Pensacola

Home Sweet Home    Find a Realtor    Find a company    Vital Stats    Rain & Shine    Job Market    Class Notes    Getting Around

Great Outdoors    Good Sports    Hot Times    Shop 'til you Drop    Nightlife    College Scene    Just for Seniors

Pensacola may be close to Alabama, but it's quintessential Florida. The real Florida--the first Florida--some would add. The city has many nicknames. It's been called the First City by some because Spanish explorers landed in the area and settled there briefly beginning about 1559, a few years before St. Augustine, Florida's oldest city, was founded. But unlike St. Augustine, Pensacola was abandoned by early settlers. Re-established in 1698, Pensacola remains admirably ancient by American standards. Three substantial sections of town have been designated historic districts. Because of its long, illustrious and multinational past, Pensacola bills itself as "the City of Five Flags." Changing hands more than a dozen times, the community has seen flags from Spain, Britain, France, the Confederate States and the United States flying over its buildings. Others have called it "the Western Gate to the Sunshine State," referring to Pensacola's geographic position in the extreme northwest corner of Florida. All the names are apt, yet none quite captures the dynamic quality of contemporary Pensacola--a bustling community with beautiful beaches, low unemployment, affordable housing, a proud past and bright future.

Home Sweet Home

The Pensacola Association of Realtors, one of three that operate in the area, credits the region's strong housing market to many factors: low interest rates and pent-up demand from earlier years, high levels of employment in the region and in-migration, including retirees, from several locations-South Florida, the southeastern United States and beyond. Housing affordability is bringing renters into the ranks of homeownership and contributing mightily to the area's below average cost-of-living index. There's lots of competition for the good housing buys, however.

In 1999, the median sales price for an existing home in Pensacola's Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was $99,600, up 7 percent from 1998. Location, floor plan and amenities will vary, of course, but for that amount a buyer would typically receive a home of about 1,800 square feet, probably with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a two-car garage. The lot might be 85-feet wide by 110-feet deep, downsized a bit from 10 years ago when the typical lot measured 100 feet by 120 feet. Styles vary and stucco finishes are gaining in popularity, but the predominate house style--and still the most popular in this part of the Panhandle--features a one-story frame structure and brick veneer on all four sides.

The Santa Rosa County Board of Realtors says that her area is among the fastest growing in all of Florida. The county prides itself on good schools, historical preservation and a strong family-oriented lifestyle. A relatively recent growth spurt has resulted in lots of new construction in the communities of Pace and Milton, although the surroundings villages of Chumuckla, Bagdad and Allentown are still primarily rural. Even with brisk growth, however, the housing market is affordable and good values are available. Weeks says that the price range goes from about $45,000 to $500,000. Newer developments include Timbercreek ($95,000-$125,000); Whispering Woods ($100,000-$190,000); and Stonebrook Village ($130,000-$400,000). New waterfront property sells for about $95 per square foot; existing waterfront homes are $85 per square foot. If golf is your game, check out new golf-course property, which sells for about $75 a square foot here or existing golf-course property, desirable yet affordable at $70 per square foot. Few condominiums are available in Weeks' area of Santa Rosa County, although neighboring Escambia County and the extreme southern section of Santa Rosa possess plenty.

In south Santa Rosa County, the residential market includes a broad range of condos and single-family homes that appeal to first-time home buyers, retirees and move-up buyers and investors. Some homes are new due to rebuilding after damage from hurricanes Erin and Opal in 1995. "It's going to be even more beautiful," promises the Navarre Beach Board of Realtors. Fountain says that the average price of a 1,800-square-foot home in her area is between $110,000 and $115,000. For the MSA's median sales price of $99,600, a buyer might be able to purchase a three-bedroom, two-bath home totaling 1,500 square feet. Waterfront condominiums go for more, of course. A two-bedroom, two-bath condo on the Intracoastal Waterway averages about $175,000 currently, while the same unit on the Gulf of Mexico would be priced at about $225,000.

Vital Stats

(Pensacola MSA: Escambia and Santa Rosa counties)

Population: 291,135
Median age: 34.1
New citizens: 3,020 yearly
New job creation: N/A
Unemployment rate: 3.4 percent in August, 1999
Cost of living: 94.86 percent (U.S. average: 100 percent)
Per capita income: $19,253
Median household income: $29,527

Rain & Shine

Pensacola's average annual temperature is 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm summers and mild winters predominate. Although a few flakes of snow may fall on rare occasions, the average monthly temperature in January registers in the low 50s; in July its almost 82 degrees Fahrenheit. An average year in Pensacola boasts 343 days of sunshine; southern breezes from the Gulf of Mexico help keep things cool in the summer. Rainfall averages 64.2 inches annually.

Job Market

A skilled work force, in part an educational legacy from the many high-tech military bases nearby, makes Pensacola attractive to governmental agencies and private businesses. The area's top 10 employers are the federal government (17,864); local governmental units (8,204); state government (3,996); Baptist Health Care (2,990); Sacred Heart Hospital (2,364); Gulf Power Company (1,523); Monsanto Company (1,500); HCA West Florida Regional Medical Center (1,500); Lakeview Center (1,300); and Medical Center Clinic (1,127).

Class Notes

Extensive information about the schools in this area is online at the state's Department of Education (http://www.firn.edu/doe/doehome.htm). There you'll discover everything you'll need to know about Florida schools -- in general and in particular. All you need is the name of your county and the names of the schools students from your neighborhood attend.

Use links from the DOE home page for general information about entrance requirements, immunizations and so forth.

For the nitty-gritty details that really matter, click on the logo for the "Florida School Indicators Report."

Getting Around

Interstate 10, a major east-west highway, crosses Florida just north of the city. Two major north-south roads, Interstates 65 and 75, are several miles away but easily accessible via I-10. U.S. Highway 98, the Panhandle's primary local road, runs south of I-10, close to the Gulf of Mexico. Greyhound and Amtrak have stations here. CSX and Burlington Northern move freight in and out of town, as do ships arriving and leaving from the city's deep-water port. Pensacola Regional Airport handles about 60 flights daily, many direct to transportation hubs in Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Dallas, Memphis and Charlotte.

The two-county MSA encompasses a lot of territory, so most residents rely on their cars to get around. Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) runs buses on regular routes to many parts of the city and county. Trolley rides at 25 cents in Pensacola's historic district and free in season on Pensacola Beach (Santa Rosa Island) move tourists and locals conveniently over short distances, but in most cases you'll need your own set of wheels.

Great Outdoors

If the beauties of natural coastal habitat appeal to you, Pensacola's for you. Surrounded by water-Perdido Bay on the west; Big Lagoon, Pensacola Bay, Santa Rosa Sound and the Gulf of Mexico on the south; and East Bay, Escambia Bay and Blackwater Bay on the east-and graced by sugar-white (quartz) sand beaches and sea-oat covered dunes, the region offers unparalleled outdoor opportunities. Thousands of pristine acres remain protected in the Gulf Islands National Seashore (about 25 miles of its 150 miles are located in the immediate area), in the Big Lagoon State Recreation Area and in the Perdido Key State Recreation Area. A 40-foot tower at Big Lagoon park provides a terrific view of marshlands, dunes, birds and animals.

Nature lovers camp on a first-come, first-served basis at Fort Pickens Campground (189 sites) in the national Seashore area on Pensacola Beach, one of two narrow barrier islands (Perdido Key is the other) that shelter the city and its namesake bay from the Gulf of Mexico. Inland, 590 tranquil acres comprise the Blackwater River State Park with its famous sand-bottom river and clean, dark tannin waters. With open canopy forests accented by diverse flora and fauna in and around it, the river attracts canoe aficionados and environmentalists.

Good Sports

Naturally, with water everywhere, water sports enthrall many local enthusiasts. Windsurfing and jet skiing attract some, while the USS Massachusetts beckons divers to its underwater archeological preserve. The venerable battleship is still in service--as a giant artificial reef. Laminated maps assist divers on self-guided explorations of the ship. Others prefer more sedentary activities like fishing from the Bob Sikes Fishing Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound. Miles of seashore await walkers. So do The Bluffs, with scenic walkways and spectacular views of Escambia Bay. Serious hikers enjoy the numerous nature trails in the Naval Live Oaks area of the national seashore on the east side of Gulf Breeze. A local company, Nature's Adventures, organizes walks for children that focus their attention on insects, birds, butterflies, flowers and plants. Typical walks cost $10 per participant and traverse 2.5 miles.

Florida boasts more golf courses than any other state, including a dozen or so in the Pensacola area. Golf writer Ronnie Ramos ranks four of them in Florida's top 100: the Moors in Milton (site of the Emerald Coast Golf Classic in early November), Marcus Pointe in Pensacola, the East Course at the Tiger Point Golf and County Club in Gulf Breeze and Hidden Creek in Navarre.

The city itself maintains 90-plus recreational areas--swimming pools, tennis courts, parks for its 60,000 residents. If you're high on participatory sports, you'll find plenty to play in Pensacola; but if you specialize in spectator sports, switch on the television because the area isn't populous enough to support professional teams--at least not yet.

Hot Times in the City

There's plenty to do in Pensacola. Kids of all ages like the 700 animals in The Zoo at Gulf Breeze. At the Pensacola Naval Air Station, the National Museum of Naval Aviation's 27 acres and 250,000-square-feet of interior display area packs a potent entertainment punch. Kids love to pretend; what better way than to strap into a cockpit trainer for an imaginary flight. More than 100 planes await visitors of all ages, including four A-4 Skyhawks suspended in Blue-Angel dive formation in the impressive seven-story atrium.

In the city, Historic Pensacola Village includes several museums--the Museum of Industry and the Museum of Commerce, for example. Pensacola Village preserves several homes of historic importance, as does the entire Seville District in which the village is located. Elsewhere in the Seville section you'll find the Lavalle House, the Pensacola Historical Museum (in Old Christ Church) and St. Michael's Cemetery. The Palafox Historic District, the commercial heart of the city, combines shops, businesses and the Civil War Soldiers Museum with the Plaza Ferdinand VII, a grassy place where British soldiers once paraded. Located on the Plaza at 830 S. Jefferson St. in an Italian Renaissance Revival building formerly Pensacola's City Hall is the T.T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum. Discovery, a hands-on museum for kids, fills its third floor. The North Hill Preservation District pleases architectural buffs with its 50-block area of magnificent homes in a mixture of styles spanning more than 100 years.

Do you prefer drama, dance and music to history, archeology and aviation? No problem. Pensacola's arts community is active. More than 135 groups participate in the Arts Council of Northwest Florida. Quayside, the South's largest cooperative gallery, and the Pensacola Museum of Art and Art on the Tracks provide visual treats. Gallery tours are a regular Friday-night feature on the cultural calendar. The city is home to a 70-member symphony orchestra, an 80-member choral society and an active jazz organization. The 60-year-old Pensacola Little Theatre provides entertaining performances in a new 500-seat auditorium within the Pensacola Cultural Center, creatively recycled from an old jail. For those who love speed, local fast lanes include the Pensacola Greyhound Track and the Five Flags Speedway, a half-mile asphalt track.

Festivals crowd the calendar. For spring fun, there's JazzFest and SpringFest, three musical days in May, and then the massive 10-day Fiesta of Five Flags each June. The Fourth of July celebration features fantastic music and fireworks over the bay. September brings the savory Pensacola Seafood Festival. Headliners in October include the Greek Festival in Pensacola and Pensacola Beach's Beatlemania on the Beach Festival. The Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival, which attracts 200,000 or so the first weekend in November, the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival, which draws songwriters to talk about their work for 10 days early each November, and the Blue Angels Homecoming Air Show over Pensacola Beach in mid-November continue the fall excitement. Late winter's highlight is Pensacola's Mardi Gras celebration.

Shop 'til You Drop

Places to shop include the 150-store Cordova Mall and the 70-store University Mall. The Palafox Historic District holds lots of specialty shops and numerous antique stores, including Secondhand Rose and This Old House, descriptive if not original names. The annual juried art show in November is a fine place to shop for that one-of-a-kind item for your home or your friend's Christmas gift.

Nightlife

The Seville Quarter sports a bustling complex complete with seven themed entertainment areas and fine food in the Palace Oyster Bar. For dining with a view, look out over Escambia Bay while enjoying local seafood and continental cuisine at Skopelos; or try Jubilee Restaurant & Beachside Cafe or Chan's Gulfside in Pensacola Beach. Jamie's is a popular Pensacola eatery surrounded by 19th century ambience in its quaint cottage setting. Michael Crook, a Miami Herald travel writer mentions "a pair of legendary bars"--Trader Jon's and McGuire's Irish Pub, the latter known for its microbrewery and juicy steaks. McGuire's also received the coveted Golden Spoon award (Top 20 in Florida) from Florida Trend in 1997.

College Scene

The University of West Florida, with nearly 8,000 students--roughly 6,000 undergraduates and 2,000 graduates--is one of the state's 10 major publicly supported four-year educational institutions. It's small by state college standards, but innovative and affordable. Classes average 25 students, so individual attention is possible. The campus is an 1,000-acre preserve complete with its own nature trail. Not far away, the private Pensacola Christian College enrolls 3,700 students. Pensacola Junior College is a two-year school that serves 32,000 yearly. The state-supported, coed school enrolls 12,000 full-time undergraduates but educates many short-term or part-time students as well.

Just for Seniors

The Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging headquartered in Pensacola oversees the many senior services in the Pensacola MSA via the Escambia Council on Aging and the Santa Rosa Council on Aging. In Escambia County adult day care, respite care, case management, homemaker services, home-delivered meals, personal care and medical transportation are available free to the needy or for a fee to those who can pay. In Santa Rosa County, case management, home-delivered meals and homemaker services are available for the needy. Programs are funded by the state's Community Care for the Elderly program.

In both counties programs funded by the Older Americans Act (OAA) are available without cost to anyone-rich or poor-over 60. Services include congregate meals (often at church or community-sponsored senior centers), recreation opportunities, transportation, home-delivered meals (if no waiting list), homemakers and social-services counseling in Escambia County and counseling, recreation, transportation, congregate meals, health screening, nutrition screening, home-delivered meals and telephone reassurance in Santa Rosa County.