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FLORIDA 4 : Northeast - part of Jacksonville

One of the state's more well-to-do districts, the 4th wraps around Jacksonville from the Georgia line to Daytona Beach. Familiar Republican territory, the "First Coast" region is defined by seaside villages, golf courses and white-collar workers. Although only part of Jacksonville lies within the 4th, it is easily the largest population center and has significant military, banking and shipping employers. The surrounding areas have beach resorts and some timber industry facilities.

The 1996 redistricting that carved out a black-majority district in the neighboring 3rd made the 4th a mostly white, safely Republican district. Even though only two of the district's five counties have GOP majorities, an elected Democrat is rare, and voters backed Bob Dole in 1996 by a wide margin.

The 4th has some of Florida's oldest cities, which helps boost tourism and keeps a curb on the rapid growth in most areas. Flagler County, just north of Daytona Beach, has been one of the fastest-growing in the nation. Predictably, residents of the district's barrier islands and "mainlanders" don't always see eye-to-eye, especially on development issues.

Major Industry
Financial services, tourism, defense, health care

Military Bases
Naval Air Station Mayport, 12,906 military, 1,193 civilian (1998)

Population
561,856 (1990)

Cities
Jacksonville (pt.), 288,214 (1990); Ormond Beach, 32,266 (1997); Daytona Beach (pt.), 19,620 (1990)

People
77% urban; 14% age 65+ (ranks 15 of 23 in state; top third nationally); 58% married couples, 25% married couples with children; 23% college educated (ranks second of 23 in state; top third nationally); 66% white collar (ranks third of 23 in state; top third nationally), 21% blue collar (ranks 17 of 23 in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)

Race
91% white, 6% black, 2% Asian; 3% Hispanic origin (1990)

Median Household Income
$31,676 (ranks fourth of 23 in state; middle third nationally) (1990)

Unusual Features
Fernandina Beach, the only part of the current United States to have existed under eight flags: Spain (twice), France, England, Mexico, the U.S., Confederate and Union; John D. Rockefeller chose Ormond Beach as a "pollution-free" retreat and died there in 1937.

© 2002 The Washington Post Company