Singles find it difficult to mingle in Jacksonville

[thelakelander]

BIG-CITY SURVEY: Forbes.com finds that people here tend to marry at a young age.

By DIANA MIDDLETON, The Times-Union

Perhaps nice guys do finish last.  Out of the 40 largest urban areas in the continental United States, Jacksonville is the worst city for singles according to a Forbes.com poll released Friday. Among its faults are a dearth of never-married singles and a tepid nightlife scene, according to the poll results.

One shiny spot on Jacksonville's dating resume? Its active online dating scene, which ranked No. 7 in that category.

Jacksonville's lackluster ranking is partly because the city's singles tend to marry young, according to Michael Noer, executive editor special projects at Forbes.com.

"Jacksonville was very much hurt by the number of young married people," Noer said, noting that the survey was primarily aimed at young singles who have never been married. "Something similar happened in Salt Lake City, where there is a religious culture."

Jacksonville also came in last in the culture category, and was No. 38 in the nightlife department.

That's one primary complaint of Kevin Hicks, 38, a corporate controller for Harry's of America. A native of No. 5 city Washington, D.C., he's been living in Jacksonville for 10 years. While the social scene has steadily improved, it's lacking substance, he said.

"We've got the Beaches, we've got Riverside and San Marco, but there's not a solid place of enjoyment," he said. "Everything is so spread out here."

That sentiment was echoed heartily in comments responding to the news on Jacksonville.com.

"Jax is so spread out and people don't want to travel two hours to meet up," one commenter said; another complained that there wasn't a central "watering hole or neighborhood activities for socializing."

(Although one suggested looking for love in the Beaches areas: "Jax beach has plenty of singles, or at least women acting like they are single.")

But Jacksonville does have selling points for its singles. For one, it fared well for affordability: it was No. 27 thanks to the average cost of rent, a movie ticket and a six-pack of Heineken. Job growth was also strong, ranking at No. 18.

"This is something we feel very strongly about," Forbes' Noer said. "Singles don't just need to be able to play, but [they also need] to work in order to afford going out."

Affordability of living alone is one category that hurts otherwise vibrant cities such as New York City, he said.

Overall, the rankings were too hard on Jacksonville, according to singles such as Earlette Burnell Hannibal, a Wachovia work flow coordinator. Hannibal, who lived for years in No. 26 city Virginia Beach, insisted Jacksonville singles aren't being creative enough in their soul searches.

"The idea that you'll find your soul mate club hopping or browsing the frozen food aisle is a misconception," the 43-year-old said. "There are lots of opportunities to meet like-minded people here."

She pointed to charity events, Jaguars games and the library as ideal meeting places.

And there's work - that's where Hannibal met her current squeeze.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090608/met_329076283.shtml

1. Atlanta
2. San Francisco
3. Dallas
4. Minneapolis
5. Washington D.C.
6. Seattle
7. Boston
8. New York City
9. Orlando
10. Phoenix
11. Chicago
12. Denver-Aurora
13. Miami
14. Austin
15. San Antonio
16. Los Angeles
17. Houston
18. Charlotte
19. San Diego
20. St. Louis
21. Columbus
22. Philadelphia
23. Tampa-St. Petersburg
24. Las Vegas
25. Baltimore
26. Virginia Beach-Norfolk
27. Detroit
28. Pittsburgh
29. Portland
30. Buffalo
31. Milwaukee
32. Sacramento
33. Cincinnati
34. Memphis
35. Providence
36. Kansas City
37. Indianapolis
38. Cleveland
39. Salt Lake City
40. Jacksonville

http://www.forbes.com/2008/09/04/best-cities-singles-forbeslife-singles08-cx_ee_0904singles_land.html

[civil42806]

Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh

[apvbguy]

Waaaaaaaahhhhhhhh

?

What is the point you are trying to make?

Singles are kind of the people who have the available time to make a city cool for married people.

They do the volunteer work, fill up the restaurants, nightclubs, and generally produce most of the cultural life as well.

wow this is too funny!
are you saying that married people don't volunteer? that married people to participate in the many cultural events around JAX? that married people don't go out to restaurants? I will concede that you won't find too many married people in discos but given the right venue they certainly go out to night clubs, please keep your views to yourself

[Lunican]

Lately there seems to be a string of surveys in which Jacksonville is ranking 40th out of the top 40 metro areas.

Cost of living always seems to be mentioned as a positive. I guess you get what you pay for.

apvbguy: There is no need to argue about this topic as well. Please take to the politics section.

[BridgeTroll]

wow this is too funny!
are you saying that married people don't volunteer? that married people to participate in the many cultural events around JAX? that married people don't go out to restaurants? I will concede that you won't find too many married people in discos but given the right venue they certainly go out to night clubs, please keep your inane myopic views to yourself

APVBGuy.

Please observe our rules of civility and desist from namecalling.   It is unwelcome and not productive, and although we do not do it very often, we do occasionally ban people for trolling.

I agree Stephen... his method of debate is embarrasing and it detracts from virtually every thread he insinuates himself into.

[David]

Of course married people visit certain night spots and contribute to the culture of the community, but it usually tends to be the domain of the single & unattached. People do get married young here, at age 21 mostly everyone around me was already living together or already getting married.

It seemed by age 26 I had hit a ceiling with the singles/night life in Jacksonville. Unless you're in college, the pickings can be slim. This town is a family town, respects things that are familly oriented, with little regard for the single/non married lifestyle....why do ya think I'm in Seattle right now?

But anyway,  I take a pretty black & white stance on overall population & density in relation to the amount of culture/nightlife/music & the arts.

Jacksonville = approximately 40th largest  metro area in the country, so it's not surprising we're ranked # 40 in this area. I am curious as to why Salt Lake City beat us out, but hey, maybe it's because there's nothing else around them for 300 miles.

[apvbguy]

wow this is too funny!
are you saying that married people don't volunteer? that married people to participate in the many cultural events around JAX? that married people don't go out to restaurants? I will concede that you won't find too many married people in discos but given the right venue they certainly go out to night clubs, please keep your inane myopic views to yourself

APVBGuy.

Please observe our rules of civility and desist from namecalling.   It is unwelcome and not productive, and although we do not do it very often, we do occasionally ban people for trolling.

so this is your typical response when your caught posting a foolish not well thought out comment?
I didn't call *YOU* anything I attacked the ideas you posted.

[Coolyfett]

BIG-CITY SURVEY: Forbes.com finds that people here tend to marry at a young age.

By DIANA MIDDLETON, The Times-Union

Perhaps nice guys do finish last.  Out of the 40 largest urban areas in the continental United States, Jacksonville is the worst city for singles according to a Forbes.com poll released Friday. Among its faults are a dearth of never-married singles and a tepid nightlife scene, according to the poll results.

One shiny spot on Jacksonville's dating resume? Its active online dating scene, which ranked No. 7 in that category.

Jacksonville's lackluster ranking is partly because the city's singles tend to marry young, according to Michael Noer, executive editor special projects at Forbes.com.

"Jacksonville was very much hurt by the number of young married people," Noer said, noting that the survey was primarily aimed at young singles who have never been married. "Something similar happened in Salt Lake City, where there is a religious culture."

Jacksonville also came in last in the culture category, and was No. 38 in the nightlife department.

That's one primary complaint of Kevin Hicks, 38, a corporate controller for Harry's of America. A native of No. 5 city Washington, D.C., he's been living in Jacksonville for 10 years. While the social scene has steadily improved, it's lacking substance, he said.

"We've got the Beaches, we've got Riverside and San Marco, but there's not a solid place of enjoyment," he said. "Everything is so spread out here."

That sentiment was echoed heartily in comments responding to the news on Jacksonville.com.

"Jax is so spread out and people don't want to travel two hours to meet up," one commenter said; another complained that there wasn't a central "watering hole or neighborhood activities for socializing."

(Although one suggested looking for love in the Beaches areas: "Jax beach has plenty of singles, or at least women acting like they are single.")

But Jacksonville does have selling points for its singles. For one, it fared well for affordability: it was No. 27 thanks to the average cost of rent, a movie ticket and a six-pack of Heineken. Job growth was also strong, ranking at No. 18.

"This is something we feel very strongly about," Forbes' Noer said. "Singles don't just need to be able to play, but [they also need] to work in order to afford going out."

Affordability of living alone is one category that hurts otherwise vibrant cities such as New York City, he said.

Overall, the rankings were too hard on Jacksonville, according to singles such as Earlette Burnell Hannibal, a Wachovia work flow coordinator. Hannibal, who lived for years in No. 26 city Virginia Beach, insisted Jacksonville singles aren't being creative enough in their soul searches.

"The idea that you'll find your soul mate club hopping or browsing the frozen food aisle is a misconception," the 43-year-old said. "There are lots of opportunities to meet like-minded people here."

She pointed to charity events, Jaguars games and the library as ideal meeting places.

And there's work - that's where Hannibal met her current squeeze.

Frozen food isle...Jaguar games? Hmmm...What exactly is considered a young marriage? Is it the age of the couple or how long they have been married? This is a really good article. Not sure how Jacksonville got behind Providence... isn't that place in Maine or Canada or something? I agree with the lack of culture statement. Outside of Riverside, Springfield, San Marco & The Beaches the city can be pretty bland/boring. I think everyone can contribute to civic culture, don't know if you have to  be single for that. There is still a lack of diverse events, which I think is caused by close minded citizens. Many have fear to be around other group of people that are different. Is religion the cause of early marriages? Are we calling marriage a bad thing? I hope not. Does the locations of UNF, EWC and JU have anything do with this? Should JU, EWC & UNF have downtown campuses? What if they did? I don't know what to take from this article, but it is interesting. Not sure if its negative or positive.

[Ocklawaha]

"Inane" = fatuous, a mindless or foolish idea delivered by a sloth. Perhaps fitting for the City in General, or certain government agencies. Not really something that describes any one person on this board. Those that care enough to post. Removed. The beatings will continue until morale improves.

Ocklawaha

[Ocklawaha]

I don't agree with the survey anyway, nothing much has changed here and there seems to me plenty of places to meet that perfect mate or go out on a hot date... there are still railroad yards all over town!

OCKLAWAHA

[RiversideGator]

I dont know about dating scenes in other large metro areas, but I can say that I am a much better citizen now that I am married.

[rjp2008]

I would agree with this survey. This is definitely a more family-type area and nightlife is not it's hallmark. Go south for that.