Santa Rosa County, Florida: History
The first European in Santa Rosa County may have been Diego Maldonado, a member of Tristan de Luna's failed expedition. Natives dominated the area until the late 1700s. A Spanish mission serving Apalachees, Nuestra Señora de la Soledad y San Luís, may have been located in Floridatown from 1718 until 1740.
Santa Rosa County was created in 1842, when it was divided from Escambia County. It was named after the barrier island along its southern coast, which, in turn, had been named for the Roman Catholic saint Rosa de Viterbo.
Santa Rosa County repealed its prohibition on alcohol in 2005.
Santa Rosa County has seen unprecedented growth in population, specifically in Navarre, Pace, and Gulf Breeze. The county is a quickly growing tourist destination because of its access to beaches and protected wilderness areas for kayaking, hiking, and camping.