St. Johns County, Coastal county in northeastern Florida, US
St. Johns County is an administrative area in northeastern Florida stretching between the Atlantic Ocean and the inland, covering beaches, waterways and wooded zones. The landscape shifts from ocean to shallow lagoons and pine forests that provide space for towns and natural reserves.
The area became an official administrative unit of Florida on July 21, 1821, after Spain ceded the region to the United States. Boundaries remained largely stable over two centuries and have included the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in continental North America since their creation.
The name honors John the Baptist, as Spanish settlers called it in the 16th century, and this religious reference still shows in churches and historic sites along the coast. Visitors can trace how Catholic traditions shaped early life when walking through old quarters with their chapels and crosses.
Travelers reach the area via Interstate 95, which runs parallel to the coast, or smaller highways leading inland. Lodging options exist both by the sea and in the flatter hinterland, depending on preference for beach or quiet.
Between May and October, sea turtles return to the beaches to bury their eggs, and observers can occasionally spot the tracks in the sand at night. Volunteers then mark the nests and protect them until the hatchlings emerge.
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