Pensacola FL Moving Companies

Pensacola, Florida

Pensacola, Florida is known as “The City of Five Flags,” due to the five countries that have owned it. The city also boasts the “World’s Whitest Beaches,” along its Pensacola Bay and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Pensacola is also dubbed the “Cradle of Naval Aviation” and the home of the United States’ earliest naval air base. This city of 53,000 lies at the western end of the Florida panhandle and boasts many attractions for visitors, residents and individuals who are interested in moving to Pensacola. Since the city is old – having reached 450 in 2008-2009 –Pensacola has a long and continuing history.

Economy:
Residents of Pensacola work in industries such as government, health care, education and manufacturing. Pensacola’s biggest employers are the Sacred Heart Health System, Baptist Health Care, Lakeview Healthcare, Gulf Power Company, Ascend Performance Materials (a nylon and chemical manufacturer), West Florida Hospital and the University of West Florida. In addition to this, the Pensacola area is a major center for the military, with the Naval Air Station-Pensacola located to the southwest of the city, and for tourism, with white sandy beaches and a warm climate constituting major draws.

History:
Following early Spanish exploration of Pensacola Bay at the beginning of the 16th century, a settlement arrived in Pensacola in 1559 from Mexico, making Pensacola the earliest settlement in the United States. This settlement did not, however, survive long. A hurricane hit five weeks after the settlers’ arrival, followed by disease and famine. By 1561, the site was abandoned, and the Spanish considered the area too dangerous for colonization for more than a century. They returned in 1696, and the site has been occupied continuously ever since. Spain held Pensacola (with brief interruptions by the French in 1719-1722 and by the British in 1763-1781) until 1819, when they ceded all of Florida to the United States. The Civil War placed Pensacola briefly into Confederate hands, as the city and nearby Fort Barrancas was occupied from November 1861 until May 1862. The Union Army controlled the area after that point.

Tourism:
As your moving company drives your belongings to Pensacola, it is not only the beaches and warm weather that you will quickly enjoy. The city also boasts several museums like the Pensacola History Museum, the National Museum of Naval Aviation and the Pensacola Museum of Art. Residents and visitors can also enjoy cultural attractions, including theaters, opera, a symphony orchestra and arts festivals. There are historic sites throughout the area, most notably St. Michael’s Cemetery. Used since the late 18th century, the Spanish king declared the site a burial ground in 1807. Since then thousands of Pensacola residents of all faiths have been buried there. The National Parks Service controls much of Pensacola Bay, including the long-decommissioned Fort Barrancas. You can fly to Pensacola’s Gulf Coast Regional Airport from many major national hub cities. Once you have moved to Pensacola, the Escambia County Area Transit provides bus service.

Colleges/Universities:

• Troy University-Pensacola
• University of West Florida
• Pensacola Christian College
• Pensacola Junior College
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Naval Air Station Pensacola

Interesting Facts:

• Football player Emmitt Smith is possibly the most famous Pensacola native of recent years, having been born and raised in the city.
• All aviators serving in the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard begin their training at the Naval Air Station-Pensacola, the oldest in the nation. This station also provides a home to the Blue Angels and the National Museum of Naval Aviation.
• 2004’s Hurricane Ivan produced some of the biggest damage seen by Pensacola in years. The storm passed directly over the city and left behind 10,000 destroyed homes and $6 billion in damages.

Helpful Links:

• City of Pensacola