Escambia County, Florida

Infobox U.S. County
county = Escambia County
state = Florida




founded = July 21 1821
seat = Pensacola
area_total_sq_mi =876
area_land_sq_mi =662
area_water_sq_mi =213
area percentage = 24.35%
census yr = 2000
pop = 294410
density_km2 =172
web = www.co.escambia.fl.us
|

Escambia County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Florida. The 2000 population was 294,210. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 296,772. [cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/tables/CO-EST2005-01-12.xls|title=Census Data by Florida County|accessdate=2007-03-26] Its county seat is Pensacola, Florida.GR|6

History

Escambia County was created in 1821.Fact|date=February 2007 It was named for the Escambia River, whose name in turn comes from a Spanish word for "barter" or "exchange."Fact|date=February 2007 Escambia County and St. Johns County were Florida's original two counties with the Suwannee River being the boundary between the two.Fact|date=February 2007

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 876 square miles (2,268 km²).662 square miles (1,715 km²) of it is land and 213 square miles (552 km²) of it (24.35%) is water.

The county includes the island of Santa Rosa, which is separate from Santa Rosa County proper.

Escambia County is part of the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Adjacent counties

*Escambia County, Alabama - north (this is one of the very few instances in the United States where two counties with the same name, but located in adjoining states, share a common border)
*Santa Rosa County, Florida - east
*Baldwin County, Alabama - west

National protected areas

* Gulf Islands National Seashore (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 294,410 people, 111,049 households, and 74,180 families residing in the county. The population density was 444 people per square mile (172/km²). There were 124,647 housing units at an average density of 188 per square mile (73/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.35% White, 21.40% Black or African American, 0.90% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. 2.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 111,049 households out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.50% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,234, and the median income for a family was $41,708. Males had a median income of $31,054 versus $22,023 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,641. About 12.10% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public primary and secondary education schools in Pensacola are administered by the Escambia County School District.

The University of West Florida and Pensacola Junior College, as well as Pensacola Christian College, are located in Escambia County.

Local media

Print

The largest daily newspaper in the area is the "Pensacola News Journal". There is also a weekly newspaper called "The Independent News" [http://www.inweekly.net/] .

Crime

Escambia - Murder Capitol of NWFLThe Uniform Crime Reports Program of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement has released the 2007 Annual Statewide Crime Report. Once again, Escambia County is the Murder Capitol of Northwest Florida (20 - up from 11 in 2006), although Bay County is closing in with 8 murders (up from 5).

Santa Rosa County saw a 70% increase in Forced Rapes from 31 to 53 reported. Okaloosa saw its Crime Rate per 100,000 people jump 4% (3137.50 to 3254.80). Walton saw it increase 25% from 1860.70 to 2326. Bay, Escambia and Santa Rosa experienced overall crime rate decreases.

The biggest trouble spots for Escambia County appear to be murder - up 81% and Robbery up 19%.

Santa Rosa: Forced Rape - up 70%

Okaloosa: Robbery - up 36%

Walton: Burglary - up 39% and Larceny - up 32%

Bay: Murder - up 60%

{http://ricksblog.biz/?cat=85}

Total 11,303 Murder 40 Rape 100 Robbery 352 Aggravated Assault 1,357 Burglary 2,353 Larceny - theft 6,553 Motor vehicle thefts 542 Coverage indicator 100%

Television

One major network is broadcast from Pensacola, viz., ABC affiliate WEAR. Several major networks are broadcast from nearby Mobile, such as CBS affiliate WKRG, NBC affiliate WPMI, and FOX affiliate WALA. The following is a list of Broadcast television stations in the Mobile, Alabama / Pensacola - Fort Walton Beach, Florida market. [http://www.nielsenmedia.com/DMAs.html (Nielsen DMA#59)] ] Cox Communications provides cable television service within the county.

"By channel":

3
5
8
10
12
15
21
23
30
33
35
39
42
44
48
53
55
58
60

"By callsign":

W30BX
W39BP
WALA
WAWD
WBPG
WBQP
WEAR
WEIQ
WFBD
WFGX
WHBR
WJTC
WKRG
WMPV
WPAN
WPMI
WRBD
WSRE

Radio

Radio stations in the Pensacola / Mobile market"' " [http://www.arbitron.com/radio_stations/mm001050.asp (Arbitron#123)] "

"By frequency":
(FM) 88.1 88.5 | 89.5 | 90.5 | 91.3 | 91.7 | 92.9 | 94.1 | 94.9 | 95.7 | 96.1 | 96.5 | 97.5 | 98.1 | 98.7 | 99.9 | 100.7 | 101.5 | 102.7 | 104.1 | 106.1 | 107.3

(AM) 550 | 610 | 790 | 980 | 1090 | 1230 | 1330 | 1370 | 1450 | 1480 | 1620

"By callsign":

WABB | WABB-FM | WASG | WBLX | WBSR | WCOA | WDWR | WEBY | WEGS | WGCX | WHIL | WJLQ | WKSJ | WMEZ | WMXC | WNRP | WNVY | WPCS | WPNN | WRKH | WRNE | WRRX | WTGF | WTKE | WTKX | WUWF | WVTJ | WXBM | WYCL | WYCT | WYOK | WZNS

Cities and towns

Incorporated

*Century
*Pensacola

Unincorporated

*Bellview
*Beulah
*Brent
*Cantonment
*Ensley
*Ferry Pass
*Gonzalez
*Goulding
*Innerarity Point
*McDavid
*Molino
*Myrtle Grove
*Perdido Key
*Walnut Hill
*Warrington
*West Pensacola
*Beulah
*Barrineau Park

Politics

References

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

* [http://www.co.escambia.fl.us/ Escambia County Board of County Commissioners]
* [http://www.escambiavotes.com Escambia County Supervisor of Elections]
* [http://www.escambiaso.com/ Escambia County Property Appraiser]
* [http://www.escambiaso.com Escambia County Sheriff's Office]
* [http://ectc.co.escambia.fl.us/PageView.asp?edit_id=1 Escambia County Tax Collector]

pecial districts

* [http://www.escambia.k12.fl.us/ Escambia County School District]
* [http://sun6.dms.state.fl.us/nwfwmd/ Northwest Florida Water Management District]

Judicial branch

* [http://www.clerk.co.escambia.fl.us/ Escambia County Clerk of Courts]
* [http://www.pdo1.org/ Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida] serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties
* [http://sao1.co.escambia.fl.us/pensacola.htm Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida]
* [http://www.firstjudicialcircuit.org/PageView.asp?PageType=R&edit_id=1 Circuit and County Court for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida]