Escambia County, Florida

407 South Palafox A History Shaped by Hurricanes A New Territory for the U.S. A Port with Promise A Spanish Town A.S. Magee Field Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company Residential Historic District American Period Apache Prisoners Archaeology in a Maritime Community Archaeology in Pensacola Barkley House Barrancas National Cemetery Battery 234 Battery Cooper Battery Cullum, Battery Sevier Battery Langdon Battery Langdon Battery Payne Battery Trueman Battery Van Swearingen Battery Worth Battle of Pensacola Beefing Up Defenses Bicentennial of Spain Transferring Florida to the United States, 1821-2021 Blue Angels No. 1 Boysen-Perry House British Governor's House? British Period British Well Brownsville Community Cantonment Captain Richard G. Bradford Century, Florida / Alger Railroad Chase Street Chasefield Plantation Cemetery Christ Church Christ Episcopal Church Church of the Sacred Heart Colonial Cooking Colonial Power Struggle Commanding Officer's Compound Converting a Cannon Daniel Sullivan Deadly Explosion Defending a Coastal Colony Departed Shipmates & Ladies Memorial Desiderio Quina Don Manuel Gonzalez Dorothy Walton Dueling with Confederates E.S. Cobb Center Ebenezer Dorr Emanuel Point Shipwrecks / Los Naufragios de Emanuel Point Enlisted Pilots Memorial Eugenio Antonio Sierra Finding 1821 Firefighter Vista S. Lowe First Jewish House of Worship in Florida First Methodist Church First Pensacola First Public School Building First Religious Service in Pensacola First Spanish Period First Telephone Exchange Fort George Fort George Fort San Bernardo Fort within a Fort Frascati Gaberonne Garden Street Garrison's Kitchen Gen. Andrew Jackson Gen. Andrew Jackson Residence General Bernardo de Gálvez and the "Siege of Pensacola" General Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. Memorial Park H & O Café Hawkshaw Historic Crystal Icehouse Historic John the Baptist Church Hurricane Ivan Hyer-Knowles Planing Mill Industry At Sea John Innerarity John Lee Pickens’ Medical Office John Sunday John Wesley Hardin Jose Noriega Katharine A. Goldsmith R.N. Kupfrian's Park Lavallet Luna Expedition Maritime Prehistory Massive Smoothbore Middle Passage to Pensacola / African Presence in Colonial Pensacola Mooring Anchor Morrison Family Homestead Navy Seabees Veterans Memorial North Hill Preservation District Officers of the Uniformed Services Memorial Officer's Room and Kitchen Old Christ Church Old Escambia County Court of Record Building (1912-1978)/Pensacola Little Theater-Pensacola Cultural Old Hospital Compound Original Site of First Baptist Church Original Site of Pensacola Junior College P.K. Yonge Pathway to Early America Pelicans In Paradise Pensacola Blues Pensacola Lighthouse Pensacola Lunch Counter Sit-Ins Pensacola's Catholic Presence Pensacola’s First Lighthouse Piers, Ports and Wharves: A Look At Pensacola's Waterfront Pioneer Planing Mills Purple Heart Memorial Remember Pearl Harbor Resisting Land-based Assaults Revolutionary War Veterans Minuteman Memorial Rough Riders Salvador T. Pons Sea Service Women Memorial Second Spanish Period Site of Panton Leslie & Co's Site of Pensacola Opera House Site of the First Methodist Church of Pensacola/Site of the San Carlos Hotel Spain to Pensacola Spanish Exploration and Discovery Spencer Bibbs Spencer Bibbs Academy St. Johns Historic Cemetery St. Joseph Catholic Church St. Michaels Cemetery St. Michaels Cemetery St. Michael’s Church Step Back in History Stephen R. Mallory Stop and Smell the Roses Submarine Veterans Memorial Supremacy, Siege and the Sea Swatting Mosquitoes Tampary The Cradle of Naval Aviation The Lost Neighborhood The National Flight Academy The Yonge House Tivoli High House Trader Jon's Transfer of Spanish Florida to the United States Trenches & Trous-de-Loup U.S. Navy and Coast Guard Memorial USCGC Sebago (WPG/WHEC 42) USS Antietam (CV-36) Anchor USS Essex (CV-9) Anchor Vacaria Baja Wells and Cellars William Bartram Trail William Bartram Trail William Bartram Trail William Dudley Chipley WW II Memorial "Gloucester of the Gulf" "Submarine Lifeguard League"
Escambia County, located in the Florida Panhandle, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. The area was originally inhabited by Indigenous Peoples, including the Creek and Choctaw tribes. European contact began with Spanish explorers in the 16th century, most notably with the expedition led by Don Tristan de Luna in 1559. However, the Spanish struggled to maintain a presence in the region and abandoned their settlement in 1561.

Escambia County then came under British rule in the late 18th century as part of West Florida. During this time, the area experienced conflicts between the Native American tribes, the British, and colonists. In 1821, Florida became a United States territory and Escambia County was established as one of its original two counties. The county's boundaries have changed over time, but it has remained an important region in the state.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, Escambia County was heavily involved in industries such as timber and lumber, naval stores, and fishing. The city of Pensacola, which serves as the county seat, became an important naval base during World War II, and continues to be a significant military center. Today, Escambia County is known for its beautiful beaches, historic landmarks, and vibrant cultural heritage.

In recent years, the county has faced challenges such as natural disasters, including hurricanes, and environmental issues. However, efforts are being made to promote tourism, expand economic development, and preserve the area's natural resources and historical sites. Escambia County remains a dynamic region with a diverse population and a strong commitment to its past and future.
Brief timeline of the history of Escambia County, Florida:

  • 1559: Spanish explorer Don Tristan de Luna establishes the first European settlement, known as Panzacola, in what is now Pensacola, Florida.
  • 1698: Spanish forces construct Fort San Carlos de Austria to protect Pensacola.
  • 1763: Treaties of Paris and Fountainbleau transfer the area from Spain to Great Britain.
  • 1781: Spanish forces regain control of Pensacola during the American Revolutionary War.
  • 1821: Florida becomes a United States territory, and Pensacola becomes the county seat of Escambia County.
  • 1825: Pensacola becomes an official port of entry.
  • 1838: The county seat is relocated from Pensacola to Milton.
  • 1861: Escambia County secedes from the Union and joins the Confederate States of America.
  • 1868: The county seat is returned to Pensacola.
  • 1921: The Perdido Key Bridge is completed, connecting Escambia County to Alabama.
  • 1940: The Pensacola Naval Air Station is established.
  • 1968: Hurricane Opal devastates the area, causing significant damage and loss of life.
  • 2004: Hurricane Ivan makes landfall in Escambia County, causing severe destruction to homes and infrastructure.

This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Escambia County, Florida.