Some little known facts about Amelia Island, a few of which you won't find listed in any history books. Ameila island has:

Dimensions of 13.5 miles in length and is 1/2 to 2 miles in width, for a total of approximately 18.2 square miles. It is as far northeast in Florida as you can go, and is across the river from southern Georgia.

The distinction of being the only American soil that has been under eight different flags.

The distinction of being one of Florida's first tourist destinations - during the 1800's, tourists came to Amelia island via steamboats from New York.

The county seat of Nassau County, Fernandina Beach.

The distinction of being known internationally as the "birthplace of the modern shrimping industry". In 2002, 14,091,852 pounds of shrimp were caught by commercial fisherman in the state of Florida. Commercial fisherman also landed 38,296,020 pounds of finfish in Florida. Throw in a few million pounds of clams, oysters, lobsters, etc. and Florida's waters produced at total of 68,315,100 pounds of seafood in 2002.

A fifty block historic district, named to the National Registry Of Historic Places, with many beautifully restored homes from the turn of the century.

The Net House which is the world's largest producer of hand made shrimp nets for the commercial shrimping industry.

Florida's only oral history museum, the Amelia Island History Museum, which is housed in the old Nassau County Jail.

Fort Clinch State Park - where you'll find a civil war fort and a 1600 foot long fishing pier.

10,549 residents who live in Fernandina Beach (2000 Census).

The honor of not being listed as a 'PLACE' by the U.S. Census Bureau, so we can't give you a population figure for the whole island, but we've heard guesses at around 20,000.

The Palace Saloon, on Centre Street in downtown Fernandina beach, which was the last U.S. saloon to close during prohibition. The Palace Saloon, circa 1878, is the oldest saloon in state of Florida remaining in it's original location.

A railroad depot, built in 1899, which marked the beginning of Florida's first railroad, and is today still in use by the Chamber of Commerce.

The honor of being the home of one of the few Florida cities that lost a boat ramp. Seems the Fernandina Beach city council hired a contractor to build THREE boat ramps. But when they got done and were hours from the grand opening, somebody noticed they had only constructed TWO boat ramps. They are still trying to decide if the contractor owes them a refund or not.....

America's skinniest newspaper, published two days a week (most weeks). The Mullet Wrapper is an excellent source for grocery store ads.

More mosquitos per square mile than Carter has Little Liver Pills.

The honor of being the only place on earth where over 100,000 tourist go for a three day weekend every year to eat shrimp pies and buy t-shirts.

More realtors per square mile than any other place in America.

More real estate 'web sites' per realtor than anywhere in America.

Less undeveloped real estate per square mile than any other place in America.

New condo's that you will soon be able to buy for $250K and up that will have an excellent view of the back of an auto repair shop and a ponding basin in the rear of a Sears store.

Article By Amelia Island Online Staff