Gulf Breeze, Florida

Gulf Breeze is a city located on the Fairpoint Peninsula in Santa Rosa County, Florida and is a suburb of Pensacola, FL, which lies to the north, across Pensacola Bay. The population was 5,665 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 6,455.[1]

1 Geography
2 Hurricanes
3 Points of interest
4 Demographics
5 Schools
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Geography

Gulf Breeze is located at 30°21′36″N, 87°10′41″W (30.359933, -87.178190).^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.5 square miles (61.0 km²).4.8 square miles (12.3 km²) of it is land and 18.8 square miles (48.7 km²) of it (79.79%) is water.

The City of Gulf Breeze is now often referred to as "Gulf Breeze Proper." This differentiates it from other communities further east which are assigned Gulf Breeze addresses by the U.S. Postal Service but lie outside of the city limits.

Growth of the city itself is geographically restricted, surrounded by major water bodies on three sides. Additionally, the eastern portion of Gulf Breeze is occupied by the Naval Live Oaks Reservation. As a result, new growth occurs outside of the city limits along U.S. Highway 98.

Gulf Breeze (lower center) is north of Pensacola Beach, Florida, south of Pensacola, and surrounded by Pensacola Bay.

[edit] Hurricanes

From 1995 to 2005, Gulf Breeze has received several direct hits and severe blows from numerous hurricanes. In 1995, Hurricane Erin and Opal made landfall just south of the city. While Erin caused mild damage to the area, Hurricane Opal devastated much of the neighboring Pensacola Beach and Navarre communities. Nine years later, in 2004, Hurricane Ivan made landfall west of the Gulf Breeze but caused widespread damage in the city, destroying many homes and businesses. In 2005, Hurricane Dennis passed just east of the city. Damage from this storm was more severe than that received in communities lying further west.

[edit] Points of interest

Gulf Breeze became famous in 1987 as the site of several UFO sightings.^[4] (see Gulf Breeze UFO incident).

AAA has designated Gulf Breeze as also one of seven "strict enforcement areas" for traffic laws in the United States. This rating is one level short of speed trap, and is only shared by six other cities and towns nationwide.^[5]

Gulf Breeze also received media attention for instituting a program to allow volunteers to drive police cars within the city and report traffic violations to police. Volunteers receive training in radio use and first aid but are not empowered to make arrests or traffic stops.^[6]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 5,665 people, 2,377 households, and 1,678 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,192.0 people per square mile (460.5/km²). There were 2,553 housing units at an average density of 537.2/sq mi (207.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.39% White, 0.25% African American, 0.55% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.36% of the population.

There were 2,377 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.4% were non-families. 25.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 4.6% from 18 to 24, 22.5% from 25 to 44, 29.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $52,522, and the median income for a family was $61,661. Males had a median income of $44,408 versus $28,159 for females. The per capita income for the city was $34,688. About 3.8% of families and 4.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.5% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.