St. Johns County Recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month

• 5 September 2023
• Category: SJC News District 1
• Tags: 2023

Chairman Christian Whitehurst presented the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with a proclamation recognizing Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month at the September 5, 2023, Board of County Commissioners regular meeting. St. Johns County has deep historical ties to Hispanic culture, most notably with the arrival of the Spaniards and later Cubans. The 2020 U.S. Census revealed that Hispanic and Latino people have grown to account for more than 8% of the population in St. Johns County. This annual observance also serves as a time for all citizens to honor, commemorate, and celebrate the cultural and economic contributions of Hispanic Americans to St. Johns County and the United States. Sept. 15 is significant because it is the anniversary of the independence of various Latin American countries, such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Additionally, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.