NASSAU COUNTY
County Offices
191 Nassau Place
Yulee 904-321-4600
www.nassauclerk.com
Chamber of Commerce
961687 Gateway Boulevard
Fernandina Beach 904-261-3248
https://www.islandchamber.com/
Services
Established in 1824, Nassau County lies in the far northeastern section of Florida, adjacent to the Georgia state line. The dedication to quality education in this area is evidenced by the school district’s full accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Only eight of Florida’s 67 school districts have achieved this distinction, which recognizes a continuous commitment to self-study and improvement by the administration, faculty, parents, students, and community. Opportunities for higher education within a reasonable commuting distance from home are abundant, including the Nassau Center of Florida Community College and the Jacksonville institutions of Edward Waters College, Jacksonville University, and the University of North Florida. The Betty P. Cook Nassau Center is located in Yulee on 102 acres, giving residents quick and easy access to degree and certification programs and classes. Set in a pristine wooded corner of the property is a 16-acre site dedicated to the College’s Outdoor Education Center.
State-of-the-art healthcare facilities are available to residents of Nassau County at the highly respected Baptist Medical Center in Fernandina Beach. This full-service community hospital attracts regional patients from around the county and from southeastern Georgia. Medical and surgical specialties include an emergency department, critical care unit, maternity unit, inpatient/outpatient surgical services, gastroenterology suite, physical therapy, cardiac and pulmonary diagnostics, and extensive diagnostic imaging capability. Nearby Jacksonville expands the options for quality care in a variety of highly specialized institutions as well as research and teaching hospitals.
Lifestyle
Attracting newcomers with the “Old Florida” charm of pine forests, magnolias, moss-draped oaks, and miles of marshlands, panoramic Nassau County is home to beautiful Amelia island. Fernandina Beach serves as the county seat, the largest city, and the hub of activity. Few communities can rival the undeniable appeal of the city’s 50-block area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From the elegant Victorian architecture of Fernandina Beach to the pristine beachfront of Amelia Island — listed among the world’s ten most beautiful places — Nassau County offers an idyllic environment for residential development that includes vacation or seasonal homes.
Aficionados of the arts will enjoy the variety of galleries and performing events that include Amelia Community Theatre and the Amelia Island Fine Arts Series. Golfers will find several fine courses, and public and private tennis courts are scattered throughout the county. Boating, fishing, and water sports are extremely popular in this water-rich environment. Shopping is available in Fernandina’s revitalized Centre Street retail district. Throughout the county, newcomers will discover rural beauty and small-town charm, from Florida’s finest sand dunes to the state’s only spoken-history museum or the 150-year-old lighthouse. Just beyond the tranquility of Nassau County are the bright lights and world-class attractions in Jacksonville.
Amelia Island
County Offices
904-321-5700
www.nassauclerk.com
http://www.ameliaisland.com/
Chamber of Commerce
904-261-3248
www.islandchamber.com
The southernmost of the “Golden Isles” chain of barrier islands, Amelia Island attracts visitors and pleases residents with 13 miles of pristine beaches. Framed by spectacular high dunes capped by sea oats, these beaches offer an unspoiled paradise of natural beauty. Boasting a lush oasis shaded by moss-covered oaks, the island is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, the Intracoastal Waterway, and Nassau Sound. Outstanding golfing, boating, hiking, sailing, kayaking, and fishing are enhanced by stunning sunrise and sunset views. This area also serves as gateway to Cumberland Island with its undisturbed nature preserve. Popular festivals from the Eight Flags Shrimp Festival to the Amelia Island Jazz Festival combine with an active arts community to enrich outdoor activity with the arts. Visitors and residents enjoy first-rate restaurants, boutiques, galleries, and inns as well as a widely varied selection of housing from cozy cottages to magnificent beachfront estates.
Callahan
City Hall
904-879-3801
https://www.townofcallahan-fl.gov/
Chamber of Commerce
904-261-3248
www.islandchamber.com
Northwest of Jacksonville in close proximity to the Georgia state line lies the pleasant little town of Callahan. In this quiet and panoramic corner of Nassau County, residents enjoy the close-knit community spirit associated with small-town living. Affordable homes, good schools, premier recreational opportunities in nearby natural and resort environments, and the cosmopolitan amenities of Jacksonville ensure an excellent quality of life. Callahan joins Hilliard and other small communities that are nestled in the lush, natural setting of the western woodlands of Nassau County. In additions to the attractions in and around Florida’s First coast, this area offers easy access to spectacular sites across the border in Georgia such as Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and Cumberland Island National Seashore.
Fernandina Beach
City Hall
904-277-7305
www.fbfl.us
Chamber of Commerce
904-261-3248
www.islandchamber.com
Steeped in historic significance, the charming community of Fernandina Beach dates back to the 16th century. This former pirate’s haven now serves as a picturesque and productive shrimping and boating center. One of the highlights for visitors is the 50-block historic district with its elegant Victorians and stunning Queen Anne homes. Serving as the center of activity for the community, the main beach offers picnicking, swimming, playgrounds, and concessions. Lining the downtown district are vintage shops and charming boutiques, while popular night spots attract residents and visitors when the sun sets. A wonderful fishing pier, camp sites, and tranquil white-sand beaches are available at Fort Clinch State Park. The city occupies seven square miles in the north-central portion of Amelia Island, which is completely surrounded by water, rolling sand dunes, and lush vegetation. Fernandina Beach is bounded by the St. Marys River on the north and Amelia River to the west. The sparkling Atlantic Ocean lies to the east.
Yulee
County Offices
904-321-5700
www.nassauclerk.com
Chamber of Commerce
904-261-3248
www.islandchamber.com
Enjoying a central location with the county, Yulee is distinguished as the largest of the area’s unincorporated communities. Consisting primarily of residential neighborhoods with commercial development clustered around legendary Route A1A, Yulee stretches to the border between Florida and Georgia on the north. To the south lies Duval County, Interstate 95 is the western boundary, and Amelia Island lies to the east. Yulee provide a gateway to Amelia Island and metropolitan Jacksonville as well as an easy commute to other Nassau County municipalities. The City of Jacksonville, Jacksonville International Airport, and Georgia’s King’s Bay Naval Base are all nearby. Residential choices are varied, ranging from family oriented planned communities to waterfront properties or open land for custom builds. Yulee is the fastest-growing area in the county, home to the Betty P. Cook Nassau County Center of Florida Community College. Active social and civic organizations, good schools, excellent recreational opportunities, and a growing local economy can all be found in Yulee.
