Jacob

About Jacob Florida

Every small town showcases its character in different ways. For the city of Jacob, which has a population of about 300 people, the character shines through by way of its people. This is the kind of place where residents consider their neighbors part of their family, Jacob’s mayor, Bernice Milton said.

“If someone needs help in this community, someone will come to their rescue,” she said.

The city holds a celebration each year to commemorate that quality. Jacob City Day is a one-day event held on the first weekend of October every year to recognize the city and the people that call it home. There’s nothing too fancy about the event, which includes grilled hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken along with other refreshments sold by area vendors.

“It’s celebrating the city and fellowship with one another,” the mayor said. “It’s just a fun day for everybody to come out.”

Citizens from all over the county come and enjoy the festivities, which also include a small parade each year. The route runs along Jackson Street in front of city hall and features about 40 entries from service groups and area businesses. Elected city and county officials also participate in the parade.

Many attendees often talk about or think back to how far the small community has come since it was formed in the mid- 1800s. “It was once, like a lot of the communities, pretty self sufficient,” the mayor said. The town once had a grist mill, grocery store and lumber company, but time has transformed it into more of a bedroom community these days.

The town’s citizens incorporated in 1984, looking to seize the opportunity to capture grants with the hopes of improving the city. Since then, Jacob has received about $1 million in grant money, which has funded projects such as improved community housing and a city park. Jacob City Park features softball and baseball fields, a basketball court, a volleyball area and a walking trail. However, it stands as more than just a place for people to play sports, the mayor said.

“It’s a vital thing to the city because it gives people a place to go,” she explained.