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Location Information:
Pensacola Beach is an unincorporated
community located on Santa Rosa
Island, a barrier island, in
Escambia County, Florida, United
States. It is situated south of
Pensacola, connected via bridges
spanning to the Fairpoint Peninsula
and then to the island, on the Gulf
of Mexico. As of the 2000 census,
the community had a total population
of 2,738.
Pensacola Beach occupies land bound
by a 1947 deed from the United
States Department of Interior that
it be administered in the public
interest by the county or leased,
but never "disposed"; its businesses
and residents are thus long-term
leaseholders and not property owners
The
Quietwater Beach Boardwalk - The
Boardwalk is on the Santa Rosa Sound
side of the island, directly across
from Casino Beach. Retail shops,
restaurants, nightclubs, street
musicians and sidewalk artists line
it. The Boardwalk has a large sea
shell stage where concerts are held
several times a year. Behind it,
there is a beach silent except for
the sounds of seagulls, and children
making sand castles. Most events are
held here, including The Lobster
Fest, Bushwacker Fest, and the
Independence Day fireworks. Behind
the beach there is a boat dock where
anyone can park their boats free of
charge.
As a
community located on a low-lying
barrier island, Pensacola Beach is
vulnerable to hurricanes.
Landfalling storms have been known
to drive storm surge over the
island, damaging or destroying man
made structures and causing beach
erosion. In 1995, two hurricanes
made landfall on the island.
Hurricane Erin (1995) made landfall
in August while Hurricane Opal
blasted the island just two months
later, leveling some dunes and
destroying a number of homes.
On 16
September 2004, Hurricane Ivan
devastated the Pensacola Beach area,
destroying more than 650 homes and
damaging many others. Ivan was the
last Hurricane to make Florida
landfall in 2004, one of the most
destructive hurricane seasons in
decades.
On 10
July 2005, Dennis made landfall
between Pensacola Beach and east-end
Navarre Beach. However, as with Erin
several years earlier, the damage on
Pensacola Beach was not nearly as
extensive as predicted.
On 3
May 2010, the oil spill from the
Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion
on April 20, 2010 is expected to
start coming on shore on Pensacola
Beach. The futures of the beach
economy and environment are
uncertain because the waters may be
unsafe for swimming or fishing for
years to come.
Local
Weather:
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