Jillian Chantal

A  cantonment is either a temporary or semi permanent place for the lodging of troops.  It comes from the French and means corner or district.

Here’s a picture of a cantonment.

Pensacola , Florida is located on a  bay that leads to the Gulf of Mexico. Historically, it has been a vital part of the defense of the countries that have owned it, dating back to the first Spanish occupation.  There is a highway in Pensacola that’s called 9 Mile Road- it is actually US Hwy 90 but the name 9 Mile Road comes from the fact that it is 9 miles from the center of downtown (and yeah, we have 8 1/2 Mile Road and 10 Mile Road and even 8 1/2 Mile Creek Road – since there’s a creek beside it).

If you reside on the South side of 9 Mile Road, your mailing address is Pensacola. If you live on the North side of that magic highway,  your  mailing address is Cantonment.  I live across the line into Cantonment but I tell people I’m from Pensacola ’cause they always look befuddled over Cantonment.

My little area of Florida was actually a place for soldiers to be billeted in the past, thus the name. It is North of the City but close enough to reach by horseback (if you were one soldier on a fast horse) in less than two-three hours and the entire troop could be moved in less than a  day and a half, if necessary.

The area just south of Cantonment was once called Pine Forest due to the large forest of trees in the area.  It is still called that by locals even though the mailing address is Pensacola and even though it is a major thoroughfare now.

Pensacola is a diverse area and lots of really cool history happened here.  I love this town!