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 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
Geography
Demographics
Education
Libraries
Transportation
Communities
See also

History

Okaloosa County was created by an act passed on September 7, 1915, formed from the eastern ranges of Santa Rosa County and the western ranges of Walton County.

Okaloosa means "black water" (oka means "water" and lusa means "black") in the Choctaw language. The name may have come from the related language spoken by the Chatot and other peoples of the Florida Panhandle.

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

Choctawhatchee National Forest (part)
Gulf Islands National Seashore (part)

Beach in Destin, Florida

State Parks and Forests

Blackwater River State Forest: 189,594 acres (76,726 ha) spanning Okaloosa and neighboring Santa Rosa County.
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Recreation Area: 357 acres (144 ha) of sand pine forest along Choctawhatchee Bay. The park provides facilities for camping, hiking, fishing, and canoeing. It is located five miles (8 km) east of Niceville on State Road 20.
Henderson Beach State Park: 1.3 miles (2.1 km) 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%
2023 (est.)	218,464	20.8%
2020

**Okaloosa County racial composition as of 2020**
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	139,500	146,271	77.15%	69.1%
Black or African American (NH)	16,333	18,896	9.03%	8.93%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	895	799	0.49%	0.38%
Asian (NH)	5,189	6,578	2.87%	3.11%
Pacific Islander (NH)	330	448	0.18%	0.21%
Some Other Race (NH)	397	1,206	0.22%	0.57%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	5,882	14,892	3.25%	7.04%
Hispanic or Latino	12,296	22,578	6.8%	10.67%
Total	180,822	211,668	100.00%	100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 211,668 people, 79,235 households, and 51,719 families residing in the county.

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 (75.1 people/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.

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.

Libraries

Okaloosa County is served by the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative. Formed in October 1997, the Cooperative originally included the county and the cities of Crestview, Mary Esther, and Niceville. The cities of Fort Walton Beach, Valparaiso, and Destin all joined the Cooperative by the year 2000. The Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative is governed by an independent, inter-governmental agency with seven members.