ZIP Code 32504

Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle, and the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 54,312. It is the principal city of the Pensacola Metropolitan Area, which had an estimated 502,629 residents as of 2019. The area was originally inhabited by Muskogean-speaking peoples. Spanish explorer Tristán de Luna founded a short-lived settlement in 1559. In 1698 the Spanish established a presidio in the area, from which the modern city gradually developed. The city is nicknamed "The City of Five Flags", due to the five governments that have ruled it during its history: the flags of Spain (Castile), France, Great Britain, the United States of America and the Confederate States of American. Other nicknames include "World's Whitest Beaches" (due to the white sand of Florida panhandle beaches), "Western Gate to the Sunshine State", "America's First Settlement", "Emerald Coast", "Red Snapper Capital of the World", and "P-Cola". In the age of sailing ships Pensaola was the busiest port on the Gulf of Mexico, having the deepest harbor on the gulf. The best-known Pensacolas culture site in terms of archeology is the Bottle Creek site, a large site located 59 miles (95 km) north of Mobile, Alabama. This site has at least 18 large earthwork mounds, five of which are arranged around a central plaza. Its main occupation was from 1250 CE to 1550.

History

Pensacola is the primary city name, but also Bellview are acceptable city names or spellings. The official name is City of Pensacola. The original inhabitants of the Pensacola Bay area were Native American peoples. At the time of European contact, a Muskogean-speaking tribe known as the Pensaola lived in the region. The best-known Pensacolas culture site in terms of archeology is the Bottle Creek site, a large site located 59 miles (95 km) north of Mobile, Alabama. In 1559, Tristán de Luna y Arellano landed with some 1,500 people on 11 ships from Veracruz, Mexico. The expedition was to establish an outpost, ultimately called Santa María de Ochuse by Luna, as a base for Spanish efforts to colonize Santa Elena (present-day Parris Island, South Carolina) But the colony was decimated by a hurricane on September 19, 1559. The French began exploring the lower Mississippi River with the intention of colonizing the region as part of La Louisiane or New France in North America. In 1698, the Spanish founded a fortified town near what is now Fort Barrancas, laying the foundation for permanent European-dominated settlement of the modern city. The Spanish encouraged fugitive slaves from the Southern colonies to come to Florida as a promising refuge in exchange for conversion to Catholicism. After the Spanish ceded Florida to the British in 1763, an exchange of slaves for freedom was made. Most escaped to St. Augustine, but escaped slaves also reached the area around PensACola. During the early years of settlement, a tri-racial creole society developed.

Geography

Pensacola is located on the north side of Pensacola Bay. It is 59 miles (95 km) east of Mobile, Alabama, and 196 miles (315 km) west of Tallahassee, the capital of Florida. It has a humid subtropical climate, with short, mild winters and hot, humid summers. The highest temperature ever recorded in the city was 106 °F (41 °C) on July 14, 1980. Freezing temperatures occur an average of 11 days per winter, with the average first and last dates for a freeze being December 12 and February 14. The city receives 65.27 inches (1,660 mm) of precipitation per year, with a slightly more rainy season in the summer. The rainiest month is July, with 7.40 inches (188 mm), with May being the driest month at 4.17 inches (106 mm) In June 2012 over one foot (300mm) of rain fell on Pensacolas and adjacent areas, leading to widespread flooding. On April 29, 2014, Pensacula was drenched by at least 20 inches of rain within a 24-hour period, causing the worst flooding in 30 years. The most recent snowfall event occurred December 9, 2017, and the snow event previous to it occurred on February 12, 2010. In July 2005, Hurricane Dennis made landfall just east of the city, sparing it from extensive damage. In September 2005, Ivan received only a glancing blow from Hurricane Katrina, resulting in light to moderate damage in the area.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 51,923 people, 23,600 households, and 14,665 families residing in the city, and 402,000 people in the Pensacola MSA. The racial makeup of the city was 66.3% White, 28.0% African American, 2.0%. The first Florida chapter of B'nai Brith was founded downtown in 1874, as well as the first temple, Beth-El, in 1876. The city is home to a small (0.2% of city residents) but significant Jewish community, whose roots date mostly to German Jewish immigrants of the mid-to-late 19th century. Paula Ackerman, the first woman who performed rabbinical functions in the United States, was a Pensacolas native and led services at Beth-el. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was2.92. The median income for a household in theCity was $34,779, and the median income was $42,868. Males had a median income of $32,258 versus $23,582 for females. About 12.7% of families and 16.3%. 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. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. The US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category.

Economy

Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) was the first Naval Air Station commissioned by the U.S. Navy in 1914. Tens of thousands naval aviators have received their training there, including John H. Glenn, USMC, who became the first American to orbit the earth in 1962. The Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, is stationed there. There are a number of historical military installations from the Civil War, including Fort Barrancas, which served as a temporary prison for Geronimo. The city is home to several annual festivals, events, historic tours, and landmarks. Scuba diving and deep sea fishing are a large part of Pensacolas' tourism industry. The USS Oriskany was purposefully sunk in 2004 to create an artificial reef off the shores of PensACola. The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival is held annually in November in Seville Square, and often draws more than 200 regional and international artists. Pensacon is a comic convention held each February, with nearly 25,000 attendees from around the world. The Pensacolas Interstate Fair is held each fall in the city's historic downtown. The National Museum of Naval Aviation is located on the Naval Air station and is free to the public. It cares for and exhibits hundreds of vintage Naval Aviation aircraft and preserves the history of NavalAviation through displays, symposiums, IMAX movies and tours. The Naval Technical Training Center serves as an annex for the main base and the center for Information Dominance.

Arts and culture

Pensacola does not have a prominent skyline, but has several low-rise buildings. The tallest is the 15-floor Crowne Plaza Grand Hotel, at 146 feet (45 m) The Pelican Drop was a New Year's Eve celebration that took place each year in downtown Pensacola. In 2014, the event was named as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeast by the Southeast Tourism Society. In December 2019, organizers announced that the Pelican drop had been canceled due to financial issues and the burden the event had caused on local police and public services. A smaller fireworks display, which does not require the same amount of traffic disruption, will be held instead. The city's mascot is the pelican, which has a 17-foot (5.2 m) wingspan and is 12 feet (3.7 m) high. There is also the Palafox Place entertainment district, which is home to several live performances and musicals. The arts and theatre area is known for its opera, symphony, and concert orchestras, as well as a number of musicals and plays. The first Pelicandrop took place in 2008, drawing in crowds of up to 50,000 local residents. The event included live music and fireworks, and almost 45,000 people showed up for the event, including residents of Mobile, Alabama (which hosts its own competing drop, a Moon Pie), Milton, Florida, Navarre, and Destin, Florida. It was made of polished aluminum and decorated with over 2,000 lights.

Sports

The Five Flags Speedway is a half-mile paved racetrack that opened in 1953. It hosts the Snowball Derby stock car race every December since 1968. The city hosted professional golf tournaments such as the Pensacola Open (PGA Tour, 1958-1988) and Pensacolas Classic (Nike Tour, 1990-1995) The city also hosted rounds of the NASCAR Grand National (now NASCAR Cup Series), Superstar Racing Experience, NASCAR Southeast Series, ARCA Racing Series and ARCA Menards Series East. It has also hosted the ASA National Tour, CARS Pro Cup Series and Southern Super Series. Penascola is home to the University of South Florida's football team. The town is also home to several minor league baseball teams, including the Pensacola Pelicans, an independent league baseball team that played at Jim Spooner Field from 2002 to 2010. It is also the home of the Florida Panhandle High School football team, which won the state championship in 2007. The Panthers are a semi-professional football team that won the Florida State Championship in 2007 and 2008. The team is based in the town's suburb of Pascagoula and plays in the Florida Gulf Coast League. It also has a professional golf team, the Penascola Open, which played from 1958 to 1988. It was also the host of the LPGA Ladies Invitational from 1965 to 1968 and the Nike Classic from 1990 to 1995. In 2010, the city hosted the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament, which was the first women's tournament to be held in Florida.

Parks and recreation

Pensacola, Florida is home to several state parks. The city is also home to a multi-use stadium. Pensacola is located on the Gulf of Mexico, about 15 miles (24 km) from the Florida coast. It is also located on a barrier island, off S.R. 292, about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Pensacolas. The state's largest park is Big Lagoon State Park, which is located approximately 10 miles southwest of the city. The town's largest lake is the Little Lagoon, located about 8 miles (13 km) south of the town. It has a number of smaller state parks, including Tarkiln Bayou Preserve and Perdido Key State Park.

Government

After the Civil War, Pensacola was controlled by Republicans during the Reconstruction era (1865-1877) The Republican government had numerous African American politicians, including several county commissioners, city aldermen, constables, state representatives, and even one African American mayorSalvador Pons. However, with the 1884 election of native Pensacolian and former Confederate general Edward Perry, a dramatic shift occurred. Perry dissolved the Republican city government and replaced it with hand-picked successors, including railroad magnate William D. Chipley. The only African American to remain in city government was George Washington Witherspoon, a pastor with the African Methodist Episcopal Church who was previously a Republican and switched parties to the Democrats. 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. In the 2004 presidential election, 65% of Escambia County residents voted for George W. Bush over John Kerry. The Pensacolas area has not supported a Democrat for president since John F. Kennedy in 1960. As of August 2005, 44% of the residents were registered Republicans compared to 39.91% of. the population having registered as Democrats, with another 13.21% having no party affiliation. The city is currently represented in the U.S. House of Representatives by Matt Gaetz (R), in the state senate by Doug Broxson (R) and in. the state house by District 2 representative Alex Andrade (R).

Education

Public primary and secondary schools in Pensacola are administered by the Escambia County School District. The University of West Florida is the largest post-secondary institution in the area. Several private schools operate within or near the city: East Hill Academy, East Hill Christian School, Episcopal Day School of Christ Church, Pensacolas Christian Academy, Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Saint John the Evangelist Catholic School, Little Flower Catholic School. The city is home to the Florida Panhandle Bookmobile Museum, which is open to the public every day of the year. The museum is located in the city's downtown area and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except when the museum is closed. The library is located on the university's main campus, north of the city, and has the largest library in the region, the John C. Pace Library. The school district also operates one magnet high school (West Florida High School of Advanced Technology) near the City of PensACola. The district operates two high schools (Booker T. Washington and Pensacolas) within the city. The high schools also operate a magnet school (Pensacola High School) in the nearby town of Pine Forest. The university operates a campus in downtown Pensacula. The main campus of PensAcola State College is in the City. The campus of PensACola Christian College is near theCity. The town is also home to a number of private schools, including East Hill academy and Sacred Heart cathedral school.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida = 24. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 76. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 10. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Pensacola = 5.6 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 54,312 individuals with a median age of 42.5 age the population dropped by -4.52% in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,386.19 residents per square mile of area (921.30/km²). There are average 2.23 people per household in the 23,838 households with an average household income of $41,586 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 8.60% of the available work force and has dropped -4.37% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 22.66%. The number of physicians in Pensacola per 100,000 population = 264.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Pensacola = 62.6 inches and the annual snowfall = 0.1 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 110. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 224. 90 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 42.8 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 29, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Pensacola, Escambia County, Florida which are owned by the occupant = 56.71%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 39 years with median home cost = $112,560 and home appreciation of -10.04%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $7.50 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,257 per student. There are 15.7 students for each teacher in the school, 678 students for each Librarian and 450 students for each Counselor. 8.01% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 20.92% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 11.94% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).