Jacksonville Sports and Concert Events

Jacksonville

Jacksonville is a city located in Duval County, Florida, USA. It is the county seat of Duval County 6. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 735,617. Geographically, it is the largest city in the contiguous 48 states of the United States in terms of land area. It is also the largest city in Florida in terms of population in the city proper. The area of Jacksonville is 874.3 square miles (2,264.5 km?). Jacksonville was originally named Cowford because the St. Johns River is narrow here, allowing cattlemen to herd cows across the river. The city was renamed in 1822 for the first territorial governor of Florida and the future 7th U.S. President Andrew Jackson. The area of Jacksonville is 874.3 square miles (2,264.5 km?). Jacksonville was originally named Cowford because the St. Johns River is narrow here, allowing cattlemen to herd cows across the river. The city was renamed in 1822 for the first territorial governor of Florida and the future 7th U.S. President Andrew Jackson. In 1513, Spanish explorers landed in Florida and claimed their discovery for Spain. In 1562, the French Huguenot explorer Jean Ribault explored the St. Johns River area and in 1564 the French established Fort Caroline. Spanish troops, led by Pedro Menõhez de AviløI from nearby St. Augustine attacked the fort and drove off the French in 1565. Spain ceded Florida to the British in 1763, who then gave control back to Spain in 1783. The first permanent settlement was founded at Cow Ford in 1791 and Florida became a United States territory in 1821. On June 15th, 1822 settlers sent a petition to the U.S. Secretary of State asking that Jacksonville be named a port of entry; this is the first recorded use of the name. The charter for a town government was approved by the Florida Legislative Council on February 9, 1832. Jacksonville is home to Edward Waters College, Jacksonville University, and the University of North Florida, as well as the Florida Community College at Jacksonville, Trinity Baptist College and Florida Coastal School of Law. Jacksonville is home to a number of professional sports teams: Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League, Jacksonville Suns, a Southern League minor league baseball team, Jacksonville Barracudas of the WHA2 ice hockey league. Jacksonville is also a hub for the world famous golf opportunites of North Florida. In Ponte Vedra lies the Sawgrass Country Club, one of the most famous golf courses in the world and home to the annual PGA TPC (The Player's Championship) tournament. Nearby St. Augustine is home to the World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame. Jacksonville also features dozens of other golf courses and country clubs.