Pensacola is a city located in Escambia County Florida. Pensacola has a 2024 population of 53,473. It is also the county seat of Escambia County. Pensacola is currently declining at a rate of -0.47% annually and its population has decreased by -1.84% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 54,476 in 2020.
The average household income in Pensacola is $95,450 with a poverty rate of 14.12%. The median age in Pensacola is 39.1 years: 35.7 years for males, and 42.5 years for females.
Pensacola is a seaport located along Pensacola Bay. Pensacola is known as The City of Five Flags because of the five governments that have governed the city throughout history. It is known for its beautiful white sand beaches, which thousands of tourists visit each year.
A little less than 46% of the population practice a religion, falling below the national average. Almost half of those that practice a religion are Baptist, making up over 22% of the total population. Other faiths include Roman Catholic, Pentecostal, and Methodist, to name a few. The city also has a small community of Jewish residents.
Pensacola has over 24,000 households, with almost 25% having children. The average household size is 2.27. Over 16% of the city’s population lives below the federal poverty line.
For the most part, Pensacola has seen significant growth in its population. By 1960, the city had over 50,000 inhabitants. This number fell slightly during the 1980s before climbing again in the 1990s. At the time of the 2000 census, the population had dropped again, and recorded an even higher decline at the time of the 2010 census. This could be due to the effects of Hurricane Ivan which drove up the price of housing and led to a shortage of affordable housing. However, the estimated population reflects an increase of over 3%, indicating that this city is once again becoming an appealing home for many new residents.
The Pensacola people originally inhabited what is now Pensacola upon the arrival of the Europeans. However, the city’s history extends far beyond that. Mounds that served as a ceremonial center were discovered close to the city and were thought to be occupied as far back as 1250 AD. The first Europeans reached Pensacola in the 1500s, with the written history showing that Pensacola Bay was called “Bay of Ochuse” by explorers. It was in 1559 when ships carrying about 1,500 people arrived in the area to establish an outpost during which an area in South Carolina was going to be colonized. However, the colony was hit by a hurricane, leaving survivors struggling to live.
Many of these survivors moved to central Alabama before returning. Another attempt to colonize what is now Parris Island was held up again with another storm. Survivors at this time moved to Cuba before heading back to Florida and eventually back to Spain. It was decided that Florida was too dangerous for settlement.
The French began their exploration of the area during the late 17th century. A fortified town was established in 1698 and was the foundation for settlement in the area. During its earliest years of European settlement, Pensacola served as a trading post. In 1763, the British took control of the area following the French and Indian War. The city was captured by the Spanish and went back under its authority following the American Revolution.
The city began to become a major center for trade in the late 1700s. It was in 1819 when the U.S. purchased Florida for $5 million. At the time, there were over 180 households, primarily consisting of French and Spanish Creole inhabitants. In 1821, Pensacola became part of the U.S. Tensions between the white people and the Indians inhabiting the area grew, leading to discrimination. In 1853, Indians were prohibited from living in the state and were removed from Pensacola.
Over the years, the city has seen its share of major hurricanes, including Hurricane Ivan in 2004 that devastated the area. There was over $6 billion in damage, and tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed. Housing prices went up because of this.
Pensacola is also the site of the Naval Air Station Pensacola, which was the first air station in the U.S. The Blue Angels are also stationed here. Today, the city is known for its beautiful historic neighborhoods, landmarks, and annual events. It is also a popular tourist destination because of its beaches, which have been nicknamed the World’s Whitest Beaches.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Pensacola was:
Race | Population | Percentage (of total) |
---|---|---|
White | 35,769 | 66.17% |
Black or African American | 12,555 | 23.22% |
Two or more races | 3,461 | 6.4% |
Asian | 1,252 | 2.32% |
Other race | 929 | 1.72% |
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander | 59 | 0.11% |
Native American | 34 | 0.06% |
White
Black or African American
Two or more races
Asian
Other race
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
Native American
Household Type | Count | Average Size | Owner | Renter |
---|---|---|---|---|
All | 24,771 | 2.16 | 62.1 | 37.9 |
Non Family | 11,850 | 1.23 | 49.3 | 50.7 |
Married | 8,534 | 2.93 | 83.7 | 16.3 |
Female | 3,107 | 3.26 | 51.1 | 48.9 |
Male | 1,280 | 2.93 | 63.2 | 36.8 |
2.93
Average Family Size
2.16
Average Household Size
62.1%
Rate of Home Ownership
Married
Male
Female
NonFamily
owner
renter
Male
Female
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
9th to 12th Grade | 2,197 | 5.64% |
Associates Degree | 4,393 | 11.29% |
Bachelors Degree | 8,756 | 22.5% |
Graduate Degree | 7,017 | 18.03% |
High School Graduate | 7,925 | 20.36% |
Less Than 9th Grade | 583 | 1.5% |
Some College | 8,050 | 20.68% |
Less Than 9th Grade
9th to 12th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Associates Degree
Bachelors Degree
Graduate Degree
High School Graduation Rate
Bachelors Rate
Race | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 26,685 | 25,689 | 12,859 |
Black | 8,283 | 6,941 | 1,386 |
2+ Races | 1,686 | 1,635 | 592 |
Hispanic | 1,510 | 1,311 | 472 |
Asian | 947 | 800 | 465 |
Other Race | 598 | 420 | 135 |
Islander | 53 | 6 | 0 |
Native American | 31 | 31 | 15 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among native american people with a rate of 100%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among asian people with a rate of 49.1%.
All
Male
Female
Name | Average | Male | Female |
---|---|---|---|
Bachelors Degree | $55,929 | $77,411 | $47,043 |
Graduate Degree | $76,013 | $86,193 | $65,349 |
High School Graduate | $29,919 | $32,983 | $26,806 |
Less Than 9th Grade | $30,855 | $33,003 | $20,365 |
Overall | $46,260 | $55,573 | $42,332 |
Some College | $39,697 | $45,076 | $36,151 |
$46,260
Average Earnings
$55,573
Average Male
$42,332
Average Female
Only English
Spanish
Other Indo-European Languages
Asian and Pacific Island Languages
Other Languages
94.8% of Pensacola residents speak only English, while 5.2% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 2.03% of the population.
rate
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
Black | 12,349 | 4,121 | 33.37% |
White | 34,352 | 2,340 | 6.81% |
Hispanic | 2,399 | 599 | 24.97% |
Multiple | 3,460 | 569 | 16.45% |
Asian | 1,252 | 183 | 14.62% |
Other | 875 | 31 | 3.54% |
Native | 34 | 5 | 14.71% |
14.12%
Overall Poverty Rate
12.99%
Male Poverty Rate
15.16%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Pensacola is Black, with 33.37% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Pensacola is Other, with 3.54% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 2.8%. Among those working part-time, it was 16.63%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 21.69%.
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 27.31% |
High School | 22.19% |
Some College | 11.88% |
Bachelors or Greater | 3.62% |
rate
Rate | Poverty |
---|---|
Female Unemployed | 54.01% |
Male Unemployed | 19.22% |
Female Employed | 6.06% |
Male Employed | 5.4% |
Households
Families
MarriedFamilies
NonFamilies
Name | Median | Mean |
---|---|---|
Families | $93,160 | $125,851 |
Households | $67,722 | $95,450 |
Married Families | $114,928 | $151,859 |
Non Families | $46,582 | $60,383 |
mean
median
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
40.2%
Overall Marriage Rate
43.0%
Male Marriage Rate
37.7%
Female Marriage Rate
male
female
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 55-64.
Married
Widowed
Divorced
Separated
NeverMarried
Second Gulf War
First Gulf War
Vietnam
Korea
World War II
4,991
Number of Veterans
4,220
Male Veterans
771
Female Veterans
War | Veterans |
---|---|
Vietnam | 1,530 |
First Gulf War | 1,509 |
Second Gulf War | 1,310 |
Korea | 244 |
World War II | 103 |
count
Age Group | Veterans |
---|---|
35 to 54 | 1,223 |
55 to 64 | 1,200 |
75+ | 1,132 |
65 to 74 | 1,069 |
18 to 34 | 367 |
count
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 3,741 | 12.82% |
Black | 1,020 | 11.03% |
Hispanic | 246 | 13.55% |
2+ Races | 113 | 5.54% |
Other Race | 94 | 14.29% |
Asian | 15 | 1.46% |
Native American | 8 | 25.81% |
Less Than 9th Grade
High School Graduate
Some College
Bachelors or Greater
8.42%
Veteran Poverty Rate
27.09%
Veteran Disability Rate
LaborForceParticipation
62.7%
Labor Force Participation
57.9%
Employment Rate
5.5%
Unemployment Rate
LaborForceParticipation
LaborForceParticipation
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Latin America
North America
47.68%
Born in Pensacola
95.92%
Native Born
4.08%
Foreign Born
1.69%
Non Citizen
2.39%
Naturalized
95.92% of Pensacola residents were born in the United States, with 47.68% having been born in Florida. 1.69% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Change |
---|---|---|---|
2029 | 52,220 | -250 | -0.48% |
2028 | 52,470 | -251 | -0.48% |
2027 | 52,721 | -251 | -0.47% |
2026 | 52,972 | -250 | -0.47% |
2025 | 53,222 | -251 | -0.47% |
2024 | 53,473 | -251 | -0.47% |
2023 | 53,724 | -156 | -0.29% |
2022 | 53,880 | -88 | -0.16% |
2021 | 53,968 | -508 | -0.93% |
2020 | 54,476 | 1,341 | 2.52% |
2019 | 53,135 | 359 | 0.68% |
2018 | 52,776 | 132 | 0.25% |
2017 | 52,644 | -113 | -0.21% |
2016 | 52,757 | 223 | 0.42% |
2015 | 52,534 | 49 | 0.09% |
2014 | 52,485 | 177 | 0.34% |
2013 | 52,308 | 130 | 0.25% |
2012 | 52,178 | 310 | 0.6% |
2011 | 51,868 | -156 | -0.3% |
2010 | 52,024 | 0 | 0% |
2000 | 56,255 | -1,910 | -3.28% |
1990 | 58,165 | 546 | 0.95% |
1980 | 57,619 | -1,888 | -3.17% |
1970 | 59,507 | 2,755 | 4.85% |
1960 | 56,752 | 13,273 | 30.53% |
1950 | 43,479 | 6,030 | 16.1% |
1940 | 37,449 | 5,870 | 18.59% |
1930 | 31,579 | 544 | 1.75% |
1920 | 31,035 | 8,053 | 35.04% |
1910 | 22,982 | 5,235 | 29.5% |
1900 | 17,747 | 5,997 | 51.04% |
1890 | 11,750 | 4,905 | 71.66% |
1880 | 6,845 | 3,498 | 104.51% |
1870 | 3,347 | 471 | 16.38% |
1860 | 2,876 | -49,344 | -94.49% |