Editing Pensacola Beach, Florida

[[File:Pensacola.jpg|thumb|right|The famous [[Pensacola Beach sign]] (itself in [[Gulf Breeze]]) points the way to the [[Bob Sikes Bridge]] leading to Pensacola Beach.]]
'''Pensacola Beach''' is an unincorporated community located on [[Santa Rosa Island]], in [[Escambia County]]. As of the 2000 census, the community had a total population of 2,738.

== History ==
[[Diego Malanado]], a captain under [[Hernando de Soto]], visited the area during the early Spanish exploration of North America. He anchored in [[Pensacola Bay]] for the winter of [[1539]]&ndash;[[1540]].<ref name="srhistory">{{cite web
| url=http://www.navarrebeach.org/History/History%20in%20Acrobat.PDF
| title=Santa Rosa Island—A History (Part 1)
| accessdate=2007-01-24
}}</ref><ref name="coasttocoast">{{cite web
| url=http://www.coastcoast.altervista.org/pensacola.shtml
| title=Pensacola
| accessdate=2007-01-24
| language=Italian
}}</ref>

In [[1559]], don [[Tristan de Luna]] led the first settlement of the region.  His eleven ships anchored in the bay and established its colony on the site of today's [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]].  A [[hurricane]] destroyed the colony a few weeks later.  This first settlement was finally abandoned in [[1561]]. A [[presidio]] was constructed on Santa Rosa Island in [[1722]] near the location of the more recent [[Fort Pickens]]. Hurricanes in [[1741]] and [[1752]]<ref name="srhistory" /> forced its relocation to the mainland.

Pensacola Beach was accessible only by boat until [[June 13]], [[1931]], when a trio of projects by the [[Pensacola Bridge Corporation]] — the [[Thomas A. Johnson Bridge|Pensacola Bay Bridge]], the [[Santa Rosa Sound Bridge]] and [[the Casino]] — gave visitors both a reason and the means to visit the island community. Since then Pensacola Beach has become a major tourist destination.

==Geography==
Pensacola Beach is located at {{coor dms|30|20|00|N|87|08|15|W|}}, on the barrier island of [[Santa Rosa Island|Santa Rosa]].  It is bordered to the south by the [[Gulf of Mexico]], to the north by [[Santa Rosa Sound]] and [[Pensacola Bay]], and to the east and west by the [[Gulf Islands National Seashore]].

==Climate==
=== Hurricanes ===
As a community located on a low-lying barrier island, Pensacola Beach is extremely vulnerable to [[hurricane]]s. Landfalling storms frequently drive [[storm surge]] over large portions of the island, damaging or destroying manmade structures and causing significant [[beach erosion]]. In [[1995]], two hurricanes made landfall on the island causing extensive damage.  [[Hurricane Erin]] made landfall in August while [[Hurricane Opal]] blasted the island just two months later, leveling the dunes and destroying a number of homes.

On [[September 16]], [[2004]], [[Hurricane Ivan]] devastated the Pensacola Beach area, destroying more than 650 homes and damaging many others.

On [[July 10]], [[2005]], Pensacola Beach was again in the path of a hurricane; [[Hurricane Dennis|Dennis]] made landfall between the city and neighboring [[Navarre Beach]].

==Attractions==
===History===
*[[Fort Pickens]]

===Tourism===
*[[Casino Beach]]
*[[Tiki Island]]
*[[Quietwater Beach Boardwalk]]

===Novelty houses===
*[[Spaceship House]]
*[[Dome of a Home]]

==Government==
Pensacola Beach is governed by [[Escambia County Commission]] via the [[Santa Rosa Island Authority]].

=== Education ===
There is one school on Pensacola Beach.  The [[Pensacola Beach Elementary School]] is for children from kindergarten through fifth grade.  This school has an enrollment ranging from 120 to 140 students.  All elementary-school age children on Pensacola Beach are eligible to attend the school.  The first year the school was open, for the school year [[1977]]-[[1978]], classes were held in an empty A-frame house owned by a local named [[Harry Gowens]].  The [[Pensacola Beach Volunteer Fire Department]] building was also used in aiding the teachers and administrators.  In November 1977, four portable buildings were moved to the present site. The school continued to grow and has been ranked as an 'A' school in the state for many years running.  They have also received the 5 Star School award since 1998.  This award recognizes schools with exemplary student involvement.  In [[2001]] the Pensacola Beach Elementary severed its ties to the [[Escambia County School District]] and became a Charter school.  Now the school, with the help of parents, volunteers, and the community, must find ways to pay for their resources and staff.

=== Churches ===
There are only two churches on the island of Pensacola Beach. It is under the laws and guidelines of the [[Santa Rosa Island Authority]] that these be the only churches on the island.{{Fact|date=July 2007}} The first is the [[Pensacola Beach Community United Church]]. It is a non-denominational church. The second is the [[Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church]]. Our Lady of the Assumption church is a mission church of [[St. Ann's Catholic Church]] located in [[Gulf Breeze]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.visitpensacolabeach.com/ Official website]
*[http://www.visitpensacola.com/static/index.cfm?contentID=29 Pensacola Bay Area Convention & Visitors Bureau information]
*[http://www.pensacolabeachhistory.com/ Pensacola Beach Preservation & Historical Society]

[[Category:Escambia County]] [[Category:Pensacola Beach| ]] [[Category:Santa Rosa Island]] [[Category:Unincorporated communities]]