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Pensacola, Florida real estate is located in Escambia County, which is known as the “Western gate to the Sunshine State.” Pensacola is bordered by the Alabama state line on both the north and west and by the Gulf of Mexico on the south. With a population of 54,734 (2004 U.S. census estimate), Pensacola is the largest city in Escambia County and the county seat. The winding Perdido River forms Escambia County’s western boundary with Alabama, while the Escambia River forms the county’s eastern boundary. Pensacola Bay occupies the southeastern corner of the county.

With a population of 296,772 (2005 U.S. census estimate), Escambia County ranks 18th in population among Florida’s 67 counties. The greater Pensacola area (which includes neighboring Santa Rosa County, one of the 10 fastest-growing counties in the U.S.) had a 2004 population of 437,125, making it the largest metropolitan area in the Florida Panhandle and the second largest metro area on the Gulf Coast between Tampa and New Orleans, after Mobile, Alabama, about 50 miles west of the Florida-Alabama state line.

Besides Pensacola, the only other incorporated community in Escambia County is Century, a town with 1,714 residents near the Escambia River and the Alabama state line. There are an additional 14 unincorporated communities in Escambia County. Several of them have substantial populations, including: Ferry Pass (population: 27,176); Brent (population: 22,257); West Pensacola (population: 21,939); Bellview (population: 21,201); Ensley (population: 18,752); Myrtle Grove (population: 17,211); Warrington (population: 15,207); and Gonzalez (population: 11,365). Other communities include Beulah, Cantonment, Goulding, Innerarity Point, Molino, Perdido Key and Walnut Beach.

Escambia County is home to Pensacola Naval Air Station, the first naval air base in the U.S., which is the home base of the Blue Angels precision flying team. With a large military presence and staunch Bible Belt conservative views, Escambia County and Pensacola have not supported a Democrat for president since John Kennedy in 1960, except in 1968, when all of North Florida supported segregationist candidate George Wallace.

Temperatures in Pensacola vary widely, from an average high of about 90 degrees in the summer to an average low in the lower 40s during the winter, with cooler temperatures away from the gulf coast. Hurricane Ivan smashed into Escambia County and Pensacola in 2004, leaving $6 billion in damage.

The rich history of Pensacola, Florida real estate reveals how the city and county played a pivotal role in several wars, yet how they have endured despite changing hands many times. Escambia County was created in 1821 (24 years before Florida became a state) as one of Florida’s first two counties, along with St Johns County. It was named for the Escambia River, whose name comes from the Spanish word for “barter” or “exchange.”

The Pensacola area was first sighted by a non-native in 1513 by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon. Three years later, Don Diego Miruelo became the first European to sail into Pensacola Bay. Pensacola became the very first European settlement in the U.S. (St. Augustine, Florida is the oldest permanent settlement) when Spanish conquistador Don Tristan de Luna y Arellano established a base on Santa Rosa Island in 1559 and called it “Bahia Santa Maria de Filipina,” but two years later, a hurricane wiped out the settlement.

The Spanish, who controlled Pensacola during three different periods, established a permanent settlement in 1698 and Pensacola became the largest city in Florida and the capital of the colony of West Florida. The city and its bay were named after the Panzacola Indians, a tribe that lived near the bay when the Spanish arrived. The name was later changed to “Pensacola” to make it easier to pronounce for the Spanish. The French briefly held Pensacola, but the Spanish reclaimed it and held it from 1722-63. The British then took control and established the colony of West Florida, with Pensacola the capital. The Spanish recaptured the city in 1781 and held it for most of the next 40 years until they ceded the area to the U.S. in 1821.

In 1825, Congress designated an area of the county for a navy yard and a lighthouse (which was rebuilt in 1858 and still operates today). The Pensacola area is home to three historic U.S. forts: Fort Pickens, Fort Barrancas and Fort McRee, as well as Barrancas National Cemetery. Fort Barrancas was the site of the 1814 Battle of Pensacola. Fort Pickens, completed in 1834, was the only Southern fort to be held by the Union throughout the Civil War.

Andrew Jackson served as Florida’s first territorial governor, residing at the capital of Pensacola. Tallahassee later became the state capital because it was midway between the largest Florida cities at the time, Pensacola and St. Augustine. Florida became a state in 1845, but North Florida, including the Panhandle, remained the most populous area of the state until the late 19th century. When Florida seceded from the Union at the beginning of the Civil War in early 1861, Escambia County was divided, as federal troops held Fort Pickens and the Confederacy held Pensacola. Pensacola was soon conquered by the Union, which burned most of the city.

Cotton, farmed largely by the sharecropper descendants of freed slaves, remained crucial to the economy after the Civil War, but economic diversification and urbanization slowly found a footing. Vast pine forests, used for paper production, became the basis of the economy. A brickmaking industry thrived early in the 20th century. Shipping declined in importance but the military and manufacturing became prominent. Harvesting of fish and other seafood also became vital. Aside from cotton and pine trees, major crops now include peanuts, soybeans and corn.

The late 20th century saw a dramatic increase in the tourism industry and the rapid development of previously pristine wilderness beaches, particularly those around Panama City, Fort Walton Beach and Destin, all east of Escambia County. However, northern retirees and Latin American immigrants who flooded most of Florida after World War II did not come to Escambia County, which remained a bastion of the Old South. In the late 20th century, the area was discovered by developers. Growth is now rapid and dramatic as many barrier islands have been transformed from sand dunes and water to condominiums and upscale subdivisions. Other areas remain undeveloped, in particular the beautiful Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Pensacola, Florida real estate features seemingly endless miles of beautiful beaches that have remained largely untouched by time and progress. From history to shopping to sports, Pensacola has something for everybody.

Pensacola’s Seville Historic District is one of Florida’s oldest, with architecture featuring modest structures perfectly suited to the climate. Seville includes Florida’s oldest church, Old Christ Church, built in 1832. The Pensacola Historical Museum on Zaragosa Street, details all five nations whose flags flew over the city (Spain, France, Britain, Confederate and U.S.). Pensacola is known as the City of Five Flags.

In addition to the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the military presence permeates, including the Wall South at Veterans Memorial Park on Bayfront Parkway, a one-half scale replica of the design in Washington, D.C. The world-class National Museum of Naval Aviation showcases the history of aviation through indoor and outdoor exhibits and an IMAX theater. Pensacola boasts many beautiful parks with fountains, play areas and water access. You can feed the ducks at Bayview Park on Bayou Texar or watch an osprey at Big Lagoon State Park. Public boat ramps allow for fun on the water. Gulf Islands National Seashore includes the barrier islands of the gulf coast.

Shopping is terrific at downtown Pensacola specialty shops. Downtown, people enjoy antiquing, cafes and art galleries, including traveling exhibits at the Pensacola Musuem of Art. There is racing at Pensacola Greyhound Track and Five Flags Speedway. The Pensacola Symphony Orchestra entertains with concerts; jazz is popular along Palafox Street. The Pensacola Civic Center hosts a professional hockey team, the Pensacola Ice Pilots.

Annual celebrations include the Fiesta of Five Flags, Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival, the Seafood Festival, the King Mackerel and Cobia Tournament, Florida Springfest, Gracefest (a Christian music festival), University of West Florida Festival On The Green, Mullet Toss at the Florabama, Bushwhacker Festival and Bill Fishing Tournament.

Pensacola is home to a small but significant Jewish community, whose roots stretch back to 1763. The first Florida chapter of B’nai Brith was founded downtown in 1874, as well as the first temple, Beth-El, in 1876. Pensacola’s Paula Ackerman, the first woman to perform rabbinical functions in the U.S., led services at Beth-El.

Whether you seek a luxury home, a starter home, a condominium, a townhouse or an investment property, NewHomesRealEstate.net can help you find the Pensacola, Florida real estate you desire.

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