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Analysis and original reporting from the team behind The Jaxson, which is dedicated to urbanism and culture on the First Coast. The Jaxson explores the big issues facing Jacksonville in the modern era of urban growth, with a look at today's development in the context of yesterday's history. The Jaxson is a partnership of Modern Cities and WJCT Public Media.

the jaxson

Analysis and original reporting from the team behind The Jaxson, which is dedicated to urbanism and culture on the First Coast. The Jaxson explores the big issues facing Jacksonville in the modern era of urban growth, with a look at today's development in the context of yesterday's history. The Jaxson is a partnership of Modern Cities and WJCT Public Media.

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The first Thanksgivings on the First Coast”

November 22, 2022

THE JAXSON | The first Thanksgivings on the First Coast

Five decades before the Pilgrims celebrated their feast at Plymouth, Massachusetts, French and Spanish colonists held feasts of celebration on…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | LaVilla’s Railroad Row in color”

November 15, 2022

THE JAXSON | LaVilla’s Railroad Row in color

Between 1890 and 1920, more than 20 million immigrants arrived in the United States. Many found Jacksonville’s LaVilla neighborhood as…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The last days of Adventure Landing”

November 8, 2022

THE JAXSON | The last days of Adventure Landing

For 27 years, Jacksonville Beach’s Adventure Landing has been one of the most popular attractions for kids and their families…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 mid-century modern neighborhoods in Jax”

November 1, 2022

THE JAXSON | 5 mid-century modern neighborhoods in Jax

Covering nearly 875 square miles, Jacksonville is a diverse community with a wide collection of neighborhoods appealing to different lifestyles.…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jaxlore: Alpha Paynter, ghost of TacoLu”

October 25, 2022

THE JAXSON | Jaxlore: Alpha Paynter, ghost of TacoLu

Before it was TacoLu, the iconic log cabin off Beach Boulevard in Jacksonville Beach was home to the famed Homestead…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jaxlore: Ghosts of Evergreen Cemetery”

October 18, 2022

THE JAXSON | Jaxlore: Ghosts of Evergreen Cemetery

Jacksonville’s historic spaces offer no shortage of secrets and local folklore, and Evergreen Cemetery, the city’s oldest active cemetery, is…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Downtown Jacksonville’s 10 largest office buildings”

October 11, 2022

THE JAXSON | Downtown Jacksonville’s 10 largest office buildings

Downtown Jacksonville is home to the region’s tallest buildings, featuring nearly 8 million square feet of commercial space and more…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jacksonville could become an oyster town again”

October 4, 2022

THE JAXSON | Jacksonville could become an oyster town again

Oysters have been a staple of First Coast diets for thousands of years, although local oyster harvesting ceased in 1994…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | Eastside deserves national historic designation”

September 27, 2022

OPINION | Eastside deserves national historic designation

The history and heritage of Jacksonville’s many Gullah Geechee descendants have been largely overlooked, with little recognition given to the…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Secret Jacksonville: Exchange Club Island”

September 20, 2022

THE JAXSON | Secret Jacksonville: Exchange Club Island

Although it hasn’t always been accessible or maintained, Exchange Club Island is an official city park and one of Jacksonville’s…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The 7 historic districts of Jacksonville”

September 13, 2022

THE JAXSON | The 7 historic districts of Jacksonville

Founded in 1822, Jacksonville is home to 107 properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Of…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | Jax should apply for the Reconnecting Communities grant”

September 6, 2022

OPINION | Jax should apply for the Reconnecting Communities grant

The new federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program offers cities funding for projects that restore neighborhoods split and disrupted by highways…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 First Coast beach stories”

August 30, 2022

THE JAXSON | 6 First Coast beach stories

Jacksonville and the rest of the First Coast are home to some of the best, most accessible beaches in a…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 8 Jacksonville industrial heritage sites ripe for tourism”

August 23, 2022

THE JAXSON | 8 Jacksonville industrial heritage sites ripe for tourism

Industrial tourism — visiting places linked to the industries most common in a particular place — is a growing interest…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | Jax’s accessory dwelling unit bill deserves support”

August 16, 2022

OPINION | Jax’s accessory dwelling unit bill deserves support

The Jacksonville City Council is debating the Keep Our Families Together Act, which would allow accessory dwelling units — garage…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 Jacksonville day trips”

THE JAXSON | 6 Jacksonville day trips

There’s a lot to do in the Jacksonville area, and even more within a short drive. With summer winding down,…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 Downtown projects now under construction”

THE JAXSON | 6 Downtown projects now under construction

Though largely happening in the outskirts, new construction is happening in Downtown Jacksonville. Here’s a look at six projects moving…

By Bill Delaney and Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | Don’t sweat the ‘wrong kind’ of housing”

OPINION | Don’t sweat the ‘wrong kind’ of housing

New residential projects in established neighborhoods often draw pushback. This is especially the case when the developments are seen as…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | Florida’s secret weapon in the housing crisis”

OPINION | Florida’s secret weapon in the housing crisis

With the creation of the Sadowski Housing Trust Fund to support affordable housing in 1992, Florida led the way in…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jacksonville’s surviving historic theaters”

THE JAXSON | Jacksonville’s surviving historic theaters

The Jaxson Magazine takes a look into the history of Jacksonville’s nine oldest surviving theaters.…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 7 coffee concepts headed to town”

THE JAXSON | 7 coffee concepts headed to town

With the coffee industry expected to grow annually by 4.32% and proving to be recession-proof throughout the pandemic, Jacksonville has…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | Remembering David, Jacksonville’s trailblazing gay magazine”

OPINION | Remembering David, Jacksonville’s trailblazing gay magazine

From 1970 to 1974, Jacksonville was the headquarters of the first magazine to serve Florida’s gay community. In honor of…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | Resolving the Downtown self-storage wars”

OPINION | Resolving the Downtown self-storage wars

Developers want to lift a ban on self-storage facilities in Downtown Jacksonville, but building such facilities could stifle streets and…

By Bill Delaney and Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 3 alternatives to demolishing 618 West Adams Street”

THE JAXSON | 3 alternatives to demolishing 618 West Adams Street

A building possibly directly linked to the Great Fire of 1901 in LaVilla could be demolished soon. Here are a…

By Ennis Davis

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