Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola, Florida is the westernmost city in the Florida panhandle, lying close to the Alabama border. This city of 53,000 (part of a metropolitan area of over 400,000) is the county seat of Escambia County and lies on Pensacola Bay, an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico. Alternatively known as “The City of Five Flags” (referring to Pensacola’s five historical rulers), “World’s Whitest Beaches” (a tribute to its status as a tourist destination) and “Cradle of Naval Aviation” (due to the presence of America’s first naval air base), anyone moving to Pensacola will discover an excellent city to live.
Economy:
Pensacola is known for its military and tourist presence. The Naval Air Station-Pensacola, the earliest of its kind in the U.S., lies just to the southwest of the city and is the main site for American naval air training. The white sandy beaches and year-round warmth of Pensacola make it a major tourist destination as well. Other industries represented in Pensacola include health care, education and manufacturing. Companies with a strong presence among Pensacola’s workforce are the Sacred Heart Health System, Baptist Health Care, Lakeview Healthcare, Gulf Power Company, Ascend Performance Materials (a nylon and chemical manufacturer), West Florida Hospital and the University of West Florida.
History:
Pensacola claims to be the oldest European settlement in the U.S. Spanish settlers from Mexico arrived there in 1559 with 1,400 people and 11 ships. Unfortunately, a hurricane struck the colony a month later and killed hundreds, sank five ships and destroyed supplies. The remaining colonists departed by 1561, and Spanish resettlement had to wait until 1696. The Spanish held Pensacola for most of the following century, although they lost it to the French (1719-1722) and British (1763-1781) for brief periods. In 1819, the Spanish government renounced Florida by treaty, and Pensacola fell into American hands. During the Civil War, confederate troops briefly took Fort Barrancas and Pensacola in 1861 and 1862, but they abandoned the area after the fall of New Orleans to the Union Army.
Tourism:
While beaches are a major attraction for most Pensacola visitors, the city also offers cultural, artistic and natural draws for individuals who are interested in moving here. Although not a large city, Pensacola boasts many theaters, a symphony orchestra, a choral society and an opera. The Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, a juried show held in downtown Pensacola, attracts more than 200 artists to the city every November. The Pensacola History Museum, the Pensacola Museum of Art and the National Museum of Naval Aviation join historic sites like St. Michael’s Cemetery (officially opened in 1807) as important cultural and historical contributions to the city. The National Parks Service operates much of the Pensacola Bay, including Fort Barrancas, the city’s main defense between the 18th century and its decommissioning in 1947. Local bus service is available from the Escambia County Area Transit, and flights arrive at the Pensacola Gulf Coast Regional Airport.
Colleges/Universities:
• Pensacola Christian College
• Pensacola Junior College
• Troy University-Pensacola
• University of West Florida
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Naval Air Station Pensacola
Interesting Facts:
• The oldest naval air station within the U.S. is the Naval Air Station-Pensacola. All naval aviators in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard begin training there. These stations are also the home of the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Blue Angels flight team.
• Although hurricanes hit the Pensacola area regularly, the worst storm of recent decades was Hurricane Ivan in 2004. The storm passed directly over Pensacola and left more than 10,000 destroyed homes and $6 billion in its wake.
Helpful Links:
• Pensacola Moving Guide
• Pensacola Storage
• City of Pensacola
• Pensacola Real Estate