Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Encyclopedia
Fort Walton Beach is a city in southern Okaloosa County, Florida
, United States. As of 2005, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach was 19,992, and as of 2010, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach is 19,507 recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is a principal city of the Fort Walton Beach–Crestview
–Destin
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Fort Walton Beach is a year-round fishing and beach resort community. Its busiest time of the year is the summer, with spring break being another busy time when thousands of people flock to the Emerald Coast
.
" that flourished from approximately 1100~1550 AD. It is believed that this culture evolved out of the Weeden Island culture. Fort also appeared to come about due to contact with the major Mississippian centers to the north and west. It was the most complex in the north-west Florida region. The Fort Walton peoples put in to practice mound building and intensive agriculture, made pottery in a variety of vessel shapes, and had hierarchial settlement patterns that reflected other Mississippian societies.
The first Europeans to set foot in what is now Okaloosa County and the Fort Walton Beach area were members of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
's party, who traveled by boat from what is now Panama City Beach
, Florida in 1528 to Texas, "Then we set out to sea again, coasting towards the River of Palms. Every day our thirst and hunger increased because our supplies were giving out, as well as the water supply, for the pouches we had made from the legs of our horses soon became rotten and useless. From time to time we would enter some inlet or cove that reached very far inland, but we found them all shallow and dangerous, and so we navigated through them for thirty days, meeting sometimes Indians who fished and were poor and wretched people".
The area is described at "Baixa de Baca" in a Spanish map dated 1566. In later English and French maps the area of was noted as "Baya Santa Rosa" or "Bay St. Rose". A number of Spanish artifacts, including a portion of brigantine leather armor, are housed in the Indian Temple Mound Museum.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no documentary evidence of pirates using the area as a base of operations. Piracy was rampant in the Gulf of Mexico from pirates working out of Hispaniola, the Caribbean, and the Florida Keys. Notable raids occurred in 1683 and 1687 against the Spanish fort at San Marcos de Apalachee (by French and English buccaneers), a 1712 raid against Port Dauphin (now Alabama) by English pirates from Martinique, and the actions of the late 18th-century adventurer William Augustus Bowles, who was based in Apalachicola. Bowles was never referred to as "Billy Bowlegs" in period documentation; his Creek name was "Eastajoca".
During the era of Spanish and English colonization, the area of what was to become Fort Walton Beach was noted in several journals but no worthwhile presence was established.
Early settlers of Walton County, Florida were the first to establish permanent settlements in what is now Fort Walton Beach (the area was originally named "Anderson"). One of the first settlers was John Anderson, who received land plots in 1838. The name "Anderson" is noted on maps from 1838 to 1884. It was not until 1911 that the name "Camp Walton" appeared on Florida maps.
In 1861, Camp Walton was a confederate military camp made up of the 1st Florida Regiment, which consisted of men from the Walton County Militia. At this time, Okaloosa County did not yet exist. Walton County received its name from Col. George Walton, who served as an aide under Andrew Jackson and whose father, George Walton Sr., was the 56th signatory of the Declaration of Independence. As a result of Col. Walton's influence in the politics of north-west Florida, his name was honored by establishing Walton County.
The 1st Florida regiment's camp was located in front of the Indian Temple Mound, now known as the Heritage Park and Cultural Center, and its mission was to protect the "Narrows" from Union ships. Although the 1st Florida Regiment did not see much action, they did keep busy by digging up prehistoric Indian remains buried in the Indian Temple Mound and displaying them at camp.
The 1940 census counted 90 residents in Fort Walton. Fort Walton was incorporated by a State Senate bill effective June 16, 1941.
The community's name was officially changed from Fort Walton to Fort Walton Beach on June 15, 1953, by agreement with the state legislature in Tallahassee, and incorporated a portion of Santa Rosa Island formerly known as Tower Beach. Tower Beach had been an amusement area in the 1930s with a board walk, casino, restaurant, dance pavilion, and concession stands which was largely destroyed by fire on Saturday, March 7, 1942. Wartime supply restrictions prevented a reconstruction. This 875-acre parcel of Santa Rosa Island
with three miles of Gulf frontage was conveyed to Okaloosa County on July 8, 1950 in an informal ceremony at the county courthouse in Crestview, Florida
. The county paid the federal government $4,000 to complete the transaction, the result of the efforts of Congressman Bob Sikes
. The portion of Santa Rosa Island
transferred is now known as Okaloosa Island
. The government was changed to a city manager form.
A special census conducted in 1956 listed 9,456 residents, which grew to 11,249 by 1960.
, the city has a total area of 21.3 square kilometre. 19.3 square kilometre of it is land and 2 square kilometre, or 9.26%, is water.
Fort Walton Beach is very wet, averaging 69 inches of rain each year, more than any city in Florida. The wettest season is summer, and the driest autumn; however, the flood season is also in autumn. Snow and freezing rain are very rare. Freezing rain occurs about once every 5–10 years. Snow occurs about once every 10–15 years. The last significant snowfall was on January 31, 1977, when a depth of 4 inches was reported in inland Florida. The last report of snow was on December 24, 2001. The last report of freezing rain was on February 11, 2010.
. Airlines that currently serve Northwest Florida Regional Airport are American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Continental Express, Continental Connection, US Airways Express, and Vision Airlines. They provide non-stop service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Louisville, Ky, Tunica/Memphis, and St. Petersburg/Tampa, with seasonal flights to St. Louis, Orlando/Sanford, Punta Gorda, Fl. and Ft. Lauderdale.
http://rideoct.org/ provides public transportation throughout Fort Walton Beach as well as Okaloosa County. Its main stop and transfer location is Uptown Station located on State Road 85, a little over 1 mile north of US 98.
is a north-south highway from State Road 85
to US 98 in downtown Fort Walton Beach. State Road 85
is a north-south highway from Alabama State Route 55
in Florala, Alabama
, through I-10 in Crestview
and ends at US 98 in downtown Fort Walton Beach. US 98 is an east-west highway, which runs through downtown Fort Walton Beach. The Brooks Bridge
over the Santa Rosa Sound
connects downtown Fort Walton Beach with Okaloosa Island
. It is the main route to Destin
, and Pensacola
.
was 2,683.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,036.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.84% White, 13.34% African American, 0.45% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races
, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.04% of the population.
There were 8,460 households, of which 26% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,153, and the median income for a family was $45,791. Males had a median income of $29,709 versus $21,641 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $21,085. About 7.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those aged 65 or over.
is home to Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the 1st Special Operations Wing
, and the Joint Special Operations University. Eglin AFB is home to the Air Force Material Command's Air Armament Center
and the 96th Air Base Wing
, the 46th Test Wing
, and Air Combat Command
's 33rd Fighter Wing. Eglin is geographically one of the largest Air Force bases at 724 square miles (1,875.2 km²), and thus home to joint exercises, and missile and bomb testing. For example, the 'Massive Ordnance Air Blast' or 'Mother of All Bombs' (MOAB) was first tested at Eglin AFB on March 11, 2003.
There is support industry in the area that benefits from the presence of the bases, including military contractors and the service industry. In January 2005, employment (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) in the area was as follows (all numbers indicate percentages of civilian labor force):
Note the lower unemployment rate, which is a consistent feature of the local economy.
The tourism industry is seasonal, with summer being the primary season, and a smaller peak season during spring break. The Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival
is held annually.
Okaloosa County, Florida
Okaloosa 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...
, United States. As of 2005, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach was 19,992, and as of 2010, the population estimate for Fort Walton Beach is 19,507 recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau. It is a principal city of the Fort Walton Beach–Crestview
Crestview, Florida
Crestview is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. Crestview’s name was chosen because of its location on the peak of a long woodland range between the Yellow and Shoal rivers which flow almost parallel on the east and west side of the City....
–Destin
Destin, Florida
Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is a principal city of the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its white beaches and emerald green waters...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Fort Walton Beach is a year-round fishing and beach resort community. Its busiest time of the year is the summer, with spring break being another busy time when thousands of people flock to the Emerald Coast
Emerald Coast
The Emerald Coast is an area in the US state of Florida on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico which stretches about 100 miles through four counties, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay, from Gulf Breeze on the east side of Pensacola Bay to Panama City on the east side of the St...
.
History
Prehistoric settlement of Fort Walton Beach is attributed to the mound building "Fort Walton CultureFort Walton Culture
Fort Walton Culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in southeastern North America, from approximately 1100~1550 CE....
" that flourished from approximately 1100~1550 AD. It is believed that this culture evolved out of the Weeden Island culture. Fort also appeared to come about due to contact with the major Mississippian centers to the north and west. It was the most complex in the north-west Florida region. The Fort Walton peoples put in to practice mound building and intensive agriculture, made pottery in a variety of vessel shapes, and had hierarchial settlement patterns that reflected other Mississippian societies.
The first Europeans to set foot in what is now Okaloosa County and the Fort Walton Beach area were members of Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca was a Spanish explorer of the New World, one of four survivors of the Narváez expedition...
's party, who traveled by boat from what is now Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. The city is often referred to under the umbrella term of "Panama City", despite being a distinct municipality from the older and larger inland Panama City to the east, making Panama City and Panama City...
, Florida in 1528 to Texas, "Then we set out to sea again, coasting towards the River of Palms. Every day our thirst and hunger increased because our supplies were giving out, as well as the water supply, for the pouches we had made from the legs of our horses soon became rotten and useless. From time to time we would enter some inlet or cove that reached very far inland, but we found them all shallow and dangerous, and so we navigated through them for thirty days, meeting sometimes Indians who fished and were poor and wretched people".
The area is described at "Baixa de Baca" in a Spanish map dated 1566. In later English and French maps the area of was noted as "Baya Santa Rosa" or "Bay St. Rose". A number of Spanish artifacts, including a portion of brigantine leather armor, are housed in the Indian Temple Mound Museum.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no documentary evidence of pirates using the area as a base of operations. Piracy was rampant in the Gulf of Mexico from pirates working out of Hispaniola, the Caribbean, and the Florida Keys. Notable raids occurred in 1683 and 1687 against the Spanish fort at San Marcos de Apalachee (by French and English buccaneers), a 1712 raid against Port Dauphin (now Alabama) by English pirates from Martinique, and the actions of the late 18th-century adventurer William Augustus Bowles, who was based in Apalachicola. Bowles was never referred to as "Billy Bowlegs" in period documentation; his Creek name was "Eastajoca".
During the era of Spanish and English colonization, the area of what was to become Fort Walton Beach was noted in several journals but no worthwhile presence was established.
Early settlers of Walton County, Florida were the first to establish permanent settlements in what is now Fort Walton Beach (the area was originally named "Anderson"). One of the first settlers was John Anderson, who received land plots in 1838. The name "Anderson" is noted on maps from 1838 to 1884. It was not until 1911 that the name "Camp Walton" appeared on Florida maps.
In 1861, Camp Walton was a confederate military camp made up of the 1st Florida Regiment, which consisted of men from the Walton County Militia. At this time, Okaloosa County did not yet exist. Walton County received its name from Col. George Walton, who served as an aide under Andrew Jackson and whose father, George Walton Sr., was the 56th signatory of the Declaration of Independence. As a result of Col. Walton's influence in the politics of north-west Florida, his name was honored by establishing Walton County.
The 1st Florida regiment's camp was located in front of the Indian Temple Mound, now known as the Heritage Park and Cultural Center, and its mission was to protect the "Narrows" from Union ships. Although the 1st Florida Regiment did not see much action, they did keep busy by digging up prehistoric Indian remains buried in the Indian Temple Mound and displaying them at camp.
The 1940 census counted 90 residents in Fort Walton. Fort Walton was incorporated by a State Senate bill effective June 16, 1941.
The community's name was officially changed from Fort Walton to Fort Walton Beach on June 15, 1953, by agreement with the state legislature in Tallahassee, and incorporated a portion of Santa Rosa Island formerly known as Tower Beach. Tower Beach had been an amusement area in the 1930s with a board walk, casino, restaurant, dance pavilion, and concession stands which was largely destroyed by fire on Saturday, March 7, 1942. Wartime supply restrictions prevented a reconstruction. This 875-acre parcel of Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa Island, Florida
Santa Rosa Island[p] is a 40-mile barrier island located in the U.S. state of Florida, thirty miles east of the Alabama state border...
with three miles of Gulf frontage was conveyed to Okaloosa County on July 8, 1950 in an informal ceremony at the county courthouse in Crestview, Florida
Crestview, Florida
Crestview is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. Crestview’s name was chosen because of its location on the peak of a long woodland range between the Yellow and Shoal rivers which flow almost parallel on the east and west side of the City....
. The county paid the federal government $4,000 to complete the transaction, the result of the efforts of Congressman Bob Sikes
Robert L. F. Sikes
Robert Lee Fulton Sikes was a U.S. Representative from Florida.Born in Isabella, near Sylvester, Georgia, Sikes attended the public schools....
. The portion of Santa Rosa Island
Santa Rosa Island, Florida
Santa Rosa Island[p] is a 40-mile barrier island located in the U.S. state of Florida, thirty miles east of the Alabama state border...
transferred is now known as Okaloosa Island
Okaloosa Island
Okaloosa Island is a regionally used term for a small section of larger Santa Rosa Island located in Okaloosa County, Florida. Okaloosa Island is home to hundreds of residential homes, high rise condominiums and major hotels and motels. The area is unincorporated and uses Fort Walton Beach as a...
. The government was changed to a city manager form.
A special census conducted in 1956 listed 9,456 residents, which grew to 11,249 by 1960.
Geography
Fort Walton Beach is located at 30.420199°N 86.616727°W (30.420199, -86.616727). According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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...
, the city has a total area of 21.3 square kilometre. 19.3 square kilometre of it is land and 2 square kilometre, or 9.26%, is water.
Climate
Fort Walton Beach has a very warm humid subtropical climate. The area experiences hot and very humid summers, generally from late May to mid-September. Autumns, from mid-September to early December, are generally warm. Winters are very short and mild, from mid-December to late February. Springs are warm, from late February to late May. The area recorded its highest temperature of 107°F (42°C) in July 1980. The area recorded its lowest temperature of 4°F (-16°C) in January 1985, just five years later.Fort Walton Beach is very wet, averaging 69 inches of rain each year, more than any city in Florida. The wettest season is summer, and the driest autumn; however, the flood season is also in autumn. Snow and freezing rain are very rare. Freezing rain occurs about once every 5–10 years. Snow occurs about once every 10–15 years. The last significant snowfall was on January 31, 1977, when a depth of 4 inches was reported in inland Florida. The last report of snow was on December 24, 2001. The last report of freezing rain was on February 11, 2010.
Airports
Nearby Northwest Florida Regional Airport (airport code VPS) serves Fort Walton Beach, as well as Valparaiso, FloridaValparaiso, Florida
Valparaiso is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, in the United States, and it is named after the Chilean city of Valparaiso. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 6,408. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 estimates, the city had a population of 6,336...
. Airlines that currently serve Northwest Florida Regional Airport are American Eagle, Delta Air Lines, Delta Connection, Continental Express, Continental Connection, US Airways Express, and Vision Airlines. They provide non-stop service to Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, Louisville, Ky, Tunica/Memphis, and St. Petersburg/Tampa, with seasonal flights to St. Louis, Orlando/Sanford, Punta Gorda, Fl. and Ft. Lauderdale.
Mass Transit
Okaloosa County TransitOkaloosa County Transit
Okaloosa County Transit is the public transportation agency that serves the Okaloosa County, Florida. The service was founded in 1987 and served approximately 225,000 riders in 2009. Okaloosa County Transit offers deviated fixed route bus service and limited paratransit service countywide...
http://rideoct.org/ provides public transportation throughout Fort Walton Beach as well as Okaloosa County. Its main stop and transfer location is Uptown Station located on State Road 85, a little over 1 mile north of US 98.
Major Highways
State Road 189Florida State Road 189
Florida State Road 189 is a north–south highway in the panhandle of Florida. It leads from U.S. Route 98 in downtown Fort Walton Beach to just east of State Road 85 at the Eglin AFB West Gate where its southern section terminates...
is a north-south highway from State Road 85
Florida State Road 85
State Road 85, or SR 85, is a north–south state highway that runs from US 98 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida north to State Route 55 at the Florida/Alabama state line.-Route description:...
to US 98 in downtown Fort Walton Beach. State Road 85
Florida State Road 85
State Road 85, or SR 85, is a north–south state highway that runs from US 98 in Fort Walton Beach, Florida north to State Route 55 at the Florida/Alabama state line.-Route description:...
is a north-south highway from Alabama State Route 55
Alabama State Route 55
State Route 55 is a long route in the southern part of the state. The southern terminus of the route is at the Florida–Alabama state line, where the route continues as Florida State Road 85. The northern terminus of the route is at a junction with U.S...
in Florala, Alabama
Florala, Alabama
Florala is a city in Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 1,964.-Geography:Florala is located at . According to the U.S...
, through I-10 in Crestview
Crestview, Florida
Crestview is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. Crestview’s name was chosen because of its location on the peak of a long woodland range between the Yellow and Shoal rivers which flow almost parallel on the east and west side of the City....
and ends at US 98 in downtown Fort Walton Beach. US 98 is an east-west highway, which runs through downtown Fort Walton Beach. The Brooks Bridge
Brooks Bridge
The Brooks Bridge is a four-lane steel and concrete structure that carries highway U.S. Route 98 over Santa Rosa Sound just west of the Choctawhatchee Bay between downtown Fort Walton Beach, Florida and the three-mile section of Okaloosa Island controlled by the city of Fort Walton Beach. It is...
over the Santa Rosa Sound
Santa Rosa Sound
Santa Rosa Sound is a sound connecting Pensacola Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in Florida. The northern shore consists of the Fairpoint Peninsula and portions of the mainland in Santa Rosa County and Okaloosa County...
connects downtown Fort Walton Beach with Okaloosa Island
Okaloosa Island
Okaloosa Island is a regionally used term for a small section of larger Santa Rosa Island located in Okaloosa County, Florida. Okaloosa Island is home to hundreds of residential homes, high rise condominiums and major hotels and motels. The area is unincorporated and uses Fort Walton Beach as a...
. It is the main route to Destin
Destin, Florida
Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is a principal city of the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its white beaches and emerald green waters...
, and Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida
Pensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
.
Demographics
In the census of 2000, there were 19,973 people, 8,460 households, and 5,419 families residing in the city. The population densityPopulation 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 2,683.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,036.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 78.84% White, 13.34% African American, 0.45% Native American, 2.72% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.22% 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 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.04% of the population.
There were 8,460 households, of which 26% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33, and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $40,153, and the median income for a family was $45,791. Males had a median income of $29,709 versus $21,641 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 city was $21,085. About 7.3% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.2% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those aged 65 or over.
Notable native residents
- Glen CoffeeGlen CoffeeGlenwood Razeem Coffee, Jr is a former American football running back for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He was selected by the 49ers in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft and played one season before retiring in 2010. He played college football at Alabama.-Freshman:In...
– former running back for the Alabama Crimson Tide football program and current NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers - Richard Covey – Astronaut
- Jason ElamJason ElamJason Elam is a retired American football placekicker. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Hawaii....
– National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
kicker - Scott Fletcher – former MLB baseball player
- E.G. Green – National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts (1998–2000) - D.J. Hall – former Alabama Crimson Tide, and National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
wide receiverWide receiverA wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible... - Brian MarshallBrian MarshallBrian Aubrey Marshall is an American musician and songwriter best known as the bassist and co-founder of the rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He also co-owns a bed and breakfast called Mango Moon in Costa Rica.-Early life:...
– bass playerBass PlayerBass player can refer to:*Bass Player , an album by Rhombus*Bass Player , a magazine for bassists*Bassist, or bass player, a musician who plays the bass guitar...
for the rock band CreedCreed (band)Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
& now Alterbridge - Carolyn MurphyCarolyn MurphyCarolyn Murphy is an American model and actress.-Biography:Carolyn Murphy was born in Panama City, Florida and grew up mainly in Northwest Florida, with brief periods in England and Maryland, as a result of her parents’ divorce. Her career began when at the age of 16, her mother enrolled her in a...
– internationally acclaimed model - Preston ShumpertPreston ShumpertMert Shumpert or Preston Anthony Shumpert is an American-Turkish professional basketball player currently playing for Turkish club Galatasaray....
– Syracuse Orange Basketball Forward/Guard (1998–2002) - Danny WuerffelDanny WuerffelDaniel Carl "Danny" Wuerffel is a former American college and professional football player who won the 1996 Heisman Trophy and the 1996 national football championship while playing college football for the University of Florida. After graduating from Florida, he played for four National Football...
– 1996 Heisman TrophyHeisman TrophyThe Heisman Memorial Trophy Award , is awarded annually to the player deemed the most outstanding player in collegiate football. It was created in 1935 as the Downtown Athletic Club trophy and renamed in 1936 following the death of the Club's athletic director, John Heisman The Heisman Memorial...
winning quarterback from the University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
and former quarterback for the New Orleans Saints - Matt MooreMatt Moore (baseball)Matthew Cody Moore is a pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He is considered the Rays second best prospect for 2011 by Baseball America.-High School:...
- Pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays - Shane GibsonShane GibsonDavid Shane Gibson is a Member of Parliament and former Cabinet Minister of Immigration, Labour and Training of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. He is the son of Bahamian entertainer and "King" Eric Gibson.-Early career:...
- Internationally-known heavy metal guitarist, currently playing with the band KornKornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
Economy
The economy of Fort Walton Beach is driven by two primary factors: tourism and the military. There are two major Air Force bases which border Fort Walton Beach. Hurlburt FieldHurlburt Field
Hurlburt Field is a U.S. Air Force installation located in Okaloosa County, Florida, immediately west of the Town of Mary Esther. It is part of the greater Eglin Air Force Base reservation, and is home to Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command , the 1st Special Operations Wing , the...
is home to Headquarters, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the 1st Special Operations Wing
1st Special Operations Wing
The 1st Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, Florida is one of two United States Air Force active duty Special Operations wings and falls under the Air Force Special Operations Command ....
, and the Joint Special Operations University. Eglin AFB is home to the Air Force Material Command's Air Armament Center
Air Armament Center
The Air Armament Center is responsible for development, acquisition, testing, and deployment of all air-delivered weapons for the U.S. Air Force...
and the 96th Air Base Wing
96th Air Base Wing
The 96th Air Base Wing is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Air Combat Command Air Armament Center. It is stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida...
, the 46th Test Wing
46th Test Wing
The 46th Test Wing is a wing of the United States Air Force based out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The wing operates as tenant unit at Holloman AFB, NM.-Mission:...
, and Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....
's 33rd Fighter Wing. Eglin is geographically one of the largest Air Force bases at 724 square miles (1,875.2 km²), and thus home to joint exercises, and missile and bomb testing. For example, the 'Massive Ordnance Air Blast' or 'Mother of All Bombs' (MOAB) was first tested at Eglin AFB on March 11, 2003.
There is support industry in the area that benefits from the presence of the bases, including military contractors and the service industry. In January 2005, employment (according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics) in the area was as follows (all numbers indicate percentages of civilian labor force):
| Category | FWB | Florida |
|---|---|---|
| Employment | 84.6 | — |
| Unemployment | 3.3 | 4.4 |
| Total Nonfarm | 84.0 | 90.1 |
| Construction & Mining | 5.1 | 6.0 |
| Manufacturing | 4.1 | 4.6 |
| Trade, Transportation, and Utilities | 15.7 | 18.0 |
| Information | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| Financial Activities | 6.4 | 6.0 |
| Professional and Business Services | 12.1 | 15.6 |
| Educational and Health Services | 7.7 | 11.0 |
| Leisure and Hospitality | 11.4 | 10.2 |
| Other Services | 3.9 | 3.8 |
| Government | 15.4 | 12.9 |
Note the lower unemployment rate, which is a consistent feature of the local economy.
The tourism industry is seasonal, with summer being the primary season, and a smaller peak season during spring break. The Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival
Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival
The annual Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival is held in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. The festival honors the local pirate legend, and is unrelated to the Seminole chief Billy Bowlegs. Similar to Mardi Gras, the festival consists of a parade, fireworks, and associated celebrations.The festival originated...
is held annually.