The Northeast
Florida Regional Council serves Regional District 4, comprised
of 7 counties and 27 municipalities.
Counties - Municipalities
Baker
- Glen St. Mary and Macclenny
Clay
- Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, Orange Park, Penney
Farms
Duval
- Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, Jacksonville, Jacksonville Beach,
Neptune Beach
Flagler
- Beverly Beach, Bunnell,
Flagler Beach, Marineland, Palm Coast
Nassau
- Callahan, Fernandina Beach, Hilliard
Putnam
- Crescent City, Interlachen, Palatka, Pomona Park, Welaka
St. Johns
- Hastings, St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach
Regional Profile
The region's land area covers a total of 4,428 square miles,
with 43 percent dedicated to agriculture, 2 percent to industry
and commercial use, and 13 percent urbanized. The population
surpasses 1.1 million.
Characterized by an abundance of natural resources and a
diversity of habitats, the region's central feature is the
Lower St. Johns River. With 140 miles of coastline and five
barrier islands boasting some of the state's most magnificent,
pristine beaches, Northeast Florida is truly "Florida's
First Coast."
Jacksonville in Duval County is the major urban center,
boasting a good mix of industrial manufacturing, transportation,
financial services, health care, and military employment.
Land-wise, it is the largest city in the U.S.
Surrounding counties are more rural in nature, relying on
agriculture and service sectors, with a limited industrial
base often focused on a single sector. They are, however,
increasing in their rate of urbanization and beginning to
develop more economic diversity. Flagler is the fastest
growing county in the region and in the state of Florida.
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- County Seat: Macclenny
- Population: 22,259
(U.S. Census 2000)
- Area (sq. miles): 585
- Municipalities: Macclenny,
Glen St. Mary
- Established: 1861
- Named for: James McNair
Baker (1822-92), Confederate States senator
and Florida judge
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| Baker County is primarily
an agricultural county. The greatest numbers of persons
are employed in government, retail trade, and agricultural
sectors. Pine forests covering large portions of the
county provide for major lumber and wood product manufacturing. |
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- County Seat: Green
Cove Springs
- Population: 140,814
(U.S. Census 2000)
- Area (sq. miles): 601
- Municipalities: Green
Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, Orange Park,
Penney Farms
- Established: 1858
- Named for: Kentuckian
Henry Clay, Secretary of State under John Quincy
Adams
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| Clay County is the
17th fastest growing county in Florida. The greatest
number of persons are employed in the retail trade,
services, and government sectors. |
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- County Seat: Jacksonville
- Population: 778,879
(U.S. Census 2000)
- Area (sq. miles): 774
- Municipalities: Jacksonville,
Atlantic Beach, Baldwin, Jacksonville Beach,
Neptune Beach
- Established: 1822
- Named for: William
Pope DuVal, first territorial governor of Florida
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| In 1968, the county
except for the four smaller municipalities was consolidated
into the City of Jacksonville, making it the largest
city in the U.S., land-wise. Jacksonville accounts
for more than 62 percent of the region's population
and is the employment hub for several communities
in surrounding counties. The city is a major insurance,
banking, and shipping center, and the greatest number
of persons are employed in the services, retail trade,
and government sectors. |
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- County Seat: Bunnell
- Population: 49,832
(U.S. Census 2000)
- Area (sq. miles): 485
- Municipalities: Beverly
Beach, Bunnell, Flagler Beach, Marineland, Palm
Coast
- Established: 1917
- Named for: Henry Flagler,
developer of the Florida East Coast Railroad
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| Flagler County is the
region’s and the state’s fastest growing
county. Its greatest population concentration is along
the beaches. The greatest number of persons are employed
in the services, retail trade, and manufacturing sectors. |
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- County Seat: Fernandina
Beach
- Population: 57,663
(U.S. Census 2000)
- Area (sq. miles): 652
- Municipalities: Callahan,
Fernandina Beach, Hilliard
- Established: 1824
- Named for: Nassau Sound,
which separates Nassau and Duval counties
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| Paper, lumber and wood
products, and manufacturing comprise a major part
of the county's economy. The fishing industry is also
important. |
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- County Seat: Palatka
- Population: 70,423.
(U.S. Census 2000)
- Area (sq. miles): 722
- Municipalities: Crescent
City, Interlachen, Palatka, Pomona Park, Welaka
- Established: 1849
- Named for: Benjamin
Alexander Putnam (1801-69), lawyer, soldier,
judge, state legislator, first president of
the Florida Historical Society
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| Manufacturing, government
and retail trade sectors provide greatest number of
jobs. The county boasts being the "bass capital
of the world" and is among the state's leading
producers of potatoes. |
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- County Seat: St. Augustine,
oldest permanent settlement in U.S.
- Population: 123,135.
(U.S. Census 2000)
- Area (sq. miles): 609
- Municipalities: Hastings,
St. Augustine, St. Augustine Beach
- Established: 1821,
one of Florida's original two counties
- Named for: St. Johns
River
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| One of Florida's original
two counties (the other being Escambia), St. Johns
is the second fastest growing county in the region,
and the seventh fastest in state. St. Johns is a mostly
rural county with 83 percent of its population located
in the unincorporated areas. It's county seat, St.
Augustine, is the oldest permanent settlement in the
U.S. The town of Hastings is known as the potato capital
of Florida. Services, retail trade, and government
sectors are the major employers. Fishing is also important
to the county's economy. |
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