Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle The Florida Panhandle, also known as West Florida, is the region of the state of Florida which includes most of the northwestern part of the state. It is a narrow strip lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is arbitrarily defined along some chosen and the county seat A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there. Parts of the Canadian Maritimes also use the term shire town. In England, Wales and Ireland, the term of Escambia County Escambia County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Florida. The 2000 population was 294,210. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 296,772. Its county seat is Pensacola.[3] As of the 2000 census The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census. This was the twenty-second federal census and was at the time the largest, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2006, the estimated population was 53,248.[4] However, the Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area, comprising Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, had a population of 439,877.[5]

Pensacola is a sea port A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land. Port locations are selected to optimize access to land and navigable water, for commercial demand, and for shelter from wind and waves. Ports with deeper water are rarer, but can handle larger, more economical on Pensacola Bay, which connects to the Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of Mexico is the eleventh largest body of water in the world. Considered a smaller part of the Atlantic Ocean, it is an ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and. A large United States Naval Air Station, the first in the United States, is located southwest of Pensacola (near the community of Warrington) and is home to the Blue Angels The United States Navy's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, first performed in 1946 and is currently the oldest flying aerobatic team. The squadron's six demonstration pilots fly the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet in more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States each year, where they still employ many flight demonstration team and the National Museum of Naval Aviation. The main campus of the University of West Florida is situated north of the city center.

Pensacola is nicknamed "The City of Five Flags" due to the five governments that have flown flags over it during its history: the flags of Spain Spain (pronounced /ˈspeɪn/ spayn; Spanish: España, pronounced [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.[note 6] Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for (Castile The Crown of Castile, as an historic entity, is usually considered to have begun in 1230 with the third and almost definitive union of the monarchies of kingdoms Castile and Toledo in one hand, and the kingdoms of Leon and Galicia in other hand, and with the union of their parliaments a few decades later. In 1217, Ferdinand III was crowned King of), France France (pronounced /ˈfrænts/ frantss or /ˈfrɑːnts/ frahnts; French pronunciation (help·info): [fʁɑ̃s]), officially the French Republic (French: République française, pronounced: [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a state in Western Europe with several of its overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian,, Great Britain The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801. It was created by the merger of the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England, under the Acts of Union 1707, to create a single kingdom encompassing the whole of the island of Great, the Confederate States of America The Confederate States of America was the government set up from 1861 to 1865 by eleven southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S. The CSA's de facto control over its claimed territory varied during the course of the American Civil War, depending on the success of its military in battle, and the United States ^ b. English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language. Other nicknames include "World's Whitest Beaches" (due to the white sand prevalent along beaches in the Florida panhandle), "Cradle of Naval Aviation" (the National Museum of Naval Aviation is located at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, home of the legendary Blue Angels The United States Navy's Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, popularly known as the Blue Angels, first performed in 1946 and is currently the oldest flying aerobatic team. The squadron's six demonstration pilots fly the Boeing F/A-18 Hornet in more than 70 shows at 34 locations throughout the United States each year, where they still employ many), "Western Gate to the Sunshine State," "America's First Settlement," "Emerald Coast," "Redneck Riviera," and "Red Snapper Capital of the World."

Contents

History

Pensacola was the first European-inhabited settlement in what would later become the United States of America. Main article: History of Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola, Florida has a rich and colorful history dating nearly 450 years, being the first European settlement in the continental United States The contiguous United States are the 48 U.S. states on the continent of North America that are south of Canada, plus the District of Columbia. The term excludes the states of Alaska and Hawaii, and all off-shore U.S. territories and possessions, such as Puerto Rico (1559 Year 1559 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar)[6][7][8] and controlled by five countries. Pensacola's location has caused great turmoil, with many buildings destroyed by wars, and by numerous major hurricanes A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. Tropical cyclones feed on heat released when moist air rises, resulting in condensation of water vapor contained in the moist air. They are fueled by a different heat mechanism than other cyclonic. The location, south of the original British colonies, and as the dividing line between French Louisiana Louisiana or French Louisiana was the name of an administrative district of New France. Under French control from 1682-1763 and 1800-03, the area was named in honor of Louis XIV of France, by French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. It originally covered an expansive territory that included most of the drainage basin of the and Spanish Spain (pronounced /ˈspeɪn/ spayn; Spanish: España, pronounced [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.[note 6] Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for Florida With an area of 65,758 square miles , it is ranked 22nd in size among the 50 U.S. states. Florida has the most coastline in the Contiguous United States encompassing approximately 1,200 miles. The state has four large urban areas, a number of smaller industrial cities, and many small towns, along the Perdido River, has caused the possession of the city to change multiple times. Pensacola has been under the possession of the Spanish Spain (pronounced /ˈspeɪn/ spayn; Spanish: España, pronounced [esˈpaɲa] ( listen)), officially the Kingdom of Spain (Spanish: Reino de España), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.[note 6] Its mainland is bordered to the south and east by the Mediterranean Sea except for, French France (pronounced /ˈfrænts/ frantss or /ˈfrɑːnts/ frahnts; French pronunciation (help·info): [fʁɑ̃s]), officially the French Republic (French: République française, pronounced: [ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛz]), is a state in Western Europe with several of its overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian,, British The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a sovereign state in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1801. It was created by the merger of the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England, under the Acts of Union 1707, to create a single kingdom encompassing the whole of the island of Great, United States ^ b. English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language and Confederate States The Confederate States of America was an unrecognized state set up from 1861 to 1865 by eleven southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S. The CSA's de facto control over its claimed territory varied during the course of the American Civil War, depending on the success of its military in, and has remained a part of the United States ^ b. English is the de facto language of American government and the sole language spoken at home by 80% of Americans age five and older. Spanish is the second most commonly spoken language since the end of the American Civil War Union blockade – Eastern – Western – Lower Seaboard – Trans-Mississippi – Pacific Coast. Along with wars, numerous hurricanes have been a massive factor in Pensacola history. They destroyed numerous houses and left many people homeless.

Pensacola: site of 1698 Year 1698 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar) settlement near Fort Barrancas is marked "X" (above left end of Santa Rosa Island).

Early exploration of Pensacola Bay (called Polonza or Ochuse) spanned decades, with Ponce de León (1513 Year 1513 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar), Pánfilo de Narváez Pánfilo de Narváez was a Spanish conqueror and soldier in the Americas. He is most remembered as the leader of two expeditions, one to Mexico in 1520 to oppose Hernán Cortés, and another, disastrous, to Florida in 1527 (1528 Year 1528 was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar), and Hernando de Soto Hernando de Soto or was a Spanish explorer and conquistador who, while leading the first European expedition deep into the territory of the modern-day United States, was the first European documented to have discovered Mississippi River (1539 Year 1539 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar) plus others charting the area.[8]

Due to prior exploration, the first settlement of Pensacola was large, landing on August 15, 1559,[8] and led by Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano Tristán de Luna y Arellano was a Spanish conquistador of the 16th century. Born in Borobia, Spain, he came to New Spain in about 1530, and was sent on an expedition to conquer Florida in 1559. In August of that year, he established an ephemeral colony at modern-day Pensacola, which became the first European settlement within the later continental with over 1,400 people on 11 ships from Vera Cruz The city of Veracruz is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located 90 km along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most populous city. Veracruz is Mexico’s oldest and largest port and the port most, Mexico In Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica many cultures matured into advanced civilizations such as the Olmec, the Toltec, the Teotihuacan, the Zapotec, the Maya and the Aztec before the first contact with Europeans. In 1521, Spain conquered and colonized the territory, which was administered as the viceroyalty of New Spain which would eventually become Mexico.[7] However, weeks later, the colony was decimated by a hurricane on September 19, 1559,[7][8] which killed hundreds, sank five ships, grounded a caravel A caravel is a small, highly maneuverable sailing ship developed in the 15th century by the Portuguese to explore along the West African coast and into the Atlantic Ocean. The lateen sails gave her speed and the capacity for sailing to windward . Caravels were much used by the Portuguese and Spanish for the oceanic exploration voyages during the 16, and ruined supplies. The 1,000 survivors divided to relocate/resupply the settlement, but due to famine and attacks, the effort was abandoned in 1561 Year 1561 was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar.[7] About 240 people sailed to Santa Elena (today's Parris Island, South Carolina Parris Island is a former census-designated place in Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,841 at the 2000 census. As defined by the U.S. Census Bureau, Parris Island is included within the Beaufort Urban Cluster and the larger Hilton Head Island–Beaufort Micropolitan Statistical Area. The area was annexed by the), but another storm hit there, so they sailed to Cuba The Republic of Cuba (pronounced /ˈkjuːbə/ ; Spanish: República de Cuba, pronounced [reˈpuβlika ðe ˈkuβa] ( listen)) is an island country in the Caribbean. It consists of the island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second and scattered.[7] The remaining 50 at Pensacola were taken back to Mexico, and the Viceroy's advisers concluded northwest Florida was too dangerous to settle, for 135 years.[7]

Pensacola was permanently reestablished by the Spanish in 1696 Year 1696 was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Wednesday of the 10-day slower Julian calendar) on the mainland, near Fort Barrancas (see map),[9] and became the largest city in Florida, as the capital of the British colony of West Florida in 1763 Year 1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). Another major hurricane devastated the settlement in 1722 Year 1722 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar), causing the French occupation to evacuate, and the Spanish returned.

The Spanish built three presidios in Pensacola:[10]

From 1763 Year 1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar), the British went back to the mainland area of fort San Carlos de Barrancas, building the Royal Navy Redoubt, and Pensacola became the capital of the 14th British colony, West Florida. After Spain joined the American Revolution The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America. They first rejected the authority of the Parliament of Great Britain to govern them from overseas without late, in 1779 Year 1779 was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar), the Spanish captured East Florida and West Florida, regaining it from (1781–1819) in the 1781 Year 1781 was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar) Battle of Pensacola The Siege of Pensacola marked the culmination of Spain's conquest of the British province West Florida during the American War of Independence in 1781.[6] In an 1819 Transcontinental Treaty (Adams-Onis), Spain renounced its claims to West Florida and ceded East Florida to the U.S. (US$5 million).[6] In 1821 Year 1821 was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar), with Andrew Jackson His legacy is now seen as mixed, as a protector of popular democracy and individual liberty for American citizens, checkered by his support for slavery and Indian removal. Renowned for his toughness, he was nicknamed "Old Hickory". As he based his career in developing Tennessee, Jackson was the first president primarily associated with as provisional governor, Pensacola became part of the United States.[6]

St. Michael's Cemetery was established in the 18th Century at a location which at the time was on the distant eastern outskirts of the city. Initially owned by the Church of St. Michael, it is now owned and managed by St. Michael's Cemetery Foundation of Pensacola, Inc.[11] Preliminary studies indicate that there are over 3200 marked burials as well as a large number unmarked.[citation needed]

Geography

Pensacola Beach, Florida

Topography

Pensacola is located at 30°26′13″N 87°12′33″W / 30.43694°N 87.20917°W (30.436988, -87.209277).[12]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 102.7 km² (39.7 sq mi). 22.7 square miles (58.8 km²) of it is land and 17.0 square miles (43.9 km²) of it (42.77%) is water.

Climate

The climate of Pensacola is subtropical, with mild winters and hot, humid summers. Summer temperatures are characterized by highs in the low 90s and lows in the mid 70s. The average high in July is 91 °F (32.8 °C), with 59 days per year reaching at least 90 °F (32.2 °C).[13] The average low in July is 75 °F (23.9 °C).[14] Evening thunderstorms are common during the summer months. Temperatures above 100 °F (37.7 °C) are rare, and last occurred in July 2000, when seven days over 100 °F were recorded.[15] The hottest temperature ever recorded in the city was 106 °F (41.1 °C) on July 14, 1980.[14]

Average highs in January are 61 °F (16.1 °C) and average lows are 43 °F (6.1 °C).[14] There are, on average, fifteen nights per year of below freezing temperatures.[16] Temperatures below 20 °F are rare, and last occurred in January 2003, when a low of 18 °F (-7.7 °C) was seen.[17] The coldest temperature ever recorded in the city was 5 °F (-15 °C) on January 21, 1985.[14] Snow is rare in Pensacola, but does occasionally fall. The most recent frozen precipitation occurred on December 25 and December 26, 2004, when the city received ice pellets.[18][19]

The city receives 64.28 inches (1633 mm) of precipitation per year, with a rainy season in the summer. The rainiest month is July, with 8.02 inches (204 mm), while 3.89 inches (99 mm) falls in April, the driest month.[14]

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rec High °F 80 82 86 96 98 101 106 104 98 92 86 81
Norm High °F 61.2 64.4 70.2 76.2 83.4 89.0 90.7 90.1 87.0 79.3 70.3 63.4
Norm Low °F 42.7 45.4 51.7 57.6 65.8 72.1 74.5 74.2 70.4 59.6 51.1 44.7
Rec Low °F 5 15 22 33 48 56 61 60 43 32 25 11
Rainfall (inches/mm) 5.3 / 135 4.7 119 6.4 163 3.9 99 4.4 112 6.4 163 8.0 203 6.9 175 5.8 147 4.1 104 4.5 114 4.0 102
Source: USTravelWeather.com [1]

Hurricanes

Flooding in Downtown Pensacola from Hurricane Katrina

Pensacola's location on the Florida Panhandle makes it vulnerable to hurricanes. Major hurricanes which have made landfall at or near Pensacola include Eloise (1975), Frederic (1979), Juan (1985), Erin (1995), Opal (1995), Georges (1998), Ivan (2004), and Dennis (2005).

Pensacola and several surrounding areas were devastated by Hurricane Ivan. Pensacola found itself on the eastern side of the eyewall, which sent a large storm surge into Escambia Bay that eventually destroyed most of the I-10 Escambia Bay Bridge.[20] The storm heavily damaged the bridge. It knocked 58 spans off of the eastbound and westbound bridges and misaligned another 66 spans causing the bridge to close to traffic in both directions.[21] Over six billion dollars in damage occurred in the metro area and more than 10,000 homes were destroyed, with another 27,000 heavily damaged. NASA created a comparison image to illustrate the massive damage. Hurricane Ivan drove up the cost of housing in the area, leading to a severe shortage of affordable housing. In July 2005, Hurricane Dennis made landfall just east of the city, sparing it the blow it had received from Ivan the year before. However, hurricane and near-hurricane force winds were recorded in downtown, causing moderate damage.

Although Pensacola only received a glancing blow from 2005's devastating Hurricane Katrina, light to moderate damage was reported in the area. There was significant damage to Pensacola AC condenser units, but minimal structural damage.[22] Katrina also undermined a large percentage of Pensacola's tourist base from Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.

National Guard

Pensacola is home to B Troop 1-153 Cavalry.

Transportation

Pensacola is served by Interstate 10 and the Interstate 110 spur connecting I-10 with downtown Pensacola. Major air traffic in the Pensacola and greater northwest Florida area is handled by Pensacola Regional Airport. Airlines currently serving Pensacola Regional Airport are Air Tran Airways, American Airlines, ASA, Comair, Continental Airlines, Continental Express, DayJet, Delta Air Lines, SkyWest Airlines, and US Airways. Amtrak train service and Greyhound bus service are also available.[23][24] However, Amtrak suspended service to Pensacola (and the rest of the Gulf Coast) because of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. As of October 2008, it is still unknown whether Amtrak service will be restored.

The local bus service is the Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT).[25] In December 2007, ECAT announced that it would cut many of its routes citing poor rider frequency. However in January 2008, ECAT announced that it would expand service to neighboring Gulf Breeze and change existing routes to more convenient locations.[26]

Demographics

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1850 2,164 —
1860 2,876 32.9%
1870 3,347 16.4%
1880 6,845 104.5%
1890 11,750 71.7%
1900 17,747 51.0%
1910 22,982 29.5%
1920 31,035 35.0%
1930 31,579 1.8%
1940 37,449 18.6%
1950 43,479 16.1%
1960 56,752 30.5%
1970 59,507 4.9%
1980 57,619 −3.2%
1990 58,165 0.9%
2000 56,255 −3.3%
Est. 2006 53,248 −5.3%
Population 1850-2000.[27]
See also: Escambia County, Florida Demographics

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 56,255 people, 24,524 households, and 14,665 families residing in the city, and 402,000 people in the Pensacola MSA. The population density was 2,478.7 people per square mile (956.8/km²). There were 26,995 housing units at an average density of 1,189.4/sq mi (459.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city is 64.91% White, 30.58% African American, 1.77% Asian, 0.52% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 1.61% from two or more races. 2.07% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 24,524 households out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.7% were married couples living together, 16.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.92.

In addition to the Christian majority, Pensacola is home to a small but significant Jewish community, whose roots stretch back to the mid to late 1800s. The first Florida chapter of B'nai Brith was founded downtown in 1874, as well as the first temple, Beth-El, in 1876. Paula Ackerman, the first woman who performed rabbinical functions in the United States, was a Pensacola native and led services at Beth-El. Apart from the Reform Beth-El, Pensacola is also served by the Conservative B'nai Israel Synagogue.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,779, and the median income for a family was $42,868. Males had a median income of $32,258 versus $23,582 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,438. About 12.7% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

The population of Pensacola belies its standing within the state and the region. A longtime opposition to annexation in the areas surrounding the city has held its 2000 Census population figure at 56,255. However, the 2000 Census population of Pensacola Urbanized Area was 321,875, the eighth largest in the state.

Law and government

See also: List of mayors of Pensacola, Florida
Council Members
District Council Member
1 P.C. Wu
2 Sam Hall
3 Maren DeWeese
4 Larry B. Johnson
5 John Jerralds
6 Jewel Canada-Wynn
7 Ronald Townsend
8 (at large) Diane Mack
9 (at large) Megan B. Pratt

The City of Pensacola is governed by an elected City Council with nine seats, two of which are considered "at large." The city government also has an elected mayor; Mike Wiggins.

Politics

Like other parts of the South, Pensacola was solidly Democratic for more than a century after the Civil War. Until the 1970s, most local elections were determined by the Democratic primary. However, from the 1960s onward, the staunchly conservative military and Bible Belt city became increasingly Republican. However, Democrats continued to win most elections at the state and local level well into the 1990s, though most of them were very conservative even by Southern Democratic standards.

This changed in 1994, when Republican attorney Joe Scarborough defeated Vinnie Whibbs, the son of popular former Democratic mayor Vince Whibbs, in a landslide to represent Florida's 1st congressional district, which is based in Pensacola. Republicans also swept all of the area's seats in the state legislature. Since then, Republicans have dominated every level of government, although municipal elections are officially nonpartisan. In August 2005, registered Republicans outnumbered Democrats for the first time in the area's history. As of August 2005, in Escambia County, 44% of the residents are registered Republicans compared to 39.91% of the population having registered as Democrats with another 13.21% having no party affiliation.[28]

In the 2004 presidential election, 65% of Escambia County residents voted for George W. Bush over John Kerry. The Pensacola area has not supported a Democrat for President since John Kennedy in 1960. In 1968, Pensacola and the rest of North Florida supported American Independent Party candidate George Wallace.

Chuck Baldwin, the 2008 presidential nominee of the Constitution Party, is the pastor of Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola.

Regional representatives

Pensacola is currently represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Jeff Miller (R) and in the U.S. Senate by Bill Nelson (D) and George S. LeMieux (R), in the state senate by Don Gaetz (R) and Durell Peaden (R), and in the state house by Clay Ford (R), Dave Murzin (R), and Greg Evers (R).[29]

As of January 2007, Pensacola, and the rest of the State of Florida, is served by Charlie Crist (R) as governor, who replaced term-limited Governor Jeb Bush (R).

Sister cities

According to Sister City International, Pensacola has the following sister cities:[30]

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in the United States

City, schools, libraries and hospitals

This article is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this article to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (June 2007)

Public primary and secondary education schools in Pensacola are administered by the Escambia County School District. The current superintendent of schools for Escambia County is Jim Paul. The University of West Florida, which resides north of the city, is the primary tertiary school in the area. UWF also has the largest library in the region, the John C. Pace Library.

Universities and colleges

Pensacola High School

High schools in the City of Pensacola

Main article: Escambia County School District

Libraries

Main article: West Florida Regional Library

The West Florida Regional Library is a system of libraries with five locations throughout the Pensacola area. They offer fiction and non-fiction books, magazines, books on cassette or CD, DVD and VHS films and music. Each library offers public access computers, children's materials, and a variety of reading materials.

Genealogy and local history resources are available at the Main Branch downtown. Library staff and various volunteers from the West Florida Genealogy Society are available to help start the research process. The Friends of the Library hold periodic book sales where donated and discarded items are sold to the public. Donations of books or audio-video items in good condition are welcome at the main library.

Hospitals

Culture

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be and removed. (October 2007)

Festivals and holidays

Major holidays in Pensacola include Memorial Day (Memorial Day Weekend), Mardi Gras, and the Fiesta of Five Flags. Celebrations of note in Pensacola are the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, the Seafood Festival, Crawfish Festival, Gay Pride(LGBT),[32] (Memorial Day Weekend), The King Mackerel and Cobia Tournament, Florida Springfest (although canceled in 2006 through 2008), Gracefest (a Christian music festival), Lobsterfest, University of West Florida Festival On The Green, The Diesel Dee Diesel Dyow Attempts, the Bushwhacker Festival and the Bill Fishing Tournament.

Historic Seville Square and it adjacents parks, Fountain Park and Bartram Park are the sites of most of Pensacola's festivals. In the summer on Thursdays and on the Thursday in the beginning of the Christmas season, the Pensacola Heritage Foundation presents local bands in its famous gazebo for free and very popular concerts. In December the Pensacola Christmas Market is a popular event in Seville Square as is the Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival and Seafood Festival are in the fall and the Cajun Crawfish Festival is in the spring. Festivals in Seville Square is a successful tradition begun by local preservations in the early 60's led by Mary Turner Rule Reed and the Pensacola Heritage Foundaion who started the movement to save and restore this square and Pensacola's old settlement around it.

City media

Main article: Escambia County, Florida media

The largest daily newspaper in the area is the Pensacola News Journal. Pensacola is also home to WEAR-TV, the ABC affiliate for Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, and Mobile, Alabama, and WSRE-TV, the local PBS member station, which is operated by Pensacola Junior College. Other television stations in the market include WALA-TV the Fox affiliate, and, WKRG the CBS affiliate, also WPMI, the NBC affiliate, which all are located in Mobile. Cable service in the city is provided by Cox Communications. Pensacola Magazine, the city's monthly glossy magazine, and Northwest Florida's Business Climate, the only business magazine devoted to the region, are published locally.

Sports teams

Pensacola is home to several semiprofessional sports teams, including the Pensacola Lightning NAFL team (not defunct). It ranked fourth in the nation out of 147 teams in 2007.[citation needed] The Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association (of Independent Baseball) (AA). The Gulf Coast Riptide of the Women's Football Alliance (WFA), who earned 8 consecutive Division Championships[citation needed] when they were the Pensacola Power of the National Women's Football Association (NWFA). There is a SPHL hockey team, the Pensacola Ice Flyers.[citation needed]

Music scene and subculture

There are various Punk, Folk and Indie bands such as This Bike is a Pipe Bomb.[citation needed] Jim White was raised in Pensacola before moving to Georgia after Hurricane Ivan.[citation needed] MC Chris and The Horror Pops have performed locally in nightclubs.[citation needed]

The Arts and Theatre

There are a number of different performance venues in the Pensacola Area, including the Pensacola Civic Center, often used for big ticket events, and the Saenger Theater, used for performances and mid level events. Other theatres used for live performances, plays and musicals include the Pensacola Little Theatre, Pensacola Junior College, University of West Florida and Loblolly Theatre. Pensacola is also home to the Pensacola Symphony and the Choral Society of Pensacola.

Notables

Main article: List of people from Pensacola, Florida

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ . National Association of Counties. . Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  4. ^ Pensacola, Florida (FL) Detailed Profile - relocation, real estate, travel, jobs, hospitals, schools, crime, news, sex offenders
  5. ^ Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005. United States Census Bureau.
  6. ^ a b c d Johnson, Jane. "Santa Rosa Island - a History (Part 1)" (PDF). http://www.navarrebeach.org/History/History%20in%20Acrobat.PDF. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Pinson, Steve. "The Tristan de Luna Expedition". Pensacola Archeology Lab. http://www.de-luna.com/pal.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  8. ^ a b c d ""History" (Luna colony at Ochuse/Pensacola)". MyFlorida.com. State of Florida, Office of Cultural & Historical Programs. 2007. http://www.flheritage.com/archaeology/projects/shipwrecks/emanuelpoint/history.cfm. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  9. ^ "Floripedia: Pensacola, Florida". University of South Florida. 2005. http://fcit.usf.edu/FLORIDA/docs/p/pensac2.htm. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  10. ^ a b c d "Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa". University of West Florida. 2003. http://www.uwf.edu/anthropology/research/SantaRosa.cfm. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  11. ^ "St. Micheal's Cemetery Foundation of Pensacola, Inc". http://www.stmichaelscemetery.org/. Retrieved 2008-08-06.
  12. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  13. ^ "Mean Number of Days With Maximum Temperature 90 °F or Higher". National Climatic Data Center. 2007-06-23. http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/max90temp.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Monthly Averages for Pensacola, Fla.". The Weather Channel. http://www.weather.com/outlook/recreation/outdoors/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USFL0399?from=search. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  15. ^ "History for Pensacola, Florida on Saturday, July 1, 2000". Weather Underground. http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPNS/2000/7/1/MonthlyHistory.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  16. ^ "Mean Number of Days With Minimum Temperature 32 °F or Less". National Climatic Data Center. 2004-06-23. http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/min32temp.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  17. ^ "History for Pensacola, Florida on Friday, January 24, 2003". Weather Underground. http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPNS/2003/1/24/DailyHistory.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  18. ^ "History for Pensacola, Florida on Saturday, December 25, 2004". Weather Underground. http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPNS/2004/12/25/DailyHistory.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  19. ^ "History for Pensacola, Florida on Sunday, December 26, 2004". Weather Underground. http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KPNS/2004/12/26/DailyHistory.html. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  20. ^ "Bridge Replacement over Escambia Bya". Florida Department of Transportation. http://www.escambiabaybridge.com/. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  21. ^ "Repairing Florida's Escambia Bay Bridge". ACP Construction. http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA511040.html. Retrieved 2007-08-14.
  22. ^ http://www.andersonairllc.com
  23. ^ http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&code=PNS
  24. ^ Greyhound.com : Locations : Pensacola, Florida
  25. ^ "About ECAT". ECAT. http://www.goecat.com/about/. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
  26. ^ "ECAT to expand service in Gulf Breeze". Pensacola News Journal. http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801060332. Retrieved 2008-01-11.
  27. ^ "Census Of Population And Housing". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-05-13.
  28. ^ Stafford, David H. "Voter Statistics". EscambiaVotes.com. Escambia County Supervisor of Elections. http://www.escambiavotes.com/votertrends.php.
  29. ^ "Representatives, Regular Session 2007". Florida House of Representatives. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Representatives/representatives.aspx?MemberId=4187&SessionId=42. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  30. ^ "Online Directory: Florida, USA". Sister Cities International. http://www.sister-cities.org/icrc/directory/usa/FL. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  31. ^ Berrett, Dan. "The Complete List of the 1,000 Top U.S. Schools". Newsweek. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7723397/site/newsweek/. Retrieved 2007-03-06.
  32. ^ Nelson, Melissa (2007-05-27). "Gays Flock to Fla. Panhandle for Holiday". Associated Press (ABC News). http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3215976. Retrieved 2007-05-27.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pensacola, Florida
Municipalities and communities of Escambia County, Florida
County seat: Pensacola
City

Pensacola
Town

Century
CDPs

Bellview | Brent | Ensley | Ferry Pass | Gonzalez | Goulding | Molino | Myrtle Grove | Warrington | West Pensacola
Unincorporated communities

Barrineau Park | Innerarity Point | Pensacola Beach | Perdido Key
Ghost town

Muscogee
State of Florida
Tallahassee (capital)
Topics

Education | Environment | Floridians | Geography | Government | History | State Parks | Transportation | Visitor Attractions
Regions

Big Bend | Central Florida | Emerald Coast | First Coast | Florida Heartland | Florida Keys | Florida Panhandle | Forgotten Coast | Fun Coast | Gold Coast | Nature Coast | North Central Florida | North Florida | South Florida | Southwest Florida | Space Coast | Sun Coast | Tampa Bay Area | Treasure Coast
Metropolitan areas

Bradenton-Sarasota-Venice | Cape Coral-Fort Myers | Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach | Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin | Gainesville | Greater Jacksonville | Lakeland-Winter Haven | Naples-Marco Island | Ocala | Greater Orlando | Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | Palm Coast | Panama City-Lynn Haven-Panama City Beach | Pensacola Metro Area | Port St. Lucie Metropolitan Area | Punta Gorda | Sebastian-Vero Beach | South Florida metropolitan area | Tallahassee Metropolitan Area | Tampa Bay Area
Largest cities

Jacksonville | Miami | Tampa | St. Petersburg | Orlando | Hialeah | Fort Lauderdale | Tallahassee | Cape Coral | Port St. Lucie | Pembroke Pines | Hollywood | Coral Springs | Gainesville | Miramar | Clearwater | Pompano Beach | Palm Bay | West Palm Beach | Miami Gardens | Lakeland | Davie | Sunrise | Boca Raton | Miami Beach
Counties

Alachua | Baker | Bay | Bradford | Brevard | Broward | Calhoun | Charlotte | Citrus | Clay | Collier | Columbia | DeSoto | Dixie | Duval | Escambia | Flagler | Franklin | Gadsden | Gilchrist | Glades | Gulf | Hamilton | Hardee | Hendry | Hernando | Highlands | Hillsborough | Holmes | Indian River | Jackson | Jefferson | Lafayette | Lake | Lee | Leon | Levy | Liberty | Madison | Manatee | Marion | Martin | Miami‑Dade | Monroe | Nassau | Okaloosa | Okeechobee | Orange | Osceola | Palm Beach | Pasco | Pinellas | Polk | Putnam | Santa Rosa | Sarasota | Seminole | St. Johns | St. Lucie | Sumter | Suwannee | Taylor | Union | Volusia | Wakulla | Walton | Washington

Categories: 1698 establishments | County seats in Florida | Coastal settlements in Florida | Cities in Escambia County, Florida | Pensacola, Florida | United States colonial and territorial capitals | Port settlements in Florida | Settlements established in 1559

 

The above information uses material from Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
Some facts may not have been fully verified for accuracy. [Disclaimers]
This page was last archived by our server on Fri Jul 16 21:54:16 2010. [ refresh local cache ]
Displaying this page or its contents does not use any Wikimedia Foundation's resources.
The owners of this site proudly support the Wikimedia Foundation.

[Hide]▼
[Hide]▲