The founder of the JF is the South Bohemia Region. The South Bohemian Region (until 30 May 2001 the Budějovice Region) lies mainly in the south of Bohemia, but also extends into Moravia through the surroundings of Dačice; České Velenice and its surroundings (the so-called Vitoraz region) formed part of Lower Austria until 1920. To the west it borders the Pilsen Region, to the north the Central Bohemian Region, to the northeast the Vysočina Region, and to the east it shares a short stretch of border with the South Moravian Region. In the south it borders with the Austrian province of Upper Austria, in the south-east with Lower Austria and in the south-west with the German province of Bavaria.
The region's area of 10 056 km² represents 12.8% of the state's area. 637 460 inhabitants live in the region, which results in the lowest population density in the country of 63.4 inhabitants per km².There are 623 municipalities in the South Bohemian Region, including 53 towns (for more information see List of towns in the South Bohemian Region)
The South Bohemian Region as a higher territorial self-government unit of the Czech Republic was created in 2000. Until May 2001 it was called the Budějovice Region. The registration plates of vehicles registered in the South Bohemian Region are identified by the letter C.
