In the 1950s and 60s Jacksonville faced daunting problems. The city government was criticized for being boss-ridden and corrupt, African Americans challenged racial segregation, the St. Johns River was heavily polluted, and downtown development had succumbed to suburban sprawl. In 1967 the city decided to consolidate with surrounding Duval County, transforming this conservative Deep South backwater city into a prosperous, mainstream metropolis. James Crooks introduces readers to preconsolidation Jacksonville and then focuses on three major issues that confronted the expanded city: racial relations, environmental pollution, and the revitalization of downtown.