Baker County is in northeastern Florida against the Georgia state line. While Baker County is predominantly a rural area, the whole county is included in the Jacksonville Metropolitan Area. The county seat is Macclenny. Baker County contains some 585 square miles of land and 4 square miles of water surface, including part of the Okefenokee Swamp. Part of Osceola National Forest is located in Baker County.

Named for James McNair Baker (a Confederate Senator and judge), Baker County was founded in 1861. The largest battle of the Civil War that was fought in Florida happened at the Battle of Olustee (near Lake City) in 1864.