JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Sept. 4 in Jacksonville is known as 904 Day, a day named after our area code (904, of course) that really makes you want to scream “DUUUVAL!”
Area code 904 is the telephone area code in use for most of the First Coast (northeast) region of the state of Florida, including all of the metropolitan area of Jacksonville. It includes all of Duval, St. Johns, Nassau, Baker and Clay counties. Recently, Northeast Florida was assigned a new “324″ area code due to the recent population growth.
Speaking of growth, the U.S. Census reported in the last 10 years, the city of Jacksonville’s population grew by nearly 130,000.
To celebrate 904 Day, I thought we would list a few fun facts that have really put us on the map.
Friendship Fountain: When it opened in the 1960s; the Friendship Fountain was the world’s largest and tallest fountain when it opened! For decades, Friendship Fountain has been an iconic spot in Jacksonville. It’s a city landmark on Jacksonville’s Southbank. After repairs and delays forced it to remain closed for roughly three years, the new and improved Friendship Fountain officially reopened in February 2024.
Lynyrd Skynyrd: Jacksonville is the birthplace of Southern rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd. News4JAX has profiled the group extensively, including producing an hour-long special, “The Legacy of Lynyrd Skynyrd.”
Naval Air Station Jacksonville: Naval Air Station Jacksonville is the largest Naval base in the Southeast region and the third-largest in the United States. The main operation at NAS Jacksonville as the U.S. entered World War II was the training of naval aviators. Near the end of the war, NAS Jacksonville also served as a holding center for more than 1,600 prisoners of war in German uniforms. (Read more NAS Jacksonville history)
Great Fire of 1901: Much of Jacksonville’s urban core was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1901. In 1901, the fire spread across downtown and burned 2,368 buildings and 466 acres. It was the largest metropolitan fire in the South. It left more than 8,600 people homeless. Three years later, the area was rebuilt. The number of new structures surpassed the number of buildings lost. (Read more about the “Great Fire” here)
Snow in Jacksonville? Get out of town! It feels as if it will never snow in Duval County again, but it happened... and we have pictures to prove it. On Dec. 23, 1989, those who lived here sledded down the Dames Point Bridge, had snowball fights and even made snowmen. It hasn’t snowed again in more than 30 years. (GALLERY: Locals share snow photos 30+ years after a white Christmas in Jacksonville)
Andrew Jackson: Jacksonville was named for General Andrew Jackson, the first military governor of Florida who, incidentally, never visited Jacksonville.
Duval Street: The street, like the county, was named for William Pope Duval, the first Territorial Governor of Florida.
Jacksonville’s Florida Theatre is behind one of Elvis’ most iconic looks: There were reports of fans rushing toward Elvis during a concert in Jacksonville in 1955. They tried to rip off pieces of his clothes. Elvis Presley’s famous lip curl started in Jacksonville. Here’s why.
Jacksonville’s oldest resident: Planted in 1822 (or so the story says), Treaty Oak, located on the Southbank of Downtown has a circumference of 25 feet and reaches more than 70 feet into the sky. This is Jacksonville’s oldest resident.
Navy’s Blue Angels: As many locals know, the Navy’s Blue Angels formed right here in the River City in 1946. The team has wowed crowds for generations and united people in the spectacle of their world-famous air show. Click here to read more.
If you have made it to the end of this article, I will let you in on a little secret... TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY! 🎂
I get to celebrate the city and my birth. Pretty cool, right? I like to believe that Jacksonville wouldn’t be the same without me. *wink* The other fun fact? I share my birthday with Beyonce! She turns 43 today.
Feel free to email me if you want at CLuter@wjxt.com.
Related: A look back: The toll Jacksonville’s toll system had on the city’s history
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