Harold, Florida Explained

Official Name:Harold, 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
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:14.729
Area Land Sq Mi:14.689
Area Water Sq Mi:0.040
Population As Of:2020
Population Total:909
Population Density Sq Mi:auto
Timezone:Central (CST)
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:CDT
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Elevation Ft:148
Coordinates:30.6592°N -86.8803°W
Area Code:850
Blank Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank Info:287350

Harold is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Santa Rosa County, in the U.S. state of Florida. Its population was 909 at the 2020 census,[2] up from 823 at the 2010 census.[1] It is part of the PensacolaFerry PassBrent, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. A satellite field for Training Air Wing FIVE at Naval Air Station Whiting Field called OLF Harold is located here.

History

Harold was originally known as Oscar.[3] Oscar was first settled sometime around 1881, when its post office was established. Oscar's population increased upon the completion of the Pensacola and Atlanta Railroad in 1883. William D. Chipley purchased land for lumber in the early 1890s. It was around this time that the community became known as Harold.

A post office called Harold was established in 1909, and remained in operation until 1995.[4] An early postmaster gave the community the name of his son.[5] Another history behind the name involves Kansas congressman Ebenezer F. Porter, who purchased land for lumber in the area in the 1890s, renaming it for his son, Harold (1891-1962).

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places: Florida. U.S. Census Bureau. March 18, 2017.
  2. Web site: Explore Census Data . 2024-05-13 . data.census.gov.
  3. Book: The Heritage of Santa Rosa County, Florida . Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc. . 2003 . 1-891647-69-5.
  4. Web site: Santa Rosa County . Jim Forte Postal History . 3 October 2016.
  5. Book: The Whole & True Discouerye of Terra Florida: A Facsimile Reprint of the London Edition of 1563, Together with a Transcript of an English Version in the British Museum. 1927. Florida state historical society. 978-0-8130-0544-7. 39. ...for the son of the postmaster..