire state of Mississippi
The entire state of Louisiana
Little Rock
Minneapolis
Charlotte
etc....
etc...
etc...
All I know is watching the Jags' 4th quarter defense this season certainly was depressing.
Sounds pretty spot on to me. Who needs beautiful beaches, great off-shore fishing, a plethora of world class golf courses, beautiful weather, entertaining nightlife (I think we do have it), beautiful women in tight clothes. I am struggling to survive in real estate, but absolutely love where I live. A few weeks ago in the middle of Feb. I drove to the beach with some friends, drank ICE COLD beer and played horseshoes in my bathing suit. TRULY DEPRESSING!
Quote from: Traveller on March 04, 2009, 10:53:01 AM
All I know is watching the Jags' 4th quarter defense this season certainly was depressing.
LOL...you may have hit on something. 7 of the worst 9 teams in the league this year are in the top 13 of this list (including the worst-ever detroit lions)
8 teams on this list had worse records than they did in 2007, and three failed to make the playoffs after going the year before. Clearly NFL success factored into their methodology...
Again, you can’t overlook the socioeconomic aspect of the study. It seems reasonable to assume that most people frequenting a site such as this one are at least reasonably educated and affluent. Jacksonville has a lot of poverty though. With poverty comes crime. Mix in a large military population that itself is experiencing record depression and suicide rates, and it doesn’t seem that unbelievable. If I’m not mistaken, Portland usually leads the nation in homelessness, and Detroit, St. Louis, New Orleans, and Cleveland obviously seem a proper fit in the top five, given the crime, decay, desertion, and (in New Orleans’ case) obliteration of their respective cities.
My guess is that people who are less educated limiting their mobility in our society, brought up with more social issues such as divorce and family violence, and who practice poor health habits (obesity, smoking, liquor, etc.) are more likely to be unhappy with life. Unfortunately, Jax has an over-abundance of these people. And the situation is aggravated and magnified by a lack of adequate educational and social service investment which Florida ranks poorly in.
We are a divided society and there are whole groups and classes of people many of us fail to come in contact with or notice when we do. Their numbers are probably far higher than we realize and articles like this serve as reminders of same regardless of the relative accuracy of the rankings.
I fully expect that things will get worse before they get better. The cutbacks in the area school systems are heart-wrenching and unreasonable. Failing to invest in our kids means we will be paying the price of "unahappiness" for decades to come. Another bit of short sightedness by our civic leaders and the voters.
.
I'd still love to know where they got their cloudy days. My meteorological background clearly shows 45 days on average, PER YEAR. That is only completely overcast days, the numbers they have represents cloudy and partly cloudy days combined. Which can seriously tank your numbers.
F*cking idiots up there. Hell, St. Louis' are skewed as well.
Quote from: Johnny on March 04, 2009, 10:43:44 AM
My list...
St. Louis
Philadelphia
Detroit
Pittsburgh
Seattle
Washington, DC
Atlanta
The entire state of Alabama
The entire state of Mississippi
The entire state of Louisiana
Little Rock
Minneapolis
Charlotte
etc....
etc...
etc...
Funny Johnny, I'd just use the Mason-Dixon Line - ANYTHING Nawth of it boils my blood, gets me angry and gee that depresses me!
AS FOR JACKSONVILLE??????????
BULL SHIT!
Some Yankee writer just confuses "holler'in" an "yell'in" with depression and unhappiness.
Y'all know the drill.
2009 - 4Th and Goal at metropolitan stadium, suddenly a Jag bursts into the end zone with the ball... Now you got some REAL holler'in and you got the loudest city on earth.
1864 - You and 600 Florida troops are dug in behind the earth works fronting McGirts Creek at Camp Milton. Suddenly 8,000 Yankees try to push you to Tallahassee, we try to Yell them back to Boston.
2000 - Herbie Mann and Joe Sample just completed at blistering jazz set at Metropolitan Park and the people on the Beach wonder "what the hell is that noise...?"
1943 - A Civil Air Patrol "piper Cub" flying off the coast spots a Nazi U-Boat, rather then call the Navy, they toss their hand held bomb out the door and SINK IT! Yell'in and Holler'in!
1918 - Duval Traction Company completes the first "interurban railroad" in Florida between Ortega and Blacks Point (NAS JAX) Camp Joseph E. Johnston, Whoops and Hollers all day and all night.
1926 - "Miss Jacksonville", the first Airmail plane from Miami lands at the Jacksonville Aerodrome amidst a Holler'in crowd.
I think we're blunt to a fault, as in "The Yankee that wrote this needs Killin..." But does that make me unhappy? "He needed killin is a valid defense in our city," no problem, no depression, no pain.
Hell we ain't unhappy - we're just LOUD! Damn Yankee's are confused. Where's my REBEL YELL? OCKLAWAHA
From WOKV's web site, this study may help explain some of the UNhappiness in Jax. I guess most of us are not too healthy which probably makes us not too happy.QuoteLocal News
Study Finds Much Of Jacksonville Is Overweight
By
Sam Jordan
@ March 2, 2009 7:39 PM Permalink | Comments (0)
The Duval County Health Department has unearthed some slacker-facts about our lifestyles in Jacksonville.
The study on behavioral risk factors shows 62% of Jacksonville adults are overweight or obese, and nearly 25% of Duval residents are smokers.
Black men at 30% have the highest sedentary lifestyle rate among all groups in the city.
1,815 Duval County residents were surveyed for the study.
i will be celebrating when i reached overweight ;) they only mouse that is not too fast for me to chase is tied to a computer :(
I agree Basstacular. Hitting the beach for a cold beer and a game of frisbee or volleyball in January all while working on your tan is certainly depressing. I really hate the cool nights on the balcony at AIA Aleworks in DT St. Augustine to finish off my day at the beach. Man, what a drag this area is.
:)
Quote from: stjr on March 07, 2009, 11:30:09 PM
From WOKV's web site, this study may help explain some of the UNhappiness in Jax. I guess most of us are not too healthy which probably makes us not too happy.
QuoteLocal News
Study Finds Much Of Jacksonville Is Overweight
By
Sam Jordan
@ March 2, 2009 7:39 PM Permalink | Comments (0)
Hell I ain't over weight, I'm just fat and happy!
OCKLAWAHA
I'll agree with this to some extent, but 6th in the nation? I don't think so. Jax does have an identity crises and a problem with coming to grips with who it is, or who it thinks it is or should be, but all cities are unhappy to some extent, even New York, Chicago and Los Angeles; so, I think this poll or whatever it is is really bull hockey.
By the way, as a reminder, all cities have the crime, poverty, financial and economic woes (of late), and other problems inherent with being a city, an American city mind you.
Heights Unknown
i like the "identity crisis" thing. But that is the problem with the city not the problem with the people live in the city. Maybe people get depressed first then move to Jax to get better.
These polls are funny.
Here's a poll showing Portland OR in the top 25 of "happiest cities" for men... the original link shows Portland as the #1 depressed city :D
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511897,00.html?sPage=fnc/health/men (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511897,00.html?sPage=fnc/health/men)
must mean the miserable women are bringing that city's happiness way down.
144! Thats a joke! maybe 110 TOPS
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-4576-duvalhealth93.png)
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on March 31, 2009, 10:20:57 PM
must mean the miserable women are bringing that city's happiness way down.
(http://www.paisatours.com/images/colombia-l.jpg)
Productos Colombianos, Hecho en ColombiaColombian Export, Mountain Grown.
Time to get happy y'all.
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: Basstacular on March 04, 2009, 12:41:42 PM
Sounds pretty spot on to me. Who needs beautiful beaches, great off-shore fishing, a plethora of world class golf courses, beautiful weather, entertaining nightlife (I think we do have it), beautiful women in tight clothes. I am struggling to survive in real estate, but absolutely love where I live. A few weeks ago in the middle of Feb. I drove to the beach with some friends, drank ICE COLD beer and played horseshoes in my bathing suit. TRULY DEPRESSING!
Not to mention friendly people, professional football, incredible river and marsh landscapes, much more interesting history than people outside of this forum realize...
I know I'm an outsider, but
nothing makes me happier than visiting Jacksonville.
In December I (now) regularly go to Jacksonville for a Jaguar game, while Christmas takes me to Washington, Syracuse, and Scranton. I don't want to disparage those cities, or really any city for that matter, but Jacksonville is the least likely of the bunch to appear on a "depressing" list and it's putting it mildly to say that particular competition isn't close.
If you don't like Jax, make sure the door hits you on the way out. We don't need you.
I think many would leave if they could.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on November 26, 2009, 12:39:46 AM
I think many would leave if they could.
My thoughts exactly.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on November 26, 2009, 12:39:46 AM
I think many would leave if they could.
just like every other place in the world
Everywhere I've lived there have been people that didn't like it for one reason or another and wanted to move....the same thing is true for people I've met from other places as well as thoe that I've visited....even in nice cities like San Diego, vancouver, and London.
That article is pure BULL SHIT! I'm not unhappy, I hate those stupid people. IDIOTS! We're not unhappy here in Jacksonville, its just our leadership that sucks. We are NOT UNHAPPY damn it. We are just a bit deprived of certain luxury's that the other cities of the world enjoy. Little things dummy's, like clean air, water, a courthouse, convention center, cruise port, railroad station, transit system, jail, police station, amusement park, or politicians that give a damn... Maybe you'd call it municipally challenged. God these people piss me off.
OCKLAWAHA
If you're happy and you know it...
If you aren't happy here you may certainly go elsewhere, but it is likely that you'll take the unhappiness with you.
I have seen the graph shown above and wondered at the fact that some of the poorest parts of town with the highest crime rates have some of the lowest suicide rates.
money and safety -- who needs them?
Quote from: sheclown on November 27, 2009, 08:44:09 PM
I have seen the graph shown above and wondered at the fact that some of the poorest parts of town with the highest crime rates have some of the lowest suicide rates.
money and safety -- who needs them?
Sheclown, if you are offering.....ummm i'd be happy to take that unhappiness off of you hands ;)
Money doesn't buy happines.
I know a lot of people who use word "bored' in Jacksonville.
It is kinda true,even with good climate,good streets,wide space Jacksonville doesn't have good social life.Too much working not enough living.
Actually its true for entire country.
Some of happiest people in world live either in poor countries or countries with rough climate.
Apparently,socialist Danes that pay high taxes are happiest people on Earth.
They work less,they shop less and they worry less...and they socialize lot more.
Maybe we can learn something from them.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4086092&page=1
Ock, You've got to stop posting pictures like that one above. I was just looking at the amazing photographic details and composition when the wife clouted me on the ear.
Bos, please move to Denmark. You are really pulling down the happiness average here.
That picture was obviously composed by a Fabric Manufacturer...........right?
Quote from: Bostech on January 03, 2010, 02:16:03 PM
Money doesn't buy happines.
I know a lot of people who use word "bored' in Jacksonville.
It is kinda true,even with good climate,good streets,wide space Jacksonville doesn't have good social life.Too much working not enough living.
Actually its true for entire country.
Some of happiest people in world live either in poor countries or countries with rough climate.
Apparently,socialist Danes that pay high taxes are happiest people on Earth.
They work less,they shop less and they worry less...and they socialize lot more.
Maybe we can learn something from them.
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=4086092&page=1
I have to agree here, Bos. I had the pleasure and good fortune to work closely with some Mexican and Honduran nationals. They were among the hardest working, poorest, yet happiest people I have ever known. They were also quite a bit wiser with their money that most of their American counterparts. Truly, money cannot buy happiness.
Money won't buy happiness, but the lack of it can sure bring unhappiness.
Quote from: stjr on March 03, 2009, 11:23:41 PM
I don't think you will see this in the Chamber's literature:
Quote
Jacksonville, Fla.
Overall rank: 6
Depression rank: 2
Suicide rank: 9
Crime (property and violent) rank: 23
Divorce rate rank: 7
Cloudy days: 144
Unemployment rate (December 2008): 7.6%
*Editor's Note: BusinessWeek.com ranked 50 of the largest metros based on a variety of factors including depression rates, suicide rates, divorce rates, crime, unemployment, population loss, job loss, weather, and green space. The most heavily weighted factors were the depression, suicide, jobs (unemployment and job loss), and crime rates. The depression rate is based on survey and aggregated insurance reporting information at time of discharge, doctor's office visits, and insurance process filings. The suicide rate is for 2004 and comes from The 2007 Big Cities Health Inventory‚Ã,,ù compiled by the National Assembly of County & City Health Officials (NACCHO). The crime risk indexes for property and crime used for the scoring were based on FBI crime reporting for the seven most-recent available years. Divorce rates and 2009 population change come from the U.S. Census. The number of cloudy days came from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration.
Article at: http://www.businessweek.com/lifestyle/content/feb2009/bw20090226_526384.htm
I can see this
Quote from: jtwestside on March 04, 2009, 10:28:53 AM
Quote from: chipwich on March 04, 2009, 02:09:40 AM
Socially, Jacksonville is too conservative. We are not a fun city. It also seems that people get married and/or have kids way too early in this city, not giving young folks enough time or opportunity to experience freedom from responsibility (hence leading to future regret and possibly higher divorce rates).
While I think as a whole this list is crap ... you hit on something here I've been thinking for a long time. I don't want to seem like I'm attacking anyone’s views/values, but it does seem as if the conservative (i.e. Baptist) "no sex till you're married" pushes people to get married very young before they really know who they are. (also when I say "pushes" I mean that guys will do anything for sex, even get married, especially young guys) Then add to that ignorance about birth control and you end up with kids very young on top of that. It just seems like a cocktail for a miserable life.
I'm not saying that everyone who marries young or waits until marriage is miserable, I'm just saying that I didn't know what I wanted from like if I wanted kids or even who I was at 18-25 years old and that seems to be when they are getting hitched ant popping out kids like it's going out of style.
The other end of the spectrum seems to be the "hood rat/trailer trash" who has children out of wedlock at a very young age (16-19) and never finishes their education. This seems to be equally if not more miserable. However I'm not sure these folks are intelligent enough to be miserable in their situation. (this group describes most of my extended family FWIW)
I think political and religious leaning have little to do with the happiness of a city because #1 on this list is Portland, probably the most liberal and open city in America outside of San Francisco.
Quote from: stephendare on November 26, 2009, 11:55:37 AM
TUFSU, Ive lived all over the world, and I havent really noticed that.
Which cities have you noticed this to be most true of that youve lived in?
Even in Honolulu, where I'm from, which is usually voted has having the highest quality of life of any American city, contains numbers of people who want to leave. I have never lived in a place where everybody was happy and, maybe I'm wrong, but I wouldn't be surprised if you hang around a number of cynical and negative people.