View source for Milton, Florida

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|name                     = Milton, Florida
|settlement_type          = [[Administrative divisions of Florida|City]]
|nickname                 =
|motto                    =
<!-- Images --------------->
|image_skyline            = Santa Rosa Court House.jpg
|image_caption            = Santa Rosa County Courthouse
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = 
<!-- Maps ----------------->
|image_map                = Santa_Rosa_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Milton_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location of Milton, Florida
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
<!-- Location ------------->
|subdivision_type         = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Florida]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Santa Rosa County, Florida|Santa Rosa]]
<!-- Government ----------->
|government_footnotes     = <ref>{{cite web|title=City Council|url=https://www.miltonfl.org/188/City-Council|publisher=City of Milton, Florida|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–Manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Heather Lindsay
|leader_title1            = [[City manager]]
|leader_name1             = Edward E. Spears
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1844<ref name=PenInc>{{Cite web|title=Florida Cities by Incorporation Year with Incorporation & Dissolution Info |url=https://www.flcities.com/docs/default-source/research-institute-reports/2020citiesbyincorporationwithinfo.pdf?sfvrsn=5009d6d5_0 |publisher=Florida League of Cities (FLC) |website=www.flcities.com |date=December 2020 |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
<!-- Area ----------------->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024">{{cite web|title=2024 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2024_Gazetteer/2024_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 15.436
|area_land_km2            = 14.845
|area_water_km2           = 0.592
|area_total_sq_mi         = 5.960
|area_land_sq_mi          = 5.732
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.228
|area_water_percent       = 4.59
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_est           = 10957
|pop_est_as_of            = 2023
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2023"/>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
|population_total         = 10197
|population_density_km2   = 751.31
|population_density_sq_mi = 1945.86
<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = −6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = −5
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_m              = 9
|elevation_ft             = 30
|coordinates              = {{coord|30|37|56.69|N|87|02|22.88|W|region:US-FL_type:city|display=inline}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]s
|postal_code              = 32570, 32571, 32572, 32583
|area_codes                = [[Area codes 850 and 448|850 and 448]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-45750
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0286947<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|0286947}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.miltonfl.org/|miltonfl.org}}
}}

'''Milton''' is a [[city]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Santa Rosa County, Florida|Santa Rosa County]], Florida, United States. It is located within the [[Pensacola metropolitan area]]. The city was first Incorporated in 1844, however certain areas such as [[East Milton, Florida|East Milton]], [[Point Baker, Florida|Point Baker]], and [[Bagdad, Florida|Bagdad]] remain unincorporated. Milton is located in the geographic center of Santa Rosa County, and it is bordered by [[Pace, Florida|Pace]] to the west, and [[Navarre, Florida|Navarre]] to the south. The population was 10,197 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="2020 Census (City)">{{cite web|title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Milton_city,_Florida?g=160XX00US1245750 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>

==Etymology==
Milton was known by various names during its development. Most notable were "Hell-Town" (muggy, inhospitable land covered with briars, mosquitoes, thorns, snakes), "Jernigan's Landing", "Scratch Ankle" (due to the briars that grew along the riverbank), and "Hard Scrabble".<ref>{{cite web|title=Santa Rosa Historical Society|url=https://santarosahistoricalsociety.com/|website=www.santarosahistoricalsociety.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>

According to Florida historian [[Allen Morris (historian)|Allen Morris]], "Just which Milton was honored by the final name is a dispute. Some say it is a contraction of an earlier Milltown; others that it was Milton Amos, pioneer and ancestor of the present Amos family; still others that it was [[John Milton (Florida politician)|John Milton]]—not the English poet, but the Civil War governor of Florida."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Morris |first1=Allen |title=Florida Place Names: Alachua to Zolfo Springs |date=1995 |publisher=Pineapple Press |location=Sarasota, Florida |isbn=1561648396 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t5hxDwAAQBAJ&q=milton |access-date=October 22, 2019}}</ref>

==History==
Milton was settled in the early 1800s as a small village centered on the [[lumber]] industry. The settlement originally was known as Scratch Ankle because of the [[briar (thicket)|briar]]s and [[bramble]] that grew in the area.<ref name="history">{{cite web|title=History of Milton, FL|url=http://www.ci.milton.fl.us/244/History |website=www.ci.milton.fl.us|date=April 2, 2012|access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref> Another name was Jernigan's Landing after Benjamin Jernigan (died April 1847), who built a water-powered [[saw mill]] at what is now Locklin Lake between 1828 and 1830.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://genforum.genealogy.com/jernigan/messages/1271.html |title=Santa Rosa Press Gazette, February 15, 2008 - ''City of Milton ordered to stop damage to Jernigan Mill''|website=genforum.genealogy.com |access-date=23 February 2015}}</ref> Other names were Lumberton, Black Water, and Hard Scrabble, but by 1839, it was being referred to as Milltown.<ref>Green, Laurie (1998), [https://books.google.com/books?id=umpsQqnhnbwC&dq=%22Jernigan%27s+Landing%22&pg=PA7 ''Santa Rosa County''], Arcadia Publishing, {{ISBN|978-0752408750}} (p. 7)</ref> Milton was incorporated as a town in 1844, one year before the [[Territory of Florida]] joined the United States as the 27th state.<ref name="history"/>

During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], much of Milton was burned by [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] forces retreating from the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] capture of [[Pensacola]] on May 2–4, 1862. The Confederates intended to prevent the town's industries from falling into Union hands. After the Southern forces evacuated, the Union troops had a small garrison in nearby [[Bagdad, Florida|Bagdad]], where they had a base for expeditions in the surrounding area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://boggyflorida.com/Niceville/CivilWar.html|website=boggyflorida.com|author=Elisa Mitchiner|title=Civil War|date=November 2010|access-date=January 20, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201231840/http://boggyflorida.com/Niceville/CivilWar.html|archive-date=February 1, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many Milton residents fled to [[Alabama]].<ref name="history"/>

In the early days of Milton, it was known as an extremely rough town.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Heritage of Santa Rosa County, Florida |publisher=Heritage Publishing Consultants, inc. |year=2003}}</ref> Judges from Escambia County sentenced criminals to be confined to Milton, which was nicknamed "Hell Town" by its residents. An old story from the area tells of the [[Rough Riders]] passing through Milton on their "best behavior".{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

[[Naval Air Station Whiting Field]] was constructed during [[World War II]] with the help of many German [[prisoner of war|prisoners of war]] who were housed in a camp on the site. The station was commissioned on July 16, 1943, by Rear Admiral [[George D. Murray]] and the widow of Captain [[Kenneth Whiting]], after whom the station was named.<ref>{{cite web|title=NAS Whiting Field |url=http://www.militarybases.us/navy/nas-whiting-field/ |website=www.militarybases.us |access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref>

The first hospital care in Milton began in 1951, when a group of locals formed the Santa Rosa County Hospital Board. The first hospital in Milton, Santa Rosa Hospital, was located on Stewart Street and opened on December 2, 1952. Santa Rosa Hospital had multiple expansions in the 1960s, and by 1970, the hospital was far too small for Milton's growing population. Construction for a new hospital began that year, and in December 1972, the [[Santa Rosa Medical Center]] was opened.

On [[Tornado outbreak of March 30–31, 1962#Milton, Florida|March 31, 1962]], an [[Fujita scale|F3]] tornado hit the northwest side of Milton, causing 17 deaths and 100 injuries. It was Florida's deadliest tornado until [[1998 Kissimmee tornado outbreak|February 22, 1998]], when 25 people were killed in [[Kissimmee, Florida|Kissimmee]] by another F3 tornado.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm |title=The Most 'Important' US Tornadoes by State |access-date=May 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304035740/http://www.tornadoproject.com/alltorns/worstts.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref> It was also the deadliest tornado in 1962.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tornado History Project: Maps and Statistics|url=http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com|website=www.tornadohistoryproject.com|access-date=April 17, 2018}}</ref>

On January 21, 2025, Milton received {{convert|10|in|cm}} of snow during the [[January 20–22, 2025 Gulf Coast blizzard|Gulf Coast blizzard]], more than double the previous state record of {{convert|4|in|cm}} that was also set in Milton in 1954.<ref>{{Cite web|last=herzmann |first=daryl |title=IEM :: Local Storm Report App |url=https://mesonet.agron.iastate.edu/lsr/#MOB/202501212330/202501221300/111010 |access-date=January 23, 2025 |website=mesonet.agron.iastate.edu |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Florida panhandle gets record snowfall from winter blast |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/florida-panhandle-gets-record-snowfall-from-winter-blast/ |website=www.cbsnews.com |access-date=January 22, 2025}}</ref>

==Geography==
Milton is located at {{coord|30|37|56.69|N|87|02|22.88|W|type:city}} (30.6324149, -87.0396881),<ref name=gnis/> near the mouth of the [[Blackwater River (Florida)|Blackwater River]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|5.960|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|5.732|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.228|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (4.59%) is water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2024"/>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|width=auto
|location = Milton, Florida (Milton Experimental Station), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–2008
|Jan record high F = 84
|Feb record high F = 84
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 94
|May record high F = 99
|Jun record high F = 103
|Jul record high F = 104
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 98
|Nov record high F = 88
|Dec record high F = 82
|Jan avg record high F = 75.2
|Feb avg record high F = 77.6
|Mar avg record high F = 83.6
|Apr avg record high F = 87.3
|May avg record high F = 92.5
|Jun avg record high F = 96.6
|Jul avg record high F = 97.9
|Aug avg record high F = 96.8
|Sep avg record high F = 95.0
|Oct avg record high F = 89.7
|Nov avg record high F = 83.5
|Dec avg record high F = 78.0
|year avg record high F = 99.1
|single line = Y
| Jan high F = 59.9
| Feb high F = 64.4
| Mar high F = 71.2
| Apr high F = 77.0
| May high F = 84.9
| Jun high F = 89.8
| Jul high F = 91.0
| Aug high F = 90.8
| Sep high F = 87.4
| Oct high F = 79.6
| Nov high F = 69.8
| Dec high F = 62.7
|year high F = 77.4
|Jan mean F = 48.1
|Feb mean F = 52.0
|Mar mean F = 58.2
|Apr mean F = 64.3
|May mean F = 72.3
|Jun mean F = 78.4
|Jul mean F = 80.1
|Aug mean F = 79.7
|Sep mean F = 76.1
|Oct mean F = 66.9
|Nov mean F = 56.4
|Dec mean F = 50.7
|year mean F = 65.3
| Jan low F = 36.0
| Feb low F = 39.6
| Mar low F = 45.3
| Apr low F = 51.7
| May low F = 59.6
| Jun low F = 66.9
| Jul low F = 69.1
| Aug low F = 68.6
| Sep low F = 64.7
| Oct low F = 54.1
| Nov low F = 43.0
| Dec low F = 38.7
|year low F = 53.1
|Jan avg record low F = 21.3
|Feb avg record low F = 24.0
|Mar avg record low F = 30.3
|Apr avg record low F = 37.6
|May avg record low F = 49.6
|Jun avg record low F = 59.7
|Jul avg record low F = 66.3
|Aug avg record low F = 64.9
|Sep avg record low F = 54.6
|Oct avg record low F = 38.3
|Nov avg record low F = 30.8
|Dec avg record low F = 23.2
|year avg record low F = 17.3
|Jan record low F = 3
|Feb record low F = 11
|Mar record low F = 20
|Apr record low F = 30
|May record low F = 39
|Jun record low F = 50
|Jul record low F = 55
|Aug record low F = 57
|Sep record low F = 37
|Oct record low F = 28
|Nov record low F = 19
|Dec record low F = 8
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 5.89
| Feb precipitation inch = 4.66
| Mar precipitation inch = 5.39
| Apr precipitation inch = 5.55
| May precipitation inch = 3.78
| Jun precipitation inch = 7.48
| Jul precipitation inch = 7.68
| Aug precipitation inch = 6.89
| Sep precipitation inch = 6.50
| Oct precipitation inch = 4.40
| Nov precipitation inch = 4.81
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.61
|year precipitation inch = 67.64
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 9.6
| Feb precipitation days = 7.7
| Mar precipitation days = 8.2
| Apr precipitation days = 6.4
| May precipitation days = 6.9
| Jun precipitation days = 11.0
| Jul precipitation days = 14.6
| Aug precipitation days = 13.2
| Sep precipitation days = 8.1
| Oct precipitation days = 6.9
| Nov precipitation days = 7.3
| Dec precipitation days = 7.8
| year precipitation days = 107.7
|Jan snow inch = 0.0
|Feb snow inch = 0.0
|Mar snow inch = 0.1
|Apr snow inch = 0.0
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.0
|Dec snow inch = 0.0
|year snow inch = 0.1
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 0.0
|Feb snow days = 0.0
|Mar snow days = 0.1
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 0.0
|year snow days = 0.1
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web|title=Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020 |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00085793&format=pdf |publisher=[[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]] |accessdate=June 25, 2021}}</ref> |source 2=XMACIS2 (mean maxima/minima 1971&ndash;2000)<ref name=XMACIS2>{{cite web|title=xmACIS2 |url=https://xmacis.rcc-acis.org/ |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=February 28, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 1815
|1870= 1014
|1880= 1058
|1890= 1455
|1900= 1204
|1910= 831
|1920= 1594
|1930= 1466
|1940= 1851
|1950= 2040
|1960= 4108
|1970= 5360
|1980= 7206
|1990= 7216
|2000= 7045
|2010= 8826
|2020= 10197
|estyear=2023
|estimate=10957
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|title=Decennial Census of Population and Housing|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=www.census.gov |access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><br>2020 Census<ref name="2020 Census (City)"/>
}}

As of the 2023 [[American Community Survey]], there are 4,533 estimated households in Milton with an average of 2.24 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $72,676. Approximately 10.8% of the city's population lives at or below the [[Poverty in the United States|poverty line]]. Milton has an estimated 53.9% employment rate, with 21.9% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 88.5% holding a high school diploma.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Milton city, Florida |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/miltoncityflorida/PST045224 |website=www.census.gov |access-date=January 25, 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

The top five reported ancestries (people were allowed to report up to two ancestries, thus the figures will generally add to more than 100%) were English (92.8%), Spanish (5.6%), Indo-European (1.0%), Asian and Pacific Islander (0.6%), and Other (0.0%).

The median age in the city was 38.0 years.

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Milton, Florida – racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
! Race / ethnicity <small>(''NH = non-Hispanic'')</small>
! Pop. 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Milton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1245750&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
! Pop. 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Milton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1245750&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
! {{partial|Pop. 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Milton city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1245750&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>
! % 2000
! % 2010
! {{partial|% 2020}}
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
| 5,362
| 6,594
| style='background: #ffffe6; |7,410
| 76.11%
| 74.71%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |72.67%
|-
| [[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
| 1,096
| 1,200
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1,120
| 15.56%
| 13.60%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |10.98%
|-
| [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
| 50
| 62
| style='background: #ffffe6; |53
| 0.71%
| 0.70%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52%
|-
| [[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
| 121
| 188
| style='background: #ffffe6; |172
| 1.72%
| 2.13%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |1.69%
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
| 9
| 19
| style='background: #ffffe6; |51
| 0.13%
| 0.22%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.50%
|-
| [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
| 7
| 23
| style='background: #ffffe6; |47
| 0.10%
| 0.26%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |0.46%
|-
| [[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or multiracial]] (NH)
| 157
| 314
| style='background: #ffffe6; |725
| 2.23%
| 3.56%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |7.11%
|-
| [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
| 243
| 426
| style='background: #ffffe6; |619
| 3.45%
| 4.83%
| style='background: #ffffe6; |6.07%
|-
| '''Total'''
| '''7,045'''
| '''8,826'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''10,197'''
| '''100.00%'''
| '''100.00%'''
| style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 10,197 people, 4,026 households, and 2,463 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type |url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Milton%20city,%20Florida%20p16&y=2020 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref> The [[population density]] was {{convert|1832.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,443 housing units at an average density of {{convert|798.4|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 74.61% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 11.29% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.62% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.77% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.51% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.53% from some other races and 9.68% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 6.07% of the population.<ref>{{Cite web|title=How many people live in Milton city, Florida |url=https://data.usatoday.com/census/total-population/total-population-change/milton-city-florida/160-1245750/ |publisher=[[USA Today]] |access-date=January 25, 2025}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 8,826 people, 3,516 households, and _ families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1616.4|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 4,021 housing units at an average density of {{convert|736.0|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.36% [[White (U.S. census)|White]], 13.90% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.73% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.23% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.26% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.50% from some other races and 4.02% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 4.83% of the population.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]], there were 7,045 people, 2,674 households and 1,831 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,611.1|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 3,151 housing units at an average density of {{convert|720.6|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the town was 67.84% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 25.95% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.71% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.73% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.17% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.04% from some other races, and 2.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] people of any race were 3.45% of the population.

There were 2,674 households, of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 15.6% had a female homeowner, and 31.5% were non-families. 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.

27.3% of the population were under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 18.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.1 males.

The [[median household income]] was $37,629, and the median family income was $44,261. Males had a median income of $35,000 versus $28,337 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,367. About 11% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]], including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

==City information==
[[Santa Rosa Medical Center]] (SRMC) is a 129-bed general [[hospital]] in Milton. SRMC is the primary provider of hospital-based healthcare services and emergency medicine in Santa Rosa County.

Milton is the home of the [[West Florida Railroad Museum]], [[Blackwater-Heritage-State-Trail]], and the historic Imogene Theater, owned and operated by the Santa Rosa Historical Society.

==Notable people==
* [[Randy Allen (basketball)|Randy Allen]], professional basketball player, shooting guard for [[Sacramento Kings]]
* [[Dan Amos]], cofounder of [[Aflac]]<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/04/business/paul-s-amos-a-co-founder-of-aflac-insurance-dies-at-88.html Paul S. Amos, a Co-Founder of Aflac, Dies at 88]</ref>
* [[Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck|Martha Beck]], serial killer
* [[Mark Everett (athlete)|Mark Everett]], professional sprinter, 1997 world indoor champion
* [[Greg Evers]], Florida legislator and farmer
* [[Daniel Ewing]], professional basketball player, [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] and [[Israeli Basketball Premier League|Israeli Premier League]]
* [[Cortland Finnegan]], [[National Football League|NFL]] cornerback
* [[Dayton Hobbs]], founder and pastor of independent Bible church in Milton, putative creator of [[tee-ball]]
* [[Bolley Johnson]], member of [[Florida House of Representatives]] 1978–1994, [[Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives|speaker]] 1992–1994
* [[Reggie Slack]], quarterback of NFL and [[Canadian Football League]]
* [[Heath Slocum]], professional golfer on [[PGA Tour]]
* [[Kevin Stitt]], governor of [[Oklahoma]], businessman
* [[Lawrence Tynes]], NFL placekicker
* [[Casper Van Dien]], actor
* [[Rod Walker]], NFL defensive tackle
* [[Bubba Watson]], professional golfer on PGA Tour, two-time Masters champion
* [[Boo Weekley]], professional golfer on PGA Tour
* [[Thomas F. West]], Chief Justice of the Florida Supreme Court
* [[Elijah Williams (American football)|Elijah Williams]], NFL cornerback

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikivoyage|Milton (Florida)|Milton, Florida}}
{{NIE Poster|Milton (Florida)|Milton, Florida}}
* [https://www.miltonfl.org/ City of Milton] – official website
* [http://wfrm.org/admission-info/ West Florida Railroad Museum]
* [https://srpressgazette.com/ ''Santa Rosa Press Gazette''] newspaper that serves Milton, Florida available in full-text with images
* [https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028408/00001 The Santa Rosa press gazette] by [[University of Florida|UF]][[Digital library|DC]]
* [https://miltonchronicle.tumblr.com/ ''The Milton Chronicle''] provides analysis of issues relating to Milton, Florida.

{{Pensacola metropolitan area}}
{{Santa Rosa County, Florida}}
{{Florida county seats}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Pensacola metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Santa Rosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:1844 establishments in Florida Territory]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1844]]