|
|
PENSACOLA, FLORIDA - USA
Pensacola is a city located in Escambia County, Florida. As of the 2000
census, the city had a total population of 56,255. It is the county seat of
Escambia County.
Pensacola is a sea port on Pensacola Bay, which connects to the Gulf of
Mexico. A large United States Navy airbase is located in Pensacola, which is
home to the Blue Angels flight demonstration team and the National Museum of
Naval Aviation.
Pensacola is nicknamed "The City of Five
Flags" due to the five flags that have flown over it at various times in its
history: the flags of Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederate States
of America, and the United States.
Pensacola is served by Pensacola Regional Airport.
The largest daily newspaper in the area is the Pensacola News Journal.
Pensacola is also home to WEAR TV.
History
Pensacola was the first settlement of Europeans in what is now the United
States. It was founded in 1559 by Don Tristan de Luna and his party of
Spanish settlers. However, the settlement was destroyed by a major hurricane
shortly afterwards, and was abandoned. For this reason, many people instead
regard St. Augustine, Florida as the first permanent European settlement in
what would become the United States.
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
Pickens was completed in 1834. It holds the distinction of being the only
Southern fort not to be captured by the Confederacy in the American Civil
War.
When Florida seceded from the Union on January 10th, 1861, remaining Union
forces in the city evacuated to Fort Pickens. The Confederacy then held
Pensacola until abandoning the city in May of 1862.
From 1885 to 1887, the famous Apache Indian chief Geronimo was imprisoned in
Fort Pickens, along with several of his warriors and their families. Fort
Pickens is now a part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and as such, is
administered by the United States Park Service.
Pensacola was the capital of Florida before Tallahassee became the capital.
Pensacola, Florida is the site of anti-abortion extremist Paul Hill's murder
of Dr. John Britton, 69, and volunteer escort James Barrett, 74. Hill
murdered the two because they helped perform abortions. Additionally, Hill
maimed June Barrett, James Barrett’s wife.
Geography
Pensacola is located at 30°26'13" North, 87°12'33" West (30.436988,
-87.209277)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of
102.7 km² (39.7 mi²). 58.8 km² (22.7 mi²) of it is land and 43.9 km² (17.0
mi²) of it is water. The total area is 42.77% water.
Hurricanes
Pensacola's location on the Florida Panhandle makes it vulnerable to
hurricanes. Major hurricanes which have made landfall at or near Pensacola
include Hurricane Juan (1985), Hurricane Opal (1995), and Hurricane Ivan
(2004).
The Pensacola area was devastated by Hurricane Ivan. The hurricane either
damaged or destroyed a large number of homes and businesses. Particularly
hard-hit were the areas around Perdido Bay and Pensacola Beach. In addition,
many of the area's bridges sustained structural damage. The hurricane
disrupted public schools in Escambia County for nearly a month.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there are 56,255 people, 24,524 households, and
14,665 families residing in the city. The population density is 956.8/km²
(2,478.7/mi²). There are 26,995 housing units at an average density of
459.2/km² (1,189.4/mi²). 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 are 24,524 households out of which 24.6% have children under the age
of 18 living with them, 39.7% are married couples living together, 16.7%
have a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% are non-families.
32.9% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.7% have someone
living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is
2.27 and the average family size is 2.92.
In city the population is spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.9%
from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who are
65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females
there are 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.7
males.
The median income for a household in the city is $34,779, and the median
income for a family is $42,868. Males have a median income of $32,258 versus
$23,582 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,438. 16.1% of
the population and 12.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the
total people living in poverty, 26.2% are under the age of 18 and 9.2% are
65 or older.
Local schools
Public schools in Pensacola are administered by the Escambia County School
District.
Universities and colleges
University of West Florida
Pensacola Junior College
Pensacola Christian College
Area high schools
Pensacola High School (http://www.pensacolahighschool.org/)
Escambia High School (http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/esch/)
Booker T. Washington High School (http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/wash/btwhome.htm)
Tate High School (http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/schscnts/tath/)
Woodham High School (http://www.woodhamhighschool.com/)
Pine Forest High School (http://www.pfhseagles.com/)
West Florida High School of Advanced Technology (http://www.wfhs.net/)
Sports teams
Pensacola is home to several semiprofessional sports teams:
The Pensacola Ice Pilots of the East Coast Hockey League
The Pensacola Pelicans of the Central Baseball League
The Pensacola Aviators of the American Basketball Association (expansion
team; set to begin play in 2004 or 2005)
The Pensacola Power of the National Women's Football Association
Famous Pensacolians
Jay Bell
Derrick Brooks
Joe Durant
Justin Gatlin
General Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr.
Roy Jones, Jr.
Fred Levin
Emmitt Smith
Michelle Snow
Famous visitors
On August 10, 2004, Pensacola was visited by President George W. Bush, the
first President to visit the area since his father.
|
|
