Both the St. Johns County Commission and School Board voted unanimously Thursday, Dec. 9, to adopt a new redistricting plan.
The boards began the process in August and had several versions of the map to choose from. In the end, everyone backed the plan that School Board member Kelly Barrera said keeps District 4 together. District 4 is where Ponte Vedra is located.
County Commissioner Jeremiah Blocker also supported that plan, saying it maintained community cohesiveness.
Every 10 years, every state, county, city, town and special district must redraw districts to reflect the results of the most recent census. State law mandates that districts contain equal populations — or as near to that as possible.
The boards work together because, traditionally, the School Board and County Commission maintain the same district boundaries.
In the new plan District 4 has decreased geographically, yielding areas to District 5 (St. Augustine). Among those areas are the Guana reserve and a portion south of Palencia Elementary School.
District 4 does include Neck Road and Ponte Vedra Boulevard north of the Guana reserve.
St. Johns County is the 10th fastest-growing county in the nation. Between 2010 and 2020, the total population in St. Johns County grew to an estimated 265,512, a 40% increase. By 2025, the county’s population is expected to hit 307,688.
