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Santa Rosa Beach

Santa Rosa Beach History

   Santa Rosa Beach is one of 11 beach communities that dot scenic Highway 30-A, an 18-mile road that runs along the gulf coastline in the Panhandle's Walton County. Although Santa Rosa Beach is not technically a town, it is one of the largest unincorporated communities found along the coast.
   Santa Rosa Beach is bordered by Choctawhatchee Bay to the north and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. The community was named after the Santa Rosa Plantation, which was located at nearby Hogtown Bayou in the late 1800s.
   For many years, the land comprising modern-day Santa Rosa Beach was used for turpentine production. The industry waned in the 1940s, and much of the woodlands were cleared for commercial and residential development.
   Today, Santa Rosa Beach is a growing community that's home to vacationing snowbirds as well as year-round residents. It also serves as a hub for neighboring beach communities, many of which have Santa Rosa Beach addresses even though they sit well outside the community's traditional boundaries.

Activities

   Santa Rosa Beach faces the calming waves of Choctawhatchee Bay to the north, while the south end of the beach lies along the crashing surf of the Gulf of Mexico. The waters offer a variety of activities from fishing and swimming to boating and a myriad of water sports.
   Those in search of fine dining and shopping will find it at Santa Rosa Beach. A large retail area is located near the main intersection of Highways 30-A and 393.
   Santa Rosa Beach is located just west of the Grayton Beach State Recreation Area, a 400-acre state park with rolling dunes and white sand beaches. Activities at Grayton Beach include camping, hiking, swimming, boating and fishing. Shorebirds populate the pristine beach, which is also home to nesting sea turtles during the summer months.
   Topsail Hill State Preserve is also nearby, featuring a protected beach, dunes, swamp and coastal lake. And Point Washington State Forest is a 15,000-acre preserve with more than 10 miles of nature trails.

Santa Rosa Beach Fast Facts

   Location: Santa Rosa Beach is located along Highway 30-A, between Destin and Panama City Beach.
   Population: Santa Rosa Beach is unincorporated. Approximately 6,000 residents live in the community.
   Average annual rainfall: 69.20 inches
   Average temperatures: 81ºF in summer, 49ºF in winter

Schools

Homes

   Year-round homes and vacation rentals are available at Santa Rosa Beach. Beachfront homes are complemented by high-end condominiums, many of which face Choctawhatchee Bay or the Gulf of Mexico.

Real Estate

   There are a variety of designs in Santa Rosa Beach. These pictures give a few examples:

Maps of Santa Rosa Beach

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