Oriole Beach, Florida

Oriole Beach
Census Designated Place
Oriole Beach CDP, Florida
Nickname: Home of the Sea Turtles
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Santa Rosa
Population (2020)
• Total	1,679
ZIP code	32563
Area code	850

Oriole Beachis anunincorporated communitylocated inSanta Rosa County,Florida,United States onSanta Rosa Sound.It lies east ofGulf Breezeon theFairpoint Peninsula,and about three miles north ofPensacola Beach.The population was 1,679 at the 2020 census, up from 1,420 at the 2010 census.Oriole Beach is part of thePensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent, FloridaMetropolitan Statistical Area.

Description

The main access road isU.S. Route 98,which runs east to west along the peninsula. The community has its roots as a beach cottage fishing retreat for the residents of Pensacola; some of the original cement block beach cottages are still standing. Permanent homes in Oriole Beach were built along Bay Street which follows an old Indian trail and, subsequently, a logging road that was used to harvestlive oak treesfor the construction ofCivil warsailing ships by theUnion Navyin the 1860s. The logging road connected to the Andrew Jackson Trail which linked Pensacola withJacksonville.TheNaval Live Oaks Reservationencompasses a portion of the land where the harvesting took place and where some of the live oak trees continue to grow.

Demographics

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 1,420 people living in Oriole Beach in 2010and, from 2011–2015, there were 582 household with a median income of 52,208.

History

In 1985, a homeowners' association was founded in Oriole Beach; it facilitated the construction of a new boat ramp and bicycle path. The bicycle path is part of theW.D. Childerstrail that loops approximately 28 miles around theFairpoint Peninsula.The only school in Oriole Beach, Oriole Beach Elementary School, is part of theSanta Rosa County School District.

Hurricane Ivanmadelandfallabout 30 miles east of Oriole Beach in November 2004. Thetidal surgewas recorded at 12 feet and the sustained winds were in excess of 120 miles per hour.The Bay Street elevation of Oriole Beach is about 7.0 feet above meansea level,so some homes on grade were destroyed. Most of the hurricane debris was removed by Santa Rosa County withFederal Emergency Management Agency(FEMA) grant money. As of spring 2007, a few structures andpine treesdamaged by Ivan remain to be demolished and removed.

In February 2007, the Bay Street roadway was made three feet wider and about six inches higher by the Santa Rosa County Engineering Department. New home construction is now required by the County Land Development Code to be connected to a sanitary sewer force main rather thanseptic tanks,the practice before Hurricane Ivan. Thecity of Gulf Breezesupplies sanitary sewer and natural gas service to the community. Potable water is supplied by a private water system from two elevated tanks connected to local water wells.