Difference between revisions of "City of Pensacola annexations"
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The [[City of Pensacola]] has expanded its [[Pensacola city limits|city limits]] through '''annexation''' on multiple occasions since the original area of 9.75 square miles was laid out by [[Andrew Jackson]] in [[1822]]. | The [[City of Pensacola]] has expanded its [[Pensacola city limits|city limits]] through '''annexation''' on multiple occasions since the original area of 9.75 square miles was laid out by [[Andrew Jackson]] in [[1822]]. | ||
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| + | A [[1937]] state law applicable only to Pensacola made large-scale annexation possible only by approval of two-thirds of city voters and two-thirds of voters within the territory to be annexed.<ref>"Let's Build Better City." ''Pensacola News''. April 26, 1943.</ref> This was long considered an insurmountable obstacle to expanding the city limits. In the 1940s, proponents of annexation tried to convince residents in unincorporated areas that joining the city would lower their insurance costs. Also, at that time, homesteads valued up to $5,000 were exempt from city property taxes. Nevertheless, a [[November 19]], [[1949]] referendum to annex [[East Pensacola Heights]] resulted in a 3-to-1 defeat. | ||
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| + | Furthermore, in [[1949]], a push was made to incorporate the [[Brownsville]] suburb, which had at the time 8,000-10,000 residents, into its own municipality: the "[[City of West Pensacola]]." The proposed boundaries were [[Avery Street]] to the north, the [[Pensacola city limits]] to the east, [[Bayou Chico]] to the south, and the [[Frisco Railroad]] tracks to the west.<ref>"Bill to Create West Pensacola City Planned." ''Pensacola News'', April 1, 1949.</ref> State Senator [[Philip D. Beall, Jr.]] introduced a bill on [[May 20]] calling for an election to incorporate the area, but it was vetoed by Governor [[Wikipedia:Fuller Warren|Fuller Warren]] on [[June 10]].<ref>"Governor Vetoes West Pensacola, Eight Other Bills." ''Pensacola News'', June 11, 1949.</ref> | ||
==List of annexation petitions & referenda== | ==List of annexation petitions & referenda== | ||
Revision as of 04:51, 21 October 2009
The City of Pensacola has expanded its city limits through annexation on multiple occasions since the original area of 9.75 square miles was laid out by Andrew Jackson in 1822.
A 1937 state law applicable only to Pensacola made large-scale annexation possible only by approval of two-thirds of city voters and two-thirds of voters within the territory to be annexed.[1] This was long considered an insurmountable obstacle to expanding the city limits. In the 1940s, proponents of annexation tried to convince residents in unincorporated areas that joining the city would lower their insurance costs. Also, at that time, homesteads valued up to $5,000 were exempt from city property taxes. Nevertheless, a November 19, 1949 referendum to annex East Pensacola Heights resulted in a 3-to-1 defeat.
Furthermore, in 1949, a push was made to incorporate the Brownsville suburb, which had at the time 8,000-10,000 residents, into its own municipality: the "City of West Pensacola." The proposed boundaries were Avery Street to the north, the Pensacola city limits to the east, Bayou Chico to the south, and the Frisco Railroad tracks to the west.[2] State Senator Philip D. Beall, Jr. introduced a bill on May 20 calling for an election to incorporate the area, but it was vetoed by Governor Fuller Warren on June 10.[3]
List of annexation petitions & referenda
| Date | Area(s) to annex | Size | Residents[4] | Votes[5] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For | Against | ||||
| November 29, 1949 | East Pensacola Heights | 173 | 531 | ||
| November 10, 1953 | Granada easterly around head of Bayou Texar and Municipal Airport, south (through modern Cordova Park) to 15th Street | 4.21 square miles | 160 | 73 | |
| November 17, 1953 | East Pensacola Heights | 448 acres | |||
| February 7, 1956 | West Pensacola | 153 | 251 | ||
| June 21, 1956 | Woodland Heights, Springdale and Springdale First Addition west of Carpenter's Creek | 240 acres | 16 | 0 | |
| April 23, 1957 | Highland Terrace | slightly under 1 square mile | 482 registered voters | 233 | 49 |
| January 16, 1958 | West Pensacola business district (centered on Cervantes between O and V Streets) | <20 acres | petition | ||
| October 21, 1958 | Scenic Hills-Gull Point area | 500 acres | 149 registered voters | 60 | 19 |
| December 9, 1958 | Warrington | 1,532 | 2,036 | ||
| August 14, 1962 | "Old Aviation Field" south of Goulding Road and Hermann Avenue and east of Palafox | 343 acres | 3,114 | 224 | 303 |
| January 19, 1965 | Warrington, portions of Brownsville, Ensley and Brent, Ferry Pass and others | 17.2 square miles | 36,000 | 1,393 | 7,126 |
| October 11, 1966 | Area generally north of West Lee Street, south of Brainerd Street, east of J Street, and west of M and N Streets | 28.7 acres | 1,100 | 73 | 81 |
| December 23, 1969 | Five schools: Pensacola High, Washington High, Brown-Barge Elementary, Workman Junior High and Holm Elementary | 105 acres | requested by Escambia County School Board | ||
| June 7, 1971 | Area generally south of John Carroll Road, east of Beauclair Road, west of Allyn Way and north of Toni Street | 11.8 acres | over 100 | petition | |
| November 8, 1988 (article) | Cordova Mall area and areas northeast of the Airport Boulevard/9th Avenue intersection | 186 | 178 | ||
| Areas around Woodchuck Avenue, Baywoods Drive, and Whisper Way | 102 | 353 | |||
Notes & references
- ↑ "Let's Build Better City." Pensacola News. April 26, 1943.
- ↑ "Bill to Create West Pensacola City Planned." Pensacola News, April 1, 1949.
- ↑ "Governor Vetoes West Pensacola, Eight Other Bills." Pensacola News, June 11, 1949.
- ↑ At time of referendum
- ↑ Except where noted, vote tallies include only residents of areas to be annexed
