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Pensacola Beach is
located in the northwest corner of Florida, just thirty miles from the
Alabama state border. It occupies 7.5 miles of world-famous Santa Rosa
Island, a 40-mile barrier island of shimmering white sand. It is commonly
said the island is the second longest unbroken barrier island in the world.
Pensacola Beach is surrounded on two sides by water -- Santa Rosa Sound and
the Gulf of Mexico -- and on the other two by miles of Gulf Islands National Seashore. Click here to see a detailed visitors map of Santa Rosa Island. |
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All of Pensacola Beach
is owned by Escambia County, which is bound by a deed from the United States Department of Interior to administer the territory in
the public interest. Parcels are leased to individuals or businesses for
varying periods up to 99 years. A majority of leases also contain a renewal
clause. In lieu of property taxes leaseholders pay equivalent "lease
fees" to the county plus an assortment of other fees and assessments for county services. Presently, the
community of Pensacola Beach is considered an "unincorporated area"
of Escambia County. It is separated from the rest of the county by several
miles of water and the city of Gulf Breeze. Indeed, neighboring Santa Rosa
County divides Pensacola Beach from the rest of Escambia County. |
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State law requires
Escambia County to share authority over Pensacola Beach with a
quasi-independent administrative unit known as the Santa Rosa Island
Authority. Five of six S.R.I.A. board members are political appointees of the
individual county commissioners. A sixth position is elected by beach
residents every two years. The county retains the power to override any
decision of the SRIA, although it rarely does so. |
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Two toll bridges give
access to the beach from the mainland. The "Bob Sikes Bridge" ($1)
spans Santa Rosa Sound from Gulf Breeze to the beach. Annual passes are
available for $35 per vehicle. The amount of the fee is changeable by county
commissioners. Every year the
Island Authority mails windshield stickers to residents of Pensacola Beach
who have paid their county M.S.B.U. fees. The sticker is used for vehicle
identification when returning after a hurricane evacuation, should it become
necessary to temporarily limit access of the general public. In 1999,
more than 5,600 annual stickers were issued to beach dwellers. |
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Electric power is
supplied by Gulf Power. LP tanks are permitted on the island, although
natural gas lines are not. Sewage and water services are provided by Escambia
County Utilities Authority. |
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Pensacola Beach
families enjoy good schools. There is one school on the Island - Pensacola Beach Elementary School is part of Escambia County
School District. It has around 140 students and always ranks at the top of
the county and the state for student test scores. Middle school attend
classes in nearby Gulf Breeze, which is part of the Santa Rosa County School
District. Beach middle school students can seek enrollment in Brown Barge
Middle School - a magnet program in Pensacola. High school students may attend
Gulf Breeze High or seek enrollment in Pensacola magnet schools such as the
International Baccalaureate program. |
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For extensive
information on Pensacola Beach including environment, history, politics and
other important information, visit the Pensacola Beach
Residents and Leaseholders Association website. PBRLA is a non-profit
community organization devoted to enhancing the quality of life and
protecting the unique barrier island environment of Pensacola Beach. More
than 1200 island residents and businesses belong. |
Useful
Links for Homebuyers Pensacola Beach Visitor Information Center Pensacola Beach Elementary School Escambia County School District |
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