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Florida · Northeast Florida · #757
Nassau County, Florida
At Florida's northeastern corner on Amelia Island, Nassau County holds Fernandina Beach - a Victorian-era shrimping and resort town whose eight flags of sovereignty (more than any other American city) and intact historic district make it one of the most historically textured small cities in the Southeast.
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Office: Nassau County Emergency Management – (904) 548-4000 | nassaucountyfl.gov/emergency
Alert System: Nassau County Alert; Florida FDEM; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Multiple shelter locations; Nassau County schools; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Northeastern Florida coastal county on the Georgia border; Fernandina Beach is county seat; hurricane risk (Atlantic and Amelia Island exposure; Matthew 2016 caused significant coastal damage; Irma 2017 impacts); flooding (Nassau Sound; Amelia River; St. Marys River on the Georgia border; Nassau River); coastal storm surge; severe thunderstorms; one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties (Jacksonville bedroom community); Fort Clinch State Park; the historic city of Fernandina Beach (the only city to have flown eight different flags)
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Nassau County Roads – (904) 548-4600
Transit: Nassau County Transit – (904) 548-4650 (limited); JTA connection to Jacksonville; primarily auto-dependent
Notes: I-95 (north-south through western Nassau County – connects to Jacksonville south and Savannah/Georgia north; the primary commuter route for the growing Jacksonville exurban community); A1A (the barrier island coastal route connecting Amelia Island to Jacksonville Beach and connecting north to Cumberland Island, GA); SR-200/A1A (Amelia Island Parkway – the primary bridge to Fernandina Beach from the mainland); Nassau County is about 30 miles north of downtown Jacksonville; Fernandina Beach is 45 minutes from Jacksonville; the county’s growth is driven by Jacksonville commuters
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Nassau County Growth Management – (904) 530-6220 | nassaucountyfl.gov
Services: County permits; Fernandina Beach (separate – active; Amelia Island resort development), Hilliard, Callahan, Yulee (large unincorporated rapidly growing area) separate
Notes: Nassau County is one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties; Yulee/Wildlight (a major master-planned development north of I-95 and US-1) is enormously active; Amelia Island resort development (Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island; Omni Amelia Island; Fernandina Beach historic downtown development); coastal development subject to CAMA-equivalent regulations; the county’s proximity to Jacksonville drives commuter residential growth
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Nassau County Veterans Services – (904) 548-0936
VA Medical: VA Jacksonville CBOC (about 30 miles south – accessible via I-95); Malcom Randall VAMC (Gainesville – about 80 miles via I-95/I-75)
Services: Benefits claims; Jacksonville CBOC very accessible; large and growing veteran population (Jacksonville metro military community choosing Nassau County)
Notes: Jacksonville CBOC is excellent access for Nassau County veterans given the short I-95 drive; the county’s rapid growth includes many military retirees from NAS Jacksonville and other Jacksonville military installations
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Nassau County Public Libraries – (904) 491-2626 | nassaupubliclibrary.org; 4 branches
Services: Books, e-books, public computers, Wi-Fi, genealogy (outstanding – Nassau County and northeast Florida heritage; the county has extraordinary historic depth), children’s programs; Amelia Island heritage; the “Eight Flags” history; Fort Clinch heritage; Civil War history
Notes: Nassau County Library System is good; the Fernandina Beach main branch reflects the city’s extraordinary historical heritage; the “Eight Flags” of Fernandina Beach (the city has flown 8 sovereign flags – French, Spanish, English, Patriot, Green Cross of Florida, Mexican, Confederate, and US flags; more sovereign flags than any other city in North America; the result of Fernandina’s strategic importance on the Georgia-Florida border) is a remarkable and unusual history; the genealogy collection is excellent for northeast Florida families
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
State Parks: Fort Clinch State Park (Fernandina Beach – beautifully preserved antebellum masonry fort on the north tip of Amelia Island; the fort was used by both Confederate and Union forces; living history demonstrations by reenactors; extraordinary natural setting at the mouth of the St. Marys River; one of Florida’s finest historic state parks; excellent birding; beach on the Atlantic and beach on the Cumberland Sound); Big Talbot Island State Park (south of Fernandina Beach – “Boneyard Beach” – a stretch of Atlantic beach littered with massive bleached ancient oaks killed by saltwater; one of the most photographed and most unusual beaches in Florida; the dramatic silvered tree trunks on the white sand and dark tidal water create an extraordinary landscape); Little Talbot Island State Park (adjacent to Big Talbot – excellent undeveloped Atlantic beach; sea turtle nesting; birding; camping; one of the finest undeveloped barrier beaches in northeast Florida)
Regional: Fernandina Beach/Amelia Island (Fernandina Beach’s Centre Street historic district is one of the finest small-city Victorian commercial districts in Florida; the Palace Saloon (1903 – the oldest operating bar in Florida; tin ceiling; carved oak bar; one of Florida’s genuine historic drinking establishments); the Amelia Island Lighthouse (1839 – the oldest lighthouse in Florida still in its original location; still operating; tours available); the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival (May – one of Florida’s finest festivals; celebrating the shrimping heritage of Fernandina Beach and featuring excellent food, music, and crafts)); Amelia Island (the resort island community has been protected from excessive development; the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island and Omni Amelia Island are world-class resorts; excellent golf; the East Coast’s finest unspoiled beach communities)
Notes: Fernandina Beach is one of the finest small historic cities in Florida – the Victorian commercial district, the Palace Saloon, and the extraordinary heritage of eight sovereign flags give it a historical depth unique in Florida; Fort Clinch is one of the finest antebellum forts in the southeastern US – the living history demonstrations (reenactors in period dress performing fort duties) are excellent; Big Talbot Island’s Boneyard Beach (the twisted silvered ancient oaks scattered across the beach, killed by the encroaching sea) is one of the most photographed and most haunting beach environments in Florida; Little Talbot Island’s wild Atlantic beach is among the most beautiful undeveloped beaches in northeast Florida
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Nassau County GIS – nassaucountyfl.gov/gis; NOAA Amelia Island and St. Marys River coastal maps; Fort Clinch SP maps; Talbot Island State Parks maps; I-95 corridor development tracking
Notes: Active GIS for a rapidly growing county; Yulee/Wildlight development tracking; coastal erosion and shoreline change maps; Fort Clinch and Talbot Islands ecological maps; St. Marys River and Nassau Sound flood maps
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Nassau County Animal Services – (904) 879-2100; Nassau County Humane Society
Services: Stray intake, adoptions; wildlife management (sea turtles – Amelia Island and Talbot Island beaches are significant loggerhead nesting sites; North Florida Coastal sea turtle monitoring program; right whales in offshore waters in winter (North Atlantic right whale – one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals; fewer than 350 remain; right whales calve in the waters off Nassau County and north Florida in winter; vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement are primary mortality causes; vessel speed restrictions in right whale critical habitat (including offshore Nassau County) are enforced by NOAA))
Notes: North Atlantic right whale winter presence in waters off Nassau County is one of the most significant marine wildlife management responsibilities in the southeastern US; the right whale (which was hunted to near-extinction) now numbers fewer than 350 individuals; the calving grounds off Georgia and northeast Florida are critical habitat; vessel speed restrictions and fishing gear regulations are actively enforced; the offshore monitoring program (aerial surveys, acoustic detection, and satellite tagging) involves multiple agencies; sea turtle nesting on Amelia Island and the Talbot Islands is monitored by volunteers
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Nassau County Solid Waste Management – (904) 491-7340; comprehensive programs for a growing county
Environmental: Florida DEP; St. Johns River Water Management District; USFWS (offshore right whale management; Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve – shared with Duval County); Fort Clinch SP; Talbot Island SP; St. Marys River watershed (shared with Georgia)
Key Issues: Rapid growth environmental impacts (Nassau County’s explosive growth (Yulee/Wildlight and other developments are adding thousands of homes annually) creates stormwater management challenges, septic system pressure on nearshore water quality, and habitat fragmentation; the county’s proximity to Jacksonville means some of Jacksonville’s air quality and transportation issues affect Nassau County; the balance between growth and environmental quality is the central tension); sea turtle nesting beach management (Amelia Island and the Talbot Islands’ sea turtle nesting beaches require lighting management, nesting survey programs, and beach access management during nesting season); St. Marys River watershed (the river forming the Florida-Georgia border is an important ecological corridor; water quality management is a bi-state responsibility; the Okefenokee Swamp watershed drains into the St. Marys through Georgia); right whale offshore habitat (NOAA’s management of vessel speed restrictions and fishing gear in right whale critical habitat is enforced in offshore Nassau County waters during the calving season (November-April))
Notes: Nassau County’s rapid transformation from rural agricultural county to Jacksonville bedroom community is one of northeast Florida’s most dramatic demographic stories; the county has maintained more of its natural character than many rapidly growing Florida counties (the Talbot Islands and Fort Clinch are still wild); the right whale calving habitat offshore is genuinely one of the most important marine conservation situations in the eastern US – the North Atlantic right whale’s peril (fewer than 350 individuals; very low reproductive rate; high mortality from vessel strikes and fishing gear entanglement) means that the Florida-Georgia calving grounds (the only known calving grounds for the species) are irreplaceable; Fernandina Beach’s extraordinary heritage (oldest bar in Florida; more sovereign flags than any other US city; one of the finest Victorian commercial districts in the state) contrasts with the enormous suburban growth occurring to its west and south
About Nassau County
Nassau County’s Fernandina Beach claims more flags of sovereignty than any other American city – French, Spanish, British, Patriot, Green Cross of Florida, Mexican Rebel, Confederate, and American – reflecting its strategic position on the St. Mary’s River at the Florida-Georgia border, where European powers and American factions competed for control across centuries. The eight-flag heritage is commemorated annually and gives the community a specific and genuine historical identity beyond the standard Florida resort narrative.
The Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island and the surrounding Omni Amelia Island resort community have made the island a luxury destination, while Fernandina Beach’s Centre Street historic district – Victorian commercial buildings from the shrimping and lumber era – provides the authentic small-city character that the resort development complements rather than replaces. Nassau County’s growth has been driven by Jacksonville metro’s northward expansion and the appeal of Amelia Island’s natural and heritage assets.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
Florida assesses property at just value. The homestead exemption reduces assessed value by $50,000. The Save Our Homes cap limits annual homestead increases to 3%. VAB appeals are heard in September. Florida has no estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Courts & Legal
SENIOR SERVICES
Nassau County Senior Programs
96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097
Phone: (904) 530-6120
Senior Services
Nassau County Senior Programs
96135 Nassau Place, Yulee, FL 32097
Phone: (904) 530-6120
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF COURTS (Records, Marriage Licenses)
76347 Veterans Way, Yulee, FL 32097
(904) 548-4600
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Nassau County Clerk of Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The Historic Nassau County Courthouse (built 1891, Classical Revival style) at 416 Centre Street, Fernandina Beach, is a preserved historic building.
Local societies
No dedicated Nassau County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Nassau County Clerk of Court, Probate Division P.O. Box 456, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035-0456 (904) 261-5724
Nassau County sits in Florida’s 4th Judicial Circuit. Nassau County is Florida’s northeasternmost county.
IMPORTANT – a major statewide law change just took effect: Florida’s summary administration threshold DOUBLED from $75,000 to $150,000 effective July 1, 2026, under CS/HB 1337 (Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida). Confirm which threshold applies based on date of death when helping someone (see
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
76001 Bobby Moore Circle, Yulee, FL 32097
(904) 225-5174
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
96135 Nassau Place, Suite 2, Yulee, FL 32097
(904) 491-7500
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
FL Dept of Health — Nassau
1250 S. 18th St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 548-1500
FL DCF — Nassau
(904) 548-1850
FL Medicaid
(800) 299-4833
Baptist Nassau
baptistnassau.com
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida DOH in Nassau County – (904) 548-4600 | nassau.floridahealth.gov
Services: Immunizations, WIC, STI testing, environmental health, vital records; behavioral health; coastal environmental health monitoring
Hospital: Baptist Medical Center Nassau (Fernandina Beach – Baptist Health; (904) 321-3500; excellent community hospital); UF Health Jacksonville and Baptist Main (Jacksonville) accessible
Notes: Baptist Nassau is an excellent community hospital; the rapidly growing county’s healthcare needs are growing faster than facilities; behavioral health demand is increasing; Jacksonville hospitals easily accessible for specialty care
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Editorial Trust
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Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Fernandina Beach
Population: 95,000
Area: 652 sq mi
Established: 1824
Tier: 3
Inmate Services
Care Packages
Send care packages to inmates in Nassau County facilities via Amazon.
