Pensacola
a city, port of entry and county-seat of Escambia co., Fla.; on Pensacola Bay, and on the Pensacola, Alabama, and Tennessee, the Louisville and Nashville, and the Gulf, Florida and Alabama railroads; 7 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. It has several orphans' and widows' homes, electric light plant, National banks, daily and weekly newspapers, a custom house, court house, and Marine Hospital. The city annually receives vast quantities of yellow pine from the forests of Alabama, and ships it to all parts of the world. The other industries include the shipment of iron, coal, cotton, and naval stores. Pensacola was settled by Spanish colonists before 1700.
In 1719 it was captured by Bienville, but soon afterward was restored. The British had possession of western Florida in 1763-1781, and during the wars with Napoleon were permitted to hold Pensacola, and organize expeditions in its harbor. General Jackson seized the towr. Nov. 6, 1814, and the British withdrew, after blowing up the fort. In 1818 Jackson again seized the place in prosecution of the Seminole War, on the plea that the Spanish authorities aided the Indians. Pop. (1910) 22,982; (1920) 31,- 035.