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On [[October 9]], [[1861]], it was the site of the [[Battle of Santa Rosa Island]].
In [[19291927]], Santa Rosa Island was sold by the U.S. War Department for $10,048.75 to [[Escambia County, Florida]]. After the completion of a two-year purchase plan, for $10the deed was delivered to the county on [[April 29]],000[[1929]]. Ten years laterAn agreement with developers [[Johnson, the county returned the island Drake and Piper]] led to the federal government in construction of the expectation that it would be developed into a U.S. National Monument preserving [[Pensacola Bay Bridge]], the remnants of [[Fort PickensSanta Rosa Sound Bridge]], and [[the only fort Casino]] ballroom and recreational center, which opened concurrently in the South to be held by the Union throughout the duration of the [[Civil War1931]].
In [[1939]], ten years after buying the island, Escambia County used a revert clause to return the island to the federal government in the expectation that it would be developed into a U.S. National Monument preserving the remnants of [[Fort Pickens]], the only fort in the South to be held by the Union throughout the duration of the [[Civil War]]. The island was re-conveyed to Escambia County in [[1946]]. The [[Santa Rosa Island Authority]] was created by the Florida legislature (Chapter 24500) in [[1947]] to administer [[Pensacola Beach]].
The island's sugar white quartz sands have made it a popular destination for beachgoers since the latter half of the twentieth century. In recent years all the island's communities have seen rapid development.
*[http://www.navarrebeach.org/History/History%20in%20Acrobat.PDF Santa Rosa Island - a History (Part 1)] - Jane Johnson, ''NavarreBeach.org''.
*[http://www.uwf.edu/anthropology/research/SantaRosa.cfm Presidio Isla de Santa Rosa - Overview and History]
*William L. Post. ''Deceit Beach: The True Story of Deception by Escambia County and their agent, the Santa Rosa Island Authority, and how the Florida Supreme Court failed to protect the victims''. Trent's Prints & Publishing, 2008.
[[Category:Santa Rosa Island| ]]