North Florida is a region of the U.S. state of Florida comprising the northernmost part of the state. Along with South Florida and Central Florida , it is one of Florida's three most common "directional" regions. It includes Jacksonville and nearby localities in Northeast Florida , an interior region known as North Central Florida , and the Florida Panhandle . North Florida is considered to be part of the Southern United States .
31-619: White Springs is a town in North Florida on the Suwannee River . The population was 740 at the 2020 census. Home of the annual Florida Folk Festival , it is a tourist destination noted for historic charm, antique shops, and river recreation. The Suwannee River was once the boundary between the Timucuan peoples to the east and the Apalachee people to the west. When Spanish explorers visited
62-400: A cotton gin attracted buyers and sellers; and fashionable clothing and hats were offered for sale. Leisure activities included ballroom dancing , lawn tennis , and skating . In 1903, the spring was enclosed by concrete and coquina walls that included multiple water gates and galleries to prevent water intrusion from river flooding . A four-story wooden bathhouse was constructed around
93-900: A white supremacist , neo-pagan religion known as the Asatru Folk Assembly (AFA), dedicated a Viking neo-pagan temple in White Springs. The temple for the hate group is dedicated to the Viking god Njord and is called "Njordshof" which means "Njord's temple" in Old Norse , the language of the Vikings. The exact coordinates for the Town of White Springs is located in southeastern Hamilton County at 30°19′54″N 82°45′22″W / 30.33167°N 82.75611°W / 30.33167; -82.75611 (30.331647, –82.756008). Its southern boundary follows
124-512: A hotel and spring house from local timber. During the Civil War , some Confederate soldiers found refuge in the town from Union troops. The family of future governor Napoleon Bonaparte Broward , whose Jacksonville farm was burned by Union forces, moved to a nearby farm which they named "Rebel's Refuge". At some point, the springs were renamed "White Sulphur Springs". Following the Civil War,
155-541: A majority considered their part of the state moderate, and South Florida, which was more liberal, residents of North Florida overwhelmingly (76%) considered their part of the state conservative; 16% considered it moderate and 8% considered it liberal. Lamme and Oldakowski's findings track with Barney Warf and Cynthia Waddell's studies of Florida's political geography during the 2000 Presidential election . Lamme and Oldakowski's survey also found some cultural indicators that characterize North Florida. In general, North Florida
186-487: A total area of 1.9 square miles (4.8 km), of which 56,330 square feet (5,233 m), or 0.11%, are water. The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification , the Town of White Springs has a humid subtropical climate zone ( Cfa ). As of the 2020 United States census , there were 740 people, 464 households, and 282 families residing in
217-961: A wide variety of natural attractions including the Ravine Gardens State Park , Big Lagoon State Park , Osceola National Forest , and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve . North Florida also has three major zoos , the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens , St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and Gulf Breeze Zoo . Major malls and shopping districts include The Avenues , Butler Plaza , Five Points , Gateway Town Center , Governor's Square , Jacksonville Landing , The Oaks Mall , Orange Park Mall , Paddock Mall , Pier Park , Regency Square , River City Marketplace , St. Johns Town Center and University Town Plaza . The following are major central business districts: Thousands of companies are headquartered in North Florida. Among those,
248-662: Is the largest metropolitan area in North Florida. Its cities include St. Augustine , Orange Park , and Fernandina Beach , this area is sometimes referred to as the First Coast . Other metropolitan areas include Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent , Tallahassee , Gainesville , Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin , Panama City-Lynn Haven , and Palm Coast . Important cities considered micropolitan areas include Lake City and Palatka . Lamme and Oldakowski's survey identifies several demographic, political, and cultural elements that characterize North Florida and distinguish it from other areas of
279-575: The Apalachicola National Forest , Choctawhatchee National Forest and Osceola National Forest . State University System State College System (Partial list) (Partial list) The following airports currently have regularly scheduled commercial service: Interstates: U.S. Routes: Floridan aquifer Too Many Requests If you report this error to the Wikimedia System Administrators, please include
310-588: The Florida Department of Transportation . They identify three regions within the area identified as "North Florida" by Enterprise Florida: Northeast Florida, North Central Florida, and Northwest Florida (representing most of the Panhandle). The following regions are entirely or partly within Northern Florida: Directional regions: Metropolitan areas: Vernacular regions: Jacksonville
341-526: The Suwannee River , which forms the border with Columbia County . The town is crossed by U.S. Route 41 ( SR 25 and 100 ) and SR 136 . US 41 leads northwest 17 miles (27 km) to Jasper , the Hamilton County seat, and southeast 12 miles (19 km) to Lake City . SR 136 leads west 3 miles (5 km) to Interstate 75 . According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has
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#1732858375536372-620: The United States and the town began to fade. In 1950, the Stephen Foster Memorial Museum opened to commemorate songwriter Stephen Foster , composer of the world-renowned song of the Suwannee River, " Old Folks at Home ". The museum is surrounded by formal gardens which extend to the banks of the Suwannee River. A carillon containing the world's largest set of tubular bells , opened in 1957 and plays Foster's songs throughout
403-604: The White Springs Public Library. Many of the original Victorian buildings survive, particularly within the White Springs Historic District , established in 1997 by the National Register of Historic Places . The town and state park are the site of the annual Florida Folk Festival , a four-day celebration of traditional Florida food, arts, and music. The event, first held in 1953, is one of
434-449: The area in the 1530s, the spring was visited by Natives from both sides of the river, who believed the water possessed healing powers. The Native Americans considered the spring a sacred healing ground, and used it even in times of war; any tribe member could bathe and drink the mineral waters without fear of being attacked. The spring water has a "rotten egg" sulfur smell that comes from dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas. The settlement
465-648: The coast, including the Emerald Coast and the Big Bend on the Gulf Coast and the First Coast and Halifax area on the Atlantic . Lamme and Oldakowski note that the directional region is more commonly used in the interior areas than on the coast. Enterprise Florida, the state's economic development agency , divides the state into three economic regions, used within the agency and other state and outside entities, including
496-545: The day. The facility is a Florida State Park . Through the 1980s, water flow at the spring declined to the point when it ceased flowing in 1990. The ex-mayor of White Springs, Dr. Helen Miller, was vice chairman of Florida Leaders Organized for Water (FLOW), a group which proposed the Floridan Aquifer Sustainability Act of 2013. The legislation seeks to restore the Floridan aquifer to 1980 levels. In 2022,
527-529: The following 4 are in the Fortune 1000 : Additional notable companies headquartered (or with a significant presence) in North Florida include (some defunct or subsumed): Areas under federal protection include Castillo de San Marcos National Monument , Fort Matanzas National Monument , Fort Caroline National Memorial , Gulf Islands National Seashore , and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve . National forests occupy large sections of North Florida, including
558-427: The median income for a household in the town was $ 24,861, and the median income for a family was $ 32,115. Males had a median income of $ 31,953 versus $ 21,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 15,555. About 20.0% of families and 22.6% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 26.6% of those age 65 or over. The Hamilton County School District operates
589-590: The northernmost areas of the state, including both the peninsula and the Florida Panhandle . Additionally, two localized "directional" regions had emerged: North East Florida , also known as the "First Coast", representing the area around Jacksonville on the Atlantic coast, and North Central Florida , comprising the central area. North Florida is one of Florida's three most common directional regions, along with Central Florida and South Florida . The region includes smaller vernacular regions, particularly along
620-399: The oldest continuous folk festivals in the United States. North Florida As with many vernacular regions, North Florida does not have any officially designated boundaries or status, and is defined differently in different sources. A 2007 study of Florida's regions by geographers Ary Lamme and Raymond K. Oldakowski found that Floridians surveyed identified "North Florida" as comprising
651-471: The public schools serving White Springs, Hamilton County Elementary School and Hamilton County High School , both in an unincorporated area of the county. South Hamilton Elementary School in White Springs formerly served the city; it was consolidated into a new elementary school, Hamilton County Elementary School, located in an unincorporated area south of Jasper . Its opening was scheduled for August 2017. The Suwannee River Regional Library System operates
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#1732858375536682-720: The region include the Pensacola Naval Air Station , Jacksonville Naval Air Station , Camp Blanding , Naval Station Mayport , Corry Station Naval Technical Training Center , Naval Support Activity Panama City , Blount Island Command , Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field . Major attractions include the Big Kahuna's , Marineland of Florida , Florida State Capitol , World Golf Village , Historic Pensacola Village , and historic sites in St. Augustine . North Florida also has
713-486: The spring. The structure was designed by the Jacksonville architectural firm McClure & Holmes for owner Minnie Mosher Jackson, and included doctors' offices for patient examination and treatment, dressing rooms, space for concessions, and an elevator. At the time, water flow was calculated at 32,400 gallons per minute, or nearly 47 million gallons per day. During the 1930s, bathing in mineral springs fell out of favor in
744-534: The state. North Floridians considered North Florida to be part of the South and " Dixie ". Additionally, residents of some parts of North Florida considered their area to be in the Bible Belt , while residents of other parts of the state did not. A popular expression of people in this region of the state goes "In Florida, the farther north you go, the farther South you are." Politically, in contrast to Central Florida, where
775-462: The tourist business slowly returned. In 1882, the Georgia merchants Wight and Powell purchased the property and platted city lots. They sold parcels to other retailers to open businesses catering to plantations and resorts around the spring. Crowds of health seekers arrived, first by stagecoach and then railroad . The Town of White Springs was incorporated in 1885. Hotels and boarding houses popped up;
806-510: The town was 36.75% White , 62.15% African American , 0.37% Native American , and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population. In 2000, there were 340 households, out of which 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.2% were married couples living together, 26.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.2% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.1% had someone living alone who
837-418: The town. As of the 2010 United States census , there were 777 people, 316 households, and 207 families residing in the town. As of the census of 2000, there were 819 people, 340 households, and 227 families residing in the town. The population density was 446.0 inhabitants per square mile (172.2/km). There were 393 housing units at an average density of 214.0 per square mile (82.6/km). The racial makeup of
868-446: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.93. In 2000, in the town, the population was spread out, with 30.3% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.7 males. In 2000,
899-548: Was incorporated in 1831 as " Jackson Springs " by businessmen Joseph Bryant, James T. Hooker, his brother William B. Hooker, John Lee, and James D. Prevatt. In addition to the spring, they planned to build a ferry across the Suwannee River. The following year, Bryant Sheffield purchased the ferry operation rights and the spring, then known as "White Sulpher [sic] Springs". Sheffield drank the mineral waters and touted their ability to cure nervousness , kidney troubles, and rheumatism , among other problems. In 1842, he constructed
930-740: Was less popular in North and Central Florida, and more so in South Florida. Lamme and Oldakowski noted that North Florida's economy was much more diversified than Central and South Florida, where tourism was by far the most significant industry. While tourism was a significant factor in North Florida's economy, particularly in the Emerald Coast, other important industries included agriculture in rural areas, education in Tallahassee and Gainesville, and military and finance in Jacksonville. Major military bases in
961-474: Was similar to Central Florida and differed from South Florida in these measures. In North and Central Florida, American cuisine was the most popular food, in contrast to South Florida, where ethnic foods were equally popular. Additionally, while there was little geographical variation for most styles of music, there was regional variation for both country and Latin music. Country was popular in North and Central Florida, and less so in South Florida, while Latin