Amelia Island/Nassau County

Home Sweet Home       Find a Home       Find a Realtor       Find a Company       Vital Stats       Rain & Shine       Job Market       Class Notes

Getting Around    Great Outdoors    Good Sports    Hot Times in the City    Shop 'til You Drop    Nightlife    College Scene    Just for Seniors

It's so unlikely. You'd certainly never guess it by looking at a map. For nearly a century Amelia Island and Nassau County's history, prosperity and development followed the tracks of two railroads. Why would Florida's northernmost county, and especially its northernmost island, be tied to the fate of railroads? It's a long story. The short version is that Senator David Yulee built a railroad across Florida from Amelia Island to Cedar Key (1855-1861), and although Yulee lost his railroad to Northern capitalists after the Civil War, it continued to bring prosperity to the island. About a half-century later, Henry Flagler built his railroad, but it bypassed Amelia Island and skirted the eastern edge of the Nassau County mainland, which did little economically for either city or county--then. Now is a different story, especially on the island, where the Victorian charms of Fernandina Beach's heyday not only remain--in commercial, civic and residential structures--but are protected by their impressive 50-block listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Ironically, the island has Flagler's snub to thank for their historic treasure trove. The island's bad luck then is its good luck now; the town's years-long backwater status resulted in the preservation of both old buildings and huge sand dunes, assets that did much to create the island's current reputation as an upscale resort site and a mecca for well-heeled tourists who appreciate not only beautiful, unspoiled beaches but also cultural and architectural history. Nassau County is primarily rural. Its pace is relaxed, its tone friendly. Its major towns are Yulee, located on the mainland east of Interstate 95, and Fernandina Beach, on Amelia Island; neither is large in terms of population, but Fernandina is better known because it's both the county seat and a favorite place with history buffs.

Home Sweet Home

The Amelia Island-Greater Nassau County Association of Realtors, says there's a broad price range for Nassau County residential property. Single-family housing is available starting at about $50,000 and climbing to more than $500,000. In the $95,000 to $105,000 price range, you can buy a three-bedroom, two-bath home of approximately 1,400 to 1,500 square feet on one-fourth an acre on the island. On the mainland, a similar house might have more acreage or even have more square footage yet sell for about the same price. The mainland area around Yulee is gaining in popularity as development occurs. An outlet mall is going in near Interstate 95. New residential construction between the mainland and I-95 ranges from about $70,000 to as much as $300,000. New residential developments on the island regularly offer houses between $100,000 and $200,000 for non-resort property. Custom homes on the waterfront can--and do--fetch higher prices. Resort property is another matter. Residential units are available in two upscale club/resort communities: Amelia Island Plantation and Summer Beach. Oceanfront condominium units begin about $200,000 for a two-bedroom, two-bath, 1,300 square feet home, but a similar unit in terms of size might be $110,000 a block from the beach. In gated resort areas, new patio homes start at about $300,000 for a 2,000 square foot home, depending upon floor plan. Full-size, single-family homes on the golf course start at $225,000 for three-bedroom, two-bath homes of 2,000 square feet on one-third of an acre. Beachfront condos outside the resort areas range from $90,000 to $200,000.

Vital Stats

(Amelia Island is located in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) that includes the counties of Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns.) All numbers are for Nassau County, unless otherwise noted.

Population: 55,349
Median age: 36.8
New citizens: about 1,140 every month
New job creation: 3.6
Unemployment rate: 3.1 percent in August, 1999
Cost of living: 93.69 (U.S. average: 100 percent)
Per capita income: $23,148
Median household effective buying income (after taxes): $37,813

Rain & Shine

The climate is pleasant. At 80 degrees, the ocean's summer temperature moderates the sun's heat. In August the average temperature is 81.5 degrees Fahrenheit; in January it's a refreshing 55.6 degrees. The average annual rainfall is 48.5 inches; since summer is the rainy season, residents often welcome the rain as another way to cool off.

Job Market

The modern shrimping industry began in Fernandina Beach, yet some maintain that today's shrimp boats add more to the town's scenic waterfront than to its overall economy. Nevertheless, commercail and sport fishing, along with tourism, are important to the local economy. Resorts on the island and agriculture on the mainland employ more workers. Nassau County School District employs 1,148 people. Major private sector employers include: Amelia Island Plantation (950); Jefferson Smurfit/CCA Paper Products (757); Ritz-Carlton Resort (625); Rayonier Chemical Cellulose (400); Baptist Medical Center/Nassau Health Care (230); Winn-Dixie (220); Wal-Mart (200); Publix (200); Stone Container Corporation (200); and Amelia Island Care Center (175).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Getting Around

U.S. Highway A1A runs north and south through the center of the seahorse-shaped barrier island. Fletcher provides a scenic, oceanfront drive on the east side of Amelia Island. Small but historic Centre Street fronts the island's northwest side and ends near shrimp boats and seafood restaurants at the Amelia River dock. The sizable historic district provides ample opportunity for pleasant walks, but those who wish will find carriages for hire so they can see the town the way early visitors did. By car, the Thomas J. Shave bridge to the mainland leads to State Road 200, which connects with Interstate 95 near Yulee. Several roads traverse sections of the rural mainland, but the only major highway is I-95, which crosses Nassau County on its Maine to Miami route. The island boasts a port and a small municipal airport, but for major transportation links area residents simply drive 35 miles to neighboring Jacksonville, which is served by one international (only 25 miles away) and two regional airports, a deep-water port, three railroads and two interstate highways.

Great Outdoors

Thirteen miles of beautiful beaches grace this 15-mile island. Fort Clinch State Park, the 1,086-acre site of a restored Civil War fortress on the island's northside, possesses natural beauty and breathtaking views in addition to its historic ambience. The birds, animals and plantlife of many ecosytems interact here: maritime forest, ocean shoreline, dunes, coastal grassland and tidal marsh. Experience the coastal hammocks of northern Florida by walking the park's Willow Pond Nature Trail. Or explore the undeveloped southern reaches of the island at Amelia Island State Recreation Area, where favorite activities include fishing, hiking and horseback riding on the beach.

Good Sports

If it's professional sports you want, tennis is tops in Nassau County. Ranked in the Top 50 tennis resorts because of its 25 high-quality courts, Amelia Island Plantation also hosts the Bausch & Lomb WITA Championships and the Dupont All-American Championships. Forty-five holes of golf, designed by Pete Dye and Tom Fazio keep golfers--pros and amateurs--coming back to Amelia Island Plantation. The Golf Club of Amelia Island offers its members and guests another 18 holes, and the public 27-hole Fernandina Beach Golf Course provides plenty of its own challenges. Summer Beach and the adjacent Ritz-Carlton add to the recreational mix, although property owners aren't as numerous as resort guests. There's a marina, the Amelia Island Yacht Basin, and plenty of places to charter a boat if you don't have your own. Fishing is popular; so is boating for recreation and relaxation. Or you can rent a horse to ride on the beach--one of the few places left in America where you can enjoy this pleasure without owning your own beach and your own mount.

Hot Times in the City

The list of things to do surprises visitors, yet locals often go off-island for a change of entertainment venues and cultural offerings. From Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville is a half-hour drive; Savannah, Ga,. a two-hour drive; and Orlando, Fla., about three hours away by car. On island, you can walk the beaches or the historic district, go antiquing or observe shrimp nets being handmade, watch a play at Amelia Community Theatre or picnic at Fort Clinch. For history buffs, this is the place to live. The Amelia Island Museum of History contains interesting items and sponsors informative walking tours of Centre Street and of the historic district. Amelia Island is the only place in the United States to have experienced life under eight flags: French, Spanish, English, Patriots, Green Cross of Florida, Mexican, Confederate and United States. The state's oldest hotel (Florida House, now a lovely inn) and oldest bar (Palace Saloon) are only a few short blocks apart. Much of Fernandina Beach--many houses, several churches and retail buildings--is on the National Register of Historic Places. (Bonus: St. Augustine, the country's oldest continuously occupied city is only about an hour's drive south of Amelia Island/Nassau County.) Once a month Civil War re-enactors reprieve historic events for spectators. Confederate and Union "soldiers" take turns, alternating acting duties on the first weekend of every month. In the spring, the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival entertains attendees. The Kingfish Tournament in June and an old-fashioned Fourth of July Celebration dominate the summer calendar. Tops on everyone's fall agenda are Octoberfest, an arts festival along Centre Street, and the Amelia Island Heritage Festival. During the winter months--December through February--locals and visitors appreciate Fernandina's Festival of Lights, when the historic district achieves its "Grand Illumination."

Shop 'til You Drop

Lovely shops grace the island, especially in the resort areas and along historic Centre Street, where one-of-a-kind gift shops, book stores, boutiques and purveyors of gourmet goodies line the avenue. Near the resort areas, try Palmetto Walk or the Village Shops of Amelia Island. Antiques aplenty could be an island slogan. Besides individual shops, most in the historic district on and near Centre Street, there are at least two antique malls: Amelia Island Antique Mart on South 8th Street and Eight Flags Antique Market on Centre Street, both in Fernandina Beach. If it's major department stores or massive malls you want, you'll probably need to visit the mainland, possibly even Jacksonville. Yet regular retail outlets, discount centers and lots of supermarkets exist in Nassau County. Recent development around Yulee bodes well for residents' shopping futures and abundant choices to come.

Nightlife

Try the Emerald Princess' evening cruise complete with casino gambling, live entertainment and a plentiful buffet. Locals and visitors love Florida's oldest tavern, the historic Palace Saloon, once haunt and hangout of Carnegies and Rockefellers escaping the domestic routine of their vacation retreats on nearby Cumberland Island, Georgia. Now everyone can enjoy the massive, hand-carved mahogany bar and the surprisingly laid-back attitude of locals who frequent the place. Nothing fancy here except the historic stuff seems to be the barkeep's decorating motto.

Nearly 40 restaurants--an amazing number of choices for a small community--await hungry diners.The award-winning restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton continues to rack up honors--receiving a coveted Golden Spoon (Top 20) from Florida Trend in 1997. Two other island eateries, Beech Street Grill and Horizons Continental Cuisine in the historic section of Fernandina Beach, made Trend's Top 200 for 1997.

College Scene

Florida Community College Jacksonville, a two-year coed community college, maintains an office in Fernandina Beach. Its main campuses aren't far away, either in time or in miles. Public (University of North Florida) and private (Jacksonville University) four-year schools are also easy commutes.

Just for Seniors

For citizens 60 or older, the Northeast Florida Area Agency on Aging provides local and regional information and referral. It's also a funding conduit for numerous state and federal programs that benefit seniors. Some are available only for the needy; others available for all seniors if space is available. Services include home-delivered meals, congregate meals, recreation, adult day care, counseling, advocacy and case management. Senior centers are located in Fernandina Beach on Amelia Island and in Hilliard on the mainland. For details of what programs are available, where and for whom, contact the Nassau County Council on Aging at 904/261-0701.