Fernandina Beach, FL, The Isle of Eight Flags

Cross the bridge onto Amelia Island and you arrive in Fernandina Beach, a Victorian seaport town with a past far bigger than its size. Whether you have lived in Nassau County for years or just found your way to the island, here are some fun facts and a little history about Fernandina Beach, Florida.

Eight Nations Have Flown Their Flag Here

Fernandina Beach is known as the Isle of Eight Flags, and it earned the name honestly. Amelia Island is the only place in the United States to have flown the flags of eight different nations, among them France, Spain, Great Britain, the Confederacy, and finally the United States. Few small towns anywhere can claim a story that colorful.

Named for a Spanish King

The town of Fernandina was platted in 1811 and named in honor of King Ferdinand VII of Spain. It is often called the last town platted in the Western Hemisphere while under Spanish rule. Spain ceded Florida to the United States a decade later, in 1821, but the Spanish name stuck and remains today.

The Birthplace of Modern Shrimping

In the early 1900s, Fernandina Beach became the birthplace of the modern shrimping industry in America. The town still honors that heritage every spring with the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival, a downtown tradition that has run for more than half a century and draws visitors from across the region the first weekend in May.

A Fort That Still Stands Guard

Just north of town sits Fort Clinch, begun in 1847 and considered one of the best preserved 19th century forts in the country. It changed hands during the Civil War but was abandoned rather than lost in battle. Today Fort Clinch State Park lets visitors walk the same brick ramparts, often alongside costumed reenactors bringing the fort's history to life.

The End of the Line for Florida's First Railroad

Fernandina has one more thread of local history worth knowing. David Levy Yulee, the man the nearby town of Yulee is named for, built Florida's first railroad across the state, and Fernandina was its Atlantic end of the line. The route ran clear across the peninsula to Cedar Key on the Gulf, and it helped put this little port on the map.

A Downtown Full of Firsts

Fernandina's 50 block historic district is packed with Florida firsts. The Palace Saloon has poured drinks since 1903, making it the oldest continuously operating bar in the state. The Florida House Inn, dating to 1857, is the oldest hotel in Florida. And the Amelia Island Lighthouse, first lit around 1838, is the oldest existing lighthouse in the state. That is a lot of history for a few walkable blocks.

Proud to Serve Amelia Island

Fernandina Beach has deep roots and a whole lot of character, and we are proud to serve this part of Nassau County. If you love learning about where you live, you are in good company. Mullis Septic is a local business grateful to care for the homes and families across Amelia Island and Northeast Florida.