Walton County, Florida

Walton County, Florida
Walton County Courthouse

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 Miramar Beach
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 (est.)
 • (2017) 68,376[1]
 • Density 66/sq mi (25/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.[2] Its county seat is DeFuniak Springs.[3] 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 Colonel George Walton, Jr., secretary of the Florida Territory from 1821 to 1826. Walton, the son of George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was born 15 August 1786 in Augusta, Georgia, and died 20 March 1859 in Petersburg, Virginia.[4]

The county was settled in the early 18th century by Scots who migrated from the backcountry of the Carolinas. The original settlements were in the Euchee (Yuchi) Valley, near the landing on the Choctawhatchee River that was maintained by an Indian named Sam Story. These settlers founded one of the first Presbyterian churches in Northwest Florida. It is still an operating parish and has a 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.[5] The County is one of the largest in area in the state, stretching from the Alabama state line to the Emerald Coast.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18301,207—
18401,46121.0%
18501,81724.4%
18603,03767.1%
18703,0410.1%
18804,20138.1%
18904,81614.6%
19009,34694.1%
191016,46076.1%
192012,119−26.4%
193014,57620.3%
194014,246−2.3%
195014,7253.4%
196015,5765.8%
197016,0873.3%
198021,30032.4%
199027,76030.3%
200040,60146.3%
201055,04335.6%
Est. 201768,376[6]24.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2015[2]

As of the census[11] 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
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Other
2016 75.98% 25,756 20.28% 6,876 3.73% 1,266
2012 75.19% 21,490 23.34% 6,671 1.47% 421
2008 72.08% 19,561 26.43% 7,174 1.49% 404
2004 73.22% 17,555 25.91% 6,213 0.87% 208
2000 66.51% 12,186 30.80% 5,643 2.70% 494
1996 49.68% 7,709 34.42% 5,342 15.90% 2,467
1992 42.25% 5,726 28.69% 3,888 29.07% 3,940
1988 69.30% 7,490 29.93% 3,235 0.77% 83
1984 74.01% 7,126 25.99% 2,503
1980 50.28% 4,694 46.70% 4,360 3.02% 282
1976 35.35% 2,927 62.76% 5,196 1.88% 156
1972 85.93% 6,217 13.66% 988 0.41% 30
1968 13.45% 963 14.86% 1,064 71.70% 5,135
1964 60.51% 3,753 39.49% 2,449
1960 28.95% 1,484 71.05% 3,642
1956 33.24% 1,606 66.76% 3,225
1952 29.48% 1,502 70.52% 3,593
1948 17.16% 652 62.28% 2,366 20.56% 781
1944 21.15% 689 78.85% 2,569
1940 17.74% 694 82.26% 3,217
1936 15.51% 510 84.49% 2,778
1932 10.96% 305 89.04% 2,477
1928 61.36% 1,475 37.77% 908 0.87% 21
1924 18.77% 220 70.39% 825 10.84% 127
1920 30.66% 619 64.24% 1,297 5.10% 103
1916 37.14% 549 50.95% 753 11.91% 176
1912 7.01% 74 57.95% 612 35.04% 370
1908 37.96% 369 51.85% 504 10.19% 99
1904 42.65% 322 46.89% 354 10.46% 79

[13]

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
  • Emerald Coast Middle School, Santa Rosa Beach
  • Freeport Elementary, Freeport
  • Freeport High School, Freeport
  • Freeport Middle School, Freeport
  • Maude Saunders Elementary 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

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Transportation

Airports

Highways

  • US highway 331
  • US highway 90
  • US highway 98
  • State highway 20
  • State highway 83
  • Interstate 10
  • State highway 30A

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/waltoncountyflorida/PST045216
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 15, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Publications of the Florida Historical Society. Florida Historical Society. 1908. p. 34.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-06-16.
  13. ↑ Reference: http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/datagraph.php?fips=12&year=1988&off=0&elect=0&f=0

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

Coordinates: 30°37′N 86°10′W / 30.61°N 86.17°W / 30.61; -86.17

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