Jacksonville, North Carolina
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| City of Jacksonville |
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| Nickname: "Tha "Ville",J- Actionville" | ||
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| Coordinates: | ||
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| Country | United States | |
| State | North Carolina | |
| County | Onslow County | |
| Founded | 1757 | |
| Incorporated | 1842 | |
| Mayor | Jan B. Slagle | |
| Area | ||
| - City | 117 km² (45.2 sq mi) | |
| - Land | 115.2 km² (44.5 sq mi) | |
| - Water | 1.8 km² (0.7 sq mi) 1.51% | |
| - Urban | 103 km² (64 sq mi) | |
| - Metro | 2,353 km² (909 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 4.6 m (15 ft) | |
| Population | ||
| - City (2000) | 66,715 | |
| - Density | 579.1/km² (1,500/sq mi) | |
| - Urban | 95,514 | |
| - Metro | 154,297 | |
| - Metro Density | 66/km² (41/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | |
| - Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP Code | 28540 | |
| Website: www.ci.jacksonville.nc.us | ||
Jacksonville is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2000 census the city had a total population of 66,715. It is the principal city of and is included in the Jacksonville, North Carolina Metropolitan Statistical Area.
It is the county seat of Onslow CountyGR6 and the home of the U.S. Marine Corps Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station. Jacksonville is located in North Carolina's Inner Banks region.
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[edit] Geography
Jacksonville is located at (34.759630, -77.409765)GR1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 117.0 km² (45.2 mi²). 115.2 km² (44.5 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it (1.51%) is water.
It is approximately 40 minutes from Wilmington and 15 minutes from the Intra Coastal Waterway. Jacksonville's neighbors include Richlands, Maysville, Swansboro, Topsail Beach, Atlantic Beach, and New Bern.
[edit] Demographics
As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 66,715 people, 17,175 households, and 13,533 families residing in the city. The population density was 579.1/km² (1,500.0/mi²). There were 18,312 housing units at an average density of 159.0/km² (411.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 63.94% White, 23.96% African American, 0.75% Native American, 2.07% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 5.42% from other races, and 3.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.05% of the population.
There were 17,175 households out of which 49.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.2% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 36.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 8.8% from 45 to 64, and 4.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 156.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 178.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,544, and the median income for a family was $33,763. Males had a median income of $17,121 versus $19,931 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,237. About 12.5% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 17.7% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] History
The early history of Jacksonville starts with the end of the Tuscarora wars ca 1711. The pacification of hostile Native American tribes allowed for permanent settlement of the regions between New Bern and Wilmington. The headwaters of the New River became a center of production for naval stores, particularly turpentine. The largest naval store operation on the New River was owned by James Wantland, and the area quickly became identified by toponyms bearing his name. The downtown waterfront park is build on the site of Wantland's Ferry, with bridges being constructed on either side of the original ferry site. A limestone outcropping that channelled fresh water from the Castle Hayne aquifer was referred to as Wantland's Spring. A private marina now sits on the former site of Wantland's Landing.
A devastating series of hurricanes in 1752 destroyed the County seat of Johnston, and Wantlands Ferry was chosen as the site of the new county courthouse. The area was then incorporated as Onslow Courthouse in 1785. In 1884, the courthouse was rebuilt, and the area was renamed Jacksonville in honor of former US President Andrew Jackson.
Jacksonville and Onslow County continued to rely on naval stores, lumber, and tobacco crops for industry. In 1939, Colonel George W. Gillette of the Wilmington Battalion of the US Army Corps of Engineers surveyed the area along the New River. Despite the small detachment of US Marines stationed at a village near Courthouse Bay (site of the original county seat of Johnston), he titled the map "The Unguarded Coastline". The map was then distributed, and caught the attention of the US Navy which then decided to establish an amphibious training base in the area. Congressman Graham of New Bern lobbied congress to appropriate funds for the purchase of 100,000 acres (400 km²) along the eastern bank of the New River. The establishment of Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base by the 1st Marine Division on the site led to the expulsion of 700 families. While the landowners were compensated, most of the families displaced were African American sharecroppers who did not own the land their houses were built on, and did not receive compensation for their structures. Some African American families were able to purchase property from Raymond Kellum and established the community of Kellumtown. Other displaced families established communities in Georgetown, Pickettown, Bell Fork, and Sandy Run. The latter communities have since been absorbed by Jacksonville. The controversy over this displacement of families is still a source of controversy in Jacksonville's African American community today. Ironically, Col. Gillette had planned to retire among the Marines at Courthouse Bay, but lost his land to the acquisition as well.
Construction of Camp Lejeune caused a population explosion as new workers migrated to the area. Growth continued to be fueled by both young Marine families and military retirees. Today, Jacksonville's primary industry is retail sales and services. The primary migration draw continues to be the US Marine Corps.
[edit] Famous People
Well-known people from Jacksonville include: Tyrone Willingham, Ray Durham, Ike Reese, Mario Williams, Jamal Schuler, Marcus Jones, Ellis Dilla-Hunt, Ryan Adams, and Danielle Peck.
[edit] References
Murrell, Stratton C. and Billie Jean. Images of America: Jacksonville and Camp Lejeune, Arcadia Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0-7385-1356-3
[edit] External links
- Official website of Jacksonville, NC
- Jacksonville (North Carolina) travel guide from Wikitravel
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
==Television== WWAY-TV 3 in Wilmington NC
