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Allentown, Florida

Coordinates: 30°45′46″N 87°02′32″W / 30.76278°N 87.04222°W / 30.76278; -87.04222
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Allentown, Florida
Location of Allentown in Santa Rosa County, Florida.
Location of Allentown in Santa Rosa County, Florida.
Allentown, Florida is located in Florida
Allentown, Florida
Allentown, Florida
Allentown, Florida is located in the United States
Allentown, Florida
Allentown, Florida
Coordinates: 30°45′46″N 87°02′32″W / 30.76278°N 87.04222°W / 30.76278; -87.04222
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountySanta Rosa
First settledc. 1842
Area
 • Total
30.459 sq mi (78.89 km2)
 • Land30.233 sq mi (78.30 km2)
 • Water0.226 sq mi (0.59 km2)
Elevation
207 ft (63 m)
Population
 • Total
1,023
 • Density34/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code850
GNIS feature ID294649[2]

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

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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.[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the community has an area of 30.459 square miles (78.89 km2); 30.233 square miles (78.30 km2) of its area is land, and 0.226 square miles (0.59 km2) is water.[1]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
2010894
20201,02314.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places: Florida". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  2. ^ "Allentown". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ The Heritage of Santa Rosa County, Florida. Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc. 2003. ISBN 1-891647-69-5.
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2016.