Nassau County News

Press Release

By Nassau County Board of County Commissioners

12/27/24

Nassau County is Turning 200!

Reflecting on the Past

On Sunday, December 29, 2024, Nassau County will be 200 years old. Named after the Duchy of Nassau in Germany, the name Nassau County first appeared in the area when the British controlled Northeast Florida from 1763–1783.

Prior to the Civil War, Nassau County was largely known for two things: plantations and the port community of Fernandina, which sits on the Amelia River. The Amelia River was home to the largest natural deep water port south of Virginia. For this reason, David Yulee, America’s first Jewish Senator, selected Fernandina as the eastern point of his Florida Railroad and subsequently built the State’s first cross-state rail line from Fernandina Beach to Cedar Key. During this time, small farms and homesteads dotted the island and Nassau’s wooded interior.

In the early 1900s, the County was relatively quiet. Communities hummed along with industry including dairy and poultry, as well as the port which distributed lumber, railroad ties, and turpentine. By 1940, two new pulp mills had opened in Fernandina. Men and women from the County began enlisting in the service during World Wars I and II. World War II saw two military installations in the County, the Emergency Landing Field Callahan, and the Outlying Field Fernandina, which later became the Fernandina Beach Municipal Airport. After World War II, the Hilliard Air Traffic Control Center opened. Car travel and the expansion of the U.S. highway system led to more north and south traffic through the County.

Significant tourism came to Nassau County with the arrival of the Amelia Island Plantation in the early 1970s and has continued to be a big influence. The beginning of the 2000s saw the start of major growth in the Yulee area with new subdivisions, shopping centers and restaurants. This growth has continued, bringing forth new jobs and recreational opportunities for the community.

Like many Florida counties, Nassau County has experienced significant growth. While growth cannot be prevented, we can prepare for it by by creating policies that ensure growth pays for itself and does not burden the existing taxpayers.

Planning for the Future: Nassau Vision 2050 Initiative

We are excited to play a part in planning a future Nassau County residents will be proud of by implementing policy based on the collective feedback of Nassau County residents. The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and staff have worked tirelessly on the Nassau Vision 2050, a collaborative 18-month process involving local leaders, residents, businesses, and stakeholders to shape the future of our community. This planning process and the resulting policies will be critical for the ability to promote and manage growth, as well as protecting and enhancing key areas of importance while accommodating future trends. This includes identifying what makes the community unique, establishing the vision of what Nassau County desires to become in the future, and providing the necessary baseline for an update to the County’s Comprehensive Plan.  

Community outreach efforts have included interviews, community surveys, and 20 pop-up events around the County. In an effort to gain as much feedback as possible, we have also been present at numerous large, community events throughout the year such as the Independence Day Celebration in Callahan, the Opening of the Beaches Event in Fernandina Beach, the County’s Bicentennial Kick-off Event in Yulee, and more.  

We look forward to wrapping up the Nassau Vision 2050 initiative and sharing the results with the community in early 2025. For more information, please visit https://www.nassaufl2050.com/

Elected Officials Recognized for Upcoming Retirements

At the Wednesday, December 18, 2024 meeting, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) recognized Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller John Crawford and Property Appraiser Mike Hickox on their upcoming retirements, commending both on their outstanding service and dedication to Nassau County and its residents. 

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BOCC Chairman John Martin; Property Appraiser Mike Hickox

BOCC Chairman John Martin; Clerk of Circuit Courts and Comptroller John Martin

 Dining Down Centre

The City of Fernandina Beach was incorporated on January 1, 1825. Fernandina Beach Main Street, in partnership with the City of Fernandina Beach, will host an epic community birthday party for nearly 1,000 attendees who will gather on Centre Street for fun, food, and birthday cake. You are invited to be an integral part of our once in a lifetime bicentennial celebration. While tickets are sold out for the dinner, residents can still attend the event to enjoy a special presentation and live music. It is recommended that you bring your own chair. 

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NCAS Reindeer Crew

The Reindeer Crew at Nassau County Animal Services would like to wish everyone a very happy holiday season and to remind everyone about all the wonderful pes waiting to meet you!

If you are interested in adopting a pet, please fill out a pre-adoption form and come meet your new companion at the shelter.

Shelter Hours: Tuesday, Thursday-Sunday from 11am-4pm. Wednesday from 1pm-6pm. Closed Mondays and Holidays.

New Dates/Times for Landscape Matters Classes

Right Whales in Our Waters

Vision 2050 Growth Scenario Survey

The County launched Nassau Florida Vision 2050, a collaborative 18-month process involving local leaders, residents, businesses, and stakeholders to shape the future of our community. This planning process and the resulting policies will be critical for the ability to promote and manage growth as well as, protect and enhance key areas of importance while accommodating future trends. This includes identifying what makes the community unique, establishing the vision of what Nassau County desires to become in the future, and providing the necessary baseline for an update to the County’s Comprehensive Plan.  

On Wednesday, October 16, 2024, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) hosted a Workshop for an update on the initiative from the County’s consultant Halff Associates. For the past year, Halff and County personnel have been busy studying the county’s history, culture and values, and obtaining feedback from the community through a series of interviews, community surveys, and pop-up events. In an effort to gain as much feedback as possible, they have also been present at numerous large, community events throughout the year such as the Independence Day Celebration in Callahan, the Opening of the Beaches Event in Fernandina Beach, the County’s Bicentennial Kick-off Event in Yulee, and more.  

The presentation on October 16th included results of the community engagement process which led to the establishment of community building blocks, a framework to achieve the community-identified goals. The presentation also included information on growth projections and a market analysis identifying needed jobs and housing to accommodate a growing County. The community’s feedback, community building blocks, and market analysis data were used to create three growth scenarios which were also displayed.  

At this time, residents are urged to review the growth framework presentation and provide input on the three scenarios. One final preferred growth scenario will be created and included in the 2050 Vision Plan. This preferred scenario will inform updates to the Future Land Use Map and the Future Land Use Element of the Comprehensive Plan. You can provide input by completing the survey linked here. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Planning Department at (904) 530-6320 or via email at [email protected]. 

County Offices Closed

County Offices under the purview of the Board of County Commissioners will be closed on Wednesday, January 1, 2025 in observance of New Year’s Day. 

Please note that other Constitutional Offices (Tax Collector, Clerk of Courts, Supervisor of Elections, Property Appraiser and Sheriff’s Office) are separate from the Board of County Commissioners and their holiday hours may vary. Please reach out to those offices directly with questions regarding holiday hours. To locate webpages for these Constitutional Offices, please click here.