Military families still settle in the riverside village of Bagdad
Bagdad grew throughout the 1800s as a lumber mill village and port along the Blackwater River, about 3 miles south of Milton. These industries are long gone today, but the past is preserved with well-maintained homes, longstanding churches and river recreation in the Bagdad Historic District. “Most people here can tell you what year their house was built,” says Tracey McMackin, the owner-broker of BluMac Realty, who also lives in Bagdad. “We take a lot of pride in our history.” With easy access to Naval Air Station Whiting Field and other posts, the village also became a popular place for military personnel to live during World War II. “That’s something that hasn’t really changed,” McMackin says. “Military families still move here because it's a sleepy little bedroom community less than an hour away from a few air stations and bases.”
Century-old homes coexist with new builds
Bagdad’s historic district includes saltbox houses, bungalows and cottages dating back to the mid-19th century. The village has experienced rapid development in the last 5 years, with several new subdivisions and homes popping up. “Builders have done a good job matching Bagdad’s historical aspect,” McMackin says. “All the house styles are very similar to what was built over a century ago.” Pine and oak trees covered in Spanish moss often shade grassy lawns, with the median lot size at about a quarter-acre. Smaller homes can cost between $140,000 and $300,000, while larger homes tend to range from $330,000 to $780,000. The median single-family home price is around $259,000, which is slightly less than Milton’s $299,000. Hurricanes and heavy rainfall put homes closest to the Blackwater River in high-risk flood zones.
Bagdad’s original mill site and churches are preserved
Yellow pine trees were once turned into sawdust at the Bagdad Mill Site, now a 22-acre park within the historic district. Today, visitors catch largemouth bass off the fishing pier and use the boat launch here. It’s a stop along the Blackwater Maritime Heritage Trail, a water route spanning the entire river. “A lot of people try to take their boats out weekly, if not daily,” McMackin says. “Sailing, canoeing, powerboating — we do it all.” Boaters may pass by historical markers detailing shipwrecks, Civil War events and former industrial hubs as they cruise across the calm water. A playground, a baseball diamond and basketball courts surround the Bagdad Community Center, which is available to rent for events. The Bagdad Village Museum, housed in a vernacular-style former church from 1847, displays shipbuilding tools, pictures of loggers and pine sap cups. Several other historic houses of worship still hold service here, including the Gothic Revival-style Bagdad Methodist Church from 1885. Blackwater River State Park, about 16 miles east, has swimming holes, hiking trails and more boat launches.
Several air stations and military bases are near Bagdad
Bagdad is a car-dependent community with easy access to Interstate 10 and several military bases. NAS Whiting Field, 10 miles north, employs around 3,000 people. Pilots in training often fly jets and helicopters over the community. “If we hear something really loud, we run outside to try and see what’s flying,” McMackin says. A 23-mile drive west on I-10 leads to Pensacola, home to another naval air station and Pensacola International Airport. The highway connects with other routes to reach tourist beaches on Santa Rosa Island, about 30 miles south, and Elgin Air Force Base, 52 miles east.
A freight railroad and industrial facilities sit on Bagdad’s outskirts. There have been reports of the nearby Santa Rosa County Central Landfill emitting foul odor, though it’s not a constant issue.
Kids go to school on Purple Star Campuses
Santa Rosa County District Schools serve Bagdad. Kids can attend Bagdad Elementary, which Niche grades a B-minus. They may continue to Hobbs Middle and Milton High, both of which earn Bs. Each school is a Purple Star Campus, a designation awarded to schools that offer special programs and counseling for children of military families.
Locals typically head to Milton for shopping and dining
There’s a Dollar General, a Waffle House and a few gas stations in the southern part of Bagdad. Finger sandwiches and scones are served at Miss Luci’s Tea Room, located in one of the historic district’s shingle-style homes. Besides these places, Bagdad doesn’t have any other restaurants or retailers. “We have to go to Milton for almost everything,” McMackin says. Milton has seafood restaurants, coffee shops and big-box grocery stores, like Aldi and Walmart Neighborhood Market. The closest hospital, Santa Rosa Medical Center, is also there.
