Valparaiso, Florida facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valparaiso, Florida
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| City of Valparaiso | |
Valparaiso City Hall, September 2014.
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| Motto(s):
"Vale of Paradise"
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Location in Okaloosa County and the state of Florida
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Florida |
| County | Okaloosa |
| Incorporated | 1921 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-Commission |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.83 sq mi (30.63 km2) |
| • Land | 11.74 sq mi (30.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.22 km2) |
| Elevation | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,752 |
| • Density | 404.77/sq mi (156.28/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
32580
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| Area code(s) | 850 |
| FIPS code | 12-73675 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0305048 |
| Website | City of Valparaiso Florida Website |
Valparaiso is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. It is part of the larger Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 2020, about 4,752 people lived there. This was a small decrease from 5,036 people in 2010.
Contents
History of Valparaiso
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Valparaiso got its name from Valparaiso, Indiana. That city, in turn, was named after Valparaiso, Chile. Valparaiso, Florida, is also considered a "twin city" with its neighbor, Niceville. The name "Valparaiso" comes from the Spanish words meaning "paradise vale" or "paradise valley."
A businessman from Chicago named James E. Plew moved to the Florida Panhandle in Northwest Florida in 1922. He became a very important developer in the area. He believed Valparaiso was the best place to build new things.
In 1924, Mr. Plew started the Bank of Valparaiso. He also built the Valparaiso Inn and helped create the Valparaiso Country Club golf course. He was involved in many other projects to help the community grow.
Mr. Plew also started the Shalimar Winery, which used extra grapes from the county. He founded the Valparaiso Novelty Company and helped set up a knitting mill. He invested in many businesses to help them succeed.
Plew thought that a military base would help the local economy, which was struggling during the Great Depression. In 1933, he leased an airport from the city of Valparaiso. It was a 137-acre area cleared for planes.
In 1934, Plew offered the U.S. government 1,460 acres of land for a bombing and gunnery base. This land became the home of the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base. It opened on June 14, 1935. This was the beginning of Eglin Air Force Base. The airport code for the base, VPS, still comes from Valparaiso. There is an elementary school in Niceville named after James E. Plew.
Geography and Location
Valparaiso is located at 30.5070 degrees north latitude and 86.4970 degrees west longitude.
The United States Census Bureau says the city covers about 12.8 square miles (33.2 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 11.9 square miles (30.8 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers), is water.
Climate
Valparaiso has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). This means it has warm temperatures and rain all year round. Summers are usually hot and humid, with lots of rain from thunderstorms. Winters are usually a bit drier.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1930 | 99 | — | |
| 1940 | 221 | 123.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,047 | 373.8% | |
| 1960 | 5,975 | 470.7% | |
| 1970 | 6,504 | 8.9% | |
| 1980 | 6,142 | −5.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,672 | −23.9% | |
| 2000 | 6,408 | 37.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,036 | −21.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,752 | −5.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The city's population changes over time. In 2020, there were 4,752 people living in Valparaiso. These people lived in 1,876 households, and 1,335 of those were families.
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Valparaiso, based on the 2010 and 2020 censuses:
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White (NH) | 4,069 | 3,493 | 80.80% | 73.51% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 278 | 220 | 5.52% | 4.63% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 30 | 13 | 0.60% | 0.27% |
| Asian (NH) | 173 | 161 | 3.44% | 3.39% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 8 | 15 | 0.16% | 0.32% |
| Some other race (NH) | 4 | 25 | 0.08% | 0.53% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 195 | 422 | 3.87% | 8.88% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 279 | 403 | 5.54% | 8.48% |
| Total | 5,036 | 4,752 |
Arts and Local Attractions
Valparaiso has interesting places to visit. The Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida is located in the city. It teaches visitors about the history and culture of the region.
Transportation
For air travel, people in Valparaiso use the nearby Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. This airport also serves the cities of Destin and Fort Walton Beach. The airport is located inside Eglin Air Force Base. Its airport code, VPS, comes from the name Valparaiso, which is right next to the base.
See also
In Spanish: Valparaiso (Florida) para niños
