Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola
Clockwise from top: Pensacola skyline, Pensacola Museum of History, University of West Florida Library, Escambia County Courthouse, William Dudley Chipley Obelisk, National Naval Aviation Museum
Location in Escambia County and the state of Florida
Location in Escambia County and the state of Florida
Pensacola is located in Florida
Pensacola
Pensacola
Location in Florida
Pensacola is located in the United States
Pensacola
Pensacola
Location in the United States
Pensacola is located in North America
Pensacola
Pensacola
Pensacola (North America)
Coordinates: 30°25′17″N 87°13′02″W / 30.42139°N 87.21722°W / 30.42139; -87.21722
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyEscambia
First settled1559
Resettled1667
Incorporated1821
Founded byDon Tristan de Luna
Government
 • TypeMayor–council
 • BodyPensacola City Council
 • MayorD. C. Reeves
 • Council Vice PresidentDelarian Wiggins
Area
 • City41.12 sq mi (106.49 km2)
 • Land22.76 sq mi (58.95 km2)
 • Water18.36 sq mi (47.54 km2)
 • Metro
1,669.30 sq mi (4,323.5 km2)
Elevation
102 ft (31 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City54,312
 • Density2,386.19/sq mi (921.30/km2)
 • Urban
390,172 (US: 108th)
 • Urban density1,486.2/sq mi (573.8/km2)
 • Metro
509,905 (US: 110th)
 • Metro density1,669.30/sq mi (644.52/km2)
DemonymPensacolian
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
32501, 32512, 32534, 32591, 32502, 32513, 32559, 32592, 32503, 32514, 32573, 32593, 32504, 32516, 32574, 32594, 32505, 32520, 32575, 32595, 32506, 32521, 32576, 32596, 32507, 32522, 32581, 32597, 32508, 32523, 32582, 32598, 32509, 32524, 32589, 32511, 32526, 32590
Area code(s)850/448
FIPS code12-55925[2]
GNIS feature ID0294117[3]
Websitewww.cityofpensacola.com

Pensacola (/ˌpɛnsəˈklə/ PEN-sə-KOH-lə) is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Escambia County, Florida, United States.[4] At the 2020 census, the population was 54,312. It is the principal city of the Pensacola metropolitan area, which had 509,905 residents in 2020.

Pensacola was first settled by the Spanish in 1559, predating the establishment of St. Augustine by six years, but was abandoned due to a hurricane and not re-established until 1698. Pensacola is a seaport on Pensacola Bay, which is protected by the barrier island of Santa Rosa and connects to the Gulf of Mexico. A large United States Naval Air Station, the first in the United States, is located southwest of Pensacola near Warrington; it is the base of the Blue Angels flight demonstration team and the National Naval Aviation Museum. The main campus of the University of West Florida is situated north of the city center.

The area was originally inhabited by Muskogean-speaking peoples. The Pensacola people lived there at the time of European contact, and Creek people frequently visited and traded from present-day southern Alabama and Mississippi and southeast of Louisiana. Spanish explorer Tristán de Luna founded a short-lived settlement in 1559.[5] In 1698 the Spanish established a presidio in the area, from which the modern city gradually developed. The area changed hands several times as European powers competed in North America. During Florida's British rule (1763–1781), fortifications were strengthened.

It is nicknamed "The City of Five Flags", due to the five governments that have ruled it during its history: the flags of Spain (Castile), France, Great Britain, the United States of America, and the Confederate States of America. Other nicknames include "World's Whitest Beaches" (due to the white sand of Florida panhandle beaches), "Cradle of Naval Aviation", "Western Gate to the Sunshine State", "America's First Settlement", "Emerald Coast", and "P-Cola".

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 18, 2021. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  2. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. ^ Worth, John E. "The Tristán de Luna Expedition, 1559-1561". uwf.edu. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016.