Situated in the northwestern part of Florida, Santa Rosa County is part of the Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent Metropolitan Statistical Area. With a population of around 184,000, the county is known for its natural beauty, including the Blackwater River State Park.
Established in 1842, Santa Rosa County is named after the Roman Catholic saint, Rosa de Viterbo.
Santa Rosa County faces the threat of hurricanes, floods, and occasional tornadoes.