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Okaloosa County, Florida facts for kids

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Okaloosa County
The Okaloosa County courthouse in March 2008
The Okaloosa County courthouse in March 2008
Flag of Okaloosa County
Flag
Official seal of Okaloosa County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Okaloosa County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting 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.

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

National protected areas

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

  • I-10.svg Interstate 10
  • US 90.svg US Highway 90
  • US 98.svg US Highway 98
  • Florida 4.svg Florida State Road 4
  • Florida 85.svg Florida State Road 85
  • Florida 188.svg Florida State Road 188
  • Florida 189.svg Florida State Road 189
  • Toll Florida 293.svg Florida State Road 293
  • Florida 393.svg Florida State Road 393
  • Florida 397.svg Florida State Road 397

Surface Transportation

Emerald Coast Rider (formerly Okaloosa County Transit) operates bus services in the county.

New Crestview Courthouse
Okaloosa County's new Courthouse first case was held Jan 2, 2019.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

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

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Okaloosa para niños

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