Jacksonville, a city of 700,000 residents, is located few miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean along the St. Johns River.

African American population in metro Jacksonville tops 225,000.

Jacksonville is one of the nation’s largest cities in land area with 841 square miles.

Jacksonville is both a major port city and the largest financial center of Florida.

Jacksonville attracts 5 million visitors per year.

National figures here or made their mark here include:

Asa Philip Randolph
One of the greatest under-appreciated leaders of the modern Civil Rights Movement in America; co-organized the 1963 March on Washington

James Weldon Johnson & John Rosamond Johnson
The brothers who co-composed the unofficial Negro National Anthem

Hattie Emerson
Founded Old Brewster Hospital for Colored patients

Reverend James McDonald & Reverend Ryan Frier
Organized the first Baptist church in Jacksonville under the title Bethel Baptist Church in 1838

Clara White
Founded a mission to care for the sick and needy in Jacksonville’s LaVilla district

Richard Daniel
Attorney who founded the Jacksonville Urban League in 1947; building downtown is named for him, its now part of the Adam's Mark Hotel.

Dr. Johnnetta Cole
Served as president of Spelman College, taught at Emory University, served on President Bill Clinton's transition team, president of Bennett College in North Carolina; also a published author

Bob Hayes
1964 Olympian and pro football player for the Dallas Cowboys; was the fastest wide receiver in the NFL