Harold, Florida

{{Infobox settlement

| official_name = Harold, Florida

| settlement_type = Unincorporated community

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| image_skyline = Harold Florida.jpeg

| imagesize = 230px

| image_caption = The Harold Store in Harold, Florida.

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| pushpin_map = Florida#USA

| subdivision_type = Country

| subdivision_name = United States

| subdivision_type1 = State

| subdivision_name1 = Florida

| subdivision_type2 = County

| subdivision_name2 = Santa Rosa

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| area_footnotes = {{cite web|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files - Places: Florida|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2010_place_list_12.txt|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|accessdate=March 18, 2017}}

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| area_total_sq_mi = 14.729

| area_land_sq_mi = 14.689

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.040

| population_as_of = 2020

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| population_total = 909

| population_density_km2 =

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| timezone = Central (CST)

| utc_offset = -6

| timezone_DST = CDT

| utc_offset_DST = -5

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| elevation_ft = 148

| coordinates = {{coord|30|39|33|N|86|52|49|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}

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| area_code = 850

| blank_name = GNIS feature ID

| blank_info = 287350{{cite gnis|287350|Harold}}

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Harold is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Santa Rosa County, in the U.S. state of Florida. Its population was 909 at the 2020 census,{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Harold%20CDP,%20Florida |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=data.census.gov}} up from 823 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Pensacola—Ferry Pass—Brent, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. A satellite field for Training Air Wing FIVE at Naval Air Station Whiting Field called OLF Harold is located here.

History

Harold was originally known as Oscar.{{Cite book |title=The Heritage of Santa Rosa County, Florida |publisher=Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc. |year=2003 |isbn=1-891647-69-5}} Oscar was first settled sometime around 1881, when its post office was established. Oscar's population increased upon the completion of the Pensacola and Atlanta Railroad in 1883. William D. Chipley purchased land for lumber in the early 1890s. It was around this time that the community became known as Harold.

A post office called Harold was established in 1909, and remained in operation until 1995.{{cite web | url=http://www.postalhistory.com/postoffices.asp?task=display&state=FL&county=Santa+Rosa | title=Santa Rosa County | publisher=Jim Forte Postal History | accessdate=3 October 2016}} An early postmaster gave the community the name of his son.{{cite book|title=The Whole & True Discouerye of Terra Florida: A Facsimile Reprint of the London Edition of 1563, Together with a Transcript of an English Version in the British Museum|url=https://archive.org/details/wholetruediscoue00riba|year=1927|publisher=Florida state historical society|isbn=978-0-8130-0544-7|page=[https://archive.org/details/wholetruediscoue00riba/page/39 39]|quote=...for the son of the postmaster.}} Another history behind the name involves Kansas congressman Ebenezer F. Porter, who purchased land for lumber in the area in the 1890s, renaming it for his son, Harold (1891-1962).

References

Category:Unincorporated communities in Santa Rosa County, Florida

Category:Census-designated places in Santa Rosa County, Florida

Category:Unincorporated communities in Florida