Since the formation of Sister Cities International in 1956, cities across the world have formed diplomatic partnerships, becoming “sister cities” with each other.
The concept of sister cities is simple: two cities, usually in different countries, form an agreement to promote cultural and economic exchanges, promoting cultural growth and economic diversification.
Jacksonville has amassed eight international sister cities since taking on its first partnership in 1967. Most of those cities have something major in common with Jax, such as being a port city or being located near a coast. Jacksonville Sister Cities Association, a local nonprofit, manages these partnerships and coordinates activities between Jax and its sister cities.
We’ve created brief profiles for those eight sister cities to better acquaint Jax residents with each of them. (Honorable mentions also go out to Ningbo, Shaoxing, and Suzhou in China, which are not formally part of the sister city program but are considered “friendship cities.”)
Port Elizabeth, also known as Nelson Mandela Bay, became a sister city of Jax in February 2000.
Established in 1820, Port Elizabeth is the second oldest city in South Africa. It’s also the most populous city in the country’s Eastern Cape province, with a population of 967,000.
As hinted at by its name, the city features an important port, as well as several beaches which serve as popular tourist destinations. It has a strong economy, with multiple Fortune 500 companies maintaining a presence within the city.
It’s part of the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality, formed in 2001 in honor of Nelson Mandela.
