Jacksonville

Discussions of New South cities rarely include Jacksonville and then only as an afterthought. Atlanta, Birmingham, Houston, Dallas, Charlotte, Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and the recent tragedy and recovery of New Orleans most commonly come to mind. James B. Crooks corrects that omission. His book traces the development of Jacksonville under its consolidated government. During the early 1960s, the Florida community faced numerous problems, including racial segregation, governmental inefficiency and corruption, a stale economy, and environmental scarring. In 1967, the city's plight convinced citizens to support a plan of governmental consolidation that merged Jacksonville with Duval County, a scheme that had support from the political and economic elite as well as from African Americans and suburbanites. Consolidation substantially increased the city's population and brought outlying suburban areas under the supervision of a centralized government. It also unleashed a spirit of boosterism that carried Jacksonville to new heights. Under the leadership of several committed, vigorous mayors, the city sought to address its problems. Because the rejuvenation of downtown was a principal concern, local leaders focused on the St. Johns River, brought in the Rouse Company to create Jacksonville Landing, a shopping and entertainment center, and, later, supported the River City Renaissance. The community also sought to address the environmental problems that local paper companies and chemical firms created. Although legal action eventually forced industrial cleanups of the polluted river, the removal of the noxious odors that offended residents and visitors alike proved more daunting. Community leaders also attempted to end segregation and racial discrimination and to improve the quality of law enforcement in a city that had a reputation for police brutality. The improvement of schools and municipal services was another goal

Appeal · Archaeology · Downtown · Miami · Political science · Politics · Population · Redevelopment · Sociology · History · Law · Public Administration · Urban, Neighborhood, and Segregation Studies