Gulf Breeze is a city located on the Fairpoint Peninsula in southwest Santa Rosa County, Florida and is a suburb of Pensacola, FL, which lies to the north, across Pensacola Bay. Gulf Breeze is located on the Florida panhandle, between Pensacola and Fort Walton Beach. It is at the tip of a 25 mile long, 3/4 mile wide peninsula, and two miles from the Gulf of Mexico. Gulf Breeze enjoys 18 miles of waterfront.
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. On the north is a three mile bridge across Pensacola Bay from the City of Pensacola and on the south is the Bob Sikes Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound to Pensacola Beach. Additionally, the eastern portion of Gulf Breeze is occupied by 1,329 acres of the Naval Live Oaks Reservation of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, part of the National Park Service. As a result, new growth occurs outside of the city limits along U.S. Highway 98. The Naval Live Oaks Reservation was the home of America's first experimental tree farm, established by President John Quincy Adams in 1828. It was established to provide raw material to support shipbuilding for the Navy in the area.
By the early 1930's, bridges between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze and Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach were completed as was Highway 98.
Points of Interest
Gulf Breeze became famous in 1987 as the site of several UFO sightings. (See Gulf Breeze UFO incident).
A Brief History of the Gulf Breeze Area
Gulf Breeze shares a very rich history with the entire Florida Panhandle.
15th-19th Century - Europeans arrived by sailing ships. Built coastal forts to protect settlements.
1559 - The first European settlement was attempted in 1559 by Spaniard Tristan de Luna, but was abandoned two years later because of disease, natural disasters, and hostile Indians.
1600 - Over the next few centuries, the Spanish, English, and French visited the Santa Rosa peninsula. The peninsula was given many different names over the years. The number of inhabitants gradually began to grow with the issuance of foreign land grants.
1698 - The Spanish returned in 1698, but transferred all of Florida to the British in 1763.
1763-1781 - The British occupied the peninsula and named it Town Point. An earlier name for the area was Deer Point.
1790s - Ships were built from area wood. (USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" and USS Constellation).
1820 - The first road was built through the peninsula to carry mail from Pensacola to St. Augustine, Florida. Part of this road can be traced in the Naval Live Oaks Area of Gulf Islands National Seashore today.
1821 - Florida became a United States territory.
1828 - President John Quincy Adams authorized the Naval Live Oaks, a federal tree farm dedicated to providing live oak timber for U.S. Navy ships, in 1828.
1829 - The Army began building forts to protect Pensacola Bay in 1829. Beginning with Fort Pickens, the Army built harbor forts off and on through World War II, all of which are within Gulf Islands National Seashore, part of the National Park System. Fort Pickens was one of only four forts in the South to be held by the U.S. Army during the entire Civil War.
1861 - In November of 1861, Union-held Fort Pickens exchanged cannon fire for two days with Confederate soldiers at Fort Barrancas and Fort McRee. Both Confederate-held forts were heavily damaged and the Confederates abandoned the area in May of 1862.
1861-1865 - During the Civil War, a Confederate hospital, camp (Camp Ariolla) and lookout tower were built on Deer Point.
1871 - Escambia County Board of Health established a quarantine station on Santa Rosa Island for victims of yellow fever. Ballast was unloaded along with the sick, thus the name Ballast Point.
1928-1931 - First bridge built from Pensacola by Johnson, Drake and Piper Company of Minneapolis, MN. The first bridge across Pensacola Bay was opened with great fanfare. This concrete drawbridge connected Gulf Breeze to Pensacola until the current bridge replaced it in 1960. The original bridge is now two fishing piers. A concrete drawbridge replaced a wooden bridge to Pensacola Beach built in 1931 in 1951. It, too, is now used for fishing and was replaced by the current bridge built in 1973.
1932 - U.S. Highway 98 is paved through Gulf Breeze.
1933 - First bridge (wooden swing bridge) built to Pensacola Beach. Casino beach resort opened where The Dock now stands.
1936 - Gulf Breeze Cottages and Store opened a post office branch where Beach Road Plaza now stands. The community began to grow following the opening of the improved bay bridge in 1960, and continues to grow today.
1947 - The Federal government deeded Santa Rosa Island to Escambia County with the provision that the county must keep title to the island public.
1951 - Concrete bridge built to Pensacola Beach. (Current fishing pier).
1956 - Gulf Breeze Elementary School built and Shoreline Park area was deeded to the city for public use.
1957 - Gulf Breeze Volunteer Fire Department took delivery of first fire truck.
1960 - Second bridge from Pensacola to Gulf Breeze built.
1961 - Gulf Breeze incorporated with City Hall located on Hoffman Drive. (SunTrust bank location)
1971 - Gulf Breeze High School built. Gulf Islands National Seashore established.
1973 - Bob Sikes Bridge from Gulf Breeze to Pensacola Beach built.
1984 - The Zoo and Botanical Gardens opened.
1985 - Gulf Breeze Hospital opened.
1987 - UFO "sightings" put Gulf Breeze on intergalactic tourist maps.
1988 - Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce established.
1995 - Hurricanes Opal and Erin hit area.
1996 - Santa Rosa County began construction on Tiger Point Park, a county recreational park east of Gulf Breeze.
1999 - Garcon Point Bridge opened linking South and North Santa Rosa County and providing another evacuation route for peninsula residents.
2000 - Gulf Breeze broke ground for a multi-use trail to create a 40-mile loop through Navarre, Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach.
2004 - Hurricane Ivan hit the Gulf Breeze area.
2005 - Hurricane Dennis hit the Gulf Breeze area.
(Source: City of Gulf Breeze Web Site)
Education in Gulf Breeze, Florida
- Gulf Breeze Middle School
- Gulf Breeze Elementary School
- Oriole Beach Elementary School
Distance From Major Cities
| Atlanta, GA: | 334 Miles |
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| Orlando, FL: | 451 Miles |
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| Mobile, AL: | 65 Miles |
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| New Orleans, LA : | 209 Miles |
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Area Weather Statistics
Gulf Breeze is situated in a warm temperate zone, with warm, sunny summers and brief, mild winters. Warm breezes off the Gulf of Mexico create this moderate climate year-round. Summer highs can reach into the 90-degree range and winter lows usually fall into the 40's. Average water temperatures tend to be 56-58 degrees in winter and a comfortable 75-80 degrees in the summer. Rainfall averages about 63 inches a year, largely in the form of scattered showers.
Average Weather
| | Temperature | Precipitation | Rel. Humidity |
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| Jan. | 52.5 | 4.27 | 72% |
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| Feb. | 54.9 | 4.61 | 69% |
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| Mar. | 60.3 | 5.38 | 71% |
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| Apr. | 67.1 | 4.33 | 71% |
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| May | 74 | 3.82 | 73% |
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| June | 79.8 | 5.14 | 72% |
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| July | 81.4 | 7.01 | 76% |
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| Aug. | 81.3 | 7.58 | 78% |
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| Sept. | 78.2 | 5.94 | 74% |
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| Oct. | 79.8 | 5.94 | 70% |
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| Nov. | 60.1 | 3.70 | 72% |
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| Dec. | 54.3 | 4.43 | 74% |
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Property Taxes
| Gulf Breeze Ad Valorem Millage Rate (2006): | 15.5% |
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| Santa Rosa County Ad Valorem Millage Rate (2006): | 13.87% |
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| Florida Homestead Exemption: | $25,000 |
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| Local ad Valorem tax exemptions are available. |
Information from Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce
Transportation
Pensacola Regional Airport (850-435-1745) Getting to our community is very easy. The airport is growing, with several major carriers arriving and departing daily. The airport serves business travelers, vacationing families, members of our military, physically challenged passengers, senior citizens and large groups.
Mobile Regional Airport (334-633-4510). Mobile is approximately one hour to the west of Pensacola. This airport is also growing and adding more flights daily.
Okaloosa County Regional Airport (850-651-7160). Okaloosa is approximately 45 minutes to the east of Gulf Breeze on State Road 85 between Fort Walton Beach and Niceville.
Greyhound Bus (476-4800). Greyhound Bus services are also available.
Highways - Interstate 10 is the major east-west highway into the Pensacola area. Highway 110 from Pensacola directs you to Gulf Breeze and Pensacola Beach. Highway 98 is another east-west highway directing you along the beaches of northwest Florida.
Gulf Breeze Arts, Culture, and Entertainment
There are many events held throughout the year in Gulf Breeze. This area is home to many artists, musicians and other performers. Numerous museums, galleries and art shows offer variety and inspiration year-round. Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts Festival is an outdoor arts and crafts festival where more than 100 artists showcase their handmade creations. It is held in the month of April for two days.
Each year the Gulf Breeze Chamber of Commerce sponsors MarketPlace, in which member businesses of the Chamber show off their wares and services to the thousands of people who attend this event.
Neighboring Pensacola offers professional symphony, opera and theater companies, as well as museums and art galleries.
Area Attractions
Http://www.101ThingsToDo.com -This guide lists 101 fun things to do on the Emerald Coast.
Flea Market - Located just east of Gulf Breeze, held on Saturdays and Sundays, with 400 dealer spaces.
The Zoo at Gulf Breeze - Located just 10 miles east of Gulf Breeze, across from the Flea Market. This is a great place to bring the family. Tropical gardens, over 700 animals and reptiles, a wildlife preserve, and the petting farm are just part of what the Zoo offers.
The city of Gulf Breeze has 53% of its land devoted to parks. Shoreline Park is the major recreation area in Gulf Breeze. It has a Recreation Center, baseball, football, soccer, basketball, softball, a playground, tennis courts, and a skate park on the north side of the road. On the south side has a very popular boat launch, a nature trail, a fishing pier, a swimming area, gazebos and picnic areas, and a recently added dog park.
Golf courses abound in this area. There are over 40 courses within a 100 mile radius of Gulf Breeze.
Another outdoor recreation activity is found along the coast of Gulf Breeze. This is the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The portion in Gulf Breeze is called the Naval Live Oak Reservation, the nation's oldest environmental reserve. It was founded by John Quincy Adams in the early 1800's and was used to supply wood for the building of warships.
