Santa Rosa County, Florida

Santa Rosa County is a located in the  of. According to the U.S. Census, the population was 117,743, while a July 1, 2005 estimate placed the population at 143,105, an 18% increase making it the 84th fastest growing county in the United States between 2000 and 2005. Its is.

History
Santa Rosa County was created in. It was named for.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 3,040 (1,174 ). 2,634 km² (1,017 sq mi) of it is land and 406 km² (157 sq mi) of it (13.35%) is water.

Santa Rosa County is part of the.

Regions
Santa Rosa County can be divided into three distinct sections: South Santa Rosa, Central Santa Rosa, and North Santa Rosa. The sections are centered around the main east/west roads that pass through the county.

South Santa Rosa County comprises the area from Holley and in the east to  at the western end of the Gulf Breeze Peninsula, and along. A section of, containing the unincorporated community of , is also part of South Santa Rosa County. Major bodies of water including, and  strongly influence the housing and life style of citizens in the southern part of the county. This fast-growing region serves primarily as "bedroom communities" for to the west and, , and  to the east.

Central Santa Rosa County is the area north of the bays and south of the extensive forests separating it from North Santa Rosa. The central section developed along "The Old Spanish Trail" that ran from on the  all the way to, and further points west. Today, closely parallels the old trail. The county seat, is located where the trail crossed the. To the west of Milton, the fast growing communities of Pea Ridge and have turned the west central part of the county into one large "bedroom community" for people who work in the industries here and in, to the west. also passes through this section of the county.

Northern Santa Rosa County is forest and farming country. The only town in the north is. Most development has been along which runs through the northern sections of, Santa Rosa, and  counties. A large oil and natural gas field around Jay produced a great deal of oil, and made many farmers millioniares in the 1970s and 1980s, but the field has been depleted and is producing little oil today. The citizens have, for the most part, returned to farming and forestry for their livelihoods.

traverses the county from north to south, between US Highway 98 and the border with near, where it connects with. This road is a primary route for the county during.

Adjacent Counties

 * - north
 * - east
 * - west

Demographics
As of the of, there were 117,743 people, 43,793 households, and 33,326 families residing in the county. The was 45/km² (116/sq mi). There were 49,119 housing units at an average density of 19/km² (48/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 90.72%, 4.25% or , 1.01% , 1.30% , 0.08% , 0.67% from , and 1.98% from two or more races. 2.52% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 43,793 households out of which 36.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.20% were living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.90% were non-families. 19.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,881, and the median income for a family was $46,929. Males had a median income of $34,878 versus $22,304 for females. The for the county was $20,089. About 7.90% of families and 9.80% of the population were below the, including 12.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Incorporated

 * 1) City of
 * 2) Town of
 * 3) City of

Official Santa Rosa County Website

 * Life By Design: Santa Rosa Co., FL

Government links/Constitutional offices

 * Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners
 * Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections
 * Santa Rosa County Property Appraiser
 * Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office
 * Santa Rosa County Tax Collector
 * TEAM Santa Rosa Economic Development Council
 * Santa Rosa County GIS Mapping System

Special districts

 * Santa Rosa County School District
 * Northwest Florida Water Management District

Judicial branch

 * Santa Rosa County Clerk of Courts
 * Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida serving, Santa Rosa, , and counties
 * Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida
 * Circuit and County Court for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida

Tourism links

 * Santa Rosa Tourist Development Council
 * Santra Rosa County Information