Nassau County, Florida

Nassau County is a county in the state of Florida. As of 2000, 57,663 people lived there. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 69,835. Its county seat is Fernandina Beach, Florida.

Nassau County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.

History
Nassau County was created in 1824. It was named for the Duchy of Nassau in Germany.

Law and government
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 set up so that either three or two commissioners (alternately) are up for election every two years.

The main environmental and agricultural body is the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, which works closely with other area agencies.

Local law enforcement is conducted by the Nassau County Sheriff's Office.

Land
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 725.86 sqmi, of which 651.55 sqmi (or 89.76%) is land and 74.30 sqmi (or 10.24%) is water, much of it in the Atlantic Ocean. Fernandina Beach is located on Amelia Island, the county’s only island with people living on it.

Counties nearby

 * Camden County, Georgia - north
 * Duval County, Florida - south
 * Baker County, Florida - southwest
 * Charlton County, Georgia - west

Freeways and expressways

 * I-95.svg Interstate 95
 * I-10 (FL).svg Interstate 10

Surface roads

 * US 1.svg US 1 (New Kings Road)
 * US 17.svg US 17
 * US 23.svg US 23
 * US 301.svg US 301
 * Florida A1A.svg A1A
 * Florida 2.svg SR 2 (Crawford Road)
 * Florida 15A.svg SR 15A (Mickler Street)
 * Florida 108.svg SR 108 (River Road/Brandies Avenue/Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue)
 * Florida 115.svg SR 115 (Lem Turner Road)
 * Florida 119.svg SR 119
 * Florida 200.svg SR 200 (Buccaneer Trail)

People
As of the census of 2000, there were 57,663 people, 21,980 households, and 16,528 families living in the county. The population density 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 90.02% White, 7.74% Black or African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. 1.51% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

According to the 2000 Census, the largest European ancestry groups in Nassau County were: English (36.2%), Irish (13.6%) and German (11.7%).

There were 21,980 households out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.20% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.80% were not related. 20.10% of all households were made up of people living alone and 7.70% 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 25.00% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 12.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,022, and the median income for a family was $52,477. Males had a median income of $37,027 versus $25,443 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,836. About 6.40% of families and 9.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.90% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Nassau County is home to nine elementary schools, three middle schools, three high schools, and one middle-senior high school.

The Betty Cook Center, started and run by Florida State College at Jacksonville, offers classes for post-secondary degrees.

Incorporated

 * Town of Callahan
 * City of Fernandina Beach
 * Town of Hilliard

Unincorporated

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

Local media
There are four newspapers in Nassau County. The largest, the Fernandina Beach News-Leader, is owned by Community Newspapers Incorporated, a media company headed by Tom Wood and Dink NeSmith. The Nassau County Record is also owned by Community Newspapers Incorporated. Both of these 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 stories. My Nassau Sun, a community section of The Florida Times-Union, is also available for free by subscription for delivery cost.

Historic places

 * Hoyt House, 804 Atlantic Avenue,
 * Historic Nassau County Courthouse, 416 Centre Street
 * United States Post Office, Custom House, and Courthouse (Fernandina, Florida, 1912), NE corner Centre and 4th streets

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
 * Nassau County Writers and Poets Society
 * Fort Clinch

Government links/Constitutional offices

 * Nassau County Clerk of Courts official website for County Government
 * Nassau County Board of County Commissioners
 * Nassau County Supervisor of Elections
 * Nassau County Property Appraiser
 * Nassau County Sheriff's Office
 * Nassau County Public Library
 * Nassau County Tax Collector

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

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