Fairpoint Peninsula facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fairpoint Peninsula |
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| Navarre Peninsula, Gulf Breeze Peninsula, or Santa Rosa Peninsula | |
 Location in Florida
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| Coordinates | 30°23′33″N 87°1′33″W / 30.39250°N 87.02583°W |
| Offshore water bodies | Pensacola Bay, East Bay, East Lagoon, and the East Bay River (North) Santa Rosa Sound (South) |
| Geology | Peninsula |
| Operator | Various municipalities, county-governed unincorporated areas, and census designated places |
The Fairpoint Peninsula is a piece of land in northwest Florida. It is almost surrounded by water. You might also hear it called the Gulf Breeze Peninsula or the Navarre Peninsula. Sometimes, people call it the Santa Rosa Peninsula.
This peninsula sits between Santa Rosa Sound and Pensacola Bay. The Santa Rosa Sound is where the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway passes through. This waterway is like a big water highway for boats.
Contents
History of Fairpoint Peninsula
The Fairpoint Peninsula has a long and interesting past. Many different groups of people have lived here over time.
Early European Settlements
In 1559, a Spanish explorer named Tristan de Luna arrived in Pensacola Bay. He came with about 500 Spanish soldiers. They tried to start a settlement, but it was very difficult. Many people got sick, and there were natural disasters. Also, the native people living there were not friendly. Because of these problems, the first settlement was abandoned.
Later, other Europeans came to the area. In the late 1700s, the British took control of the peninsula. They gave it the name Town Point.
From Turpentine to Roads
In the early 1900s, before many towns were built, the peninsula was known for turpentine production. Turpentine is a liquid made from pine trees. It was used in many products back then.
By the early 1930s, big changes started happening. Bridges were built connecting Pensacola to Gulf Breeze. Another bridge connected Gulf Breeze to Pensacola Beach. These bridges made it much easier to travel.
The main road, U.S. Highway 98, was also finished around this time. For a few years, from 1939 to 1946, you had to pay a toll to use this road. The town of Gulf Breeze got its name in 1936. This happened when the Gulf Breeze Cottages and Store opened a post office branch there.
America's First Tree Farm
The Naval Live Oaks Reservation is a special place on the peninsula. It was home to America's first experimental tree farm. This farm was started by President John Quincy Adams in 1828.
The main goal was to grow trees for the Navy. These trees were needed to build ships. Today, the Naval Live Oaks Reservation is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. This is a protected area managed by the National Park Service.
Communities on Fairpoint Peninsula
Many towns and communities are located on the Fairpoint Peninsula. Here are some of the main ones, along with their populations from recent counts:
- Navarre, Florida - Population: 44,876
- Midway, Florida - Population: 16,115
- Gulf Breeze, Florida - Population: 6,466
- Tiger Point, Florida - Population: 3,096
- Woodlawn Beach, Florida - Population: 1,785
- Oriole Beach, Florida - Population: 1,420
Some other communities are very close to the peninsula. People sometimes think of them as part of the Fairpoint Peninsula area. Or, they might be seen as neighborhoods of the larger towns.
- Holley, Florida - Population: 1,630 (Often considered a neighborhood of Navarre)
- Pensacola Beach, Florida - Population: Not Recorded (Often considered a neighborhood of Gulf Breeze or Pensacola)
It's important to know that Navarre Beach is part of Navarre. However, Navarre Beach is actually on Santa Rosa Island, not on the peninsula itself.
