Allentown, Florida Explained

Official Name:Allentown, Florida
Settlement Type:Unincorporated community
Pushpin Map:Florida#USA
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Florida
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Santa Rosa
Established Title:First settled
Established Date:c. 1842
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:30.459
Area Land Sq Mi:30.233
Area Water Sq Mi:0.226
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:1023
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:207
Coordinates:30.7628°N -87.0422°W
Area Code:850
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:294649

Allentown is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States. Its population was 1,023 at the 2020 census, up from 894 as of the 2010 census.[1] It is part of the PensacolaFerry PassBrent, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

State Road 87 (SR 87), SR 89, and County Road 182 (CR 182) pass through the community. The intersection of CR 182 and SR 89 is typically referred by locals as "downtown Allentown" or simply "the caution light."

Central School and the local volunteer fire department are located in Allentown. There are two small churches within the community. Navy T-6 Training planes are frequently heard overhead due to the close proximity of NAS Whiting Field to the east.

History

Allentown was founded in around 1842 by Floridatown resident, former Sheriff of Escambia County, and first Sheriff of Santa Rosa County Jesse Carter Allen (1811-1892). Allen homesteaded in the region after a Yellow Fever outbreak. Another pioneer of the area was Ben Jernigan, a sawmill operator. John Botts and W.W. Harrison (second Sheriff of Santa Rosa County) were also among the earliest settlers in the area.

Allentown largest industry early on was lumber. Robinson Point and Bay Point Lumber Companies owned large land areas. Sheep and cattle are also large industries in the area.[2]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the community has an area of ; of its area is land, and is water.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places: Florida. U.S. Census Bureau. March 21, 2017.
  2. Book: The Heritage of Santa Rosa County, Florida . Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc. . 2003 . 1-891647-69-5.