Okaloosa County- Walton County
- Cinco Bayou
- Crestview
- DeFuniak Springs
- Destin
- Fort Walton Beach
- Laurel Hill
- Mary Ester
- Niceville / Valparaiso
- Paxton
- Shalimar
Okaloosa County
www.co.okaloosa.fl.us
Okaloosa County is in the center of the Northwest Florida Panhandle and is bordered by Alabama on the North and the Gulf of Mexico on the South. Along this southern border the beaches are often referred to as the "Emerald Coast" for the brilliant green Gulf waters that wash the shores. The Okaloosa County population is approximately 185,000.
Okaloosa County municipalities include Cinco Bayou, Crestview, Destin, Ft Walton Beach, Laurel Hill, Mary Esther, Niceville, Shalimar and Valparaiso.
Walton County
www.co.walton.fl.us
Walton County is one of Florida’s fastest growing counties. The county boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, including 16 certified Blue Wave Beaches. We also have extensive timberlands and agricultural areas north of the Choctawhatchee Bay.
The county was founded in 1824 and included more than 2,900 square miles including parts of Okaloosa, Washington and Holmes counties. The first census in 1830 showed the county having a population of 1,207 people.
Today the county incorporates 1,066 square miles and more than 40,000 people. Walton County is one of the fastest growing counties in Florida. The average temperature is 69 degrees with an average temperature in January of 53 degrees and 81 degrees in July. The county also boasts Florida’s highest point at 345 feet above sea level.
Euchee and Creek Indians originally inhabited the area. In 1808 the first non-Native American Settlers came to the area from Scotland. In 1890, the sawmill town of Point Washington was founded marking the first economic engine in the area—timber. The same year, Grayton Beach was also platted, marking the next great economic engine that would eventually define the county — tourism.
The county has three municipalities, DeFuniak Springs, Freeport and Paxton. The landscape is marked by 26 miles of white sandy beaches, the Choctawhatchee Bay, many rivers and lakes and vast agricultural and timberlands. The Coastal Dune Lakes that dot the coastline are so rare they are only found in Walton County and remote portions of Africa. Walton’s diverse ecosystem and population make the county an inviting place to live and work.
Cinco Bayou
www.cincobayou.com
Cinco Bayou is surrounded on three sides by the city of Fort Walton Beach and on the fourth by water.
With a total area of just over 110 acres (44.6 hectares), walking is the best way to get around town, and a bicycle is considered rapid transit.
Crestview
www.cityofcrestview.org
The Crestview area is about 17 miles north of Eglin and was named for its elevated position 235 feet above sea level, the highest of any city in Florida. Serving as the Okaloosa County seat, Crestview is called the "Hub City of Northwest Florida" because it is located at the junction of three major highways and is the approximate center of both the county and the Panhandle. Despite the fact that much of the county activity is centered in Crestview, the city retains a comfortable, small-town atmosphere which is complemented by an emphasis on cultural and industrial developments.
Crestview has an excellent educational system which includes one high school, two junior high, four elementary and one technical school.
DeFuniak Spring
www.defuniaksprings.net
DeFuniak Springs is a city of around 7,000 located off of Interstate 10 between Tallahassee and Crestview. The city is the county seat for Walton County, Florida. DeFuniak Springs is home to many interesting historical events and attractions such as one of the two naturally round spring fed lakes in the world.
DeFuniak Springs was developed in the late 1800s as a railroad town. In 1881, a railroad surveying party consisting of W. D. Chipley, W.J. VanKirk, and W.T. Wright came to the area seeking a route for the L&N Railroad. After stopping on a hillside overlooking the beautiful, naturally round lake, Colonel Chipley exclaimed, "Here a town shall be built!"
Destin
www.cityofdestin.com
Though incorporated only recently, Destin is now the second largest city in Okaloosa County. Located as it is between the Gulf and the Bay, the city offers water sports of every kind. With its golf courses, tennis clubs, seafood restaurants, and beaches, Destin has something for everyone. Destin is also home to the huge Destin Commons shopping complex.
There is one elementary school in the Destin area. Middle and high school students go to school in Fort Walton Beach.
Fort Walton Beach
www.fwb.org
Fort Walton Beach is located to the west of Eglin AFB. The city ranked 10 on Money's best-places-to-live-in-1997 list. Fort Walton Beach is the largest city in Okaloosa County.
Thirteen elementary schools, three middle schools, two high schools, and one vocational technical school are located throughout Fort Walton Beach. The two high schools, Choctawhatchee and Fort Walton Beach High School, are very competitive both in academics and in sports.
Freeport
www.freeportflorida.gov
Freeport is literally the “crossroads” between North and South Walton County. It is advantageously situated and within driving proximity to Tallahassee, Pensacola, Montgomery, Ft. Walton Beach, and Panama City. It is within an hour of the Okaloosa County Regional Airport, the Bay County Regional Airport (under construction) the Destin Municipal Airport and the DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport. It is a half-hour’s drive from the beaches and golf courses of South Walton.
Laurel Hill
www.laurelhillnow.com
Laurel Hill is predominantly a single-family residential community located in northern Okaloosa County. The government consists of a mayor and city council.
Mary Ester
www.cityofmaryesther.com
Mary Esther is located in Northwest Florida, in between Fort Walton Beach and Hurlburt Field. With 2 1/2 square miles of land, the City boasts an estimated population of approximately 4,200 residents.
Niceville and Valparaiso
www.cityofniceville.org | www.valp.org
The Niceville-Valparaiso (Twin Cities) area borders the east gate of Eglin and is located on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Because the two towns share their history as well as civic organizations, a Chamber of Commerce, medical and educational facilities, and the annual Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival, they are often referred to as the "Twin Cities."
There are four elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school in this area. Niceville Senior High School serves over 1,800 students in grades 9-12 and has received numerous awards and accolades.
Paxton
www.gtcom.net/~tricity
Paxton is located in northern Walton County, Florida adjacent to Florala, Alabama. It is divided by the Alabama / Florida state lines on Hwy 331.
Shalimar
www.shalimarflorida.org
Choctawhatchee Bay bounds Shalimar on the south side, on the east by Old Ferry Road and by Eglin Parkway north of its intersection with Old Ferry Road and last on the north by Richbourg Avenue and on the west by Garnier's Bayou.
