In 1970-80, Escambia, Okaloosa, and Bay Counties supported about 80% of 

 the housing units in Northwest Florda. These three counties now account for 

 over 174,000 of the over 215,000 housing units. The large share of housing in 

 these counties is further verified by the number of building permits issued in 

 1975-79 (Figure 1). Apparent is the steady increase in the number of permits 

 issued. 



In 1970-80, the numerical increase in housing units was greatest in 

 Escambia County, but its percentage of the Northwest Florida total declined. 

 In 1980, Santa Rosa County had about 20,000 housing units, nearly 10% of the 

 Northwest Florida total. If its share of new units continues to increase for 

 another decade or two, it will become one of the major residential develop- 

 ments in Northwest Florida. Franklin, Gulf, and Walton Counties have shown 

 a slow but steady increase in housing units (Table 2). Except for Cape San 

 Bias in Gulf County, St. George Island and Dog Island in Franklin County, and 

 along the immediate shoreline, other residential development is unlikely in 

 these two counties in the near future. 



Table 2. The number of housing units (x 1,000) in each county in Northwest 

 Florida at 10-year intervals in 1950-80, and the percentage increase for each 

 decade (U.S. Department of Commerce 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981a). 



DISTRIBUTION 



Of the seven counties in Northwest Florida, only Escambia, Bay, and 

 Okaloosa are classified as urban. Since 1950, the population growth has been 

 centered in or near major urban centers. In 1980, the population of Pensacola 

 in Escambia County was 57,130; for Panama City in Bay County it was 33,100; 

 and for Fort Walton Beach in Okaloosa County it was 20,811. Adjacent military 

 bases contribute to the population and economy of each of these urban centers. 

 The Pensacola Naval Air Station employs 18,000 people; Tyndall Air Force Base, 

 located near Panama City, employs 5,700 people; and Elgin Air Force Base, just 

 north of Fort Walton Beach has a work force of 14,000. The Elgin Air Force 

 Base may be the largest (720 mi^) military base in the world (Miller 1981). 

 Each of the three cities now is exhibiting urban sprawl. 



57 



