About Clay County


About Clay County
Clay County includes unincorporated Middleburg and four municipalities: Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Penny Farms and Keystone Heights.  It is located in one of the fastest growing regions in the nation and offers an unsurpassed quality of life as well as unlimited opportunities for business development.  Green Cove Springs, the county seat, is located approximately 26 miles southwest of Jacksonville, 109 miles north of Orlando and 312 miles southeast of Atlant.


Northeast Florida continues to experience a cost of living lower than the national average.  In fact, Clay County, a part of the Jacksonville MSA, consistently ranks among the least expensive cities in the state of Florida.  According to the ACCRA cost of living index for 3rd Quarter 2005, the Jacksonville MSA composite index was 92.7 the lowest in the state and approximetly 7% below the national average cost of living.


Labor Force
The labor force in Clay County continues to steadily grow, increasing by approximately 7% from 2000-2004.  Recent workforce related research shows that approximately 60% of working Clay County residents commute to Jacksonville (Duval County) each day, of which 80% would prefer to work within the county.  In addition, there are several large naval bases in the area providing unique sources of disciplined and technically trained labor.


Business Climate

State Taxes
Florida has a variety of advantages that make it a profitable site for nearly every type of business.  Progressive legeslation continues to ensure that Florida will remain a magnet for new and expanding businesses.  These advantages include:

*  NO corporate income tax on limited partnerships

*  NO corporate income tax on subchapter S-corporations

*  NO state personal income tax, guaranteed by constitutional provision

*  NO corporate franchise tax on capital stock

*  NO state-level property tax assessed

*  NO property tax on business inventories

*  NO property tax on goods manufactured or produced in Florida for export outside the state

*  NO sales tax on purchases of raw materials incorporated in a final product for resale, including non-reusable containers or packaging

*  NO sales and use tax on boiler fuels


Local Taxes
Taxes are levied in Clay County by the taxing authorities empowered to do so by the State Legislature.  The value of each real estate and tangible personal property is established by the County Property Appraiser.


Clay County has a local retail sales tax of 1.0 and a local communication service tax of 6.5.  Businesses may qualify for an ad valorem tax exemption.


The total millage rate for Clay County is 17.2906.  Cities within Clay County also levy an additional millage.


Business Development
Clay county offers tremendous opportunites for business development and quality environments.  Green Cove Springs, specifically, provides multi-modal transportation connections at Clay Port/Reynolds Yacht Center, with opportunities for a variety of business enterprises through mixed-use redevelopment plans and its mega yacht center.  In addition, the Northeast Florida Industrial Complex is an outstanding high cube, cross dock distribution facility with direct access to rail.


 

Clay County, Florida
Map
Map of Florida highlighting Clay County
Location in the state of Florida
Map of the U.S. highlighting Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded December 31, 1858
Seat Green Cove Springs
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
644 sq mi (1,668 kmē)
601 sq mi (1,557 kmē)
43 sq mi (111 kmē), 6.62%
Population
 - (2000)
 - Density
140,814
233/sq mi (90/kmē)
Website: www.claycountygov.com

Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 140,814. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county is 184,727 [1]. Its county seat is Green Cove Springs, Florida[1]. Clay County is part of the Greater Jacksonville Metropolitan area.

Contents

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History

Clay County was created on December 31, 1858, from a section of Duval County. Its name is in honor of Henry Clay, a famous American statesman, member of the United States Senate from Kentucky, and United States Secretary of State in the 19th century.

Clay County was once a popular destination for tourists visiting from the northern states. The therapeutic, warm springs and mild climate were major draws for visitors. Steamboats brought them to various hotels in Green Cove Springs - the St. Elmo, Clarendon and the Oakland. President Grover Cleveland was the most prominent of such tourists; he had spring water shipped to the White House. Clay County's popularity among tourists peaked during the last three decades of the 19th century. It was later eclipsed by Henry Flagler's extension of the Florida East Coast Railway to points south such as Palm Beach and Miami.

The military has also played an important role in Clay County history. In 1939, Camp Blanding opened on Kingsley Lake in central Clay County. The Florida National Guard developed this 28,000 acre (113 kmē) complex. During World War II, it trained over 90,000 troops and became the fourth largest 'city' in the state. In Green Cove Springs, Lee Field was a flight training center. After World War II, Lee Field became a base for the mothball fleet. Although Lee Field closed in the early 1960s, Camp Blanding continues to operate today. Clay County is also a popular choice of residence for military personnel who are stationed on bases in nearby Duval County (NAS Jacksonville, NS Mayport).

 

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 644 square miles (1,667 kmē), of which, 601 square miles (1,557 kmē) of it is land and 43 square miles (110 kmē) of it (6.62%) is water.

 

Adjacent counties

Baker County Duval County
v ? d ? e
 
Bradford County North St. Johns County
West   Clay County, Florida    East
South
Putnam County

Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 140,814 people, 50,243 households, and 39,390 families residing in the county. The population density was 234 people per square mile (90/kmē). There were 53,748 housing units at an average density of 89 per square mile (35/kmē). The racial makeup of the county was 87.44% White, 6.70% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 1.99% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.31% from other races, and 2.01% from two or more races. 4.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 50,243 households out of which 39.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.80% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.60% were non-families. 16.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.77 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the county the population was spread out with 28.00% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 24.00% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $48,854, and the median income for a family was $53,814. Males had a median income of $36,683 versus $25,488 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,868. About 5.10% of families and 6.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.90% of those under age 18 and 7.40% of those age 65 or over.

According to the Florida Times-Union, in October 2004, there were 106,114 registered voters in Clay County.

 

Cities and towns

 

Incorporated municipalities

 

Unincorporated Communities

 

Politics

Clay County is one of the most reliably Republican counties in the state during presidential elections outside of the Panhandle, although it often supports Conservative Democrats for local and state offices.

Presidential elections results [3]
Year Republican Democratic Other
2008 70.8% 28.2% 0.9%
2004 76.2% 23.3% 0.5%
2000 72.8% 25.5% 1.7%
1996 64.5% 28.2% 7.4%
1992 58.0% 23.3% 18.7%
1988 76.7% 23.0% 0.3%

 

Museums

Clay County Historical and Railroad Museum, Green Cove Springs.

Middleburg Historical Museum, Middleburg.

Black Heritage Museum, Middleburg.

Camp Blanding Museum, Camp Blanding.