Walton County, Florida

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Walton County, Florida
DeFuniak Springs Hist Dist crths02.jpg
Walton County Courthouse
Seal of Walton County, Florida
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Walton County
Location in the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location in the U.S.
Founded December 29, 1824
Seat DeFuniak Springs
Largest city DeFuniak Springs
Area
 • Total 1,240 sq mi (3,212 km2)
 • Land 1,038 sq mi (2,688 km2)
 • Water 202 sq mi (523 km2), 16.3%
Population
 • (2010) 55,043
 • Density 53/sq mi (20/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.walton.fl.us

Walton County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 55,043.[1] Its county seat is DeFuniak Springs.[2] The county is home to the highest natural point in Florida: Britton Hill, at 345 feet (105 m).

Walton County is included in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Walton County was created in 1824. It was named for George Walton, Secretary of the Florida territory from 1821 to 1826.[3]

The county was settled in the early 18th Century by Scots who migrated from the Carolinas. The original settlements were in the Euchee (Yuchi) Valley near the landing on the Choctawhatchee River maintained by an Indian named Sam Story. They established one of the first Presbyterian churches in Northwest Florida which is still a functioning parish with an historical cemetery.

Geography

The summit of Britton Hill, the state of Florida's highest point at 345 feet, is located in northern Walton County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,240 square miles (3,200 km2), of which 1,038 square miles (2,690 km2) is land and 202 square miles (520 km2) (16.3%) is water.[4] The County is one of the largest in size in the state, stretching from the Alabama state line to the Emerald Coast.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 1,461 —
1850 1,817 24.4%
1860 3,037 67.1%
1870 3,041 0.1%
1880 4,201 38.1%
1890 4,816 14.6%
1900 9,346 94.1%
1910 16,460 76.1%
1920 12,119 −26.4%
1930 14,576 20.3%
1940 14,246 −2.3%
1950 14,725 3.4%
1960 15,576 5.8%
1970 16,087 3.3%
1980 21,300 32.4%
1990 27,760 30.3%
2000 40,601 46.3%
2010 55,043 35.6%
Est. 2014 61,530 [5] 11.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 40,601 people, 16,548 households, and 11,120 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 29,083 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.41% White, 6.98% Black or African American, 1.28% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 2.09% from two or more races. 2.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 16,548 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.80% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county the population was spread out with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 105.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,407, and the median income for a family was $37,663. Males had a median income of $26,799 versus $21,208 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,198. About 11.60% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.00% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Presidential elections results
Year Republican Democratic Other
2012 75.9% 23.3% 1.5%
2008 72.1% 26.4% 1.5%
2004 73.2% 25.9% 0.9%
2000 66.5% 30.8% 2.7%
1996 49.7% 34.4% 15.9%
1992 42.2% 28.7% 29.1%
1988 69.3% 29.9% 0.8%

[11]

Libraries

Walton County has 4 branches, including the historic DeFuniak Springs Library.

  • Coastal
  • DeFuniak Springs
  • Freeport
  • Gladys N. Milton Memorial Library

Schools

The county is served by the Walton County School District.

  • Bay Elementary, Santa Rosa Beach
  • Chautauqua Charter School, DeFuniak Springs
  • Emerald Coast Middle School, Santa Rosa Beach
  • Freeport Elementary, Freeport
  • Freeport High School, Freeport
  • Freeport Middle School, Freeport
  • Maude Saunders Middle School, DeFuniak Springs
  • Mossy Head Elementary, DeFuniak Springs
  • Paxton School, Paxton
  • Seaside School, Seaside
  • South Walton High School, Santa Rosa Beach
  • Van R. Butler Elementary, Santa Rosa Beach
  • Walton Academy, DeFuniak Springs
  • Walton High School, DeFuniak Springs
  • Walton Middle School, DeFuniak Springs
  • West DeFuniak Elementary, DeFuniak Springs

Communities

Walton County Courthouse, 2008

Cities

Town

Unincorporated communities

Gallery

  • KnoxHill.jpg

    The hilly terrain of Walton County differs from most of the rest of Florida.

  • The summit of Britton Hill, Florida's highest point at 345 feet, is located in northern Walton County.

  • South Walton contains many neighborhoods nestled in sugary-white sand dunes.

  • The coast of Walton County is fringed by emerald Gulf waters.

Transportation

Airports

Highways

See also

References

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  11. ↑ Reference: http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?fips=12&year=1988&off=0&elect=0&f=0
  12. ↑ http://www.coastaldunelakes.org/home.html

External links

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

Media links

 Covington County, Alabama Geneva County, Alabama
Okaloosa County Holmes County and Washington County
  Walton County, Florida  
Gulf of Mexico Bay County

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