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First CoastThe First Coast is a region of Florida, in the United States. It extends along the Atlantic, or eastern, coast of the state, from the Georgia border, past the southern end of Anastasia Island, to Marineland. The name First Coast is an intentional double entendre; it denotes both the fact that the oldest permanent European settlement lies within its boundaries, and the fact that it is, quite literally, the "first coast" of Florida that a voyager would encounter while traveling along the eastern seaboard of the United States.
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First Coast |
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|align="center" colspan=2|
Location in the state of Florida
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|Major cities||Jacksonville
Fernandina Beach
St. Augustine
Orange Park
Palm Coast
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|Area
- Total
- Water||
9,530 km²
1,448 km² 15.19%
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|Population
- Total
- Density
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1,400,000
120.71/km²
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|Time zone||Eastern: UTC-5
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The First Coast is a region of Florida, in the United States. It extends along the Atlantic, or eastern, coast of the state, from the Georgia border, past the southern end of Anastasia Island, to Marineland. The name First Coast is an intentional double entendre; it denotes both the fact that the oldest permanent European settlement lies within its boundaries, and the fact that it is, quite literally, the "first coast" of Florida that a voyager would encounter while traveling along the eastern seaboard of the United States.
The name was not actually coined until the 1970s, when a group of representatives from local Chambers of Commerce wanted to market the region of Northeast Florida in a manner similar to other Florida regions, which had chosen such appellations as "Sun Coast", "Emerald Coast", and "Treasure Coast". Though it potentially could have faded into oblivion like many other marketing ideas, the name finally took off during the mid-1980s, and was probably permanently cemented by the opening of First Coast High School in Jacksonville in 1990.
It includes all of the counties of Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, and St. Johns; Baker County, while landlocked, was invited by the other counties to participate and was always included in early literature promoting the region. The principal cities of Florida's First Coast include Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville, Orange Park, and St. Augustine. The terrain consists of a coastal plain with low hills along the bluffs of the St. Johns River. Trail Ridge, an ancient seashore, borders the western boundary of the First Coast and separates the region from the Okefenokee Swamp.
HistoryThe history of the First Coast can be traced back over 12,000 years, to the Timucuan Indians, who originally settled the area. Modern settlement began in 1564, when René Goulaine de Laudonnière founded the French Colony of Fort Caroline, near the mouth of the St. Johns River, close to modern-day Jacksonville. On August 28, 1565, Pedro Menéndez de Avilés founded the city of St. Augustine for Spain. After defeating the French in skirmishes around the area, Spanish forces had firmly established the area as their own.
Spanish rule continued until 1763, when Spain ceded control of Florida to Great Britain. Under British rule, most of the Spanish population left the area, along with the remaining native population. After the end of the Revolutionary War, in 1783, Britain ceded Florida back to Spain, beginning the second period of Spanish rule. During this time, many settlers emigrated to the First Coast from the United States. The town of Cowford, now Jacksonville, was settled in 1791.
In 1819, Spain signed the Adams-Onís Treaty with the United States, giving all of Spanish Florida to the U.S. for $5,000,000.
American settlement of the First Coast expanded rapidly after the Treaty. The city of Jacksonville was formally established in 1832; this period also saw the founding of many of the cities along the First Coast.
The Civil War brought minor actions to the area. After Florida's secession, which occurred on January 10, 1861, most of the region was retaken by Union Forces early in the war. Jacksonville was an important Southern port. By mid 1862, most of the First Coast was in Union hands, and would remain so for the rest of the war.
Afterwards, more people began to settle along the coast. The area's beaches and warm weather drew tourists through the end of the 19th century. The construction of Henry Flagler's railroad to Miami led to a decline in the First Coast's tourist industry; but some cities have remained popular destinations to this day. Amelia Island and St. Augustine are especially popular for their beaches and historic importance.
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