The Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) is an area designated by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget used for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau and other government agencies.

In 2012 the OMB also defined the Jacksonville–Kingsland–Palatka, FL–GA Combined Statistical Area, which included metropolitan Jacksonville as well as the Palatka, Florida and Kingsland, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Areas (comprising Putnam County, Florida and Camden County, Georgia).

It has over 17,000 students and offers a variety of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Jacksonville University (JU), established in 1934, is a private, four-year institution located along the St. Johns River with over 3,500 students.

It is scheduled to be rebuilt when traffic increases at the airport, which was projected to happen in 2013.

Future plans call for expanding the newly built concourses by 2020 and possibly adding a people mover system to the airport and connecting the airport with the onsite Clarion Hotel via a moving walkway.

The Port of Jacksonville imports the second largest amount of automobiles on the east coast.

Opened in 2003 as a "temporary" terminal, cruise ships have set sail from the 63,000-square foot facility ever since.

Current cruises from Jacksonville visit the Bahamas on four- or five-day voyages aboard the Carnival Elation.

The people mover, known as the JTA Skyway, is located in downtown Jacksonville, and operates 8 stations along a 2.5-mile (4.0 km) track.

JTA operates three trolley lines in three different neighborhoods: Downtown, Riverside, and Jacksonville Beach.

[11] The Jacksonville metropolitan area is served by four interstate highways operated by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).