Jacksonville: The Consolidation Story, from Civil Rights to the Jaguars

In the 1950s and '60s Jacksonville faced daunting problems. Critics described city government as boss—ridden, expensive, and corrupt. African Americans challenged racial segregation, and public high schools were disaccredited. The St. Johns River and its tributaries were heavily polluted. Downtown development had succumbed to suburban sprawl. Consolidation, endorsed by an almost two—to—one majority in 1967, became the catalyst for change. The city's decision to consolidate with surrounding ...