[tmsautoart]

Ditto on Byrons comment. I grew up in the beaches area just south of Jax bch (Ponte Vedra). Talk about growth! Byron probably remembers the way that area was 25 years ago vs. now. Very crowded.
As far as crime goes:
The crime is probably 90% located in the NW corner of Jax. (there are some exceptions like the Arlington area) and is probably 100% drug/gang related. So unless your a drug dealer, buyer, thief, crackhead or associate with drug dealers/users gang members etc., your fine. Jacksonville is very spread out. (I think its the largest city square mileage in the US) You can drive for an hour and still be in Jacksonville. That crappy part of town is a world away from the beaches or me. It would take a good 40 minutes to get from the bad NW part of town to the beaches area for instance. Think about a 40 minute drive radius around some of you....i'm sure there are some pretty shady places. I lived in CT. for a while where a 1 minute drive was all that seperated some nice areas from the bad. There are some VERY nice areas in this town for sure.
I should work for the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce.