All About Santa Rosa

Courtesy of Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Office

 

Santa Rosa County is in the midst of a six-county area of Northwest Florida that has the highest concentration of military retirees in the U.S., providing a trained and ready workforce. There are more than 31,000 military retirees in Santa Rosa alone — and approximately 100,000 military veterans in Santa Rosa and neighboring counties combined. 

Four military installations are located 45 minutes or less from the county sites that are certified as shovel-ready. And, Santa Rosa County is only 70 miles from the new Airbus facility in Mobile, Alabama.

More than 36 percent of the county’s population has an associate’s degree or higher.

Local schools are among the best in the state of Florida — the school district, and the vast majority of local public schools, consistently earning an “A” grade from the state.

Local business incentives can provide up to $800 per position per year.


Population

2016 (estimated) — 167,009

Median Age (2015) — 39.3 years

Under 18 years — 29.3%

65 years and older — 12.9%

18 to 64 years — 57.8%

 

Tourism Development Tax Collection

December 2016 — $107,992.05 (18 percent higher than December 2015)

 

Employment

Median Household Income  — $58,923 +/- $2,469 

Median Family Income — $66,156 +/- $1,774

Unemployment (January 2017) — 4.4%


Major Employers (2014)

Private Organizations

Industry

# Employed

Wal-Mart Stores (4)

Retail

1,285

Baptist Healthcare Systems

Health Services

543

Santa Rosa Medical Center

Health Services

400

Blackwater River Correctional Facility

Private State Prison

400

Publix

Grocery

380

Navy Federal

Financial Services

340

Mediacom

Internet/Cable

300

Goldring Gulf Distributing

Warehouse/Distribution

240

AppRiver, LLC

Internet Security

220

Lifeguard Ambulance Service

Ambulance Service

160

 

 

 

Public Organizations

 

# Employed

State Government

 

1,282

Santa Rosa County School District

 

2,750

Federal Military

 

1,336

Santa Rosa County Government

 

949

Federal Government

 

751

 

 

Sources: Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, U.S. Census Bureau, Santa Rosa Economic Development Office