Print ArticleLike many cities, Miami aspires to achieve greatness with its downtown. Judging from the amount of cranes dominating the skyline, Miami is well on its way. Today, Metro Jacksonville's Ennis Davis takes a look at the street scene of one of the country's most rapidly growing downtowns.
Tale of the Tape
Miami Population 2012: 413,892 (City); 5,762,717 (Metro) - (incorporated in 1896)
Jacksonville Population 2012: 836,507 (City); 1,328,144 (Metro) - (incorporated in 1832)
City population 1950: Jacksonville (204,517); Miami (249,276)
Metropolitan Area Growth rate (2010-2012)
Miami: +3.56%
Jacksonville: +2.40%
Urban Area Population (2010 census)
Miami: 5,502,379 (ranked 4 nationwide)
Jacksonville: 1,065,219 (ranked 40 nationwide)
Urban Area Population Density (2000 census)
Miami: 4,442.4
Jacksonville: 2,008.5
City Population Growth from 2010 to 2012
Miami: +14,435
Jacksonville: +14,723
Convention Center Exhibition Space:
Miami: James L. Knight International Center (1982) - 28,000 square feet; larger convention center in Miami Beach.
Jacksonville: Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center (1986) - 78,500 square feet
Connected to Convention Center:
Miami: Hyatt Regency (615 units)
Jacksonville: N/A
Tallest Building:
Miami: Four Seasons Hotel & Tower - 789 feet
Jacksonville: Bank of America Tower - 617 feet
Fortune 500 companies 2013 (City limits only):
Miami: World Fuel Services (74), Ryder System (404)
Jacksonville: CSX (231), Fidelity National Financial (353), Fidelity National Information Services (474)
Urban infill obstacles:
Miami: Interstate 395 serves as a barrier between Downtown Miami and Wynwood.
Jacksonville: State & Union Streets cut off Downtown Jacksonville from Springfield.
Downtown Nightlife:
Miami: Park West District, Mary Brickell Village
Jacksonville: The Elbow, The Jacksonville Landing
Common Downtown Albatross:
Surface parking lots.
Whose Downtown is more walkable?
Miami: 92 out of 100, according to walkscore.com
Jacksonville: 73 out of 100, according to walkscore.com
City Land Area
Miami: 35.87 square miles
Jacksonville: 747.00 square miles
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com
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