Gulf Breeze Live Cam

Pensacola is a blend of old and new, seasoned with plenty of Navy blue. Pensacola's rich history spawned an intriguing mixture of Spanish, French, British and American influences. Its proximity to Alabama gives it an extra taste of Southern charm, and its Florida connections help attract retirees and others to the Sunshine State. With an overall population exceeding 300,000, Pensacola's demographics support stylish suburbs, cutting-edge technology, trendy shops in malls, and the latest fashions in media, music and the arts. While the malls and suburbs offer great convenience and opportunities, Pensacola looks to its historic downtown for much of its unique identity. Downtown Pensacola is in the midst of an aggressive renovation campaign that has lured offices, banks, galleries, restaurants, nightclubs and residences. The Downtown Improvement Board oversees a special property tax to finance improvements in the 44-block area.

Pensacola, first settled in 1559, appeals to tourists, local students and history buffs. Tourists visit ancient forts, where such legends as Geronimo were held prisoner, and Seville Historic District, one of the oldest settlements in the nation. Historic Pensacola Village is a smorgasbord of visitor-friendly museums, historic sites and restaurants. Pensacola Historical Museum tells the city's history, and even more, provides researchers with manuscripts, maps and books for studying the area's past.

Pensacola's long, rich culture is reflected in the fact that it has changed hands 13 times and been part of five nations. Its colorful past is showcased in numerous ways, ranging from a week-long "Fiesta of Five Flags" full of parties and parades each spring to more serious institutions such as museums and exhibits which discuss the impact of Spanish, British, French, Confederate and United States rule.

The history of American aviation is on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, where there are more than 100 aircraft. The museum, which is free to the public, traces the history of Americans in flight from some of the earliest flying machines to space shuttle missions. Informal tours are led by volunteers, many of whom are combat veterans who flew the aircraft that they describe. The museum continues to expand and will open an Imax theater in 1996.

The Pensacola area, dubbed "The Western Gate to the Sunshine State" is located at the western end of the Florida Panhandle, the first sight greeting people as they enter the state on Interstate 10. Pensacola is the seat of Escambia County, which includes 30 miles of Gulf of Mexico beachfront and extends north to the Alabama-Florida border, a distance of about 50 miles.

Pensacola, situated in a temperate zone, averages 343 days of sunshine each year. The climate is typical of the upper Gulf Coast; winters are mild and the summer heat is tempered by the southern breezes from the Gulf of Mexico.

The City of Pensacola has a Council-Manager form of government, with 10 council members elected for two-year terms. The city manager, appointed by the Council, oversees daily operations, and the mayor, elected by the Council, presides over Council meetings but does not vote. The City's bond rating is Standard & Poor's Class A and Class AAA.

Escambia County is governed by a five-member board of commissioners elected by district for four years. The commission appoints an administrator. The County's bond rating is Moody's AA.

Planning for the Pensacola area comes under the jurisdiction of three agencies, depending on location and size of the development. In the City, contact the Pensacola Department of Community Design and Planning. Outside the city limits, contact Escambia County Growth Management. The West Florida Regional Planning Council may coordinate issues of regional impact.

The City and County enforce codes for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas installations, using the family of Standard Codes published by the Southern Building Code Congress International. The City Inspection Department also enforces zoning and land use regulations within city limits. County zoning is handled by The Department of Growth Management. For construction permits in the County contact Building Inspection Services.

These items can be used to establish legal residency: Florida driver's license, Florida automobile registration, voter registration, and an affidavit available at the County Courthouse. The United States Postal Service operates eight branches in the Pensacola area in addition to the Main Post Office, a modern, full-service facility.

The city-owned port covers 50 acres on the downtown waterfront, offering 460,000 square feet of warehouse space for general cargo and four acres for open storage. The port accommodates ocean-going vessels with drafts up to 33 feet mean low water (MLW). It has access to two major railroads, CSX and Burlington Northern, and is only blocks from the interstate highway system.

Pensacola Regional Airport offers more than 55 flights a day, including direct flights to Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, Jacksonville, Dallas, Memphis and Charlotte. The city-owned airport, renovated in 1988, offers complete services for airlines, rental car companies, restaurants and private aviation. Its central location puts the airport only minutes away from downtown Pensacola, the beaches, the malls and the interstate.

Freight service is provided by Burlington Northern and CSX Transportation. Amtrak provides passenger service at a station recently built by the city near downtown. Pensacola motorists have easy access to I-10 and north-south routes such as I-65 and I-75.

Three highly rated private hospitals give Pensacola the strongest medical facilities between New Orleans and Jacksonville. Pensacola is a referral center for many people because it is home to Baptist Hospital, Sacred Heart Hospital and West Florida Regional Medical Center, plus the Navy Hospital, which cares for military personnel.

The varied area offers a wide range of housing choices, from rural ranches to historic, tree-shaded houses to stylish beachfront condominiums. Almost all are within an easy commute of workplaces throughout the area.

Numerous resources are available to educate and train workers in skills ranging from accounting to zoo keeping. The University of West Florida, Pensacola Junior College, the Private Industry Council and the George Stone Vocational Center constantly provide special courses requested by employers.

More than 135 local organizations are dedicated to the arts, underscoring the area's affinity for art, music and dance. The Arts Council of Northwest Florida coordinates much of the cultural programs and promotes the arts through fund drives, publications, calendars and exhibits. The Downtown Arts District Association organizes Friday night gallery tours that draw flocks of browsers. On the first weekend of each November, more than 200,000 people flock to the Great GulfCoast Arts Festival, which features the juried work of 200 artists from across the nation. This is one of several festivals that brighten spring and fall. Others include the Pensacola Jazz Fest; Springfest, which brings a cross-section of big name musical entertainment in May; and the Seafood Festival, offering plenty of fish that swam in the Gulf the night before.

Pensacola marches to the beat of many musicians -- whether jazzmen from nearby New Orleans or symphony stars who visit the 70-member Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Free concerts every Thursday during the summer bring thousands to Seville Square, where they spread picnic blankets, sip drinks and listen to everything from military music to rock'n'roll to Broadway tunes. The 80-member Choral Society of Pensacola presents concerts annually, as does the Jazz Society of Pensacola.

The Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival draws more than 100 songwriters each November to talk about their music. The Pensacola Summer Music Festival showcases chamber music each June. Other organizations include the Gulf Coast Chorale, the Escambia County Youth Orchestra, and the Fiesta Barbershop Chorus.

For 60 years the Pensacola Little Theater has delighted audiences with quality performances of mainstream and offbeat entertainment. A new 500-seat theater in the Pensacola Cultural Center gives the actors a modern home. Theater departments at PJC, UWF and Pensacola Christian College also present performances. The Pensacola Opera has produced professional-quality opera since 1983.

The military bases give the Pensacola area a strong boost to its economy and also to its employment base and cultural fabric. Military people bring many new ideas, experiences and training to the area. Known as "The Cradle of Naval Aviation," the area is the home of Naval Air Station Pensacola, Saufley Field, Corry Station and Whiting Field. The Navy's flight demonstration team, The Blue Angels, are based at Pensacola Naval Air Station, which also is home to the National Museum of Naval Aviation, one of the largest museums of its kind.

At the Pensacola Convention & Visitor Information Center, friendly, knowledgeable staff welcome visitors to the Pensacola area, which extends from Perdido Key on the west to Pensacola Beach on the east. Along with providing information on local events and recreational activities, the staff also handles planning for reunions and conventions, a growing factor in the local economy.

Whether you want to enjoy R&R on sugar-white Gulf beaches or try fishing on inland waterways, Pensacola's climate provides a wonderful setting for outdoor recreation. Good fishing can be found in salt water and fresh water; hunters have plenty of woods in which to seek their quarry -- deer, quail, squirrel, dove, and wild hogs. Recreation facilities are family-oriented, providing opportunities for leisure, sports and fitness. Pensacola's Department of Leisure Services maintains more than 90 recreation areas, including parks, community centers, tennis courts, and swimming pools, and organizes youth and adult sports. The Pensacola area has over a dozen private and public golf courses. The Pensacola Sports Association sponsors free golf and tennis programs for young people. Runners can sample races virtually every weekend between September and July, ranging from short courses to the annual Blue Angel Marathon and the Navy Triathlon.

Santa Rosa County

There are many remains of early Floridians left behind in this area that are now forgotten. Much of the area is covered by either the Blackwater River State Forest or Eglin Air Force Base. Because the sites are on government land, many are touched. At the Thomas Creek Archaeological District east of Chumuckla, remains have been excavated that show 10,000 years of habitation. There was much fighting in the area between the Creek Indians and the forces under Andrew Jackson in 1814. Major Uriah Blue, an officer under Jackson, fought the Creeks near Milton and Garcon Point. During the Second Seminole War, there were also some violent actions against the Creeks. There were many Creek villages along the Yellow River, the Blackwater River, and other rivers and streams. The whites showed them no mercy, and there is one instance where a family of Creeks were lured into a trap at a mill near Milton to be captured or killed. Most of the remote interior of the county was not settled, and many white settlers did not venture into that area because of the fear of Indian attacks.