Nassau County is the northeasternmost county of the U.S. state of Florida. According to the July 2022 United States Census analysis, the county's population was 97,899.
The designated county seat is Fernandina Beach. Nassau County is a constituent of the Jacksonville metropolitan area, which accommodates around 1.68 million inhabitants as of the year 2022. The county is situated in Northeast Florida with a land area of . The county's population has surged by more than 40,000 residents since the year 2000, driven by factors such as Nassau's nearness to downtown Jacksonville, the emergence of fresh residential projects, agricultural output, prominent tourist destinations, and a broadening tax foundation through the influx of novel industrial and business enterprises to the county. Nassau County is also a favored residential destination for military personnel stationed at bases in the adjacent Duval County, Florida (Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport) and Camden County, Georgia (Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay).
History
Nassau County was created in 1824 from Duval County. It was named for the Duchy of Nassau in Germany.
The Battle of Alligator Bridge took place in Nassau County around Callahan on June 30, 1778, and was the only major engagement in an unsuccessful campaign to conquer British East Florida during the American Revolutionary War.
In 1817, the short-lived Republic of the Floridas was established on Amelia Island. It was one of several attempts to wrestle Florida from Spanish control into the growing United States.
Law and government
The primary entity overseeing environmental and agricultural matters is the Nassau County Soil and Water Conservation District, which maintains close collaboration with various other regional agencies.
County commissioners
Nassau County operates under the administration of the Nassau County Board of County Commissioners, comprising five members. These commissioners are elected by the voters to serve four-year terms, with the election cycle structured such that either three or two commissioners are subject to election every two years. The following individuals constitute the Nassau County Commissioners:
Ocean Highway & Port Authority
The Ocean Highway & Port Authority (OHPA) functions as an autonomous governmental organization within Nassau County, Florida, responsible for the ownership and management of the seaport infrastructure at the Port of Fernandina. OHPA was founded in 1941 by the Florida Legislature. The current Executive Director of OHPA is David Kaufman.
The Port of Fernandina operates as a terminal for handling various commodities, including pulp and paper, steel exports, machinery, automotive components, chemicals, beverages, building materials, and food items. The port's container lines facilitate shipping routes to destinations such as Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Aruba, Curaçao, and Bermuda. Notably, in 2020, the port was awarded a substantial grant exceeding one million dollars from the United States Department of Transportation to initiate 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 offers essential services to the residents of Nassau County. It bears the responsibility of upholding both the provisions of the Florida Constitution and the laws and statutes of the state of Florida, ensuring the protection, security, and welfare of its populace. This commitment is fulfilled by furnishing law enforcement solutions, managing operations at the Nassau County Jail and Detention Center, and ensuring court security. The central operational hub of the Nassau County Sheriff's Office is situated in Yulee. the Sheriff is Bill Leeper.
Court houses
The Nassau County Courthouse in Fernandina Beach stands as a historic edifice, characterized by its two-story construction of red brick, dating back to its erection in 1891.
Located in Yulee, the Robert M. Foster Justice Center was established in 2004 to complement the historical Nassau County Courthouse site. Spanning an extensive 111,000 square feet, this facility was realized at a construction cost surpassing $20 million.