Florida

Santa Rosa

188,000
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 2,883. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 188,000.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Yellow Water Creek (1818), Skirmish at Yellow Water Creek, Milton FL Panhandle Raid, and 17 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020188,000
2010151,372
2000117,743
199081,608
198055,988
197037,741
196029,547
195018,554
194016,085
193014,083
192013,670
191014,897
190010,293
18907,961
18806,645
18703,312
18605,480
18502,883
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Santa Rosa

Military engagements that took place in Santa Rosa, Florida.

Battle of Yellow Water Creek (1818)
1818
Skirmish at Yellow Water Creek
1818
Milton FL Panhandle Raid
1862

Historic places in Santa Rosa

National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Rosa, Florida.

Arcadia Sawmill and Arcadia Cotton Mill
Milton
First American Road in Florida
Gulf Breeze
Mt. Pilgrim African Baptist Church
Milton
Naval Live Oaks Reservation
Gulf Breeze
Louisville and Nashville Depot
Milton
St. Mary's Episcopal Church and Rectory
Milton
Bethune Blackwater Schooner
Milton
Ollinger-Cobb House
Milton
Milton Historic District (Additional Documentation)
Milton
Browse all Floridahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Santa Rosa County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Santa Rosa County, Florida. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Santa Rosa

When does Santa Rosa first appear in the US census?
Santa Rosa, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 2,883.
What is the population of Santa Rosa?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Santa Rosa had a recorded population of 188,000.
Were any battles fought in Santa Rosa?
3 documented military engagements took place in Santa Rosa, including Battle of Yellow Water Creek (1818), Skirmish at Yellow Water Creek, Milton FL Panhandle Raid.
How many historic places are in Santa Rosa?
17 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Santa Rosa, Florida.
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