Nassau County, Florida | ||
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County | ||
County of Nassau | ||
Nassau County Courthouse
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Location in the U.S. state of Florida |
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Florida's location in the U.S. |
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Founded | December 29, 1824 | |
Named for | Duchy of Nassau | |
Seat | Fernandina Beach | |
Largest community | Yulee | |
Area | ||
• Total | 726 sq mi (1,880 km2) | |
• Land | 649 sq mi (1,681 km2) | |
• Water | 77 sq mi (199 km2), 10.6% | |
Population (est.) | ||
• (2015) | 78,444 | |
• Density | 118/sq mi (46/km²) | |
Congressional district | 4th | |
Time zone | Eastern: UTC-5/-4 | |
Website | www |
Nassau County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 73,314. The county seat and largest incorporated city is Fernandina Beach.
Nassau County is included in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area. Tourism, primarily associated with Amelia Island and the many golf courses in the area, is the chief economic industry.
Nassau County was created in 1824 from Duval County. It was named for the Duchy of Nassau in Germany.
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 staggered 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, under Sheriff Bill Leeper.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 726 square miles (1,880 km2), of which 649 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 77 square miles (200 km2) (10.6%) is water. The city of Fernandina Beach is located on Amelia Island, the county’s one inhabited island. Fernandina Beach municipality extends across the Inter Coastal Waterway along A1A to Yulee.
There are 12 distinct topographical zones in Nassau County. Most of these zones run in narrow bands stretching from north to south, although this is less true as one approaches the Atlantic coast.