Editing History of Pensacola city government

The modern '''[[City of Pensacola]] government''' traces its history to [[1821]]. On [[July 17]] of that year, General [[Andrew Jackson]] accepted the transfer of [[Spanish West Florida]] to the United States at [[Plaza Ferdinand VII]].

The City of Pensacola is currently organized under a [[Charter of the City of Pensacola|1931 charter]].

==Spanish period==
Prior to the transfer of Spanish West Florida to the United States, Pensacola was its capital, and served as both a Spanish settlement and military outpost. Troops manned [[Fort Barrancas|Fort San Carlos de Barrancas]], and the ''de facto'' head of the city's government was the Spanish commanding officer.

==19th century==
On [[July 18]], [[1821]], General Andrew Jackson appointed a city constable, effectively forming the [[Pensacola Police Department]]. Soon thereafter, Jackson established [[Pensacola city limits|city limits]] encompassing an area of 9.75 square miles.

===Provisional Municipality of Pensacola===
After the [[Civil War]], Pensacola government was dominated by the [[Wikipedia:Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]]. In [[1885]], the City's charter was revoked by Special Act of the Florida Legislature, at the urging of [[Wikipedia:Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] Florida Governor [[Edward Aylesworth Perry]] (himself a Pensacolian).  The City government was dissolved and replaced by the Provisional Municipality of Pensacola, governed by a state-appointed commission, which Perry filled with Democrats. In [[1893]], the City was granted a temporary charter, followed by a full charter in [[1895]].

The Provisional Municipality of Pensacola lasted from [[January 28]], [[1885]] to [[May 27]], [[1895]].

The city was organized under a [[Wikipedia:Mayor-council government|mayor-council government]] by the [[Source:Charter of the City of Pensacola, 1895|1895 charter]]. This form of government and charter remained in place until it was superceded by the [[1913]] charter, which provided for a [[Wikipedia:City commission government|city commission government]].

==20th century==
In [[1908]], [[T. T. Wentworth Jr. Florida State Museum|new City Hall]] was completed at 330 South [[Jefferson Street]].

In [[1913]], Pensacola again adopted a new charter, which provided for a three-member commission.

In [[1931]], a new [[Charter of the City of Pensacola|city charter]] was adopted, moving the City government to a [[Wikipedia:Council-manager government|council-manager]] system.

In [[1953]], the [[Pensacola city limits|city limits]] were expanded to 17.2555 square miles.

==21st century==
Beginning in [[2001]], the [[mayor of Pensacola]], which since the 1931 charter was appointed by the [[Pensacola City Council|City Council]], became an elected position.

==See also==
*[[List of governing bodies of the City of Pensacola]]

[[Category:History]]