North Florida

North Florida is a region in the northern part of the U.S. state of Florida. It is one of the three main areas of Florida, along with South Florida and Central Florida. This area includes big cities like Jacksonville and smaller towns in Northeast Florida, North Central Florida, and the Florida Panhandle.

People living in North Florida consider themselves part of the Southern United States, especially a area called the Deep South. The capital city of Florida, Tallahassee, is located here, making it an important place for the whole state.

Geography

North Florida is one of the three main regions of Florida, along with Central Florida and South Florida. It includes the northernmost part of the state. People may think of North Florida in different ways, but it generally covers areas near Jacksonville on the Atlantic coast, the central part of the state, and the Florida Panhandle along the Gulf Coast.

Some smaller areas in North Florida have their own names, like the Emerald Coast, the Big Bend, and the First Coast. Big cities in this region include Jacksonville, Pensacola, Tallahassee, and Gainesville.

Demographics

Jacksonville is the biggest city in North Florida. It includes places like St. Augustine, Orange Park, and Fernandina Beach, and this part is sometimes called the First Coast. Other important cities and areas in North Florida are Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, Tallahassee, Gainesville, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Panama City-Lynn Haven, and Palm Coast. Smaller but still important cities include Lake City and Palatka.

Culture

People in North Florida see their home as part of the South and "Dixie". Some areas are thought of as part of the Bible Belt. A common saying there is, "In Florida, the farther north you go, the farther South you are."

Most people in North Florida think of their area as conservative, with 76% saying this, compared to 16% who think it’s moderate and 8% who think it’s liberal. This is different from Central and South Florida.

North Florida shares some culture traits with Central Florida but differs from South Florida. American foods are most popular in North and Central Florida, while South Florida enjoys many different kinds of ethnic foods. Music styles also vary: country music is more popular in North and Central Florida, while Latin music is more popular in South Florida.

Economy

North Florida has a variety of jobs and industries. While many people visit for fun, the area also has farms, schools, and places where people work in money-related jobs and the military.

There are many important military bases, like the Pensacola Naval Air Station and Jacksonville Naval Air Station. Some fun places to visit include Marineland of Florida and World Golf Village. Big shopping areas can be found in places like The Avenues and St. Johns Town Center.

Major business districts

The following are major central business districts:

• Downtown Jacksonville
• Downtown Pensacola

[Downtown Tallahassee](/wiki/Tallahassee)

Notable companies

See also: Category:Companies based in North Florida

Many companies have their main offices in North Florida. Some of the biggest ones include:

• CSX Corporation
• Fidelity National Financial
• FIS
• Landstar System

Other well-known companies in the area include Firehouse Subs, Florida Blue, and PGA Tour.

Parks and other protected areas

Main articles: List of National Monuments of the United States and List of U.S. National Forests

North Florida has many special places set aside for people to enjoy nature. Some of these areas are protected by the government, like Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, Fort Matanzas National Monument, Fort Caroline National Memorial, Gulf Islands National Seashore, and Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve. There are also big forest areas called national forests, such as the Apalachicola National Forest, Choctawhatchee National Forest, and Osceola National Forest.

The region also has many beautiful state parks and preserves. These include places like Waccasassa Bay Preserve State Park, Paynes Prairie, Ocala National Forest, and Torreya State Park. There are many more, each offering its own unique landscapes and activities for visitors to enjoy.

Educational institutions

North Florida has many places where people can go to learn and study.

Some big public universities include Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida State University, University of Florida, University of North Florida, and University of West Florida.

There are also many public colleges such as Chipola College, Florida Gateway College, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and others.

Some private schools include Edward Waters College, Flagler College, and Jacksonville University.

Research places include Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition and Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.

Transportation

Airports

Main article: List of airports in Florida

Some airports in North Florida have regular flights for travelers.

Rail

• Jacksonville Transportation Authority runs a special train called the Skyway
• Amtrak has stops at Jacksonville Station and Palatka Union Depot
  • Silver Meteor - travels along the east coast
  • Silver Star - travels along the east coast
  • Sunset Limited - travels east to west (not running since 2005)

Transit organizations

• Escambia County Area Transit
• Gainesville Regional Transit System
• Jacksonville Transportation Authority
• Northeast Florida Regional Transportation Commission
• Okaloosa County Transit
• Ride Solution
• StarMetro

Ferries

• Drayton Island Ferry
• Fort Gates Ferry
• Jacksonville Water Taxi
• Mayport Ferry

Roadways

Interstates:

• Interstate 10
• Interstate 110
• Interstate 75
• Interstate 95
• Interstate 295 (Jacksonville Beltway)

U.S. Routes:

• U.S. Route 1

• U.S. Route 17

• U.S. Route 19

• U.S. Route 23

• U.S. Route 27

• U.S. Route 29

• U.S. Route 41

• U.S. Route 90

• U.S. Route 98

• U.S. Route 129

• U.S. Route 221

• U.S. Route 231

• U.S. Route 301

• U.S. Route 319

• U.S. Route 331

• U.S. Route 441