Santa Rosa County Map, Florida
Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Santa Rosa County, Florida. With a population of 188,000 living across 1,012 square miles of land, Santa Rosa County is one of 15 counties in the Northwest Florida region. The county seat is Milton, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12113 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.
Between Escambia and Okaloosa, Santa Rosa stretches from the emerald-water beaches of Navarre to the Alabama border. Whiting Field — one of the Navy's top pilot-training bases — is a major economic anchor.
Santa Rosa County at a glance
A concise reference summary of Santa Rosa County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.
- Official name
- Santa Rosa County
- County seat
- Milton
- FIPS code
- 12113
- Region
- Northwest Florida
- Established
- 1842
- Named for
- Santa Rosa Island — named by 18th-century Spanish explorers.
- Land area
- 1,012 sq mi
- Water area
- 162 sq mi
- Total area
- 1,174 sq mi
- Population (2020)
- 188,000
- Population density
- 186 / sq mi
- Time zone
- Central Time
Where is Santa Rosa County, Florida?
Santa Rosa County is located in the Northwest Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Milton, is the administrative hub — home to the courthouse, county commission chambers, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court.
The county spans a total of 1,174 square miles — 1,012 of land and 162 of water — and operates on Central Time. Federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, USGS, and FEMA reference the county by its FIPS code, 12113, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.
Santa Rosa County shares borders with 2 neighboring counties: Escambia County, Okaloosa County. Use the interactive map above to explore where those boundaries meet or jump directly to any neighboring county page for a side-by-side comparison.
Santa Rosa County geography & landscape
Barrier islands, Pensacola and East Bay estuaries, the Blackwater River (one of the purest sand-bottom rivers in the world), and inland pine forest.
The county's overall footprint — 1,012 square miles of land plus 162 square miles of water — places it in the mid-range of Florida's 67 counties by area. Elevation across most of Florida is modest, and land-use, drainage basins, and habitat corridors defined by state and federal agencies (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Water Management Districts) shape how growth and conservation coexist here.
Economy & industry in Santa Rosa County
U.S. Navy (Whiting Field), aerospace and defense contracting, tourism (Navarre Beach), boat building, and Pensacola-commuter suburbia.
Employment, tax base, and land use in Santa Rosa County reflect its location in Northwest Florida and its position in the state's middle tier of population. Economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publish updated employer and workforce data for the county on their portals.
History of Santa Rosa County
Established 1842 from Escambia County. Milton was a sawmill and shipbuilding town on the Blackwater River in the 19th century.
Established in 1842, Santa Rosa County is one of Florida's earliest counties. Its boundaries, seat, and government have evolved through territorial, statehood, Reconstruction, and modern eras — a lineage documented by the Florida Historical Society, the State Archives of Florida, and the Santa Rosa County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.
Tourism & things to do in Santa Rosa County
Navarre Beach, Blackwater River State Park, Gulf Islands National Seashore, Adventures Unlimited, and Milton's historic downtown.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Santa Rosa County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its Northwest Florida identity. For the latest hours, admission fees, and seasonal events, check the county's official tourism development council and the Florida State Parks portal (floridastateparks.org).
Cities, towns & communities in Santa Rosa County
Santa Rosa County contains the following incorporated cities, towns, and notable census-designated places. Each municipality provides local services, zoning, and police protection within the broader county jurisdiction. Use the ZIP code lookupto jump between Florida counties instantly.
Getting to Santa Rosa County
Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Santa Rosa County.
- I-10
- US-90
- US-98
- SR-87
- SR-89
- SR-281
- Peter Prince Field
- Pensacola International nearby
Santa Rosa County GIS, parcel & boundary data
Santa Rosa County's authoritative boundary lines, parcel data, zoning layers, flood zones, and land-use inventories are maintained by county government and state agencies. Use the official links in the sidebar for parcel lookups, appraiser searches, and record requests. For statewide GIS, the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publish downloadable layers keyed to FIPS 12113.
You can download this county's outline as SVG, PNG, or a printable PDF factsheet using the export tools in the sidebar — perfect for reports, presentations, classroom handouts, or planning documents.
Frequently asked about Santa Rosa County
Population figures reflect the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 decennial count with ACS 5-year updates where noted. Land and water areas come from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files. Highway designations use Florida Department of Transportation route inventories. County establishment dates and namesakes are drawn from the Florida Association of Counties and State Archives of Florida. See our methodology page.
Nearby Florida counties
Counties that share a border with Santa Rosa County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.