2005 Annual Report - Northeast Florida Regional Council

Our RegionBaker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns CountiesBAKER COUNTYCounty Seat: MacclennyPopulation: 23,963*Area (sq. miles): 585Other Incorporated Communities:Glen St. MaryEstablished: 1861Named for: James McNair Baker,Confederate States senator andFlorida judgeCLAY COUNTYCounty Seat: Green CoveSpringsPopulation: 163,461*Area (sq. miles): 601Other IncorporatedCommunities: KeystoneHeights, Orange Park, PenneyFarmsEstablished: 1858Named for: Kentuckian HenryClay, Secretary of State underJohn Quincy AdamsDUVAL COUNTYCounty Seat: JacksonvillePopulation: 840,474*Area (sq. miles): 774Other IncorporatedCommunities: Atlantic Beach,Baldwin, Jacksonville Beach,Neptune BeachEstablished: 1822Named for: William PopeDuVal, first territorialgovernor of FloridaThe Northeast Florida Regional[Planning] Council, formed in1977, serves Regional District 4,and is comprised of seven counties(Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler,Nassau, Putnam, and St. Johns)and 27 municipalities.The region’s land area covers4,428 square miles and the populationsurpasses 1.2 million. Fortythreepercent of the region isdedicated to agriculture, twopercent to industry and commercialuse, and 13 percent is otherwiseurbanized.The region is characterized by anabundance of natural resourcesand a diversity of habitats. Itscentral feature is the lower St.Johns River. With 140 miles ofcoastline and five barrier islandsboasting some of the state’s mostmagnificent, pristine beaches, theregion is truly “Florida’s FirstCoast.”Jacksonville is the major urbancenter, with a good mix of industrialmanufacturing, transportation,financial services, healthcare, and military employment.Landwise, it is the largest city inthe U.S.Surrounding counties are morerural in nature, relying on agricultureand service sectors, and alimited industrial base often focusedon a single sector. They are,however, increasing in their rate ofurbanization and beginning todevelop more economic diversity.FLAGLER COUNTYCounty Seat: BunnellPopulation: 69,683*Area (sq. miles): 485Other IncorporatedCommunities: Beverly Beach,Flagler Beach, Marineland, PalmCoastEstablished: 1917Named for: Henry Flagler,developer of the Florida EastCoast RailroadNASSAU COUNTYCounty Seat: Fernandina BeachPopulation: 65,016*Area (sq. miles): 652Other IncorporatedCommunities: Callahan, HilliardEstablished: 1824Named for: Nassau SoundPUTNAM COUNTYCounty Seat: PalatkaPopulation: 73,226*Area: 722Other IncorporatedCommunities: Crescent City,Interlachen, Pomona Park,WelakaEstablished: 1849Named for: Benjamin AlexanderPutnam (1801-69), lawyer,soldier, judge, state legislator,first president of the FloridaHistorical Society*2004 Population figures obtained from the Bureau of Economic and Research (BEBR)ST. JOHNS COUNTYCounty Seat: St. Augustine, oldestpermanent settlement in U.S.Population: 149,336*Area (sq. miles): 609Other Incorporated Communities:Hastings, St. Augustine BeachEstablished: 1821Named for: St. Johns River24