Jacksonville, North Carolina Explained

Jacksonville
Settlement Type:City
Nickname:J-Ville, J-Vegas, Marine Town
Mapsize:250x200px
Pushpin Map:North Carolina#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Label:Jacksonville
Coordinates:34.7597°N -77.4097°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name1:North Carolina
Subdivision Name2:Onslow
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1757
Established Title2:Incorporated
Established Date2:1842
Established Title3:Named For
Established Date3:Andrew Jackson
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Sammy Phillips
Total Type:Total
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Total Km2:146.14
Area Total Sq Mi:56.42
Area Land Km2:126.40
Area Land Sq Mi:48.80
Area Water Km2:19.74
Area Water Sq Mi:7.62
Area Water Percent:13.51
Elevation Ft:0
Population Total:72723
Population As Of:2020
Population Est:72879
Pop Est As Of:2023
Population Density Km2:575.35
Population Density Sq Mi:1490.16
Population Metro Footnotes:[1]
Population Metro:213676 (US: 219th)
Population Urban:111224 (US: 302nd)[2]
Population Density Urban Km2:567.6
Population Density Urban Sq Mi:1470.1
Postal Code Type:ZIP Codes
Postal Code:28540, 28541, 28546
Area Codes:910, 472
Motto:"A Caring Community"
Timezone:EST
Utc Offset:−05:00
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:−04:00
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:37-34200[3]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2404784
Area Footnotes:[4]

Jacksonville is a city in Onslow County, North Carolina, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 72,723, which makes Jacksonville the 14th-most populous city in North Carolina. Jacksonville is the county seat and most populous community of Onslow County, which is coterminous with the Jacksonville, NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. Demographically, Jacksonville is the youngest city in the United States, with an average age of 22.8 years old, which can be attributed to the large military presence. The low age may also be in part due to the population drastically increasing over the past 80 years, from 783 in the 1930 census to 72,723 in the 2020 census.[5]

It is the home of the United States Marine Corps' Camp Lejeune and New River Air Station. Jacksonville is located adjacent to North Carolina's Crystal Coast area.

History

After the end of the Tuscarora wars in 1713 and the forced removal of Native American tribes was followed by permanent settlement of the regions between New Bern and Wilmington. The New River became a major production center for naval stores like turpentine. The downtown waterfront park is built on the site original site of Wantland's Ferry.[6]

In 1752, a devastating hurricane destroyed the county seat of Johnston, and Wantlands Ferry, located further up the New River, at the present site of Jacksonville,[7] was chosen as the site of the new county courthouse. The area was later known as Onslow Courthouse. In 1842, the town was incorporated and renamed Jacksonville in honor of former U.S. President Andrew Jackson. The town was briefly captured and occupied in November 1862 by a raiding party led by U.S. Navy Lt. William B. Cushing.[8]

Jacksonville and Onslow County continued to rely on naval stores, lumber, and tobacco crops for industry. In 1939, Colonel George W. Gillette of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers surveyed and mapped the area from Fort Monroe, Virginia to Fort Sumter, South Carolina which included the Onslow County coastline and the New River. The map is believed to have fostered the interest of the War and Navy Departments in establishing an amphibious training base in the area. Congressman Graham Arthur Barden of New Bern lobbied Congress to appropriate funds for the purchase of about 100000acres along the eastern bank of the New River. The establishment in 1941 of Marine Barracks, New River, later renamed Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, led to the relocation of 700 families. While the landowners were compensated, many of the families displaced were sharecroppers who did not own the land on which their houses were built, 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. Colonel Gillette had planned to retire near the small village of Marine, ironically named after a local family whose surname was Marine, but lost his land to the acquisition, as well.[9] [10] [11]

Construction of Camp Lejeune caused a population explosion in the small town of about 800 inhabitants, 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 U.S. Marine Corps.[12]

The Bank of Onslow and Jacksonville Masonic Temple, Mill Avenue Historic District, and Pelletier House and Wantland Spring are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

In 2016, Jacksonville became the first jurisdiction to adopt a paid holiday honoring the 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution, which made slavery in the United States and its territories illegal. The resolution of adoption mentions "the prevention of the modern slavery" which it describes as "human trafficking", including child labor and military service.[13]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, of which is land and (13.51%) is water.[4] It is about 60 minutes from Wilmington and 15 minutes from the Intracoastal Waterway.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

Race!scope="col"
NumberPercentage
White (non-Hispanic)38,66153.16%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)12,72817.5%
Native American3340.46%
Asian2,3583.24%
Pacific Islander4320.59%
Other/mixed4,6706.42%
Hispanic or Latino13,54018.62%

As of the 2020 census, 72,723 people, 21,986 households, and 15,491 families resided in the city.

2000 census

At the 2000 census,[3] there were 66,715 people, 17,175 households, and 13,533 families residing in the city. The population density was 1500sp=usNaNsp=us. The 18,312 housing units averaged 411.7 per square mile (159.0/km). The racial composition of the city was 63.94% White, 23.96% African American, 2.07% Asian, 0.75% Native American, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 5.42% some other race, and 3.67% two or more races.

Of the 17,175 households, 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 not families. About 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 3.8

In the city, the population was distributed as 24.3% under 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 or older. The median age was 22 years. Jacksonville has been named the youngest city in the nation (lowest median age) on various lists. For every 100 females, there were 156.2 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 178.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,544, and 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.

Economy

Top employers

According to the city's 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[14] the top employers in the city are:

Employer
  1. of employees
11000+
2Onslow County Schools1000+
3Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune1000+
4Onslow Memorial Hospital1000+
5Onslow County1000+
6Walmart1000+
7Coastal Carolina Community College500–999
8Convergys500–999
9City of Jacksonville500–999
10250–499
11Coastal Enterprises250–499
12McDonald's250–499
13Lowe's250–499
14Alorica250–499
15Stanadyne250–499

Law and government

See also: List of mayors of Jacksonville, North Carolina. The mayor of Jacksonville is Sammy Phillips.[15] The city manager is Joshua W Ray, and the deputy city manager is Ron Massey.[16] The postmaster of Jacksonville is Jamie Thompson.[17]

City Council

The Jacksonville City Council members (as of 2024) are:[15]

Education

Public schools

Onslow County Schools serves the city, except for areas on U.S. military bases, including Camp Lejeune and Marine Corps Air Station New River; the military areas are served by Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools.[18]

Alternative school

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High schools

MCAS New River is zoned to Delalio Elementary School in MCAS New River and Brewster Middle School and Lejeune High School in Camp Lejeune.[19]

Private schools

Public magnet schools

Higher education

Charter school

Transportation

In 2009, the Jacksonville metropolitan statistical area ranked as the ninth-highest in the United States for ratio of commuters who walked to work (8.1%).[20]

The city's commercial air services are filled by Albert J. Ellis Airport in nearby Richlands.

Notable people

See also

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: March 14, 2024 . Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas Population Totals: 2020-2023 . March 15, 2024 . United States Census Bureau, Population Division.
  2. Web site: 2020 Census Qualifying Urban Areas and Final Criteria Clarifications. United States Census Bureau. Federal Register. December 29, 2022.
  3. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  4. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. September 20, 2022.
  5. Web site: Best Places to Live 2010 - Top 25: Youngest - from MONEY Magazine . 2022-09-14 . money.cnn.com.
  6. Web site: History of Jacksonville Jacksonville, NC - Official Website . 2022-11-06 . jacksonvillenc.gov.
  7. Mercantini . Jonathan . 2002 . The Great Carolina Hurricane of 1752 . The South Carolina Historical Magazine . 103 . 4 . 351–365 . 27570598 . 0038-3082.
  8. Web site: New River, Battle of . 2022-11-06 . NCpedia.org.
  9. Web site: History . 2022-11-06 . www.lejeune.marines.mil.
  10. Web site: Camp Lejeune . 2022-11-06 . NCpedia.org.
  11. Web site: Camp Lejeune, NC History . 2022-11-06 . camplejeunehousing.com.
  12. Web site: Jacksonville, North Carolina Employment . 2022-11-06 . citytowninfo.com . en.
  13. Web site: Weston . Annette . 2019-12-05 . Jacksonville may be first U.S. city to make anniversary of 13th Amendment a city holiday . 2022-10-08 . WCTI . en.
  14. https://click2gov.ci.jacksonville.nc.us/ftp/cafr/2012FINALCAFR.pdf City of Jacksonville CAFR
  15. Web site: Mayor and Council . April 22, 2024 . jacksonvillenc.gov.
  16. Web site: Core Management Team . April 22, 2024 . jacksonvillenc.gov.
  17. Web site: Coachman . Monica . December 17, 2014 . Post Office Open Last Sunday Before Christmas . July 30, 2023 . about.usps.com.
  18. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Onslow County, NC. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022-07-05. - Text list - "Camp Lejeune Schools" refers to the DoDEA schools.
  19. Web site: Camp Lejeune Community Schools Attendance Areas. Department of Defense Education Activity. 2022-07-05.
  20. Web site: Commuting in the United States: 2009. American Community Survey Reports. December 26, 2017. September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20170726134351/https://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acs-15.pdf. July 26, 2017. dead.
  21. https://archive.today/20200212053452/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=&geo_id=16000US3734200&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US37%7C16000US3734200&_street=&_county=jacksonville&_cityTown=jacksonville&_state=04000US37&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=ACS_2008_3YR_SAFF&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry= Jacksonville city, North Carolina
  22. Web site: David Braxton . November 24, 2018 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  23. Web site: Dave Dunaway . November 24, 2018 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  24. Web site: Jacob Evans . November 24, 2018 . Basketball-Reference.com . en.
  25. Web site: Chad Fonville . November 24, 2018 . TheBaseballCube.com . en.
  26. Web site: Jacksonville astronaut Christina Koch to conduct additional spacewalks. October 11, 2019. WNCT. en-US. October 14, 2019.
  27. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/P/PurvAn20.htm. Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 24, 2018.