What is it that’s drawing thousands of people per day to the Sunshine State? After seeing a shift in people’s everyday life and how they work, many more are reevaluating where they want to live based on the new climate. Now more than ever, people are craving authenticity in the way they are living. City dwellers are moving from the urban areas for safe, open spaces, and beautiful Nassau County in North Florida is starting to get a lot of notice. If you’re one of the families that are thinking of making a move, here are six reasons why you should consider Nassau County.
Nassau County continues to grow, creating many job opportunities along the way. Since May of 2020, the employment rate has expanded steadily in almost every sector. As the medical field expands, multiple healthcare careers have been made available in nearby facilities like UF Health Center and Baptist Medical Center Nassau in Fernandina Beach. The career opportunities don’t stop there, Nassau County consistently outpaces the rest of the state in terms of economic growth and the rate of unemployment is almost 2% lower than the national average.
If you’re looking for an Old Florida experience with the picturesque downtowns, look no further! Nassau County is home to charming beach towns full of charisma and historical intrigue. Whether you’re exploring the Amelia Island Lighthouse, Florida’s oldest lighthouse, or stopping by The Palace Saloon, Florida’s oldest bar. The sites decorating Fernandina Beach and Amelia Island have been well preserved, and Florida’s development is correlated directly with the history of Nassau County. Fun Fact: Fernandina Beach is the only location in the United States to have been under eight different flags – French, Spanish, English, Patriot, Green Cross of Florida, Mexican Rebel, Confederate, and United States Flag. Festivities of all sorts happen throughout the year to celebrate the area’s rich history, including the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.
Nassau County’s public school district is recognized as one of the best in the state with a consistent A-rating for the past 10+ years. With 16 fully accredited schools, both public and private K-12, there are a plethora of excellent options to choose from to best fit your child’s educational needs. Classroom excellence projects a great reputation for Nassau County with an approximate graduation rate of 93% in the area’s four high schools.
This one comes as no surprise! Florida does not have a state income tax. According to the Tax Foundation, Florida has one of the lowest tax burdens in the country which is a big reason why Florida consistently outperforms the rest of the nation in terms of fiscal stability and economic performance, which takes into account the overall business environment, employment and growth opportunities per the U.S. News 2020 Study.
Everyone has become a “foodie” and seeks out that special meal and environment. With that in mind, some of the most delicious and diverse culinary experiences in Florida can be found right here in Nassau County. Fernandina Beach is the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry, no doubt supplying the freshest of seafood, and cuisine of all kinds decorate the area. Whether you’re craving the nightlife fun or an authentic eating experience, each restaurant in Nassau County offers remarkable menu items to please your palate.
The pristine Florida beaches are an integral part of why so many people travel here, but there are plenty of activities to choose from. Nassau County is home to more than 80 golf courses, including Fernandina Beach Golf Club which is one of the most popular municipal golf courses in the Southeastern United States. The PGA Tour is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach where it hosts The Players Championship, which is only a short drive south along the coast. Four Creeks State Park and Three Rivers State Forest are great locations for wildlife viewing, camping, biking, hiking, and horseback riding is a memorable experience to take in the beauty of the surrounding nature. For the art lovers, farmer’s markets, art tours, and museums line the area making it a colorful, dynamic place to live and discover.
Ideally located in Nassau County, surrounded by thousands of acres of state-protected parks and preserves, is a new master-planned community. Developed by GreenPointe Developers, this expansive community spans over 1,500 acres and will have a total of 3,200 homesites upon completion. Tributary is located just 1.6 miles west of I-95 along A1A/SR 200 (the Amelia Island exit). Just 15 minutes to the south, you’ll find the Jacksonville International Airport and River City Marketplace, a major regional shopping, dining and entertainment destination.
At Tributary our residents will Explore More with our private on-site amenities including The Lookout lakefront resident clubhouse, a Fitness Studio, resort-inspired pool, pickleball courts, Adventure Zone Tot-Lot, Pawsome Park for our furry friends and more. You can check out the full stock of amenities here. Miles of scenic nature trails will provide direct access to the river and neighboring protected sanctuary of Four Creeks State Forest. Residents will also have direct access to Tributary Regional Park, which is under construction with baseball and multi-purpose fields, kayak launch, concessions, and multi-purpose trail.
Tributary offers a distinctive collection of new homes from the $300s built by respected builders Dream Finders Homes, Lennar and Richmond American Homes. The Model Home Village with 6 designer-decorated models is now open to tour, so now’s the perfect time to stop by for a visit. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Instagram, be sure to check out our Community’s Digital Brochure which will give you an overview of the community and what’s to come! Interested homebuyers are welcomed to join our VIP list at TributaryLiving.com, and they will be the first to receive the latest information and new releases.
For many across the country, society’s “new normal” has considerably limited their social life and changed their perspective for the future. And while it’s likely to be considered risky to gather in large groups of family and friends for a while longer, maybe this is the time to explore all the ways to connect with the great outdoors! North Florida is full of amazing natural wonders with wide open spaces and fun attractions. While Nassau County is a path less traveled, it offers a diverse array of activities that has homebuyers appreciating their surroundings like never before. Here are some activities we think will spark any adventurer’s interest.
If you love the ocean, you have to visit Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach. Located on the coastline in northeast Florida, these destinations are easy to reach but hard to forget. 13 miles of coastline and over 40 public beach access points allows for plenty of room to relax under the sun, swim in the cool water, or catch some waves if the surf’s up. Top surf spots on the North side include Main Beach, American Beach, Peters Point and Ft. Clinch State Park. You can even check out the area’s surf reports and cams before paddling out. And if you want to literally “hoof it”, you can book a guided local tour of the pristine Atlantic shore by horseback.
For those who prefer traveling on their own two feet, a visit to the area’s best hiking and nature trails will keep you grounded. You can choose to explore yourself, or book a guided nature walk that takes place every Saturday morning at 10:30 am. Four Creeks State Forest covers 13,106 acres, and joins Alligator (Mills), Thomas, Boggy and Plummer Creeks. While there are many ways to explore this massive forest along the forest and service roads, the named Wood-Shingle Mill Trail stretches 2.6 miles from the trailhead located right off State Road 200. If a visit isn’t enough and you want to immerse yourself in nature, Nassau County’s newest community, Tributary, may be exactly what you’ve been searching for. This new community will feature masterfully planned trails that not only wind through its green spaces and parks, but also directly connects to the trailheads of neighboring Four Creeks State Forest.
Nearby, John Muir Ecological Park in Yulee is an easy quarter mile trail that zigzags through the forested marshland connecting a series of picnic shelters. Listen to the birds sing from the trees and even see the main line of one of Florida’s first railroads. History meets nature at Fort Clinch State Park. This historic fort, significant to the Civil War, is only one aspect of the 1,400-acre park. Hiking trails cover all types of terrain and difficulty levels, while winding through forests, marsh and sand dunes. Wildlife observation is very good on these trails. Alligators, deer, gopher tortoises and a variety of birds can be seen throughout the park.
For those looking to trek where the grasses are a bit more maintained, North Florida has almost unlimited options for golf. Nassau County in particular has a handful of courses to choose from. To name a few, the Amelia River Golf Club is a full-service semi-private golf course with a club house, pro shop, PGA golf instruction, practice areas, locker rooms and dining facilities which are open to the public. The 27-hole Fernandina Beach Golf Club is one of the most popular municipal golf facilities in the country with its close proximity to Jacksonville and area beaches. The Golf Club at North Hampton is a signature Arnold Palmer designed golf course. This top-ranked course features spring-fed lakes, wild grasses and various elevation changes, unlike any other design in Northeast Florida.
Still not getting your adrenaline levels up…how does social distancing from 12,000 feet above ground sound? Then freefalling at speeds of over 125 miles per hour. Did I get your attention? Skydiving is definitely a high octane, once in a lifetime adventure and one of the best ways for thrill seekers to take in all of Northern Florida’s natural beauty.
No matter your interests or speeds, Nassau County has something for every outdoor adventurer. One of its most anticipated additions is Tributary, a new master-planned community by GreenPointe Developers that delivers unmatched value in a beautiful, natural sanctuary. Residents of Tributary are invited to “Explore More” with a thoughtfully planned trail system that directly connects to Four Creeks State Forest and Tributary Park. Within the 1,550-acre master-planned community, residents will also enjoy The Lookout Amenity Center complete with a resort-inspired pool, fitness studio, dog park, Adventure Zone Tot-Lot, and so much more! Homes are priced from the $300s, have been unveiled and can be viewed on TributaryLiving.com. Six of the builders’ unique model homes will soon break ground and be ready to tour later this year. Be sure to connect with us to stay updated and discover why Tributary is the perfect place to call home.
