Baker County, Florida

Baker County is adjacent to Nassau, Duval, Union and Columbia counties. To the north it borders Georgia. It is just 20 minutes to the west of Jacksonville, Florida, and a brief 45 minutes to the University of Florida in Gainesville. Towns in Baker County include Macclenny, Olustee, Glen St. Mary, Sanderson, Taylor, Baxter, Cuyler, Margaretta, and Manning. Baker County is considered to be part of the greater Jacksonville Metropolitan Area.

Interstate 10 and U.S. 90 run east and west through Baker County. Its convenient location and access to five interchanges on Interstate 10 make it poised for future growth. In addition, many state roads run north and south, providing easy access to Georgia, and south to Gainesville, Orlando, and Tampa. Because of these main thoroughfares, especially I-10, there are many car and trucking accidents that occur in the county. Since the stretch of I-10 that traverses Baker County is mostly wooded with a fair amount of it being comprised of the Osceola National Forest, drivers can have issues with falling asleep while driving, car break downs and running out of gas, all of which make vehicle accidents more likely.

Because of its rural lifestyle and close proximity to larger towns, the county touts itself as having “a country atmosphere with big city convenience.” Agriculture, primarily forestry, is the mainstay of the area’s economy, with ornamental horticulture following closely behind. The county exports trees and other nursery stock throughout the country. Other large employers include Wal-Mart’s Food Distribution Center, East Wiremil, Inc., and the Sanderson Pipe Corporation.

Macclenny is the county seat and largest city in the county with a population of about 6,000. The other incorporated municipality is Glen St. Mary, with a population of 500. The Baker County Courthouse is located at 339 East Macclenny Avenue. The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baker County is Al Fraser.

Baker County is in the eighth Judicial Circuit, which also includes Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy and Union counties. There are 13 circuit judges in the eighth Judicial Court: including Chief Judge Robert E. Roundtree, Jr.; May Day Coker; William E. Davis; David A. Glant; Stanley H. Griffis III; Robert K. Groeb; Victor L. Hulsander; Martha Ann Lott; Ysleta W. McDonald; Toby S. Monaco; Mark W. Moseley; James. P. Nilon; and Phyllis M. Rosier.

Established in 1861, the county has deep historical roots. Every February, the Battle of Olustee festival reenacts the famous civil war battle, which prevented Florida’s state capital from capture. Hundreds of re-enactors participate in the annual event, which has become a tradition in Baker County for the past 36 years. The Olustee Battlefield is a state historical site located off of U.S. 90 encompassing more than 270 miles.

Originally, Baker County was inhabited by the Seminole Indians who lived off the land primarily by hunting and fishing. Outdoor sports are still enjoyed today by residents of Baker County. Hunting is abundant in the Osceola National Forest. Numerous lakes and the 800-acre Ocean Pond, located in the national forest, make the county ideal for fishing, swimming and waterskiing.

The Lawrence Law Group handles a wide variety of cases in Baker County, including personal injury, insurance, business disputes and workers’ compensation. The majority of the Lawrence Law Group’s cases involve personal injury, such as car accidents, bicycle accidents, slip and falls, trucking accidents, nursing home claims, among others. We are happy to provide you with a free no-obligation consultation to help determine if your case could result in a monetary recovery for your lost wages, medical bills and injuries.

The following jury verdicts were rendered in Baker County. These verdicts are not representative of typical cases, rather, they are considered “notable” because of the large damage awards. These cases were not handled by The Lawrence Law Group, P.A. For cases handled by The Lawrence Law Group, P.A., please see our “Firm News” section and our Google reviews.

A 75-year-old man and his wife suffered respiratory and skin problems after inhaling formaldehyde vapors in their mobile home. The man suffered respiratory difficulties, while his wife suffered a skin rash lasting four years. The couple contended that the manufacturer constructed the mobile home with particle board containing formaldehyde causing the fumes in their home and their subsequent personal injuries.

A 65-year-old woman suffered injuries in a slip and fall accident while visiting her son at a correctional center in Baker County. As she exited from the indoor to the outdoor visiting area, she slipped due to water accumulating on part of the sidewalk that had no overhead covering. The correctional facility failed to place signs warning visitors of the wet surface. The woman’s injuries included a neck sprain, a ruptured cervical disc, numbness in her hands and feet and insomnia.