Escambia County, Florida

U.S. County|

 county  = Escambia County|
 state = Florida |
 seal = Escambia County Fl Seal.PNG |
 map = Escambia County Florida.png |

founded = July 21 1821 | seat = Pensacola | area = 2,268 km² (876 mi²) |

 area land = 1,715 km² (662 mi²) |
 area water = 552 km² (213 mi²) |
 area percentage = 24.35% |
 census yr = 2000|
 pop = 294,410 |
 density = 172|
 web = www.co.escambia.fl.us|}}

Escambia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Its county seat is Pensacola, Florida ⁶. It is the westernmost county in Florida.

History

Escambia County was created in 1821. It was named for the Escambia River, whose name in turn comes from a Spanish word for "barter" or "exchange". Escambia County and St. Johns County were Florida's original two counties with the Suwannee River being the boundary between the two.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,268 km² (876 mi²). 1,715 km² (662 mi²) of it is land and 552 km² (213 mi²) of it (24.35%) is water.

The county includes the island of Santa Rosa, which is separate from Santa Rosa County proper.

Escambia is the westernmost county in Florida (see map). The county in Alabama directly to the north is also called Escambia County. Note, the fact that Escambia County, Florida, borders Escambia County, Alabama, makes the two Escambia Counties among the few counties in the United States with the same name, but from different states, to border each other.

Escambia County os part of the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Adjacent Counties

*Escambia County, Alabama - north
*Santa Rosa County, Florida - east
*Baldwin County, Alabama - west

Demographics

As of the census ² of 2000, there were 294,410 people, 111,049 households, and 74,180 families residing in the county. The population density was 172/km² (444/mi²). There were 124,647 housing units at an average density of 73/km² (188/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 72.35% White, 21.40% Black or African American, 0.90% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races, and 2.16% from two or more races. 2.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 111,049 households out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.80% were married couples living together, 15.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.20% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.50% under the age of 18, 12.20% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 98.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,234, and the median income for a family was $41,708. Males had a median income of $31,054 versus $22,023 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,641. About 12.10% of families and 15.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.70% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.