Winter 2026 FCIAAO Newsletter

COUNTY SPOTLIGHT

ST. JOHNS COUNTY

The northwest region includes the master-planned communities of Julington Creek Plantation, RiverTown and more as well as the retail area of Durbin Park Pavilion. This area attracts those who work in Jacksonville but want to live in St. Johns County for its top rated public schools. St. Johns County’s economy is driven by tourism. The county is a top destination for millions of visitors yearly who are attracted to the area for its history, beaches and events. For the past 30+ years during November through January, the City of St. Augustine hosts Nights of Lights, where the downtown buildings are decorated in millions of white lights. This event has been recognized as one of the top 10 holiday light displays in the world by National Geographic. Also, the Sing Out Loud Festival is an annual event in September with live music performances featuring more than 100 national, regional and local artists. St. Johns County is a highly desirable place to live thanks to its exceptional quality of life and all that it has to offer. In fact, from 2020 to 2025, St. Johns County’s population increased by 4.44% annually. Also, on average the St. Johns County Property Appraiser’s Office has processed more than 10,000 homestead exemption applications yearly from 2020 to 2025. As St. Johns County continues to grow, the St. Johns County Property Appraiser’s Office remains committed to providing outstanding customer service to the property owners and community. For more information, visit www.sjcpa.gov.

St. Augustine Lighthouse

The southeast region includes the City of St. Augustine Beach where the St. Johns County Ocean & Fishing Pier is enjoyed by residents and visitors. Further south in this region is the Fort Matanzas National Monument. Completed in 1742, Fort Matanzas is a coquina watchtower that was built by the Spanish to defend the southern approach to St. Augustine. The picturesque Faver-Dykes State Park that winds along Pellicer Creek is also located here. The southwest region is primarily rural and includes the towns of Elkton and Hastings. This agricultural area was initially established to grow food for Henry Flagler’s hotels in downtown St. Augustine. Originally, potatoes were the main crop grown, making Hastings known as the potato capital of Florida. This area is still an active agricultural community today and is steadily increasing in population due to its housing affordability.

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STAYING APPRAISED

WINTER 2026