Moving from Chicago, IL to Jacksonville, FL

Are you moving from Chicago, IL to Jacksonville, FL?

Making a leap from Chicago, Illinois to Jacksonville, Florida is one of the more dramatic moves that one can make across the United States. The two cities are of differing sizes and climates. The types of industry and people you will find are very different. In truth, everything is different in the two towns, aside from sharing places within the same country. But the move to Jacksonville allows you to move to a warm climate, off of the ocean and away from the hectic lifestyle that such a major metropolitan city brings. Going from Chicago to Jacksonville could be one of the best decisions you ever made.

What is the weather like in Jacksonville?  

One of the primary qualities that Chicago residents will find appealing about Jacksonville is the weather. Whereas Chicago is known for having both harsh winters and summers, Jacksonville has a hot summer, but an extremely mild winter season. Snowfall is exceedingly rare in the city, whereas Chicago gets literally feet of snow every single trip around the calendar. Jacksonville still enjoys plenty of rainfall, though, and takes in more than 50 inches annually. Overall, the yearly average temperatures are a high of 79.3 and a low of 57.8. Compare that to Chicago, which spends much of the year with lows going south of freezing, and you have a far more pleasant, warm experience.

What do the economy of Jacksonville?

A legitimate concern when moving away from a city such as Chicago, which has a healthy dose of everything, is that the job market won’t be nearly as strong elsewhere. Jacksonville, however, does not have that problem. Thanks to Atlantic coast location, in addition to being beside the St. Johns River, Jacksonville holds the title of the largest deepwater port in the Southern United States. It is one of the lead locations for the import and export of items like automobiles. Distribution plays a very strong role in the city’s overall economy, but there are also strong holds in the financial services, consumer goods, biomedical technology, information services, insurance and manufacturing industries.

Tourism also plays a big part in the city’s revenue, with close to three million visitors staying in the city annually, which accounts for around one billion dollars. 10 percent of the workforce, or around 43,000 jobs, benefit from tourism in the city.

Jacksonville has been recognized for their exceptional economy in the past, with Forbes once calling the city the third best in the country to relocate to find a job. They also named it one of the 10 fastest growing cities in the union.

What is the religious scene like in Jacksonville?

Of course, one of a person’s primary concerns when moving from one area to another is whether or not they can find a religious home, as well as a physical home. Jacksonville has one of the most diverse religious populations in the state of Florida, and there is literally no end to the houses of worship one can find.

Protestants make up the majority of the population, with well over 300,000 people identifying as Evangelicals in the city, and more than 100,000 others belonging to other Protestant sects. The most prominent churches include the city’s First Baptist Church and the Bethel Baptist Institutional Church. St. John’s Cathedral, which dates back to 1906, is where the Episcopal Diocese of Florida meets each week. The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception is a beautiful, historic Catholic church that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There is also a significant population of Mormons, with around 15,000 members total in the city, as well around 8,000 Muslims and 6,000 Jews. Hindus also have a home in Jacksonville, with over 4,500 indentifying as such, and there are also about 3,500 Buddhists, as well.

No matter what your faith, you can find a home in Jacksonville.

So why do people visit Jacksonville?

Tourism plays a large part in Jacksonville’s economy, as mentioned earlier in the article. When people talk about vacationing, though, you might not hear Jacksonville’s name come up as much as Las Vegas or New York. Why is it such a big tourist attraction then?

Well it is simply because there is a lot to do in this beautiful Florida town. For instance, the second-largest Jazz festival in American is held in Jacksonville each year, as is one of the largest blues festivals (“Springing the Blues”). Asides from music, film also has a place in the city, with the Jacksonville Film Festival having been held each year since 2003. The Gate River Run has been going strong since 1977, and it is the largest 15-kilometre race in the nation. The Gator Bowl is held in the city every New Year’s Day, as well, one of college football’s most important events.

The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens has been around since 1961, and it has on display some very interesting exhibits. This includes large collections of European and Japanese art, as well as an impressive collection of Meissen porcelain. Art lovers also have the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, a 60,000-square-foot building that features a number of both traveling and permanent exhibitions. Many people also enjoy visiting the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Regency Square Mall and the town’s many historical buildings, such as the Catherine Street Fire Station.

Ready to move from Chicago to Jacksonville?

So much awaits you in Jacksonville. When you’re ready to move all your belongings there, U-Pack® will be ready to help. We’ll do all the driving – you just pack, load, and unload. And what makes U-Pack an even better solution is that our prices are often comparable to truck rental! We have service centers near both cities, so we can help!

Get a free moving quote today and see just how easy you can move from Chicago to Jacksonville.