Pensacola, Florida

From Encyclopediak

Pensacola, Florida, a city, port of entry and the county seat of Escambia County, 48 m. e. of Mobile, Alabama, and 6 m. n. of the Gulf of Mexico, on Pensacola Bay. Railroads entering the city are the Louisville Nashville, the Pensacola, Alabama Tennessee, and the Gulf, Florida Alabama and steamers ply between this and other ports of the United States and those of Europe and the West Indies. The harbor is land-locked and defended by forts Pickens, McRee and Barrancas, and is the most important deep-water harbor south of Hamp-ton Roads. With the excellent rail and water facilities the commercial interests of the city are extensive and have helped to make Pensacola the third city in size in the state. The value of the foreign trade in 1920 was approximately $25,000,000 annually. This revenue is derived chiefly from lumber, phosphate rock, tobacco, cotton and cottonseed oil, fish, meal and naval stores. The manufactures include fertilizer, turpentine, rosin, drugs, whiting and sash, doors and blinds. Other industrial features are the fine coaling and dry docks and fuel oil stations. Pensacola has a delightful climate, with a mean annual temperature of 72 F. Its chief point of interest is the United States Naval Air Station, with shops, marine barracks, and an adjoining reservation containing a naval magazine, naval hospital and a National cemetery. The principal buildings of the city are the Federal Building, the city hall, the state armory, San Carlos Hotel, and the Brent, American National Bank, Thiesen and Blount buildings. The first settlement which became permanent was made here in 1696 by a colony of Spaniards from Vera Cruz, Mexico. The place was captured by the French in 1719, but again came into Spanish possession in 1723. It was captured by the British in 1763 and in 1781 a Spanish force under Governor Bernardo Galvez took possession. In the War of 1812 it gave assistance to the British, and was, therefore, taken by Gen. Andrew Jackson, who again captured it in 1818, because of the Spanish encouragement of Seminole Indian attacks and in 1821 the United States took formal possession of Florida. In 1861 the Confederates seized the navy yard, but, being unable to take Ft. Pickens, evacuated the city the following year. The city was nearly destroyed by fire in 1864. Population in 1920, 31,035.