Escambia, Okaloosa and Bay Counties

Ken Ford

Historic Pensacola, where the streets still bear the names given by Spanish settlers, is home to fine restaurants, a famous fish market, a vibrant arts community, quality healthcare, an accessible waterfront and a world-class research institute. Its human-scale neighborhoods coupled with an affordable and stimulating downtown urban environment provide an attractive habitat for both young professionals and “empty nesters.”

Over the last 450 years, Pensacola has had time to develop a patina — it enjoys an authenticity that cannot be artificially re-created. Pensacola’s long history coupled with an interesting mix of people and lifestyles has created a place with sense of place. Not a perfect place — but a real place.

I have had the good fortune to live in many great places, and yet Pensacola has, with the exception of a couple year hiatus in Silicon Valley, been my home now for more than 20 years. I first discovered Pensacola through the Navy and years later, having the opportunity to locate virtually anywhere, made my home in Pensacola.

It has become commonplace to observe that this or that city is at a “tipping point” — they all always are. In fact, tipping points can tip either way. That said, I see Pensacola’s future tipping in a very positive direction.

Dr. Ken Ford is the founder and CEO of the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition.

Tags: North Central