In this forum, we are constantly giving our views, opinions, etc. regarding how we see our city and what must be done to improve it. But how do others, especially outsiders, view Jacksonville? Are we still viewed as the mumbling, stumbling, big city that never can with a redneck, hick and backwoods mentality?
I stumbled across an article in the new August edition of Florida Trend and Jacksonville's image seems to be improving, on the rebound, and generally positive around the state. To access that article, please click the links below, and learn more about how others view our city:
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=2&aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=3&aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=4&aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=5&aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=6&aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=7&aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=8&aID=51436
http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?page=9&aID=51436
Might be premature, but in my opinion, based on this small article, Jacksonville's image, at least within the State of Florida is on the "up and up."
Heights Unknown
Honestly, the only negatives I've ever heard about Jax from outsiders is that they either have no clue where it is (other than Florida) and that there really isn't much to do here.
I'd say that we (for the most part) aren't seen in a negative light. We're just shadowed in popularity and image by the tourist meccas to the south of us.
From "the grapevine," in conversations with people who I've conversed with who have been to Jacksonville and lived in Jacksonville, Jacksonville is slow, there's nothing to do (recreation, entertainment, etc.), and compared to other major cities in Florida there is just no comparison. Before leaving Jax for another job in South Florida in 1995, these concerns never came to mind, however, after living in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area for 9 years, and then the Tampa/Sarasota-Bradenton area since 2004, I quickly found their concerns and negativism towards Jacksonville true and wholly founded, however, after visiting Jax numerous times since I left, Jacksonville is a much better city now than in 1995; there is much more to see, do, and experience in Jax now versus then; and...the town looks and smells much better, the image is more clean, pristine, but "Big Jax" still holds her southern charm and small town feel which I hope never disappears.
Heights Unknown
Great article!
I think there is a HUGE difference in the perceptions of Jax depending on where the perceiver is from. Those from FL, but not NE FL, tend to see it negatively. Outside of Florida, specifically Georgia (beyond the JAX media market), SC, NC, VA, etc. their really is NO perception, neither positive nor negative.
Living in SC, I can honestly say most people throughout the state do not have a cognizant image of the city, except as a stop on the way to Orlando or beyond.
When you see the CVB budget, you start to understand why.
The good thing about that is it presents a blank canvas upon which to paint. The painter is on extend break though.
Funny you mention this.. I was checking in a Dutch family today traveling back to Amsterdam from their vacation.. As I was tagging their bags and getting their boarding passes I asked them how they liked Florida. They informed me that they flew into Miami spent time there, drove to Orlando, spent time there, then came to visit friends and play golf in Jacksonville.
They found Miami too crowded and too dirty.
They found Orlando way too "touristy" and crowded, not to mention the daily 'fall-of-saigon' traffic nightmares.
They found Jacksonville just right they said. In fact, if they ever returned, they would fly directly to Jacksonville and skip the rest of the state. They loved the golf, loved the laid back southern pace, the people, etc..
Quote from: DetroitInJAX on August 03, 2009, 03:09:23 PM
In fact, if they ever returned, they would fly directly to Jacksonville and skip the rest of the state. They loved the golf, loved the laid back southern pace, the people, etc..
Ahhh but would they LIVE here is the question?
Speaking for myself, CrysG, I would rather they visited, spent their tourist dollars in a happy haze, and left town.
heights unknown your icon scares me :o
heights unknown - thanks for conjuring up the old smells of Jacksonville!
I remember back in the 70's when my relative would visit from NY and Mass. they couldn't get over the smell, but having been born and raised in Jax it was something I didn't really notice on a day to day basis (unfortunately I must have been used to it). But having moved away for a while, when I returned, WOW did it almost knock me off my feet. The smell is one of the things I'm glad Jacksonville has gotten rid of from its past.
I also remember as a child taking class field trips to the paper and paint plants (why there I still wonder to this day) and the smell of Jax was never more prevalent when closer to the source of the aroma.
I think the old Jax air is something that I have purged from my memory banks.
FYi, we have two threads on this article. Here is the other one for cross reference: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,5664.0.html
In the nineties the responses from other Floridians were something like, 'Oh Jacksonville is just a big old dirty city.' However, the responses from Floridians has changed unbelievably favorable form my experiences.
In Florida, The other 3 top dogs know about Jax. Miami people think Jacksonville is boring, Tampa Bay folks resemble Jacksonville folks like mirrors...Orlando has a lot of resentment toward Jacksonville for being so close to the Gators and having the Jaguars...I mean they hate those situation in Orlando. Orlando also does not have a beach, Jacksonville does not brag enough about its beach, but they should. Outside of Florida all people know is Miami. Even when I am at work I tell people I am from Jacksonville and the first thing they say is "Is it close to Miami?" or theyll say "Hey ain't you from Miami?" I just came back from St. Lucia in the west indies to see relatives...all they know is Miami and New York....My brothers were telling our cousins we are from Jacksonville and they would be like "I wanna come to New York" "If we come to America can you take us to New York?" People outside of the country either want New York, Miami or Los Angeles maybe even Seattle or San Francisco.... doubt Jacksonville ever comes up. Jacksonville was once the number 1 city in the state, but now it is fourth. I think Cecil Field should be a Navy base again. I think the future mayors should kiss more fortune 500 ass for the future of the city. Jacksonville to me has a major issue with just living in the present. They do not do many things for the future of the city. The population can change with the right leadership, with more people, comes more things to do.
I have friends in Tampa and South Florida, people in those cities never have anything nice to say about Jax. People know Miami and cities like New York and L.A. because those cities have made a name for themselves. If not for the Jaguars not many would know anything about Jacksonville. Other than that not much has changed here.
Quote from: lindab on August 03, 2009, 05:52:05 PM
Speaking for myself, CrysG, I would rather they visited, spent their tourist dollars in a happy haze, and left town.
what the the dutch ever do to you? geez.
I think Jacksonville has come a long, long way. When I went in the Navy in 1974, Jacksonville had no identity, none, no semblance of knowing who it was or where it wanted to go. Don't forget now, I lived in Jacksonville as a kid from 1965 - 1968, so I remember pre-consolidated Jax, and Jax when many people thronged downtown to shop, eat, and play.
From 1974 to about 1990, Jax was ho hum, boring, and back then I had dreams of one day seeing an Atlanta type skyline in Jax; never happened. Downtown was full of parking lots begging to be filled with developments.
From 1990 to 1995 things kind of were looking up. A brand new number one skyscraper graced the skyline, the Barnett Building now known as Bank of America. The talk was buzzing, once again, of a National Football League Franchise maybe coming to the City. Though not many new developments or skyscrapers would be built outside of the Barnett Building, or BOA, Jax did land the football team, and many were hoping that this would help change the City's image and make it a first class/international type city.
From about 1995 to the present I have visited Jax several times since leaving that same year. Each time I visited something had either changed or something new had been developed or built. I have noticed noticeable progress in Jax's appearance not only downtown but throughout the whole city; i.e., streets are generally cleaner with pristine landscaping, the skyline still has room for change but is very distinctive and different or even better than the skylines of its peers, the people seem happier and more proud to be Jacksonvillians, there seems to be more things to visit and do than 1995, and relative to 1995, more people nationwide actually know who, what, or where Jacksonville Florida is.
I dream of moving back; but I can't just yet. I want to move back NOW. I want to be a part of that "something special" that I hope and know will soon happen to and within Jax that will propel the City back to its number one status and stature in Florida, and nationwide. Florida's best kept secret is no longer a secret, more people know about Jax and prefer it over the other major Florida Cities despite those that haven't ever lived in Jax still tagging it as cowtown, hicksville, Smellieton. I'm proud of what Jacksonville has become, but I am even prouder of what it can be, hopes to be, and soon will be.
Heights Unknown
I think Jax still has an identity problem. Downtown has improved some, but still has a long way to go. Still behind in where it should be. Most people still see cities like Tampa, Miami, and Ft.Laud as the real Florida.
There is a problem here in Jacksonville. Its not a question of how outsiders view our City but how we as citizens view .....and we have a problem with an Administration that has no vision...no plan....and no business acumen. I seem to remember that the Honorable Mayor ran on a platform of "running the City like a business". So far I have not been impressed at all, if we are being run like a business then we would have declared Chapter 11 long ago. Until we clean up our own act and get our house in order who cares what other people think. What matters is what we think!