Pensacola

Pensacola is a city in the westernmost region of Florida, United States, situated on Pensacola Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the county seat of Escambia County and part of the Pensacola metropolitan area. The city is sometimes called the City of Five Flags for having been ruled by five different sovereignties over its history: Spain, France, Great Britain, the Confederacy, and the United States.

Evidence of long Indigenous habitation exists in the area; European contact began with the first settlers in the 16th century. The first permanent European settlement was established by the Spanish in 1559 under Tristan de Luna, a venture that ultimately failed, and control later shifted among colonial powers. Pensacola developed as a trading and military outpost, with forts placed along the bay.

In the modern era, Pensacola is anchored by NAS Pensacola, a major U.S. Navy base and home to the Blue Angels; the surrounding economy includes defense, healthcare, education, and tourism. The University of West Florida and Pensacola State College are located in the city.

Geographically, Pensacola sits on the bay opposite Santa Rosa Island and has a humid subtropical climate, with hot summers and mild winters. The area is vulnerable to hurricanes and tropical storms.

Prominent cultural and historic sites include Historic Pensacola Village, Seville Square, and the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola; nearby beaches and the Gulf Islands National Seashore are popular with visitors.