According to the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Nassau County grew by 3.25% last year (2018-2019). For perspective, out of 3,141 counties in the United States, Nassau ranked as the 40th fastest-growing county by percent growth for counties in the U.S. with a population over 10,000. This growth rate places Nassau in the top 1.5% of all counties in the Country.
According to the US Census Bureau, within the State of Florida, Nassau ranked as the 5th fastest growing county from 2018-2019 (by percentage). For counties in the State with a population over 80,000, Nassau ranked 2nd fastest growing (by percentage) following only behind St. Johns County.
Over the coming decade (2020-2030), the Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) predicts Nassau will be the seventh fastest growing county in the State of Florida (by percentage) with a projected population expansion of 36.5% resulting in over 116,100 people calling Nassau home by 2030.
The fastest growing area of the county is the area between I-95 and the Intercoastal Waterway (Amelia River) with significant growth along the Amelia Concourse and CR107/Old Nassauville Road. Currently, there are no public schools located within the Amelia Concourse communities or within the Nassauville community. Through collaborative discussions at the School District's Land and Growth Committee which includes county planning staff, there is consensus amongst both the school district's and county's technical staff that providing a school within the Amelia Concourse/Nassauville communities will provide broad benefits to the citizens of Nassau County.
The BOCC currently owns a roughly seventeen acre property located south of Amelia Concourse. The property is identified by tax parcel identification numbers 32-2N-28-0000-0003-0020 and 32-2N-28-0000-0003-0010. The property is currently vacant.
On October 28, 2020, the BOCC authorized County staff to collaborate with the School District's staff to determine if the 17 +/- acre parcel is suitable for use as a school site.
Doug Podiak, Nassau County Public Works Director, and Jeffrey Bunch, Nassau County School Board Director of Facilities, have determined that the site could be utilized as a future Elementary school site which would accommodate students living in the Nassauville and Amelia Concourse areas.
By placing an Elementary school in this area, travel time for students could be reduced, allow for walkers/bike riders, reduce the financial burden on School Board Transportation services and reduce vehicular traffic on SR200. Currently, nearly 700 students reside in the Nassauville/Amelia Concourse areas and are attending either Yulee of Fernandina Elementary schools. Additional vehicular traffic access studies will need to be completed by the School Board. |