Milton, Florida | |
|---|---|
 Santa Rosa County Courthouse | |
 Location of Milton, Florida | |
| Coordinates:30°37′56.69″N87°02′22.88″W / 30.6324139°N 87.0396889°W /30.6324139; -87.0396889 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Santa Rosa |
| Incorporated | 1844[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–Manager |
| • Mayor | Heather Lindsay |
| • Councilmembers | Mike Cusack Tom Powers Marilynn Farrow Larry McKee Gavin Hawthorne Robert Leek Ashley Fretwell Casey Powell |
| • City manager | Edward E. Spears |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.960 sq mi (15.436 km2) |
| • Land | 5.732 sq mi (14.845 km2) |
| • Water | 0.228 sq mi (0.592 km2) 4.59% |
| Elevation | 30 ft (9 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 10,197 |
• Estimate (2023)[6] | 10,957 |
| • Density | 1,945.86/sq mi (751.31/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 32570, 32571, 32572, 32583 |
| Area code(s) | 850 and 448 |
| FIPS code | 12-45750 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0286947[4] |
| Website | miltonfl.org |
Milton is acity andcounty seat ofSanta Rosa County, Florida, United States. It is located within thePensacola metropolitan area. The city was first Incorporated in 1844, however certain areas such asEast Milton,Point Baker, andBagdad remain unincorporated. Milton is located in the geographic center of Santa Rosa County, and it is bordered byPace to the west, andNavarre to the south. The population was 10,197 at the2020 census.[5]
Milton was known by various names during its development. Most notable were "Hell-Town" (muggy, inhospitable land covered with briars, mosquitoes, thorns, snakes), "Jernigan's Landing", "Scratch Ankle" (due to the briars that grew along the riverbank), and "Hard Scrabble".[7]
According to Florida historianAllen Morris, "Just which Milton was honored by the final name is a dispute. Some say it is a contraction of an earlier Milltown; others that it was Milton Amos, pioneer and ancestor of the present Amos family; still others that it wasJohn Milton—not the English poet, but the Civil War governor of Florida."[8]
Milton was settled in the early 1800s as a small village centered on thelumber industry. The settlement originally was known as Scratch Ankle because of thebriars andbramble that grew in the area.[9] Another name was Jernigan's Landing after Benjamin Jernigan (died April 1847), who built a water-poweredsaw mill at what is now Locklin Lake between 1828 and 1830.[10] Other names were Lumberton, Black Water, and Hard Scrabble, but by 1839, it was being referred to as Milltown.[11] Milton was incorporated as a town in 1844, one year before theTerritory of Florida joined the United States as the 27th state.[9]
During theCivil War, much of Milton was burned byConfederate forces retreating from theUnion capture ofPensacola on May 2–4, 1862. The Confederates intended to prevent the town's industries from falling into Union hands. After the Southern forces evacuated, the Union troops had a small garrison in nearbyBagdad, where they had a base for expeditions in the surrounding area.[12] Many Milton residents fled toAlabama.[9]
In the early days of Milton, it was known as an extremely rough town.[13] Judges from Escambia County sentenced criminals to be confined to Milton, which was nicknamed "Hell Town" by its residents. An old story from the area tells of theRough Riders passing through Milton on their "best behavior".[citation needed]
Naval Air Station Whiting Field was constructed duringWorld War II with the help of many Germanprisoners of war who were housed in a camp on the site. The station was commissioned on July 16, 1943, by Rear AdmiralGeorge D. Murray and the widow of CaptainKenneth Whiting, after whom the station was named.[14]
The first hospital care in Milton began in 1951, when a group of locals formed the Santa Rosa County Hospital Board. The first hospital in Milton, Santa Rosa Hospital, was located on Stewart Street and opened on December 2, 1952. Santa Rosa Hospital had multiple expansions in the 1960s, and by 1970, the hospital was far too small for Milton's growing population. Construction for a new hospital began that year, and in December 1972, theSanta Rosa Medical Center was opened.
OnMarch 31, 1962, anF3 tornado hit the northwest side of Milton, causing 17 deaths and 100 injuries. It was Florida's deadliest tornado untilFebruary 22, 1998, when 25 people were killed inKissimmee by another F3 tornado.[15] It was also the deadliest tornado in 1962.[16]
On January 21, 2025, Milton received 10 inches (25 cm) of snow during theGulf Coast blizzard, more than double the previous state record of 4 inches (10 cm) that was also set in Milton in 1954.[17][18]
Milton is located at30°37′56.69″N87°02′22.88″W / 30.6324139°N 87.0396889°W /30.6324139; -87.0396889 (30.6324149, -87.0396881),[4] near the mouth of theBlackwater River.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.960 square miles (15.44 km2), of which, 5.732 square miles (14.85 km2) is land and 0.228 square miles (0.59 km2) (4.59%) is water.[3]
| Climate data for Milton, Florida (Milton Experimental Station), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–2008 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 84 (29) | 84 (29) | 88 (31) | 94 (34) | 99 (37) | 103 (39) | 104 (40) | 102 (39) | 102 (39) | 98 (37) | 88 (31) | 82 (28) | 104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 75.2 (24.0) | 77.6 (25.3) | 83.6 (28.7) | 87.3 (30.7) | 92.5 (33.6) | 96.6 (35.9) | 97.9 (36.6) | 96.8 (36.0) | 95.0 (35.0) | 89.7 (32.1) | 83.5 (28.6) | 78.0 (25.6) | 99.1 (37.3) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 59.9 (15.5) | 64.4 (18.0) | 71.2 (21.8) | 77.0 (25.0) | 84.9 (29.4) | 89.8 (32.1) | 91.0 (32.8) | 90.8 (32.7) | 87.4 (30.8) | 79.6 (26.4) | 69.8 (21.0) | 62.7 (17.1) | 77.4 (25.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 48.1 (8.9) | 52.0 (11.1) | 58.2 (14.6) | 64.3 (17.9) | 72.3 (22.4) | 78.4 (25.8) | 80.1 (26.7) | 79.7 (26.5) | 76.1 (24.5) | 66.9 (19.4) | 56.4 (13.6) | 50.7 (10.4) | 65.3 (18.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 36.0 (2.2) | 39.6 (4.2) | 45.3 (7.4) | 51.7 (10.9) | 59.6 (15.3) | 66.9 (19.4) | 69.1 (20.6) | 68.6 (20.3) | 64.7 (18.2) | 54.1 (12.3) | 43.0 (6.1) | 38.7 (3.7) | 53.1 (11.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 21.3 (−5.9) | 24.0 (−4.4) | 30.3 (−0.9) | 37.6 (3.1) | 49.6 (9.8) | 59.7 (15.4) | 66.3 (19.1) | 64.9 (18.3) | 54.6 (12.6) | 38.3 (3.5) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 17.3 (−8.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 3 (−16) | 11 (−12) | 20 (−7) | 30 (−1) | 39 (4) | 50 (10) | 55 (13) | 57 (14) | 37 (3) | 28 (−2) | 19 (−7) | 8 (−13) | 3 (−16) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 5.89 (150) | 4.66 (118) | 5.39 (137) | 5.55 (141) | 3.78 (96) | 7.48 (190) | 7.68 (195) | 6.89 (175) | 6.50 (165) | 4.40 (112) | 4.81 (122) | 4.61 (117) | 67.64 (1,718) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 9.6 | 7.7 | 8.2 | 6.4 | 6.9 | 11.0 | 14.6 | 13.2 | 8.1 | 6.9 | 7.3 | 7.8 | 107.7 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA[19] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: XMACIS2 (mean maxima/minima 1971–2000)[20] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 1,815 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,014 | −44.1% | |
| 1880 | 1,058 | 4.3% | |
| 1890 | 1,455 | 37.5% | |
| 1900 | 1,204 | −17.3% | |
| 1910 | 831 | −31.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,594 | 91.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,466 | −8.0% | |
| 1940 | 1,851 | 26.3% | |
| 1950 | 2,040 | 10.2% | |
| 1960 | 4,108 | 101.4% | |
| 1970 | 5,360 | 30.5% | |
| 1980 | 7,206 | 34.4% | |
| 1990 | 7,216 | 0.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,045 | −2.4% | |
| 2010 | 8,826 | 25.3% | |
| 2020 | 10,197 | 15.5% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 10,957 | [6] | 7.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[21] 2020 Census[5] | |||
As of the 2023American Community Survey, there are 4,533 estimated households in Milton with an average of 2.24 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $72,676. Approximately 10.8% of the city's population lives at or below thepoverty line. Milton has an estimated 53.9% employment rate, with 21.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 88.5% holding a high school diploma.[22]
The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (92.8%), Spanish (5.6%), Indo-European (1.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.6%), and Other (0.0%).
The median age in the city was 38.0 years.
| Race / ethnicity(NH = non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000[23] | Pop. 2010[24] | Pop. 2020[25] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 5,362 | 6,594 | 7,410 | 76.11% | 74.71% | 72.67% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,096 | 1,200 | 1,120 | 15.56% | 13.60% | 10.98% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 50 | 62 | 53 | 0.71% | 0.70% | 0.52% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 121 | 188 | 172 | 1.72% | 2.13% | 1.69% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 9 | 19 | 51 | 0.13% | 0.22% | 0.50% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 7 | 23 | 47 | 0.10% | 0.26% | 0.46% |
| Mixed race or multiracial (NH) | 157 | 314 | 725 | 2.23% | 3.56% | 7.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 243 | 426 | 619 | 3.45% | 4.83% | 6.07% |
| Total | 7,045 | 8,826 | 10,197 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, there were 10,197 people, 4,026 households, and 2,463 families residing in the city.[26] Thepopulation density was 1,832.3 inhabitants per square mile (707.5/km2). There were 4,443 housing units at an average density of 798.4 per square mile (308.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 74.61%White, 11.29%African American, 0.62%Native American, 1.77%Asian, 0.51%Pacific Islander, 1.53% from some other races and 9.68% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 6.07% of the population.[27]
As of the2010 census, there were 8,826 people, 3,516 households, and _ families residing in the city. The population density was 1,616.4 inhabitants per square mile (624.1/km2). There were 4,021 housing units at an average density of 736.0 per square mile (284.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 77.36%White, 13.90%African American, 0.73%Native American, 2.23%Asian, 0.26%Pacific Islander, 1.50% from some other races and 4.02% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 4.83% of the population.
As of the2000 census, there were 7,045 people, 2,674 households and 1,831 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,611.1 inhabitants per square mile (622.0/km2). There were 3,151 housing units at an average density of 720.6 per square mile (278.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 67.84%White, 25.95%African American, 0.71%Native American, 1.73%Asian, 0.17%Pacific Islander, 1.04% from some other races, and 2.56% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 3.45% of the population.
There were 2,674 households, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female homeowner, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
27.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.
Themedian household income was $37,629, and the median family income was $44,261. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $28,337 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $19,367. About 11% of families and 16.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Santa Rosa Medical Center (SRMC) is a 129-bed generalhospital in Milton. SRMC is the primary provider of hospital-based healthcare services and emergency medicine in Santa Rosa County.
Milton is the home of theWest Florida Railroad Museum,Blackwater-Heritage-State-Trail, and the historic Imogene Theater, owned and operated by the Santa Rosa Historical Society.
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