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 , of which  (or 89.76%) is land and  (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

Current major highways

Freeways and expressways
  Interstate 95
  Interstate 10

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

Cities and towns

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

References

Further reading
 Jan H. Johannes, Yesterday's Reflections, (1976, 1984)
 Jan H. Johannes, Yesterday's Reflections II, (2000) 
 Jan H. Johannes, Tidewater Amelia: Historic homes & buildings of Amelia Island, Cumberland Island, St. Marys, Fort George Island, (2002)

Other websites

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

 
1824 establishments in Florida Territory