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Parts of the island are in the [[Gulf Islands National Seashore]].
The island {{see also|Ownership of Pensacola Beach}}Santa Rosa Island was the site of inhabited by Native Americans as early as 2,000 years ago (contemporary with the [[Battle of Santa Rosa IslandDeptford]] in the culture at [[American Civil WarHawkshaw]]).
In The island was settled by Spain on [[November 25]], [[19291722]]. This colony, [[Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa Island ]], was sold battered by the U.S. War Department to a [[Escambia County, Florida1741 hurricane|hurricane]], for $10,000. Ten years later, the county returned the island to the federal government in the expectation that it would be developed into a [[U.S. National Monument1741]] preserving the remnants of and [[Fort Pickens1754 hurricane|again]], the only fort in the [[Southern United States|South1754]] , forcing the settlers to relocate to be held the mainland. The remnants on the island were wiped out by the a [[Union (American Civil War)|Union1762 hurricane]] throughout the duration of the American Civil War.
numerous sources say 19th
[[Image:Santarosaislanddunes.jpg|right|thumb|350px|Santa Rosa Island, looking east.]]
'''Santa Rosa Island''' is a 40-mile [[barrier island]] located in on which the communities of [[United States|U.S.Pensacola Beach]] , [[U.S. state|stateNavarre Beach]] of , and [[FloridaOkaloosa Island]], thirty miles (50 km) are located. It shields the mainland from the [[AlabamaGulf of Mexico]] state border. The communities of On its northern lee side are [[Pensacola Beach, Florida|Pensacola BeachBay]], to the west and [[Navarre Beach, Florida|Navarre BeachChoctawhatchee Bay]]to the east, and Okaloosa Island are located on the island. The island was the landfall point of 2005's connected by [[Hurricane DennisSanta Rosa Sound]] and 1995's Hurricanes [[Hurricane Erin (1995)|Erin]] & . Parts of the island are in the [[Hurricane Opal|OpalGulf Islands National Seashore]], among others.
[[Image:Santarosaislandshore.jpg|right|thumb|350px|The Gulf of Mexico The shining light in the back is from the sun's light being reflected on the white sand.]]
== History ==
On [[October 9]], [[1861]], it was the site of the [[Battle of Santa Rosa Island]].
In [[1927]], Santa Rosa Island was sold by the U.S. War Department for $10,048.75 to [[Escambia County, Florida]]. After the completion of a two-year purchase plan, the deed was delivered to the county on [[April 19]], [[1929]]. An agreement with developers [[Johnson, Drake and Piper]] led to the construction of the [[Thomas A. Johnson Bridge|Pensacola Bay Bridge]], the [[Santa Rosa Sound Bridge]], and [[the Casino]] ballroom and recreational center, which opened concurrently in [[1931]].
In [[1939]], ten years after buying the island, Escambia County used a revert clause to return the island to the federal government in the expectation that it would be developed into a U.S. National Monument preserving the remnants of [[Fort Pickens]], the only fort in the South to be held by the Union throughout the duration of the [[Civil War]]. The island was re-conveyed to Escambia County in [[1946]].
The [[Santa Rosa Island Authority]] was created by the Florida legislature (Chapter 24500) in [[1947]] to administer [[Pensacola Beach]].
The island's sugar white quartz sands have made it a popular destination for beachgoers since the latter half of the twentieth century. In recent years all the island's communities have seen rapid development.
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==References==*[http://www.navarrebeach.org/History/History%20in%20Acrobat.PDF Santa Rosa Island - a History (Part 1)] - Jane Johnson, ''NavarreBeach.org''.*[Categoryhttp:American Civil War sites]//www.uwf.edu/anthropology/research/SantaRosa.cfm Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa - Overview and History]*William L. Post. ''Deceit Beach: The True Story of Deception by Escambia County and their agent, the Santa Rosa Island Authority, and how the Florida Supreme Court failed to protect the victims''. Trent's Prints & Publishing, 2008. [[Category:Barrier islands of FloridaSanta Rosa Island| ]]
