Explosive growth in Pensacola

Pensacola is seeing "explosive growth" in population and new development as the city approaches record numbers in population.

The City’s population as of the 2010 Census was 51,923. Our current preliminary population estimate for 2017 is 54,071. This is an increase of 2,148 since 2010.

Pensacola has several new developments expected to bring more jobs and housing to the city, including the VT MAE project and several housing developments.

"I'm proud to say that the numbers are booming," Hayward said. "Pensacola is now being known as a city that is very fast-growing. We are in explosive-growth mode as a city."

This current estimate does not take into account the population that the residential units currently in various stages of completion within the downtown area will bring. It also does not include the multiple residential subdivision plats that have been approved in recent months. Our upward trend in population growth and overall urban density should not only continue, but significantly increase.

"It's exciting to see that Pensacola is becoming what we envisioned when I first ran for office," Hayward said. "That's a testament to being a healthy community and doing things right."

These numbers are prepared annually by the Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) at the University of Florida. They issue population estimates based on “active residential electric meters” in the City limits in the intervening years between official census counts. While the 2000 Census population of Pensacola was slightly higher at 56,255, we appear to be consistently rebounding from the loss in population numbers.