Walton County, Florida
Encyclopedia
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 345 feet (105.2 m).
In 1951, Mossy Head became the interchange point for a base railroad constructed between the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
and Eglin Air Force Base
, located partially in Walton County. The line operated until the early 1980s, and a short section on the north end
of the alignment still exists for rail shipments.
of 2000, there were 40,601 people, 16,548 households, and 11,120 families residing in the county. The population density
was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 29,083 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.41% White
, 6.98% Black
or African American
, 1.28% Native American
, 0.45% Asian
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 0.75% from other races
, and 2.09% from two or more races. 2.17% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 16,548 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples
living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,407, and the median income for a family was $37,663. Males had a median income of $26,799 versus $21,208 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $18,198. About 11.60% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
located in the state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. As of 2000, the population was 40,601. The U.S. 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...
2005 estimate for the county is 50,324. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is DeFuniak Springs, Florida. The county is home to the highest natural point in Florida: Britton Hill
Britton Hill
Britton Hill is the highest natural point in the state of Florida, USA, with a summit elevation of 345 feet above mean sea level. Many Florida skyscrapers are taller; as of 2010, the roof of the Four Seasons Hotel Miami is the highest non-natural point in Florida. Topping out at 789 feet,...
, at 345 feet (105.2 m).
History
Walton County was created in 1824. It was named for George Walton, Secretary of the Florida territory from 1821 to 1826.In 1951, Mossy Head became the interchange point for a base railroad constructed between 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...
and Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 3 miles southwest of Valparaiso, Florida in Okaloosa County....
, located partially in Walton County. The line operated until the early 1980s, and a short section on the north end
of the alignment still exists for rail shipments.
Geography
According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 1238.03 square miles (3,206.5 km²), of which 1057.56 square miles (2,739.1 km²) (or 85.42%) is land and 180.47 square miles (467.4 km²) (or 14.58%) is water.Adjacent counties
- Covington County, AlabamaCovington County, AlabamaCovington County, Alabama, is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. Its name is in honor of Brigadier General Leonard Covington of Maryland. As of 2010 the population was 37,765...
- northwest - Geneva County, AlabamaGeneva County, Alabama-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*86.3% White*9.5% Black*0.8% Native American*0.3% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.6% Two or more races*3.4% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
- northeast - Holmes County, FloridaHolmes County, FloridaHolmes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 18,564. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 19,264 . Its county seat is Bonifay, Florida.-History:...
- east - Washington County, FloridaWashington County, FloridaWashington County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 20,973. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 22,299. Its county seat is Chipley, Florida...
- east - Bay County, FloridaBay County, FloridaBay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 163,505 . Its county seat is Panama City, Florida. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round...
- southeast - Okaloosa County, FloridaOkaloosa County, FloridaOkaloosa County is a county located in the state of Florida. Located in northwest Florida, it extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. As of the 2000 census, the population was 170,498. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 182,172. The 2009 estimate for the...
- west
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 40,601 people, 16,548 households, and 11,120 families residing in the county. 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 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 29,083 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.41% White
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...
, 6.98% Black
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...
or African American
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...
, 1.28% Native American
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...
, 0.45% Asian
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...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
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...
, 0.75% 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 2.09% from two or more races. 2.17% of the population were Hispanic
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...
or Latino
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...
of any race.
There were 16,548 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% 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, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,407, and the median income for a family was $37,663. Males had a median income of $26,799 versus $21,208 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 county was $18,198. About 11.60% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.
Places
Incorporated
- City of DeFuniak Springs
- City of FreeportFreeport, FloridaFreeport is a city in Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,190 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 1,427.-Geography:Freeport is located at ....
- Town of PaxtonPaxton, FloridaPaxton is a town in Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 656 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 753.-Geography:Paxton is located at ....
Unincorporated
- Argyle
- Eucheanna (Euchee Valley)
- Glendale
- Grayton BeachGrayton Beach, FloridaGrayton Beach is a small, historic beach village on the Florida Panhandle Gulf coast halfway between Destin and Panama City in Walton County and adjacent to Grayton Beach State Park...
- Miramar BeachMiramar Beach, FloridaMiramar Beach is a census-designated place in Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,435 at the 2000 census. Although many other localities in Florida have appended "Beach" to their names to distinguish themselves from an adjacent inland or cross-bay municipality – such as...
- Mossy Head
- SeasideSeaside, FloridaSeaside is an unincorporated master-planned community on the Florida panhandle in Walton County, between Panama City Beach and Destin. The town has become the topic of slide lectures in architectural schools and in housing-industry magazines, and is visited by design professionals from all over the...
- Santa Rosa Beach
See also
- Beaches of South Walton, FloridaBeaches of South Walton, FloridaThe Beaches of South Walton, Florida are a 26-mile stretch of beaches on Northwest Florida's Gulf Coast are found among 15 beach communities: Seacape, Miramar, Sandestin, Dune Allen, Santa Rosa, Blue Mountain, Grayton, WaterColor, Seaside, Seagrove, WaterSound, Seacrest, Rosemary Beach, Inlet, and...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Walton County, FloridaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Walton County, FloridaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Walton County, Florida.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Walton County, Florida, United States...
Government links/Constitutional offices
- Walton County Board of County Commissioners
- Walton County Supervisor of Elections
- Walton County Property Appraiser
- Walton County Sheriff's Office
- Walton County Tax Collector
Special districts
- Walton County School District
- Northwest Florida Water Management District
- South Walton Fire District
Judicial branch
- Walton County Clerk of Courts
- Public Defender, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida serving EscambiaEscambia County, FloridaEscambia County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of Florida. The 2010 population was 297,619. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 296,772. Its county seat is Pensacola.- History :...
, Santa RosaSanta Rosa County, FloridaSanta Rosa County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, the population was 117,743, while a July 1, 2005, estimate placed the population at 143,105, an 18% increase making it the 84th fastest growing county in the United States between 2000 and 2005. ...
, OkaloosaOkaloosa County, FloridaOkaloosa County is a county located in the state of Florida. Located in northwest Florida, it extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. As of the 2000 census, the population was 170,498. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 182,172. The 2009 estimate for the...
, and Walton counties - Office of the State Attorney, 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida
- Circuit and County Court for the 1st Judicial Circuit of Florida