2013 Spring newsletter

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT: CLAY COUNTY

Clay County was established 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 Secre- tary of State. 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 Cleve- land was the most prominent of such tourists; he had spring water shipped to

Hon. Roger A. Suggs, CFA, AAS, CCF

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 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 Na- tional Guard developed this 28,000 acre complex. Dur- ing World War II, it trained over 90,000 troops and be- came the fourth largest ―city‖ in the state. In Green Cove Springs, Lee Field was a flight training center. Af- ter 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

Spring Park, Green Cove Springs

personnel who are stationed on bases in nearby Duval County.

2012 Tax Roll At-A-Glance

Real Property Parcels

88,536

Tangible Accounts

5,045

Just (Market) Value

$12,423,346,985

Taxable NS Value

$7,939,080,171

Highest taxable value (TPP+RP)

$164,720,727

Clay Electric Co-Op, Inc.

Hon. Roger Suggs was first elected in 2009 | Number of Employees: 32 | Total Square Miles: 643, 6.62% of which is water | Website: www.ccpao.com

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Spring 2013 Newsletter of the FCIAAO