Okaloosa County, Florida Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Okaloosa County

U.S. county

The Okaloosa County courthouse in March 2008

Flag

Seal

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

• Estimate

(2023)

218,464

• Density

195.63/sq mi (75.53/km²)

Time zone

UTC−6 (Central)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−5 (CDT)

Congressional district

1st

Okaloosa County is a county located in the northwestern part of Florida. It stretches from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico all the way up to the border with Alabama. As of 2020, about 211,668 people lived here.

The main town, or "county seat," where the local government is located, is Crestview. Okaloosa County is also part of a larger area called the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin Metropolitan Statistical Area.

A Look Back in Time: Okaloosa County's History

Okaloosa County was officially created on September 7, 1915. It was formed from parts of two nearby counties: Santa Rosa County and Walton County.

The name Okaloosa means "black water." This comes from the Choctaw language, where oka means "water" and lusa means "black." The name might have come from a similar language spoken by the Chatot people who lived in the Florida Panhandle long ago.

Exploring Okaloosa County's Geography

Okaloosa County covers a total area of about 1,082 square miles. Most of this (930 square miles) is land, and about 152 square miles (14%) is water.

You'll find Fort Walton Beach here, along with three important United States Air Force bases. These include Duke Field in the northern part of the county, and Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field in the south.

Neighboring Counties Around Okaloosa

Okaloosa County shares its borders with several other counties:

Covington County, Alabama to the north
Walton County to the east
Santa Rosa County to the west
Escambia County, Alabama to the northwest

Protected Natural Areas in Okaloosa County

Okaloosa County is home to parts of some important protected natural areas:

Choctawhatchee National Forest
Gulf Islands National Seashore

State Parks and Forests for Outdoor Fun

There are also great state parks and forests to explore:

Blackwater River State Forest: This huge forest covers about 189,594 acres. It stretches across Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties.
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Recreation Area: This park has 357 acres of sand pine forest right along the Choctawhatchee Bay. It's a great place for camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing. You can find it about 5 miles east of Niceville on State Road 20.
Henderson Beach State Park: Enjoy 1.3 miles of beautiful sugar-sand beach along the Gulf of Mexico. This park offers places for camping, RVs, and picnics. It also has a pavilion and a boardwalk. It's located just east of downtown Destin on U.S. 98.

A beautiful beach in Destin, Florida

Understanding Okaloosa County's Population

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%
2023 (est.)	218,464	20.8%
2020

The population of Okaloosa County has grown a lot over the years. In 2020, there were 211,668 people living here. This included 79,235 households and 51,719 families.

In 2010, about 33.10% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.49 people. The average family size was 2.94 people.

The median age in 2010 was 36 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36 and half were older. For every 100 females, there were about 102.20 males.

In 2015, the median income for a household in the county was $55,880. This gives us an idea of how much money families earned on average.

Learning and Libraries in Okaloosa County

Education Opportunities

The public schools in Okaloosa County are managed by the Okaloosa County School District.

Northwest Florida State College helps over 10,000 people in Okaloosa County each year. They offer different degrees and certificates. The college has four campuses in Okaloosa County: Niceville, Crestview, Fort Walton Beach, and Hurlburt Field.

Public Libraries for Everyone

Okaloosa County has a great system of libraries called the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative. It started in 1997 with the county and the cities of Crestview, Mary Esther, and Niceville. By 2000, Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, and Destin also joined. This cooperative helps make sure everyone has access to books and learning.