Santa Rosa County, Florida

Santa Rosa County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2020, the population is 184,313. The county seat is Milton, which lies in the geographic center of the county. Other major communities within Santa Rosa County are Navarre, Pace, and Gulf Breeze.[2]

Santa Rosa County
U.S. county
Santa Rosa County Courthouse with Christmas decorations
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°42′N 87°01′W
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedFebruary 18, 1842
Named forSaint Rose of Viterbo
SeatMilton
Largest cityNavarre
Area
 • Total1,174 sq mi (3,040 km2)
 • Land1,012 sq mi (2,620 km2)
 • Water162 sq mi (420 km2)  13.8%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
184,313[1]
 • Density182/sq mi (70/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.santarosa.fl.gov

Santa Rosa County is included in the Pensacola Metropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes Escambia County.

History

Santa Rosa County was created in 1842, when it was divided from Escambia County. It was named for the barrier island along its southern coast, which in turn had been named for the Roman Catholic saint, Rosa de Viterbo.[3]

Santa Rosa County repealed its prohibition on alcohol in 2005.[4]

Santa Rosa County has seen unprecedented growth in population, specifically in the communities of Navarre, Pace, and to a lesser extent, Gulf Breeze. The county is quickly growing tourist destination because of its access to beaches and protected wilderness areas for kayaking, hiking, and camping.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,174 square miles (3,040 km2), of which 1,012 square miles (2,620 km2) is land and 162 square miles (420 km2) (13.8%) is water.[5]

National protected area

Regions

Santa Rosa County can be divided into three distinct sections: South Santa Rosa, Central Santa Rosa, and North Santa Rosa. The sections are centered on the main east–west roads that pass through the county.

Navarre Beach

South Santa Rosa County comprises the area from Holley and Navarre in the east to Gulf Breeze at the western end of the Fairpoint Peninsula, and along U.S. Highway 98. A section of Santa Rosa Island, containing the unincorporated community of Navarre Beach, is also part of South Santa Rosa County. Major bodies of water including Santa Rosa Sound, Pensacola Bay and East Bay strongly influence the housing and life style of citizens in the southern part of the county. This fast-growing region serves primarily as "bedroom communities" for Pensacola to the west and Hurlburt Field, Fort Walton Beach, and Eglin Air Force Base to the east. The U.S. Navy presence is marked by Whiting Field, and NOLF Spencer Field.

Central Santa Rosa County is the area north of the bays and south of the extensive forests separating it from North Santa Rosa. The central section developed along the so-called Old Spanish Trail that ran from St. Augustine to New Orleans, and further points west. Today, U.S. Highway 90 closely parallels the old trail, and is the main highway that connects the region. Despite recent growth, the Central Region is best identified by its rural roots, and can be best characterized by traditional Southern culture. The Pace and Milton communities compose the Central Region, with both having populations roughly around 30,000.[6][7] The county seat, Milton is located where the trail crossed the Blackwater River. To the west of Milton bordering the Escambia River, Pace has experienced exponential growth both residential and commercial. Interstate 10 also passes through this section of the county.

Northern Santa Rosa County is forest and farming country. The only town in the north is Jay. Most development has been along State Road 4 which runs through the northern sections of Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa counties. A large oil and natural gas field around Jay produced a great deal of oil, and made many farmers millionaires in the 1970s and 1980s, but the field has been depleted and is producing little oil today. The citizens have, for the most part, returned to farming and forestry for their livelihoods.

State Road 87 traverses the county from north to south, between U.S. Highway 98 and the border with Escambia County, Alabama near Brewton, where it connects with State Route 41. This road is a primary emergency evacuation route for the county during hurricanes.

Adjacent counties

Government

Board of County Commissioners

The Board of County Commissioners serves as the legislative and policy setting body of Santa Rosa County as established under Section 125 of the Florida Statutes. As such, the board enacts all legislation and authorizes programs and expenditures within the county. The board appoints a professionally trained county administrator who is responsible for policy and budget development and implementation.

The board comprises five members, elected countywide. Members must reside within the particular districts for which they seek election. Each year the board organizes itself, selecting a chair and vice-chair from among its members to preside at commission meetings.

Current Santa Rosa County commissioners
District Commissioner
1 (Pace/Central to western region)Sam Parker
2 (Milton/central to northeastern region)Robert A. "Bob" Cole
3 (Jay/central to northwestern region)James Calkins
4 (Navarre/southeastern region)Dave Piech
5 (Gulf Breeze/southwestern region)Colton Wright

The commission meets in regular session beginning at 9:00 a.m. the second and fourth Thursday of the month in the Commissioner's Board Room in the Administrative Center, 6495 Caroline Street, in Milton. Called meetings and workshops are scheduled periodically and are advertised and open to the public.

County officials
Office Officeholder
Supervisor of ElectionsTappie A Villane
Property AppraiserGreg Brown II
SheriffBob Johnson
Tax CollectorStan Colie Nichols
Clerk of CourtsDonald C Spencer

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18502,883—
18605,48090.1%
18703,312−39.6%
18806,645100.6%
18907,96119.8%
190010,29329.3%
191014,89744.7%
192013,670−8.2%
193014,0833.0%
194016,08514.2%
195018,55415.3%
196029,54759.2%
197037,74127.7%
198055,98848.3%
199081,60845.8%
2000117,74344.3%
2010151,37228.6%
2019 (est.)184,313[8]21.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2019[13]

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 117,743 people, 43,793 households, and 33,326 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile (45/km2). There were 49,119 housing units at an average density of 48 per square mile (19/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.72% White, 4.25% Black or African American, 1.01% Native American, 1.30% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.67% from other races, and 1.98% from two or more races. 2.52% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 43,793 households, out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 19.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,881, and the median income for a family was $46,929. Males had a median income of $34,878 versus $22,304 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,089. About 7.90% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Libraries

The Santa Rosa County Library System has five branches located in the following communities: Navarre, Gulf Breeze, Jay, Milton, and Pace.

Communities

The largest communities are Navarre and Pace.

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Politics
Presidential elections results
Santa Rosa County vote
by party in presidential elections[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 72.2% 77,385 25.8% 27,612 2.1% 2,201
2016 73.7% 65,339 20.8% 18,464 5.5% 4,881
2012 75.5% 58,186 23.1% 17,768 1.4% 1,106
2008 73.3% 55,972 25.5% 19,470 1.2% 935
2004 77.4% 52,059 21.8% 14,659 0.9% 589
2000 72.1% 36,339 25.4% 12,818 2.5% 1,245
1996 62.0% 26,301 25.8% 10,936 12.2% 5,173
1992 52.9% 17,339 20.0% 6,556 27.1% 8,882
1988 77.9% 18,973 21.6% 5,254 0.6% 143
1984 82.0% 21,265 17.9% 4,649 0.0% 6
1980 63.9% 13,802 32.3% 6,964 3.8% 824
1976 52.4% 9,122 46.1% 8,020 1.6% 270
1972 88.9% 12,669 10.5% 1,491 0.6% 85
1968 20.2% 2,567 12.6% 1,600 67.2% 8,549
1964 62.6% 5,983 37.4% 3,570
1960 35.9% 2,777 64.1% 4,960
1956 31.5% 1,909 68.5% 4,144
1952 28.5% 1,744 71.5% 4,375
1948 15.6% 549 65.7% 2,316 18.7% 659
1944 24.9% 862 75.2% 2,607
1940 18.4% 656 81.6% 2,910
1936 20.2% 744 79.8% 2,934
1932 10.1% 315 89.9% 2,806
1928 74.0% 1,628 24.6% 541 1.5% 32
1924 23.3% 229 70.6% 693 6.0% 59
1920 28.9% 333 70.5% 813 0.6% 7
1916 10.2% 111 82.6% 896 7.2% 78
1912 7.8% 70 66.3% 592 25.9% 231
1908 26.4% 212 66.6% 535 7.0% 56
1904 13.3% 73 73.4% 403 13.3% 73
1900 6.5% 38 88.4% 519 5.1% 30
1896 36.7% 431 59.1% 694 4.3% 50
1892 83.9% 452 16.1% 87

Transportation

Airports

Highways

Santa Rosa County contains many highways, which include Navarre Parkway and Gulf Breeze Parkway (US 98), Interstate 10, Avalon Boulevard, and Highways 4, 87, 89, and 90.

See also

References
  1. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/santarosacountyflorida/PST045217
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 34.
  4. "Suwannee Votes Wet". Suwannee Democrat. August 16, 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2014.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "Zip Code 32570 Profile, Map and Demographics - Updated December 2019". Zipdatamaps.com. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  7. "Zip Code 32571 Profile, Map and Demographics - Updated December 2019". Zipdatamaps.com. Retrieved 2019-12-31.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  13. "State & County". United States Census Bureau.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-06-15.

Newspapers

Print:

Digital only:

Government links/constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

Community and civic organizations

Hospitals

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