De Funiak Springs, Florida
Encyclopedia
DeFuniak Springs is a city in Walton County
, Florida
, United States
. The population was 5,089 in the 2000 census and 5,141 in 2004.http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls It is the county seat of Walton County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km²). 11 square miles (28.5 km²) of it is land, and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (2.49%) is water.
, a subsidiary of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
. The P&A was organized to connect the terminus of the L&N at Pensacola
to the western terminus of a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
at River Junction—now Chattahoochee
—in the 1880s. It was named after Frederick R. DeFuniak, a vice-president of the L&N. Like much of Northwest Florida
, DeFuniak Springs was settled mainly by Scots
from Virginia
and the Carolinas
.
DeFuniak Springs was established as a final-destination resort, and the developers enlisted the cooperation and aid of the Chautauqua
Movement. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood
, an auditorium seating 4,000, was constructed on Lake DeFuniak
in the center of town. Seminars, classes, and the like were held in the Hall of Brotherhood building for people on vacation. The auditorium of the building was severely damaged by Hurricane Eloise
in 1975 and razed. However, a charitable foundation, The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood Foundation, Inc., has undertaken a capital campaign for the historic restoration of the building. The westerly portion of the building facing Circle Drive is still in use.
As part of the intellectual atmosphere of the town, a college and a private high school (named Palmer College and Palmer Academy, respectively), as well as a technical school (Thomas Industrial Institute) and a teacher training school (Florida Normal College) were established in the 19th century. Florida Normal College was later incorporated into Florida State University
, while the other schools closed during the Great Depression
. There remains a College Avenue that once led to Palmer College.
As demonstrated through the Chautauqua movement, many residents of DeFuniak Springs have always had an active hand in education. In 1886, the town held an important meeting that forever changed the course of public education in Florida. At this meeting, teachers from around the state formed the Florida Education Association
. This teachers' union remains the state's predominant voice for educators and is affiliated with the National Education Association
and the American Federation of Teachers
.
The town also contains various other historically significant landmarks. Near the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood building is the Walton County Library
on Circle Drive, the oldest extant library in the state of Florida. The library contains an interesting assortment of antiquities, including an impressive medieval weapon collection and many first-edition books. First Presbyterian Church is the only private structure in the Lake Yard, the park surrounding the lake. Also situated on Circle Drive are the Walton County Heritage Museum
, housed in the former L&N railroad
depot, and St. Agatha's Episcopal Church
, built in 1895-1896. Although Walton County was opposed to secession, the first monument to the Confederate war dead constructed in Florida is located on the lawn of the Walton County Courthouse
.
of 2000, there were 5,089 people, 2,105 households, and 1,324 families residing in the city. The population density
was 464.0 people per square mile (179.1/km²). There were 2,464 housing units at an average density of 224.7 per square mile (86.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.78% White, 22.99% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.30% of the population.
There were 2,105 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,516, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $24,219 versus $19,255 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,298. About 18.2% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Walton County, Florida
Walton County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 40,601. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 50,324. Its county seat is DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The county is home to the highest natural point in Florida: Britton Hill, at .- History...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,089 in the 2000 census and 5,141 in 2004.http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls It is the county seat of Walton County.
Geography
DeFuniak Springs is located at 30.721349°N 86.119352°W.According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 11.2 square miles (29 km²). 11 square miles (28.5 km²) of it is land, and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (2.49%) is water.
History
The town was founded by the officers of the Pensacola and Atlantic RailroadPensacola and Atlantic Railroad
The Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad was incorporated by an act of the Florida Legislature on March 4, 1881, to run from Pensacola to the Apalachicola River near Chattahoochee, a distance of about . No railroad had ever been built across the sparsely populated panhandle of Florida, which left...
, a subsidiary of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
. The P&A was organized to connect the terminus of the L&N at Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
to the western terminus of a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , which styled itself "The Route of Courteous Service," was an American railroad whose corporate existence extended from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime rival, to form the Seaboard Coast Line...
at River Junction—now Chattahoochee
Chattahoochee, Florida
Chattahoochee is a city in Gadsden County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,287 at the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city had a population of 3,720. It is part of the Tallahassee, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Chattahoochee is...
—in the 1880s. It was named after Frederick R. DeFuniak, a vice-president of the L&N. Like much of Northwest Florida
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
, DeFuniak Springs was settled mainly by Scots
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
from Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and the Carolinas
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
.
DeFuniak Springs was established as a final-destination resort, and the developers enlisted the cooperation and aid of the Chautauqua
Chautauqua
Chautauqua was an adult education movement in the United States, highly popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Chautauqua assemblies expanded and spread throughout rural America until the mid-1920s. The Chautauqua brought entertainment and culture for the whole community, with...
Movement. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood
Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood
The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood is a historic site in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. It is located at 95 Circle Drive, and houses the city's branch of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. On August 7, 1972, it was added to the U.S...
, an auditorium seating 4,000, was constructed on Lake DeFuniak
Lake DeFuniak
Lake DeFuniak is a lake in DeFuniak Springs, Florida, United States, at the center of the DeFuniak Springs Historic District.Lake DeFuniak is one of the two almost perfectly round circular spring-fed lakes in the world....
in the center of town. Seminars, classes, and the like were held in the Hall of Brotherhood building for people on vacation. The auditorium of the building was severely damaged by Hurricane Eloise
Hurricane Eloise
Hurricane Eloise was the most destructive tropical cyclone of the 1975 Atlantic hurricane season. The fifth tropical storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the season, Eloise formed as a tropical depression on September 13 to the east of the Virgin Islands...
in 1975 and razed. However, a charitable foundation, The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood Foundation, Inc., has undertaken a capital campaign for the historic restoration of the building. The westerly portion of the building facing Circle Drive is still in use.
As part of the intellectual atmosphere of the town, a college and a private high school (named Palmer College and Palmer Academy, respectively), as well as a technical school (Thomas Industrial Institute) and a teacher training school (Florida Normal College) were established in the 19th century. Florida Normal College was later incorporated into Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
, while the other schools closed during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
. There remains a College Avenue that once led to Palmer College.
As demonstrated through the Chautauqua movement, many residents of DeFuniak Springs have always had an active hand in education. In 1886, the town held an important meeting that forever changed the course of public education in Florida. At this meeting, teachers from around the state formed the Florida Education Association
Florida Education Association
The Florida Education Association is a statewide federation of teacher and education workers' labor unions in the state of Florida in the United States. Its 137,000 members make it the largest union in the state...
. This teachers' union remains the state's predominant voice for educators and is affiliated with the National Education Association
National Education Association
The National Education Association is the largest professional organization and largest labor union in the United States, representing public school teachers and other support personnel, faculty and staffers at colleges and universities, retired educators, and college students preparing to become...
and the American Federation of Teachers
American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is an American labor union founded in 1916 that represents teachers, paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; local, state and federal employees; higher education faculty and staff, and nurses and other healthcare professionals...
.
The town also contains various other historically significant landmarks. Near the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood building is the Walton County Library
Walton-DeFuniak Library
Walton-DeFuniak Library is an historic library located at 3 Circle Drive, in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida in the United States. Opened in 1887, it is the oldest continuously run library in the state...
on Circle Drive, the oldest extant library in the state of Florida. The library contains an interesting assortment of antiquities, including an impressive medieval weapon collection and many first-edition books. First Presbyterian Church is the only private structure in the Lake Yard, the park surrounding the lake. Also situated on Circle Drive are the Walton County Heritage Museum
Walton County Heritage Museum
The Walton County Heritage Museum is located at 1140 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Housed in the former L&N railroad depot, it is part of the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
, housed in the former L&N railroad
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.Chartered by the state of Kentucky in 1850, the L&N, as it was generally known, grew into one of the great success stories of American business...
depot, and St. Agatha's Episcopal Church
St. Agatha's Episcopal Church
St. Agatha's Episcopal Church is an historic Carpenter Gothic Episcopal church located at 144 Circle Drive, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida in the United States. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District.-History:...
, built in 1895-1896. Although Walton County was opposed to secession, the first monument to the Confederate war dead constructed in Florida is located on the lawn of the Walton County Courthouse
Walton County Courthouse (Florida)
The Walton County Courthouse is an historic courthouse building located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1992....
.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,089 people, 2,105 households, and 1,324 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 464.0 people per square mile (179.1/km²). There were 2,464 housing units at an average density of 224.7 per square mile (86.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 71.78% White, 22.99% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.30% of the population.
There were 2,105 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,516, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $24,219 versus $19,255 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,298. About 18.2% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Sidney Johnston Catts, 22nd governor of FloridaFloridaFlorida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
from 1917 to 1921, first candidate to campaign the state by automobile, Prohibition PartyProhibition PartyThe Prohibition Party is a political party in the United States best known for its historic opposition to the sale or consumption of alcoholic beverages. It is the oldest existing third party in the US. The party was an integral part of the temperance movement...
affiliation. Catts was a lawyer and preacher, having served as the pastor of First Baptist Church prior to his run for governor. - Former professional baseball player and manager Buck ShowalterBuck ShowalterWilliam Nathaniel "Buck" Showalter III is an American Major League Baseball manager for the Baltimore Orioles. He has previously served in a similar capacity with the New York Yankees , Arizona Diamondbacks , and Texas Rangers...
was born in DeFuniak Springs on May 23, 1956. - American fashion model Amanda MooreAmanda MooreAmanda Moore is an American model.-Early life:Brought up in a military family, Moore grew up in many different parts of the world, alongside her father and older brother...
graduated from Walton High SchoolWalton High School-USA:*Walton High School in DeFuniak Springs, Florida*George Walton Comprehensive High School in Cobb County, Georgia*Walton High School, in Walton, Kansas, closed, merged with Newton High School ....
in DeFuniak Springs in 1997 - PGA golfer Sammy RachelsSammy RachelsSammy Tindol Rachels III is an American professional golfer who has played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour, but found his greatest level of success on the Champions Tour....
, native of DeFuniak Springs, was born in 1950. - Ina Thompson was appointed Commissioner of the Florida Motor Vehicle Commission by Leroy CollinsLeRoy CollinsThomas LeRoy Collins was the 33rd Governor of Florida.-Early life:Collins was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, where he attended Leon High School. He went on to attend the Eastman Business College in New York and then went on to the Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama to...
, the 33rd Governor of Florida. At the time of her appointment she was the first woman ever named to an office of that rank in Florida Government. - Former Pittsburgh Pirate and newly inducted FHSAA hall of famer Willie "Boogie" Hall. Hall once scored 13 touchdowns in a single game at Tivoli High School. Hall later returned to DeFuniak Springs where he taught physical education (Maude Saunders Elementary) and coached high school football.
- NFL player Dexter McNabbDexter McNabbDexter Eugene McNabb is a former American college and professional football player who was a fullback in the National Football League for the three seasons during the 1990s...
, native of DeFuniak Springs, born in 1969.
See also
- Perry L. Biddle HousePerry L. Biddle HouseThe Perry L. Biddle House is a historic site in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. It is located at 203 Scribner Avenue. On August 28, 1992, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.-References:* at * at...
- Chautauqua Hall of BrotherhoodChautauqua Hall of BrotherhoodThe Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood is a historic site in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. It is located at 95 Circle Drive, and houses the city's branch of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce. On August 7, 1972, it was added to the U.S...
- DeFuniak Springs Historic DistrictDeFuniak Springs Historic DistrictThe DeFuniak Springs Historic District is a U.S. historic district located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The district is bounded by Nelson and Park Avenues and 2nd and 12th Streets. It contains 172 historic buildings and 2 objects.-See also:* Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood* St...
- Sun BrightSun BrightThe Sun Bright is an historic residence in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida. Located at 606 Live Oak Avenue West, it was the home of Sidney J. Catts, the Florida's twenty-second governor. On May 7, 1979, it was added to the U.S...
- Walton County CourthouseWalton County Courthouse (Florida)The Walton County Courthouse is an historic courthouse building located in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. It is a contributing property in the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 28, 1992....
- Walton County Heritage MuseumWalton County Heritage MuseumThe Walton County Heritage Museum is located at 1140 Circle Drive, DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Housed in the former L&N railroad depot, it is part of the DeFuniak Springs Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places....
- Walton-DeFuniak LibraryWalton-DeFuniak LibraryWalton-DeFuniak Library is an historic library located at 3 Circle Drive, in DeFuniak Springs, Walton County, Florida in the United States. Opened in 1887, it is the oldest continuously run library in the state...
External links
- DeFuniak Herald newspaper that serves DeFuniak Springs, Florida is available in full-text with images in Florida Digital Newspaper Library