Okaloosa County, Florida
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Okaloosa County, Florida | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Florida |
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 Florida's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | June 13, 1915 |
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| Seat | Crestview |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
2,802 km² (1,082 mi²) 2,423 km² (936 mi²) 379 km² (146 mi²), 13.53% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
170,498 70/km² |
| Website: www.co.okaloosa.fl.us | |
Okaloosa County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of the 2000 census, the population was 170,498. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 182,172 [1]. Its county seat is Crestview, Florida6. Its largest city is Fort Walton Beach.
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[edit] History
The name "Okaloosa" comes from the Choctaw oka losa, "black water".[1] The Euchees came into the area from the "west" sailing along the coast until "the great spirit told them to stop" in what is now Walton County. They left the Indian Mounds that we see today, one being in what is now downtown Fort Walton Beach. There was even a pirates cove near Mary Esther. Even the notorious pirate LaFitte was said to have docked there.
The first white settlers came to the area about 1820-1825. They were Scotsmen probably from North Carolina and settled around the Yellow River. The first church was Presbyterian built in 1828. Soon settled were the communities of Almirante (Almarante), Bethel, Beaver Creek, Oak Grove and Laurel Hill, Dorcas and Mossy Head. Frontier conditions existed in the area and the land was made up of sandy soil upland with clay subsoil and white sandy soil in the lower areas. The principal waterway was the Yellow River. This part of Florida experienced little fighting in the Civil War but was guarded by the "Walton Guards" at a place called Camp Walton for which Fort Walton Beach derived its name. The Okaloosa area contributed food and men to the Confederate effort. In the early 1900's, the pine tree became the main source of wealth in the form of timber cutting and turpentine stills. This caused railroads to be built to transport these goods to market. After this resource was exhausted, the lands were opened for farming and ranching.
Before Okaloosa County was created, the population was scattered in the area. The distance between the Santa Rosa County seat, Milton, and Walton County seat, DeFuniak was about 70 miles with only poor roads, making travel to a county seat almost impossible. In fact when Okaloosa County was created there were no paved roads.
It took the Legislature several years to approve the creation of Okaloosa County from parts of Santa Rosa and Walton Counties. On September 7, 1915 the issue was settled. Credit was given to state representative, W. H. Mapoles from Laurel Hill, later known as the "Daddy of Okaloosa County." Milligan was made the temporary county seat and on March 6, 1917 a county election made Crestview the permanent county seat. Crestview was named because it is located on the crest of a high ridge on the forks of the Shoal and Yellow Rivers. The 1920 census of the county gave a county population of 9,360 persons. Okaloosa reaches from the Alabama state line to the Gulf of Mexico. The county was formed by taking 12 miles in width from Santa Rosa and Walton counties and is 24 miles wide and 40 miles long and contains 998 square miles.
Some communities in the new county were Baker, Holt, Crestview, Mary Esther, Wright, Shalimar, Fort Walton, Garniers Bayou, Destin, Laurel Hill, Dorcas Deerland, Beaver Creek, Auburn, Niceville, Valparaiso and Escambia Farms. The most prominent occupations were farming, sheep and cattle ranching, and in the lower county fishing. Timbering was always part of the way of life in those days. Eglin Air Force base began about 1935 and has increased in mission and size to be the center of economics in the county. Okaloosa County is currently known for its beautiful beaches, water sports and for Eglin Air Force Base. The population in 1990 was 143,776 and in 1995 about 162,700 persons.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,802 km² (1,082 mi²). 2,423 km² (936 mi²) of it is land and 379 km² (146 mi²) of it (13.53%) is water. Ft Walton Beach and two United States Air Force bases (Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field) are located in the south.
Okaloosa County is the sole county in the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin Metropolitan Statistical Area.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- Covington County, Alabama - north
- Walton County, Florida - east
- Santa Rosa County, Florida - west
- Escambia County, Alabama - northwest
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 170,498 people, 66,269 households, and 46,520 families residing in the county. The population density was 70/km² (182/mi²). There were 78,593 housing units at an average density of 32/km² (84/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 83.41% White, 9.10% Black or African American, 0.60% Native American, 2.47% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 1.33% from other races, and 2.96% from two or more races. 4.28% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 66,269 households out of which 33.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 23.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 102.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,474, and the median income for a family was $47,711. Males had a median income of $30,977 versus $21,961 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,918. About 6.60% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Places
[edit] Incorporated
- Town of Cinco Bayou
- City of Crestview
- City of Destin
- City of Fort Walton Beach
- City of Laurel Hill
- City of Mary Esther
- City of Niceville
- Town of Shalimar
- City of Valparaiso
[edit] Unincorporated
[edit] References
- ^ Afable, Patricia O. and Madison S. Beeler (1996). "Place Names", in "Languages", ed. Ives Goddard. Vol. 17 of Handbook of North American Indians, ed. William C. Sturtevant. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, p. 192
[edit] External links
[edit] Government links/Constitutional offices
- Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners
- Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections
- Okaloosa County Property Appraiser
- Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office
- Okaloosa County Tax Collector
[edit] Special districts
[edit] Judicial branch
- Okaloosa County Clerk of Courts
- Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties
- Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida
- Circuit and County Court for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida
[edit] Tourism links
| Cities and communities of Okaloosa County, Florida | |
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