Okaloosa County, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Okaloosa County
|
|||
---|---|---|---|
The Okaloosa County courthouse in March 2008
|
|||
|
|||
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
|
|||
Florida's location within the U.S. |
|||
Country | United States | ||
State | Florida | ||
Founded | September 7, 1915 | ||
Seat | Crestview | ||
Largest city | Crestview | ||
Area | |||
• Total | 1,082 sq mi (2,800 km2) | ||
• Land | 930 sq mi (2,400 km2) | ||
• Water | 152 sq mi (390 km2) 14.0%% | ||
Population
(2020)
|
|||
• Total | 211,668 | ||
• Density | 227/sq mi (88/km2) | ||
Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | ||
• Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
Congressional district | 1st |
Okaloosa County is located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. As of the 2020 census, the population was 211,668. Its county seat is Crestview. Okaloosa County is included in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Okaloosa County was created by an act passed on September 7, 1915. Okaloosa is a Choctaw word meaning "black water". "Oka" means water, and "lusa" is black in the Choctaw language.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,082 square miles (2,800 km2), of which 930 square miles (2,400 km2) is land and 152 square miles (390 km2) (14.0%) is water. Fort Walton Beach and three United States Air Force bases, (Duke Field in the North and Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field are in the south).
Adjacent counties
- Covington County, Alabama - north
- Walton County, Florida - east
- Santa Rosa County, Florida - west
- Escambia County, Alabama - northwest
National protected areas
- Choctawhatchee National Forest (part)
- Gulf Islands National Seashore (part)
State Parks and Forests
- Blackwater River State Forest: 189,594 acres spanning Okaloosa and neighboring Santa Rosa County.
- Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Recreation Area: 357 acres of sand pine forest along Choctawhatchee Bay. The park provides facitities for camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing. It is located five miles east of Niceville on State Road 20.
- Henderson Beach State Park: 1.3 miles of sugar sand beach along the Gulf of Mexico. The park provides facilities for camping, RV-ing, and picnicking, as well as a pavilion and boardwalk. It is located just east of downtown Destin on U.S. 98.
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1920 | 9,360 | — | |
1930 | 9,897 | 5.7% | |
1940 | 12,900 | 30.3% | |
1950 | 27,533 | 113.4% | |
1960 | 61,175 | 122.2% | |
1970 | 88,187 | 44.2% | |
1980 | 109,920 | 24.6% | |
1990 | 143,776 | 30.8% | |
2000 | 170,498 | 18.6% | |
2010 | 180,822 | 6.1% | |
2020 | 211,668 | 17.1% | |
2020 |
As of 2015, there were 198,664 people and 95,494 households. As of the census of 2010,the population density was 194.4 people per square mile (70/km2).
- White alone=81.5% (July 1, 2015)
- Black or African American alone=10.2% (July 1, 2015)
- American Native and Alaskan Native alone=0.7% (July 1, 2015)
- Asian alone=3.2% (July 1, 2015)
- Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone=0.3% (July 1, 2015)
- Two or more races=4.1% (July 1, 2015)
- Hispanic or Latino=8.6% (July 1, 2015)
As of 2015, there were 95,494 households. Within the 2010 census, 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.
According to the 2010 census, 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.
In 2015, the median income for a household in the county was $55,880. The per capita income for the county was $28,902. 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line.
Libraries
Okaloosa County is served by the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative.
- Robert L.F. Sikes Library
- Destin Library
- Fort Walton Beach Library
- Mary Esther Public Library
- Niceville Library
- Valparaiso Community Library
Transportation
Airports
- Bob Sikes Airport
- Destin–Fort Walton Beach
Highways
- Interstate 10
- US Highway 90
- US Highway 98
- Florida State Road 4
- Florida State Road 85
- Florida State Road 188
- Florida State Road 189
- Florida State Road 293
- Florida State Road 393
- Florida State Road 397
Surface Transportation
Emerald Coast Rider (formerly Okaloosa County Transit) operates bus services in the county.
Communities
Cities
Towns
Census-designated places
- Eglin AFB
- Lake Lorraine
- Ocean City
- Wright
Other unincorporated communities
- Baker
- Blackman
- Campton
- Deerland
- Escambia Farms
- Florosa
- Garden City
- Holt
- Milligan
- Okaloosa Island
- Seminole
- Svea
- Timpoochee
- Villa Tasso
- Whynn Haven Beach
Education
The county's public schools come under the Okaloosa County School District.
Northwest Florida State College serves over 10,000 residents of Okaloosa County annually for bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and certificates. The college maintains four campuses in Okaloosa County: Niceville, Crestview, Ft. Walton Beach, and Hurlburt Field, and one campus in Walton County, FL.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Okaloosa para niños