The Okaloosa County courthouse in March 2008, Places adjacent to Okaloosa County, Florida, United States presidential election results for Okaloosa County, Florida. The college maintains four campuses in Okaloosa County: Niceville, Crestview, Ft. Walton Beach, and Hurlburt Field, and one campus in Walton County, FL. Visitors enjoy pristine beaches, Gulf-to-Table seafood, abundant watersport activities, nature trails and camp grounds, numerous attractions, festivals and events designed to thrill all ages. WebOriginally, land on Okaloosa Island was "leased" from the Okaloosa Island Authority. [1] Its county seat is Crestview. Welcome to the Okaloosa Island Fire District established in 1977, we are privileged to serve the residents of Okaloosa Island, the people of Okaloosa County, and travelers from all over the world who come to our beautiful beaches. Today, highways and airports help the railway link Okaloosa County with the rest of the world. The county paid the federal government $4,000 to complete the transaction, which was supported by Congressman Bob Sikes . Park at the Boardwalk where you can shop, eat, and play. 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. Copyright 2015 Okaloosa County, Florida. CMQsH@/. All-too-familiar vendor beach setups, color coordinated, two chairs and an umbrella, line the beach on either side of the islands public beach accesses, but the beach set aside for anyone to use behind those accesses provides an oasis that likely prevents a number of disputes over property rights. Whether taking place along the sugar-white sand beaches, out on the crystal-clear Gulf waters, or tucked away along a secluded nature trail, these adventures include dolphin excursions, charter fishing, eFoil lessons, snorkeling, camping, hiking, and more. OKALOOSA ISLAND Margaret Mary Doucette and her friend Christine Rolfe had their hands full of swimming and sunning necessities Tuesday as they crossed Santa Rosa Boulevard on Okaloosa Island on their way to the beach. Situated along the Choctawhatchee Bay, Niceville offers an outdoor paradise beyond the beaches at Turkey Creek Nature Trail, where you can enjoy hiking, kayaking, and wildlife watching. Okaloosa pioneers gathered often to exchange ideas, goods and news. The Okaloosa Island Condominium Alliance this year filed a legal action that held up a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit to dredge from the East Pass in Destin until an agreement was forged that would result in the majority of the dredged sand being placed on the western side of the pass as opposed to the eastern side and Holiday Isle. On August 1, 2017 the Board of County Commissioners adopted Resolution 17-123 which defined the new process for Leasehold Conversions. In 1962, Congressman Sikes prompted Congress to remove the stipulations in the original deed because financing was difficult to obtain for both commercial and residential construction. An Industrious People Yn*S-/xH DTIB(IpS0?yB!Y#t$ r. Then notice on your right the sign that welcomes you to Okaloosa Island. CEgu#fKiKNSZNy$t1ihZ[>A Perhaps the authoritys most lasting legacy is the public beach accesses that were incorporated into the plan. Lying along the Florida Panhandle on the 24 mile stretch of the Santa Rosa Barrier Island between Navarre Beach, Florida and Destin Beach, Florida, Okaloosa Island is a family oriented destination that offers gorgeous beaches and options for everyone. We have no booking fees and free cancellation, so you can relax and channel all your energy into planning your dream vacation. 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite 100 Okaloosa County is a destination rich On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. All images on this page copyright FloridaSmart.com. 288.1226, Okaloosa County Tourist Development Council, Ensure compliance with state statutes and local ordinances as required*. To the east of the pier is the Gulf Islands National Seashore area with an access point at John Beasley Park. Escambia County purchased all of Santa Rosa Island, except Fort Pickens, from the War Department on April 19, 1929, for $10,000. Visitors enjoy pristine beaches, Gulf-to-Table seafood, abundant watersport activities, nature trails and camp grounds, numerous attractions, festivals and events designed to thrill all ages. August 10, 2021 WebOkaloosa Island is the beach destination in Destin-Fort Walton Beach Florida that offers 3 miles of sugar white super soft sand and the clear emerald green waters of the emerald coast beaches. WebThe last of three county-owned buildings on Okaloosa Island was torn down on May 31, 1995. They made their way south on foot, ox carts, boats, and mule wagons to establish small sustenance farms. www.destinfwb.com, 302 N. Wilson St. - Suite 302 The Bridge offers local citizens a convenient option for commuting to / from work, getting to school, shopping, or heading off to recreational activities. To help make it easier than ever to discover these experiences, the destination introduced Little Adventures, new, bite-sized challenges that encourage families to get outside, learn something new, and get out of their comfort zones. Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Recreation Area: Black or African American alone=10.2% (July 1, 2015), American Native and Alaskan Native alone=0.7% (July 1, 2015), Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone=0.3% (July 1, 2015), This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 19:42. August 13, 2021 Today contemporary aircraft and modern weaponry are now tested on the land that only yesterday, Native Americans and pioneers struggled to survive on. Okaloosa County is included in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. 75-456 (June 23, 1975), the Okaloosa Island Authority was abolished and its assets turned over to the Board of County Commissioners, Okaloosa County, for management with the full force of direction to be retained in the PROTECTIVE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS then in effect. [7] And to support a strong local community. Whether taking place along the sugar-white sand beaches, out on the crystal-clear Gulf waters, or tucked away along a secluded nature trail, these adventures include dolphin excursions, charter fishing, eFoil lessons, snorkeling, camping, hiking, and more. With the Spence Parkwaynow open, local travel is even more convenient, travel between I-10 and the beaches is quicker, and the hurricane evacuation route for southern Okaloosa County vastly improved. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. )T>wsRQU_:X_;Ru~\~w S?r"k'?4wN )+o'wa?%;s[lg:\Q_f Tower Beach, with a board walk, casino, restaurant and concession stands, and operated by Thomas E. Brooks, of the same family for whom the Brooks Bridge is named, was largely destroyed by fire on Saturday, March 7, 1942. There is a Brief History of We have provided for the promotion of Fire Safety through our Fire Prevention program and annual inspections. As of the 2020 United States census, there were 211,668 people, 79,235 households, and 51,719 families residing in the county. There is a Brief History of Okaloosa Island on the About Us page. Later in 1937 the U.S. Army Air Corps mandated that the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base be renamed Eglin Field" after Lt. Col. Frederick Irving Eglin. Klein can be contacted directly at klein@aristotle.net. Hutchinson, Leonard Patrick, "History of the Playground Area of Northwest Florida", Great Outdoors Publishing Co., St. Petersburg, Florida, 1st ed., 1961, no Library of Congress card number, no ISBN, page 41. Discover the best sights in Okaloosa Island with some unique tours & day trips, or check out our list of {36 fun activities in Okaloosa Island fun activities in Okaloosa Island}. H. C. Hank Klein is a Destin historian, author, and speaker. WebOkaloosa Island Attractions. This makes it difficult to obtain financing when selling or re-financing. WebOkaloosa County is located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. July 29, 2021 Then when you cross the Marler Memorial Bridge and leave Destin heading west you are on Santa Rosa Island for the next three and a half miles. We have assisted multiple jurisdictions throughout the county and surrounding communities with our Multi-Agency Automatic Aid Agreements in Public Safety. In a joint response to an email, the Alliance members said they were confident dredged sand placed on the western side of Destin Pass will naturally restore beach to severely eroded areas on Okaloosa Island that belong to Eglin Air Force Base. Webfrom the 1970 Annual Report of the Okaloosa Island Authority; Chapter 75-456 House Bill No. 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. Okaloosa Island was developed under the guidance of the Okaloosa Island Authority, which in the 1950s was called upon to devise a master plan for a growing community. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. ;styq+1 9|+B?ze^!d}h9_'?8NpkEZNzE#k=r/i~:3W39ZzU_Vs$@HDL(bN[sxD:g],krS;,#rK/w- Xp^#^.X==NG_K=xfIQ~h#>w bee X==t All historic photographs in this presentation are copyright Heritage Museum Association and may not be used or reproduced in any form without written consent. Okaloosa Island is an area on Santa Rosa Island, Florida. WebOn July 8, 1950 the federal government conveyed an 875-acre (3.54 km 2) parcel of Santa Rosa Island with 3 miles (4.8 km) of Gulf frontage to Okaloosa County. August 16, 2021, Okaloosa Pier Surf Report and Forecast is the area's leading surf forecast provider. The original tourism district collects a 5% Tourist Tax from overnight guests and includes the cities of Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa Island, Mary Esther and Cinco Bayou. Small outposts sprang up and served as gathering places for these isolated pioneers. We have no booking fees and free cancellation, so you can relax and channel all your energy into planning your dream vacation. Situated along the Choctawhatchee Bay, Niceville offers an outdoor paradise beyond the beaches at Turkey Creek Nature Trail, where you can enjoy hiking, kayaking, and wildlife watching. G(j,|9~b2@>bJUKQ{Ug`#1\n,|4e] MUz]*:JZw*,. During the winter months, from the angle of the earth to the sun, both sunrise and sunset can be seen across the horizon along the edge where the water meets the sky. Northwest Florida State College serves over 10,000 residents of Okaloosa County annually for bachelor's degrees, associate degrees, and certificates. [ PkJi8]@l7u\Ei]C0ItnTW3IW0\ib They included the Santa Rosa Island Military Reservation and the Moreno Point Military Reservation what we call Destin today. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. WebThe quickest way to Destin and the beaches of Okaloosa County and South Walton is the Mid-Bay Bridge across Choctawhatchee Bay. The lease was for 99 years with an automatic renewal for 99 years. Fitting, because many residents today began as a tourist! 2307 abolishing the Okaloosa Island Authority (1975); and the Okaloosa Island Leaseholders Association Newsletter of May 2000. WebThe last of three county-owned buildings on Okaloosa Island was torn down on May 31, 1995. An authentic local recommendation - Tips onthe best time of day to travel - Maybe just a smile. During the spring, summer and early fall seasons, go early because parking is limited, particularly on the weekends. These spots are the perfect place to head to the gorgeous beaches. Od1Sn&|]&3hV[JbPLDXa"3'P4Q1B[*a&H2,`@YMDjPVePn&8p& 3vd,5"b`KQp4cl(lXX\"Kj\SBma040[@R4lJ1:4PfyDrv@Zl@"4B1kDQY)Oy-(7s,RZXa5.BVOwVa85# B-*0=|v(.,Rw@Yvlm &!h")D!DaXPrP rPY18H9Rr@CH Originally, land on Okaloosa Island was "leased" from the Okaloosa Island Authority. And the best feature of John Beasley Park is the dunes! A sample lease for a residential property on the Island is contained in the link below. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.50 males. Not as busy as some of the Destin area beaches, this area is a perfect location if you want to be close enough to Destin, but a bit out of the more touristyareas. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. `boEfaEf5v,BY%`+>( Dp0,J (E/lPnVWg3\daW#lqS?4|p~ 3p~z+? Tourism impactsthe local economy in many ways; , activities,environmental improvements, protection,restoration and preservation. It doesnt bother us, Doucette said of the long rows of umbrellas. 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