Santa Rosa County is acounty located in the northwestern portion of theU.S. state ofFlorida. As of 2020, its population was 188,000. Thecounty seat isMilton, which lies in the geographic center of the county. Other major communities within Santa Rosa County areNavarre,Pace, andGulf Breeze.[1] Navarre is the most populated community with a population of approximately 45,000 residents. Santa Rosa County is included in thePensacola metropolitan area, which also includesEscambia County.
The first European in Santa Rosa County Florida may have been Diego Maldonado, a member ofTristan de Luna's failed expedition. Natives dominated the area until the late 1700s. ASpanish mission servingApalachees, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad y San Luís, may have been located inFloridatown from 1718 until 1740.[2][3]
Santa Rosa County was created in 1842, when it was divided from Escambia County. It was named after the barrier island along its southern coast, which in turn had been named for the Roman Catholic saint,Rosa de Viterbo.[4]
Santa Rosa County repealed its prohibition on alcohol in 2005.[5]
Santa Rosa County has seen unprecedented growth in population, specifically in the communities ofNavarre,Pace, andGulf Breeze. The county is a quickly growing tourist destination because of its access to beaches and protected wilderness areas for kayaking, hiking, and camping.[6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,174 square miles (3,040 km2), of which 162 sq mi (420 km2) (13.8%) are covered by water.[7]
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.
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-calledOld Spanish Trail that ran fromSt. Augustine toNew 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 traditionalSouthern culture. The Pace andMilton communities compose the Central Region, with both having populations roughly around 30,000.[8][9] The county seat, Milton is located where the trail crossed theBlackwater 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. TheU.S. Navy presence is marked byWhiting Field andNOLF Spencer Field.
Northern Santa Rosa County is forest and farming country. The only town in the north is Jay. Most development has been alongState Road 4, which runs through the northern sections of Escambia, Santa Rosa, andOkaloosa 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.
The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners serves as the legislative and policy-setting body of the 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.
The commission meets in regular session beginning at 9:00 am 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.
Santa Rosa County, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
As of the2020 census, 188,000 people, 69,454 households, and 47,876 families resided in the county.[18][19]
The median age was 40.3 years; 22.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 103.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 102.1 males age 18 and over.[18]
80.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 19.9% lived in rural areas.[20]
Of the 69,454 households, 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them; 56.6% were married-couple households, 15.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 21.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[18]
There were 75,854 housing units, of which 8.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.3% were owner-occupied and 22.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.5%.[18]
As of the2000 census[21], 117,743 people, 43,793 households, and 33,326 families resided in the county. The population density was 116 inhabitants per square mile (45/km2). The 49,119 housing units had an average density of 48 per square mile (19/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 90.72% White, 4.25% 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. About 2.52% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
Of the 43,793 households, 36.5% had children under 18 living with them, 62.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were not families. About 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the age distribution was 26.6% under 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.6 males. For every 100 females 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,881 and for a family was $46,929. Males had a median income of $34,878 versus $22,304 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $20,089. About 7.9% of families and 9.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 12.6% of those under 18 and 7.5% of those 65 or over.
Santa Rosa County is a stronghold of theRepublican Party. It has supported the Republican candidate in each presidential election since1972, consistently by overwhelming margins.
United States presidential election results for Santa Rosa County, Florida[22]
^"Find a County". National Association of Counties. RetrievedJune 7, 2011.
^Santa Rosa County Heritage Book Committee, ed. (2003).The heritage of Santa Rosa County, Florida. Clanton, AL: Heritage Pub. Consultants.ISBN978-1-891647-69-7.
