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 not only signifies that the oldest permanent European settlement (
St. Augustine) lies within its boundaries, but also that it is the "first coast" of Florida that a voyager would encounter whilst traveling along the eastern seaboard of the United States.
The name was coined in 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 was further solidified when the newscasts of the NBC and ABC affiliates in Jacksonville merged to become
First Coast News in 1999.
It includes all of the counties of
Baker,
Clay,
Duval,
Flagler,
Nassau, and
St. Johns. 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. Culturally, the region is closer to the
Deep South than much of peninsular Florida. As of 2000, the region had a population of 1,500,950.
History
The history of the First Coast can be traced back over 12,000 years, when the area was first inhabited by Native Americans. The
Timucuan people were settled here at the time of initial European contact in the mid-16th century. This modern colonization 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.
No known
hurricanes had made
landfall on the first coast until
1964 when
Hurricane Dora came ashore near
St. Johns County in the early morning hours of
September 10, 1964.
External links
★
Lighthouse Archaeological Maritime Program (LAMP) Maritime archaeology along the First Coast
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