Pensacola, city, seat of Escambia County, extreme northwestern Florida, on Pensacola Bay (an arm of the Gulf of Mexico); incorporated 1822. It is a commercial, manufacturing, and military center, with a fine deepwater harbor (protected by Santa Rosa Island). Products include textiles, clothing, carpets, paper products, building materials, nuclear reactors, and chemicals. Pensacola Naval Air Station (1914) and other U.S. Navy installations are major contributors to the economy. Fishing boats also are based here, and the city serves as a gateway to Gulf Islands National Seashore and other tourist spots. In Pensacola are the University of West Florida (1963), a large junior college, and art and historical museums. The site of Pensacola, which was briefly inhabited (1559-61) by Spaniards, was permanently settled by the Spanish in 1698. It was held (1719-22) by the French, was then returned to Spanish control, and passed to the British in 1763. It once more became a Spanish possession in 1783. The city served as the capital of British, then Spanish, West Florida and was used by the British as a base during the War of 1812. In 1814 it was captured for the United States by Andrew Jackson, who seized it again in 1818 after it had been returned to Spain. Pensacola formally passed to the U.S. in 1821 with the rest of Florida. During the American Civil War, Union forces gained control (1862) of the city. The main economic growth of Pensacola began in the late 19th century and accelerated in the early 20th century. The city's name is probably of Native American origin, possibly meaning “long-haired people.” Population 57,619 (1980); 58,165 (1990); 58,193 (1998 estimate). Information from:Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001