Nassau County is the northeasternmost

county A county is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesChambers Dictionary, L. Brookes (ed.), 2005, Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, Edinburgh in certain modern nations. The term is derived from the Old French ...

of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...

. According to the

2020 United States Census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, the county's population was 90,352. The

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

and the largest incorporated city is

Fernandina Beach Fernandina may refer to: *Fernandina Beach, Florida **Original Town of Fernandina Historic Site *Fernandina Island, Galapagos Islands *Fernandina (fruit), a citrus ''Citrus'' is a genus of flowering trees and shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae ...

. Nassau County is part of the

Jacksonville metropolitan area The Jacksonville Metropolitan Area, also called the First Coast, Metro Jacksonville, or Northeast Florida, is the metropolitan area centered on the principal city of Jacksonville, Florida and including the First Coast of North Florida. According ...

, which was home to 1,534,701 people in 2018. The county is situated in Northeast Florida with a land area of . Population growth in the county has increased by over 28,000 residents since the year 2000 as a result of Nassau's proximity to downtown

Jacksonville Jacksonville is a city located on the Atlantic coast of northeast Florida, the most populous city proper in the state and is the List of United States cities by area, largest city by area in the contiguous United States as of 2020. It is the co ...

, new housing developments, agricultural production, tourism locations, and a diversifying tax base with new industrial and commercial companies moving to the county. Nassau County is also a popular choice of residence for military personnel stationed on bases in neighboring Duval County, Florida (

Naval Air Station Jacksonville Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jacksonville) is a large naval air station located approximately eight miles (13 km) south of the central business district of Jacksonville, Florida, United States., effective 2007-10-25 Location NAS Jac ...

, Naval Station Mayport) and

Camden County, Georgia Camden County is a county located in the southeastern corner of the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 50,513. Its county seat is Woodbine, and the largest city is St. Marys. It is one of the original cou ...

(

Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay is a base of the United States Navy located adjacent to the city of St. Marys in Camden County, Georgia, on the North River in southeastern Georgia, and 38 miles (61 km) from Jacksonville, Florida. The Submari ...

History

Nassau County was created in 1824 from Duval County. It was named for the

Duchy of Nassau The Duchy of Nassau (German: ''Herzogtum Nassau'') was an independent state between 1806 and 1866, located in what is now the German states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse. It was a member of the Confederation of the Rhine and later of the G ...

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

. File:Arms_of_Nassau.svg, The ancestral and core coat of arms of Nassau File:Hertogdom_Nassau_wapen.svg, Coat of Arms for Nassau The Battle of Alligator Bridge took place in Nassau County around

Callahan Callahan may refer to: *Callahan (surname) Fictional characters *Father Callahan, in Stephen King novels *Harry Callahan (character), in ''Dirty Harry'' movies * Jack Callahan (''Neighbours''), from the Australian soap opera ''Neighbours'' *Mik ...

on June 30, 1778, and was the only major engagement in an unsuccessful campaign to conquer

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

East Florida East Florida ( es, Florida Oriental) was a colony of Great Britain from 1763 to 1783 and a province of Spanish Florida from 1783 to 1821. Great Britain gained control of the long-established Spanish colony of ''La Florida'' in 1763 as part of ...

during the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

Law and government

The main environmental and agricultural body is the

Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District The Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD), located in Nassau County, Florida is a government entity dedicated to encouraging productive use of land, water and air resources in the county. According to a summary taken from Florida ...

, which works closely with other area agencies.

County Commissioners

Nassau County is governed by the five-member Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, who are elected to four-year terms by the voters. The terms are staggered so that either three or two

commissioner A commissioner (commonly abbreviated as Comm'r) is, in principle, a member of a commission or an individual who has been given a commission (official charge or authority to do something). In practice, the title of commissioner has evolved to in ...

s (alternately) are up for election every two years. The Nassau County Commissioners consists of the five members below:

Ocean Highway & Port Authority

The Ocean Highway & Port Authority (OHPA) is the independent government agency in Nassau County,

, that owns and operates the

seaport A port is a maritime facility comprising one or more wharves or loading areas, where ships load and discharge cargo and passengers. Although usually situated on a sea coast or estuary, ports can also be found far inland, such as Ham ...

system at the

Port of Fernandina The Port of Fernandina is located on Florida's Atlantic coast. It is used for terminal service for pulp and paper as well as steel exports, machinery, auto parts, chemicals, beverages, chemicals, building materials and food products. Container ...

. OHPA was founded in 1941 by the

Florida Legislature The Florida Legislature is the legislature of the U.S. State of Florida. It is organized as a bicameral body composed of an upper chamber, the Senate, and a lower chamber, the House of Representatives. Article III, Section 1 of the Florida Cons ...

. The Port of Fernandina is used for terminal service for pulp and paper as well as steel exports, machinery, auto parts, chemicals, beverages, chemicals, building materials and food products. Container lines from the port serve routes to Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica,

Aruba Aruba ( , , ), officially the Country of Aruba ( nl, Land Aruba; pap, Pais Aruba) is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands physically located in the mid-south of the Caribbean Sea, about north of the Venezuela peninsula of ...

Curaçao Curaçao ( ; ; pap, Kòrsou, ), officially the Country of Curaçao ( nl, Land Curaçao; pap, Pais Kòrsou), is a Lesser Antilles island country in the southern Caribbean Sea and the Dutch Caribbean region, about north of the Venezuela coast ...

, and Bermuda. In 2020 the port received over a million dollar grant from the

United States Department of Transportation The United States Department of Transportation (USDOT or DOT) is one of the executive departments of the U.S. federal government. It is headed by the secretary of transportation, who reports directly to the President of the United States and ...

to start a barge service. OHPA Commissioners * District 1: Miriam Hill * District 2: Danny Fullwood (Chair) * District 3: Scott Hanna * District 4: Carrol Franklin * District 5: Michael Cole

Police

The Nassau County Sheriff's Office provides services for the citizens of Nassau County. The Office of the Sheriff has a duty to enforce both the

Florida Constitution The Constitution of the State of Florida is the document that establishes and describes the powers, duties, structure, and function of the government of the U.S. state of Florida, and establishes the basic law of the state. The current Constitu ...

and Florida state laws and statutes, and to provide for the security, safety and well-being of its citizens. This is accomplished through the delivery of law enforcement services, the operation of the Nassau County Jail and Detention Center, and the provision of court security. The Nassau County Sheriff's Office Headquarters is in Yulee. the Sheriff is Bill Leeper.

Court Houses

The Nassau County Courthouse in Fernandina Beach is a historic two-story red brick courthouse built in 1891. The Robert M. Foster Justice Center is in Yulee. It was opened in 2004 to augment the historic Nassau County Courthouse location. This facility contains over 111,000 square feet and cost over $20 million to build.

Climate

Like much of the south Atlantic region of the United States, Nassau County has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

(Köppen ''Cfa''), with mild weather during winters and hot and humid weather during summers. Seasonal rainfall is concentrated in the warmest months from May through September, while the driest months are from November through April. Due to Yulee's low latitude and proximity to the coast it allows for very little cold weather, and winters are typically mild and sunny.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the county has an area of , of which is land and (10.6%) is water. The city of Fernandina Beach is on

Amelia Island Amelia Island is a part of the Sea Islands chain that stretches along the East Coast of the United States from South Carolina to Florida; it is the southernmost of the Sea Islands, and the northernmost of the barrier islands on Florida's Atlanti ...

, the county's one inhabited island. Fernandina Beach municipality extends across the Intracoastal Waterway along A1A to Yulee.

Topography

There are 12 distinct topographical zones in Nassau County. Most of these zones run in narrow bands stretching from north to south, although this is less true as one approaches the Atlantic coast. # Directly against the western border with Baker County, the topography ranges from fairly flat to slightly elevated. Drainage is poor and the soil is sandy. # Moving east, there are some areas (mostly in the northern and central county) of higher ground with much better drainage. # East of these areas are some lower places, especially in the south, that are level and have extremely poor drainage. # Eastward again, there is a stretch that ranges from a few miles in the extreme northern areas to about 6- wide in the southern area, including Hilliard and much of County Road 108 and State Road 301. This area again has very poor drainage, low-lying land, and fairly sandy soil. # East of this are scattered areas of high, sandy land with spotty or poor drainage. # East of this, there is an area including

with very sandy soil on top, and clay underneath. This section of the county is heavily permeated by small creeks and rivers, which bring with them low, poorly drained soils. This zone extends across the entire county from north to south at a fairly consistent width of about 3-, except in the north, where it widens to nearly across. # East of this area is a large band of land with a consistent width of about . The land is low and level with extremely poor drainage, and it is permeated by small creeks and rivers. In the northern section, this is where some tributaries join the St. Marys River, while in the south a number of tributaries drain into the Nassau River, which flows into the Nassau Sound and the Atlantic Ocean. # East of this area is a section of land about in width that has extremely sandy soils with bad drainage all around. # Further eastward is a large area, including Yulee and O'Neil, about in width, with poor drainage and sandy soil at higher elevations, pockmarked by large areas of low lands with even worse drainage. # To the south is an area of low-lying, organic soils which are essentially marshes and wetlands along the northern bank of the

Nassau River Nassau may refer to: Places Bahamas * Nassau, Bahamas, capital city of the Bahamas, on the island of New Providence Canada *Nassau District, renamed Home District, regional division in Upper Canada from 1788 to 1792 *Nassau Street (Winnipeg ...

, continuing into the Nassau Sound. # Still eastward and somewhat to the north is a large area of marshes and organic soils which characterize area wetlands. There are many small islands in this area, and it is permeated by the Bells River and Jolly River, which empty into the Cumberland Sound to the north, just below

Cumberland Island Cumberland Island, in the southeastern United States, is the largest of the Sea Islands of Georgia. The long-staple Sea Island cotton was first grown here by a local family, the Millers, who helped Eli Whitney develop the cotton gin. With its ...

. #

, the easternmost section of the county, is characterized by poor drainage in the west and better drained, higher, sandier land as one travels eastward towards the beach. The northern area of the island features salty marshlands surrounding Egan's Creek, which runs directly beneath Atlantic Boulevard in Fernandina Beach.

Adjacent counties

* Camden County,

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

– north * Duval County – south/east * Baker County – southwest * Charlton County,

– west

Transportation

Airports

Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located on Amelia Island three nautical miles (6 km) south of the central business district of Fernandina Beach, a city in Nassau County, Florida, United States. It is de ...

* Hilliard Airpark

Major highways

Interstate 95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from U.S. Route 1, US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between M ...

Interstate 10 Interstate 10 (I-10) is the southernmost cross-country highway in the American Interstate Highway System. I-10 is the fourth-longest Interstate in the United States at , following I-90, I-80, and I-40. This freeway is part of the originally pl ...

US 1 U.S. Route 1 or U.S. Highway 1 (US 1) is a major north–south United States Numbered Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs from Key West, Florida, north to Fort Kent, Maine, at the Canadian border, making ...

US 17 U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 (US 17), also known as the Coastal Highway, is a north–south United States Highway that spans in the southeastern United States. It runs close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length, with ...

US 23 } U.S. Route 23 or U.S. Highway 23 (US 23) is a major north–south U.S. Highway between Jacksonville, Florida, and Mackinaw City, Michigan. It is an original 1926 route which originally reached only as far south as Portsmouth, Ohio, and has since ...

US 90 U.S. Route 90 or U.S. Highway 90 (US 90) is an east–west major United States highway in the Southern United States. Despite the "0" in its route number, US 90 never was a full coast-to-coast route. With the exception of a short-lived ...

US 301 U.S. Route 301 (US 301) is a spur of U.S. Route 1 running through the South Atlantic States. It runs from Biddles Corner, Delaware at Delaware Route 1 to Sarasota, Florida at U.S. Route 41. It passes through the states of Delaware, Mar ...

* SR A1A * SR 2 * SR 15A * CR 108 * SR 115 * CR 119 * SR 200

Demographics

As of the

2020 United States census The United States census of 2020 was the twenty-fourth decennial United States census. Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2020. Other than a pilot study during the 2000 census, this was the first U.S. census to of ...

, there were 90,352 people, 33,475 households, and 24,357 families residing in the county. As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2000, there were 57,663 people, 21,980 households, and 16,528 families residing in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 34/km² (88/sq mi). There were 25,917 housing units at an average density of 15/km² (40/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 90.0%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 7.7%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.4% Native American, 0.5%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, <0.1%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe the original p ...

, 0.3% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 1.0% from two or more races. 1.5% of the population were

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race. According to the 2000 Census, the largest European ancestry groups in Nassau County were:

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

(36.2%),

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

(13.6%) and

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

(11.7%). There were 21,980 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.97. In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.0% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males. As of 2021, the median income for a household in the county was $64,943. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the county was $36,553. About 8.1% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

Economy

Nassau County's economy is very diverse, ranging from agricultural activity (mostly in the form of tree farms) in the west and central areas, to a variety of activities closer to Amelia Island. Much of the land used for tree farming is owned by

Rayonier Rayonier Inc, headquartered in Wildlight, Florida, is a timberland real estate investment trust ("REIT") with assets located in some of the most productive softwood timber growing regions in the United States and New Zealand. Its core business s ...

, a major employer in the area, and the owner of a large pulp mill in Fernandina Beach. Historically, tree farming, trucking, and pulp production have characterized a large portion of the local economy. However, extensive growth is occurring in the outlying small towns in the rural western area, and the home construction market is still quite strong. Fernandina Beach has long been known for professional industries such as real estate, legal services, and medical care, and is also the closest city to two upscale resorts: the

Ritz-Carlton The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC is an American multinational company that operates the luxury hotel chain known as The Ritz-Carlton. The company has 108 luxury hotels and resorts in 30 countries and territories with 29,158 rooms, in addit ...

Hotel and

Amelia Island Plantation Omni Amelia Island Resort is a luxury resort community located on Amelia Island, Florida, the westernmost barrier island on the Atlantic Ocean in the U.S. The resort's tennis facility hosted the Bausch & Lomb Championships, a major Women's Tenn ...

. In the central area of the county, a private tract of land known as the

White Oak Conservation White Oak Conservation, which is part of Walter Conservation, is a conservation center in northeastern Florida. It has long been dedicated to the conservation and care of endangered and threatened species, including rhinoceros, okapi, Bongo (a ...

was once owned by a wealthy family who ran the area as a private zoo, complete with exotic animals such as giraffes and large albino cats. Numerous public figures, including former President

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

, have traveled to the resort in the past as a vacation spot. Nassau County has several outdoor festivals and events. The county is home to two world-class golf courses: The Golf Club at North Hampton was designed in part by

Arnold Palmer Arnold Daniel Palmer (September 10, 1929 – September 25, 2016) was an American professional golfer who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most charismatic players in the sport's history. Dating back to 1955, he won numerous ev ...

, and is over , has 18 holes and a 72 par. and the Amelia National Golf & Country Club, designed by

Tom Fazio Tom or TOM may refer to: * Tom (given name), a diminutive of Thomas or Tomás or an independent Aramaic given name (and a list of people with the name) Characters * Tom Anderson, a character in ''Beavis and Butt-Head'' * Tom Beck, a character ...

which has 18 holes and a 72 par. The Nassau County Economic Development Board, which represents all of Nassau County as a desirable place to relocate a business or to expand a business. In November 2017 it was announced that the

University of Florida The University of Florida (Florida or UF) is a public land-grant research university in Gainesville, Florida. It is a senior member of the State University System of Florida, traces its origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its ...

will be building two health and fitness facilities. In January 2018 the large energy company Florida Public Utilities announced that they will be relocating to Yulee and will be building a new corporate headquarters. In 2017

completed building a new corporate headquarters in Yulee. Rayonier also plans to develop a pine forest in Yulee into a community complete with housing, offices, medical facilities, shopping centers, light industrial facilities and schools. The development, starting with and is called Wildlight. Rayonier is also working with Nassau County to develop the Wildlight Elementary School at a cost of $26 million which is scheduled to open for the start of the 2017–2018 academic year with 600 students.

, a general aviation airport and former military airbase that is also now used at times by the

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage o ...

, the

U.S. Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mul ...

and the

Florida Air National Guard The Florida Air National Guard (FL ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of Florida. It is, along with the Florida Army National Guard (FL ARNG), an element of the Florida National Guard. It is also an element of the Air National Guard (ANG ...

and is in

south of the

central business district A central business district (CBD) is the commercial and business centre of a city. It contains commercial space and offices, and in larger cities will often be described as a financial district. Geographically, it often coincides with the "city ...

. It is designated as a

reliever airport A relief airport or reliever airport is an airport that is built or designated to provide relief or additional capacity to an area when the primary commercial airport(s) requires additional capacity, on a long-term or temporary basis. Reliever a ...

for

Jacksonville International Airport Jacksonville International Airport is a civil-military public airport 13 miles (21 km) north of Downtown Jacksonville, in Duval County, Florida. It is owned and operated by the Jacksonville Aviation Authority. History Construction star ...

. Hilliard is home to a

Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is the largest transportation agency of the U.S. government and regulates all aspects of civil aviation in the country as well as over surrounding international waters. Its powers include air traffic m ...

(FAA)

Air Traffic Control Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airs ...

Center, which coordinates most commercial and civilian air traffic for the southeastern United States. The FAA center is a major employer in Hilliard and there are many retired FAA employees who live in Nassau County. The Florida Welcome Center in the county is a "tourist information house", near the Florida/

state line on

I-95 Interstate 95 (I-95) is the main north–south Interstate Highway on the East Coast of the United States, running from US Route 1 (US 1) in Miami, Florida, to the Houlton–Woodstock Border Crossing between Maine and the Canadia ...

. This center provides incoming visitors with a variety of information on travel, highways, sports, climate, accommodations, cities, outdoor recreation, and attractions. In tribute to the citrus industry (which historically has been a major part of Florida's economy), every visitor is offered a free cup of Florida citrus juice (

orange Orange most often refers to: *Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis'' ** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower *Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum * ...

grapefruit The grapefruit (''Citrus'' × ''paradisi'') is a subtropical citrus tree known for its relatively large, sour to semi-sweet, somewhat bitter fruit. The interior flesh is segmented and varies in color from pale yellow to dark pink. Grapefruit is ...

Top employers

According to the Nassau County website as of June 2019, the top employers in the county are:

Education

Public – Nassau County School District

Nassau County Public School District operates public schools. Its schools are below: Elementary schools: * Bryceville Elementary (K-5) – Bryceville * Callahan Elementary (PreK-2) – Callahan * Callahan Intermediate (3–5) – Callahan * Emma Love Hardee Elementary (3–5) – Fernandina Beach * Hilliard Elementary (PreK-5) – Hilliard * Southside Elementary (PreK-2) – Fernandina Beach * Yulee Elementary (3–5) – Yulee * Yulee Primary (PreK-2) – Yulee * Wildlight Elementary (K-5) – Wildlight Middle schools: * Callahan Middle (6–8) (Mascot: Ramblers) – Callahan * Fernandina Beach Middle (6–8) (Mascot: Pirates) – Fernandina Beach * Yulee Middle (6–8) (Mascot: Hornets) – Yulee High schools: * Fernandina Beach High (9–12) (Mascot: Pirates) – Fernandina Beach * West Nassau High (9–12) (Mascot: Warriors) – Callahan * Yulee High (9–12) (Mascot: Hornets) – Yulee Middle-senior high schools: * Hilliard Middle-Senior High (6–12) (Mascot: Red Flashes ) – Hilliard

Private schools

* Amelia Island Montessori ( Pre Kindergarten-8) – Fernandina Beach * Faith Christian Academy (Pre- Kindergarten-12) – Fernandina Beach * Fernandina Beach Christian Academy ( Kindergarten-5th (2015)) – Fernandina Beach * Nassau Christian School ( Pre Kindergarten-12) – Yulee * St. Michaels Academy (Pre Kindergarten-8) – Fernandina Beach * Sonshine Christian School( Pre Kindergarten-12) – Callahan

Higher education

Florida State College at Jacksonville Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) is a public college in Jacksonville, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and one of several institutions in that system designated a "state college" as it offers a greater number of four- ...

, a state college in the

Florida College System The Florida College System, previously the Florida Community College System, is a system of 28 public community colleges and state colleges in the U.S. state of Florida. In 2013-14, enrollment consisted of more than 813,000 students. Together w ...

, has a campus in Nassau County near Yulee called the Betty Cook Center. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associates degrees and bachelor's degrees.

Libraries

The Nassau County Public Library has 5 branches. A major renovation of the Fernandina Beach branch was completed in 2015 and a grand opening of the branch was held in April, 2016. The newly renovated library, at 25 North 4th Street, doubled its size to approximately . Per the Nassau County Public Library's long range plan for 2013–2017, this renovation brought that building, originally opened in 1976, up to current Nassau County code. A resolution between the City of Fernandina Beach and Nassau County was also passed that details the ownership of the Library facility and Library operations. The Fernandina Beach branch also houses over one thousand titles that belong to the Amelia Island Genealogical Society. The materials are available for public use at the library. * Bryceville * Callahan * Fernandina Beach * Hilliard * Yulee

Media

There are three newspapers in Nassau County. The largest, the ''Fernandina Beach News-Leader'', is owned by Community Newspapers Incorporated, a mass media, media company headed by Tom Wood and Dink NeSmith. The ''Nassau County Record'' is also owned by Community Newspapers Incorporated. Both of these periodicals are available by subscription or from newsstands. ''The Westside Journal'', an independent newspaper, is published by Florida Sun Printing, and is available for free through the mail and usually features submitted copy.

Municipalities and Communities

City

Towns

* Hilliard

Census-designated places

* Nassau Village-Ratliff, Florida, Nassau Village-Ratliff * Yulee

Other unincorporated communities

* Amelia City, Florida, Amelia City * American Beach, Florida, American Beach * Andrews, Nassau County, Florida, Andrews * Becker, Florida, Becker * Boulogne, Florida, Boulogne * Bryceville, Florida, Bryceville * Chester, Florida, Chester * Crandall, Florida, Crandall * Crawford, Florida, Crawford * Dahoma, Florida, Dahoma * Dyal, Florida, Dyal * Evergreen, Florida, Evergreen * Franklintown, Florida, Franklintown * Glenwood, Nassau County, Florida, Glenwood * Gross, Florida, Gross * Hedges, Florida, Hedges * Hero, Florida, Hero * Ingle, Florida, Ingle * Italia, Florida, Italia * Keene, Florida, Keene * Kent, Florida, Kent * Kings Ferry, Florida, Kings Ferry * Lessie, Florida, Lessie * Mattox, Florida, Mattox * Nassauville, Florida, Nassauville * O'Neil, Florida, O'Neil * Verdie, Florida, Verdie * Yulee Heights, Florida, Yulee Heights

Gallery of Municipalities and Communities

Image:ErvinsRest4.JPG, Amelia Island, Florida, Amelia Island Image:PierFBFL.JPG,

Image:YuleeJudCom.JPG, Yulee Image:WNHSCallahan.JPG,

Image:Italia_Historical_Marker.jpg, Italia, Florida, Italia Image:HilliardMansionFL.JPG, Hilliard Image:AmericanBeach2.JPG, American Beach, Florida, American Beach Image:YuleeRiverFL.JPG, Yulee Heights, Florida, Yulee Heights

Politics

Notable people

File:George_Crady.jpg, George Crady File:William_B._Allen.jpg, William B. Allen, William Allen File:Derrick Henry All-American Bowl.jpg, Derrick Henry File:D. J. Stewart 2014.jpg, D. J. Stewart File:Zack_Taylor.png, Zack Taylor (baseball), Zack Taylor File:Daniel_Thomas_(American_football).JPG, Daniel Thomas (running back), Daniel Thomas File:David_Levy_Yulee_-_Brady-Handy.jpg, David Levy Yulee File:Rick_Stockstill.jpg, Rick Stockstill * William B. Allen, political scientist who was chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights from 1988 to 1989, was born in Fernandina Beach in 1944. * 1981–82 Milwaukee Bucks season, Kris Anderson – National Basketball Association player with the Milwaukee Bucks * Raymond A. Brown, attorney whose clients included Black Liberation Army member Assata Shakur, boxer Rubin Carter, Rubin "Hurricane" Carter and "Dr. X" physician Mario Jascalevich. * George Crady – Former member of the Florida House of Representatives * Kyle Denney – Major League Baseball catcher * Bubba Dickerson, Ben "Bubba" Dickerson, professional golfer. * George Rainsford Fairbanks, a Confederate major in the U.S. Civil War, he was also a historian, lawyer and Florida state senator. The Fairbanks House (Fernandina Beach, Florida), Fairbanks House is listed on the NRHP and is operated as a bed and breakfast lodging establishment. * Joseph Finegan, businessman, Brigadier general for the Confederate States Army; resident of Fernandina Beach. * Derrick Henry – football, 2015 Heisman Trophy Winner running back at University of Alabama, Alabama, and the Tennessee Titans * Howie Kendrick, Major League Baseball player for the Anaheim Angels * Frank Murphy (gridiron football), Frank Murphy Jr former NFL football player for the Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans and Miami Dolphins. * Apple Pope – American rugby league player who plays for the United States national rugby league team * Tom Schwartz – Entrepreneur, model-actor and star of Bravo (U.S. TV network), Bravo's 'Vanderpump Rules' * D. J. Stewart – baseball left fielder at Florida State University * Rick Stockstill, football head coach at Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders football, Middle Tennessee; raised in Fernandina Beach. * Zack Taylor (baseball), Zack Taylor – Major League Baseball player and manager for the St. Louis Browns * Daniel Thomas (running back), Daniel Thomas, National Football League player for the Miami Dolphins * David Levy Yulee, Florida Territorial representative to Congress and the first U.S. senator from Florida when it became a state, member of the Confederate Congress, builder of Florida's first cross-state railroad (Fernandina to Cedar Key). There is a statue of David Yulee in Fernandina Beach.

Historic places

* Amelia Island Light * American Beach Historic District * Bailey House (Fernandina Beach, Florida), Bailey House * Ervin's Rest * Fairbanks House (Fernandina Beach, Florida), Fairbanks House * Fernandina Beach Historic District * Fort Clinch State Park * Hippard House * Nassau County Courthouse (Florida), Historic Nassau County Courthouse * Merrick-Simmons House * Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church (Nassauville, Florida), Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church * Amelia Island Museum of History * Original Town of Fernandina Historic Site * John Denham Palmer House * Tabby House (Fernandina Beach, Florida), Tabby House * United States Post Office, Custom House, and Courthouse (Fernandina, Florida, 1912), US Post Office, Custom and Court House

Notes

References

External links

Economy

Amelia Island Plantation

Federal Aviation Administration Air Route Traffic Control Center ZJX

Rayonier

The Ritz Carlton

Local media

Fernandina Beach News-Leader

Nassau County Record

Florida Times-Union in Nassau County

Cultural

Amelia Island Genealogical Society

Fort Clinch

Special districts

Nassau County School District

St. Johns River Water Management District

Nassau County Economic Development Board
* Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District

Judicial branch

serving Duval County, Florida, Duval, Clay County, Florida, Clay, and Nassau counties
Office of the State Attorney, 4th Judicial Circuit of Florida

{{authority control Nassau County, Florida, Florida counties 1824 establishments in Florida Territory Populated places established in 1824 Counties in the Jacksonville metropolitan area North Florida

History

Law and government

County Commissioners

Ocean Highway & Port Authority

Police

Court Houses

Climate

Geography

Topography

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Airports

Major highways

Demographics

Economy

Top employers

Education

Public – Nassau County School District

Private schools

Higher education

Libraries

Media

Municipalities and Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Gallery of Municipalities and Communities

Politics

Notable people

Historic places

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links

Economy

Local media

Cultural

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch