Area Resources

Navarre is an unincorporated community in Santa Rosa County in the northwest Florida Panhandle. It is a bedroom community for mostly U.S. Military personnel, Federal Civil Servants, local population, retirees and defense contractors. Due to its proximity to Navarre Beach and its four miles of beach front on the Gulf of Mexico as well as the Gulf Islands National Seashore, it has a small, but growing community of nature enthusiasts and tourists. Current population estimates put Navarre, Florida at roughly 40,000 residents, making it the second largest community west of Tallahassee.

Gulf Breeze Florida is a waterfront community of over 6,000 residents that prides itself on its small-town character, quality education, excellent local government, superb parks and recreational facilities, and multitude of waterfront activities. The City is also recognized as a leader in financial programs. Whether you have come to do some shopping, visit old friends, or make new ones, you will find we’re a warm and friendly community. Gulf Breeze welcomes you . . . always.

Visit the official website for the city of Gulf Breeze at http://cityofgulfbreeze.us/

Milton, the county seat of Santa Rosa County, is located near the center of this Florida Panhandle country, adjacent to the Blackwater River. The City of Milton is among the oldest cities in Florida, incorporated in 1844 under the Florida Territorial Acts of 1844. In Milton’s founding days, the Blackwater River served as the main transportation artery for its timber, lumber, brick, naval stores and ship building industries. Milton’s roots go back to the early 1800’s when people began settling along the banks of the Blackwater River. In it’s earliest days, the settlement may have been referred to simply as “Blackwater.” The origin of the name Milton is uncertain, but was likely a derivation of “mill town,” demonstrating the importance of the lumber industry.

Visit the official website for the city of Milton at http://www.ci.milton.fl.us/

Pace is the western gateway to Santa Rosa County, Florida with thousands of residents living in Pace Fl 32571 and more pouring in daily, this unincorporated area within Santa Rosa County is Florida’s most desired places to live. History buffs speak of William Barnett who established Florida Town in 1821, the site of his lumber mill. The rich timberland fed the mill. The town name of Pace did not enter the picture until 1907 when James C. Pace opened the Pace Mill which was in operation for 22 years. Changing to an emphasis of pulp production, the mill reopened in the late 1930’s as the Florida Pulp and Paper Company.

Visit the official website for Pace at http://www.cityofpace.com/

The Town of Jay, located in Northern Santa Rosa County Florida, is nestled in the heartland of the agriculture industry, and where we are known for our peanuts, cotton and blue skies. The Town of Jay provides a friendly small town atmosphere with great neighborhoods, outstanding elementary and high schools, and a lifestyle unique to today’s hectic pace. July 4th is celebrated by an old fashioned celebration with fireworks. Halloween is a fun time for kids with trick or treat in the streets. The Christmas holidays are ushered in by the annual Christmas parade. We have something for everyone.

Visit the official website for the city of Jay at http://www.townofjayfl.com/

The mission of Corry Station is to operate and administer assigned schools, which provide technical training to military and civilian personnel of the Department of Defense and international military students. Corry Station operates the only cryptologic school in DOD and the Electronic Warfare Officers School for the Navy and the Air Force. Corry Station is located in Escambia County.

The mission of NAS Whiting Field is to provide the best services and material support for the training of Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and international student aviators. The base is host to Training Air Wing Five which provides 100 percent of all Navy, Marine, and Coast Guard advanced helicopter training and 60 percent of all primary flight training. They account for over 11 percent of all Navy and Marine Corps flight hours worldwide. Over 1,200 personnel complete their essential flight training here annually.

The mission of NAS Pensacola is to provide superior training support and a quality environment to tenants, military and civilian personnel and their families.

NAS Pensacola hosts over 90 activities including the headquarters and staff of the Commander, Naval Education and Training Command; Commander, Training Air Wing Six and subordinate squadrons; Naval Aviation Schools Command; Naval Aerospace Medical Research Laboratory; Naval Air Technical Training Center; Naval Operational Medicine Institute; Naval Recruiting Orientation Unit; Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station; and the world-renowned Blue Angels Flight Demonstration Squadron. Naval Education and Training Professional Development and Training Center (NETPDTC), Saufley Field and Naval Technical Training Center (NTTC) Corry Station are tenants not located onboard NAS Pensacola main complex. Support is also provided to 27 non-defense related agencies located on Navy property including the National Park Service, U.S. Coast Guard Station, Barrancas National Cemetery (Veterans Administration), and the National Museum of Naval Aviation

The Pensacola Naval Complex in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties employs more than 16,000 military and 9,400 civilian personnel and contributes approximately $1.2 billion to the local economy annually.

The Air Force’s largest base and hub of research and development, Eglin AFB is primarily noted for hosting the Air Armament Center. Eglin AFB is the largest military base in DOD with 724 square miles of land range. Eglin AFB hosts the Gulf Range Complex which is a key training location for the Air Force and the Navy due to its tremendous capabilities and solid commitment to partnering for joint training. Duke Field is located on the Eglin Reservation and is used to support Air Force and Army Ranger training. Beginning in 2010, Eglin AFB will be home to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and the Army 7th Special Forces Group. Eglin AFB is located in Okaloosa County.

Saufley Field is a multi-purpose facility hosting the Naval Education and Program Management Support Activity, a Federal Prison Camp, Defense Finance and Accounting Service Activity, and the Defense Activity for Nontraditional Education Support. Saufley Field is located in Escambia County.

8th Special Operations Squadron, 716th Maintenance Squadron, and Air Force Reserve Command’s 919th Special Operations Wing.

Hurlburt Field’s mission is to support the training and execution of worldwide special operations such as unconventional warfare, special reconnaissance, counter proliferation, foreign internal defense, information operations, psychological operations, civil affairs and combating terrorism. The base is home to the Special Operations Command and the 16th Special Operations Wing. Hurlburt Field is located in Okaloosa County.