A brief description of Pensacola History

Pensacola City was incorporated in 1822. Population 56,255, based on 2000 US Census Bureau data, is the seat of Escambia County. Located in extreme Northwest Florida, on Pensacola Bay.

Diego Malanado, a captain under Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto, anchored his supply ship in Pensacola Bay during the winter 1539-1540.

The Spanish established a short-lived settlement (1559–61) there; in 1698 a new Spanish colony was founded. Between 1719 and 1723 possession of Pensacola shifted between the Spanish and the French, but in 1763 the city passed to the British. It again became Spanish in 1783, after its capture (1781) by Bernardo de Galvez. Although still Spanish, the city served as a British base in the War of 1812 until it was captured (1814) by Andrew Jackson.

The United States took formal possession in 1821 after the purchase of Florida. Pensacola remained the capital of West Florida until 1822. During the Civil War the city was abandoned (1862) to the Confederate forces.

Of interest are several historical museums and the naval-aviation museum at the air station. The ruins of a number of old forts, some dating from the 1780s, lie on the shores of Pensacola Bay.

You can go here for more information on points of interest.

Kim Gibbons, Florida Broker

Your Real Estate Expert for Pensacola, Gulf Breeze, Navarre, Destin, Pensacola Beach and Perdido Key.