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Okaloosa County, Florida

112 topographic sheets cover 44 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

5 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Florida within the United States
Okaloosa County within Florida

What the record shows

  • 683 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 5 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 districts and 1 building.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 44 populated places in this county; 44 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

5

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Camp Pinchot Historic Districtdistrict199898001255
Crestview Commercial Historic Districtdistrict200606000620
Eglin Field Historic Districtdistrict199898001254
Gulfview Hotel Historic Districtdistrict199292001402
McKinley Climatic Laboratorybuilding199797001145

Photographs from libraries nationwide

3 of 4 shown

Selected from the Digital Public Library of America's 4 image records catalogued for this county. Every one shown here carries a public-domain status or a licence that permits reuse on a site that carries advertising; non-commercial, share-alike and restricted images are excluded. The selection is spread across the county's towns (at most eight per town), so no single institution's bulk upload crowds out the rest. Each opens the holding library's record, and the complete set at the Digital Public Library of America is one click away.

East Pass Bridge, Destin, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
East Pass Bridge, Destin, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
General view from shore showing part of Kelly's Sports Fishing Fleet and East Pass Bridge, Destin, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
General view from shore showing part of Kelly's Sports Fishing Fleet and East Pass Bridge, Destin, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.
Miss Tek-Ni-Color, sports fishing boat, Destin, Florida, Boston Public Library - undated
Miss Tek-Ni-Color, sports fishing boat, Destin, Florida. Boston Public Library, via the Digital Public Library of America.

The county from the air

48 shown

Flown by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1937 and 1989, the Aerial Photo Single Frames collection is the definitive mid-century view of the land: fields, roads and rivers as the camera saw them. The Survey holds 2,290 frames inside the rectangle that bounds this county; the 48 frames below were taken over the county itself, chosen across the decades of flights (at most four a year from that rectangle), so one flight cannot crowd out the rest. The full set is free to browse and download at EarthExplorer under the dataset Aerial Photo Single Frames.

U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-10-23, scale 1:27200
1946-10-23, scale 1:27200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-10-23, scale 1:27200
1946-10-23, scale 1:27200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-02, scale 1:69000
1952-04-02, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-02, scale 1:69000
1952-04-02, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-02, scale 1:69000
1952-04-02, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-10-23, scale 1:30000
1955-10-23, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-10-23, scale 1:30000
1955-10-23, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-10, scale 1:24300
1966-05-10, scale 1:24300. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-01-12, scale 1:28600
1967-01-12, scale 1:28600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-01-12, scale 1:28600
1967-01-12, scale 1:28600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-01-12, scale 1:28600
1967-01-12, scale 1:28600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-09, scale 1:125577
1968-02-09, scale 1:125577. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-09, scale 1:125577
1968-02-09, scale 1:125577. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-09, scale 1:125577
1968-02-09, scale 1:125577. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1968-02-09, scale 1:125577
1968-02-09, scale 1:125577. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-11-15, scale 1:20500
1969-11-15, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-11-15, scale 1:20500
1969-11-15, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-16, scale 1:4000
1971-01-16, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-01, scale 1:24000
1973-03-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-01, scale 1:24000
1973-03-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-01, scale 1:24000
1973-03-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1973-03-01, scale 1:24000
1973-03-01, scale 1:24000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-01, scale 1:19000
1974-02-01, scale 1:19000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-10-23, scale 1:27200
1946-10-23, scale 1:27200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1946-10-23, scale 1:27200
1946-10-23, scale 1:27200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-04-02, scale 1:69000
1952-04-02, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-10-23, scale 1:30000
1955-10-23, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1955-10-23, scale 1:30000
1955-10-23, scale 1:30000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-10, scale 1:24300
1966-05-10, scale 1:24300. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-10, scale 1:24300
1966-05-10, scale 1:24300. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-05-10, scale 1:24300
1966-05-10, scale 1:24300. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1967-01-12, scale 1:28600
1967-01-12, scale 1:28600. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-11-15, scale 1:20500
1969-11-15, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1969-11-15, scale 1:20500
1969-11-15, scale 1:20500. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-01-10, scale 1:4000
1970-01-10, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-01-10, scale 1:4000
1970-01-10, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-01-10, scale 1:4000
1970-01-10, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1970-01-21, scale 1:4000
1970-01-21, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-16, scale 1:4000
1971-01-16, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-16, scale 1:4000
1971-01-16, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1971-01-16, scale 1:4000
1971-01-16, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-01, scale 1:19000
1974-02-01, scale 1:19000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-01, scale 1:19000
1974-02-01, scale 1:19000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1974-02-01, scale 1:19000
1974-02-01, scale 1:19000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-01-18, scale 1:80000
1976-01-18, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-01-18, scale 1:80000
1976-01-18, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-01-18, scale 1:80000
1976-01-18, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1976-01-18, scale 1:80000
1976-01-18, scale 1:80000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

51 stations, 17 gages

The thermometers that kept this county's weather, and the gages that measured the flow of its streams, as the federal records hold them. The extremes below are measured values from those records, not estimates.

The 1950 census, district by district

30 districts

Who lived here in 1950, one enumeration district at a time, as the Census Bureau described each district. Each row opens its official National Archives result, with Population Schedules and ED Maps available there.

  • 46-1Commissioner's District 1: Laurel Hill town
  • 46-2Commissioner's District 1 - That part north and west of State Hwy. 85, outside Laurel Hill town
  • 46-3Commissioner's District 1 - That part south and east of State Hwy. 85, outside Laurel Hill town
  • 46-4Commissioner's District 2: Commissioner's District 2 - That part east of State Hwy. 189
  • 46-5Commissioner's District 2 - That part west of State Hwy. 189 and east of Blackwater River
  • 46-6Commissioner's District 2 - That part west of Blackwater River
  • 46-7Commissioner's District 3: Crestview city: Crestview city - That part Bounded by City limits; City limits; Old Spanish Trail; Ferdon, State Rd. 33
  • 46-8Crestview city - That part Bounded by City limits; State Rd. 33, Ferdon; Old Spanish Trail; City limits
  • 46-9Crestview city - That part Bounded by Old Spanish Trail; Pearl; Louisville and Nashville Railroad; City limits
  • 46-10Crestview city - That part Bounded by Old Spanish Trail; City limits; City limits, Louisville and Nashville Railroad; Pearl
  • 46-11Crestview city - That part Bounded by Louisville and Nashville Railroad; City limits; City limits; State Rd.; 54, Main
  • 46-12Crestview city - That part Bounded by Louisville and Nashville Railroad; Main, State Rd. 54; City limits; County Rd., Bay, Savage
  • 46-13Crestview city - That part Bounded by Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Savage, Bay, County Rd.; City limits
  • 46-14Commissioner's District 3 - That part outside Crestview city, excluding Eglin Air Force Base (part)
  • 46-15Eglin Air Force Base - That part in Commissioner's District 3 (Remainder of Eglin Air Force Base is in Commissioner's District 5, Okaloosa County, Commissioner's District 5, Santa Rosa County and Commissioner's Districts 3, 4 and 5, Walton County)
  • 46-16Commissioner's District 4: Commissioner's District 4 - That part north of U. S. Hwy. 90
  • 46-17N/A
  • 46-18AFort Walton town - That part west of U.S. Hwy. . 85
  • 46-18BFort Walton town - That part east of U.S. Hwy. . 85
  • 46-19Commissioner's District 5: Mary Esther town
  • 46-20N/A
  • 46-21Niceville town - That part Bounded by Town limits; State Hwy. 85, Town limits; Town limits
  • 46-22Niceville town - That part Bounded by State 85, State Hwy. 20; State Hwy. 285, Main, Second, Valparaiso Bay; Town limits; State Hwy. 85
  • 46-23Niceville town - That part Bounded by State Hwy 285; Town limits; Town limits; Valparaiso Lay, Second, Main
  • 46-24Valparaiso city
  • 46-25Commissioner's District 5 - That part east of State Hwy. 85 and Boggy Bayou, outside Niceville town
  • 46-26Commissioner's District 5 - That part west of State 85, east, north and west of Turkey Creek, and north of East Bay River, excluding Eglin Air Force Base (Pt.)
  • 46-27Eglin Air Force Base - That part in Commissioner's District 5 (Remainder of Eglin Air Force base is in Commissioner's District 3, Okaloosa County, Commissioner's District 5, Santa Rosa County and Commissioner's Districts 3, 4 and 5, Walton County)
  • 46-28Commissioner's District 5 - That part west, south and east of Turkey Creek, south of East Bay River and west of Boggy Bayou, outside Fort Walton, Mary Esther, Niceville, Shalimar, and Valparaiso towns
  • 46-29Shalimar town

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

1,140 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,140 of them, burning about 27,226 acres. 48 started naturally and 97 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning246
Railroad operations and maintenance243
Missing data/not specified/undetermined220
Equipment and vehicle use117
Arson/incendiarism97
Misuse of fire by a minor74
Natural48
Smoking47
Recreation and ceremony19
Power generation/transmission/distribution17
Other causes10
Fireworks2

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
28 May 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,765 acresEglin Air Force BaseRUNWAY
12 May 2001Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,691 acresEglin Air Force BaseA-78 WILDFIRE
8 February 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,380 acresEglin Air Force BaseTHUNDERBOLT
26 June 2016Natural1,200 acresEglin Air Force BaseJUPITER
4 May 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,100 acresEglin Air Force BaseSTORM TROOPER WF
9 June 2002Natural1,100 acresEglin Air Force BaseEGLIN COMPLEX
21 November 2017Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,050 acresEglin Air Force BaseHIDDEN
10 April 2016Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,038 acresEglin Air Force BaseBLACKOUT

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1958 to 2026

60 of 579 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 579 reports for this county, causing 14 deaths, 186 injuries and about $54,959,505 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind276
Tornado100
Hail66
Flash Flood65
Lightning46
Waterspout9
Funnel Cloud7
Rip Current6
Flood3
Coastal Flood1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
December 1967Tornado (F2)not stated1 killed, 50 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
January 1962Tornado (F2)not stated1 killed, 30 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
June 2003Rip CurrentDestin1 killed, 10 hurtA thirty one year old female from Indiana jumped into the gulf to rescue her son who was having trouble swimming in the rough surf. Both of them were pulled out of the rough water and transported to a local hospital. She was pronounced dead and her son was treated and released. The drowning occurred around James Lee Park where red flags warning of dangerous surf were flying. The drownings in Okaloosa county were part of a rash of drownings that occurred along the beaches of Walton and Okaloosa counties on this date. Six people drowned in Walton county that day. The rough water was the result of swells of four to six feet moving ashore. Ten people along the Okaloosa county beaches had to be transported to local hospitals where they were treated and released. Many others had to be pulled from the rough surf where they were treated on the beach . Officials were flying and driving along the beaches to warn people of the dangerous surf. People would exit the water and then go back in after the officials had left.
April 1996Lightning(Hrt)Mary Esther1 killed, 10 hurtno account filed
May 1973Tornado (F2)not stated1 killed, 4 hurt, $25,000no account filed
October 1995Tornado (F2)Crestview1 killed, 3 hurt, $300,000A tornado touched down near Interstate 10 east of Crestview. The tornado then moved northwest across Okaloosa Lane and then across U.S. Highway 90 before dissipating near Highway 85. The tornado destroyed two homes and a church and severely damaged the late Bob Sikes Homestead and the Crestview High School's gymnasium. The two homes that were destroyed were along Okaloosa Lane. One home was on blocks on a concrete foundation, the home was completely destroyed and an elderly female who lived there was killed. The other home had the roof taken off and most of the insides of the home were destroyed. Three people were injured in this home and were saved when the wind blew them to the floor. The tornado was on the ground for almost two miles. F76PH
March 1999LightningBaker1 killed, 1 hurtA fatal lightning strike occurred while 2 men were on a boat on Hurricane Lake 10 miles Northwest of Baker or 6 miles North of Highway 4 off of Beaver Creek Road. One of the occupants was killed while the other was injured. Upon the approach of a storm, the occupants moved the boat to beneath some trees to escape the rain and were struck.
July 2017LightningBaker1 killedA lightning strike killed a camper at the Wilderness Landing campground along the Blackwater River.
August 2016LightningFt Walton Beach1 killedLightning struck an umbrella attendant at the Island Princess Condominiums causing his death.
March 2009Flash FloodDorcas1 killedA 75 year old man died when he drove into a flooded roadway and drowned on Highway 393 at Pond Creek Bridge.
June 2003Rip CurrentDestin1 killedA fifty seven year old Missouri man was swimming in rough surf near James Lee Park when he started having trouble staying afloat. He was pulled out of the water but later died at a local hospital. Red flags were flying at the time of the drowning.
October 2003LightningDestin1 killedA 49 year old male, from the local area, was surfing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico in front of the Eglin Community Beach Club near Destin when he was struck by a bolt of lightning. Other surfers pulled the man out of the water, and emergency personnel transported him to a local hospital, where he later died. Thunderstorms had moved through the area earlier in the morning. The overcast sky, after most of the storms had moved out of the area, produced the isolated, but deadly, lightning bolt.
June 2001Rip CurrentDestin1 killedA forty-eight year old male from New Mexico drowned in rough surf near Henderson State Park. The man was swimming with his son when they were caught in a strong rip current. Bystanders were able to pull the two out of the water. The boy was unharmed but the father was unconscious and could not be revived. Tropical Storm Allison had moved North out of the western Gulf of Mexico into eastern Texas the day before. At the same time, strong High pressure was centered off the southeast Atlantic coast. The gradient between the low pressure to the west and the high pressure to the east, produced a persistent strong southerly wind flow over the coastal waters of the western Florida panhandle. This, combined with larger than normal swells which were propagated off Tropical Storm Allison, produced deadly rip currents along the Florida Panhandle beaches. The National Weather Service in Mobile had forecasted a moderate threat of rip tides for the day, and red flags were flying along the beaches to alert swimmers to the potential rip current threat. The rip current situation became so bad during the afternoon, that sirens, normally used as storm warnings, were activated at Pensacola Beach.
April 1999Rip CurrentDestin1 killedA male visiting Destin from out of state was caught in a strong rip current and drowned. He was brought to shore and died before reaching a local hospital.
August 2015LightningEglin Vlg20 hurtLightning struck near a battalion of Army Ranger Trainees on Eglin Air Force Base in southern Okaloosa County. Four instructors and 40 trainees were evaluated, and 20 (3 instructors and 17 students) were hospitalized overnight.
January 2006Tornado (F0)Baker13 hurt, $2,000,000A weak tornado touched down along State Highway 4 in Baker near the Post Office. The tornado tracked northeast and tore part of the roof off the Baker School. The winds from the storm funneled into part of the school and peeled sections of the roof off. Kids inside quickly got underneath their desks. Water from the rain fell into the classrooms and caused part of the ceiling to collapse. Thirteen kids suffered minor injuries. At least four classrooms at the school were damaged. The weak tornado continued tracking northeast and damaged several more homes before lifting back into the clouds near Old River Road.
January 1975Tornado (F1)not stated7 hurt, $250,000no account filed
August 2006LightningValparaiso6 hurtA group of recruits were attending Army Ranger Camp and were laying on the ground as a thunderstorm approached them. Evidently, lightning hit a nearby tree and ran through the root system of the tree. Six of the rangers were injured by the strike and were transported to a local hospital and later released. None of them suffered any serious injuries.
December 1964Tornado (F3)not stated4 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
February 2010LightningNiceville4 hurtno account filed
October 1973Tornado (F0)not stated3 hurt, $250,000no account filed
March 1972Tornado (F1)not stated3 hurt, $2,500no account filed
April 2018Tornado (EF1)Ocean City2 hurt, $500,000The tornado moved ashore on Okaloosa Island and produced signification damage to a home on Sailfish Dr. The tornado then moved across Santa Rosa sound and into Fort Walton Beach, producing tree damage and broken windows at St Mary Catholic Church and school. The tornado continued northeast across Robinwood Drive and damaged the roofs of several units in an apartment complex, before finally weakening and lifting just north of Jet Drive. Two minor injuries were reported.
March 1962Tornado (F1)not stated2 hurt, $25,000no account filed
June 2004LightningCrestview2 hurtFive military personnel were outside training when lightning hit near them. Two of the personnel were transported to the hospital and later released. Three of the five refused any treatment.
March 2003Rip CurrentDestin2 hurtSeveral people had to be rescued from the waters between Fort Walton Beach to east of Destin because of high surf and rip currents. Nine people had to be pulled from the water. Two required medical treatment and were transported to a local hospital. They were kept for several hours and later released. The rescues were not confined to one spot but were scattered at different locations along the beach.
October 1985Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
March 1993Thunderstorm WindFt. Walton Beach1 hurt, $50,000A man was struck by lightning in Ft. Walton Beach. He was treated and released. Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed a car, damaged another, and peeled the roof off one apartment.
January 1998Tornado (F0)Destin1 hurt, $7,000A waterspout moved onshore on Okaloosa Island and damaged a home under construction. The waterspout/tornado quickly dissipated as it moved onshore. The tornado track on the island was less than a block long. A male working on the house was injured and was briefly hospitalised.
November 1961Tornadonot stated1 hurt, $250no account filed
May 2003LightningMary Esther1 hurtA 14 year old male was standing next to a swimming pool when lightning struck nearby and injured him. He was taken to a local hospital and kept for observation and released after a couple of hours.
June 2003LightningDestin1 hurtA Georgia man was on a personal watercraft when he was struck by lightning. He was on his way to shore to beat approaching thunderstorms when he was struck. He was transported and treated at the hospital and was released after a couple of hours.
February 2000LightningShalimar1 hurtSeveral people were working on a baseball field late at night. A storm was approaching from the west and they were loading up their vehicles to get out of the storm. Lightning struck a fence and stunned seven people with one being taken to the hospital. A dog laying under one of the trucks was killed by the lightning.
May 1997LightningMary Esther1 hurtLightning struck near a garden center, injuring a customer at a department store in Mary Esther. The male was taken to a local hospital and kept overnight for observation. He was released the next day.
March 2009LightningDestin1 hurtno account filed
July 1996LightningEglin Afb1 hurtno account filed
May 1989Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000,000no account filed
June 1998Thunderstorm WindCountywide$4,000,000A line of severe thunderstorms moved through the county between 1230 am and 130 am. Trees and power lines were blown down throughout the county. Most of the damage occurred in the south part of the county. Hurlburt field reported a gust of 70 mph and Eglin reported a gust of 59 mph. On Eglin Air Force Base the wind damaged three aircraft. One of the aircraft was picked up and blown across a barrier. This aircraft suffered the most damage. A spokesman estimated wind gusts of 92 mph near where the aircraft were damaged. Some minor structural damage occurred in Valparaiso and Niceville. No injuries were reported.
February 2003Thunderstorm WindFt Walton Beach$2,000,000A line of severe thunderstorms moved across the coastal portions of the county during the early morning hours. The most intense part of the line of storms was along the coast in the vicinity of Okaloosa Island in the Fort Walton Beach area. Very strong straight line winds associated with a "bow echo" along the line storms produced extensive wind damage to the west wing of the Blue Horizon Beach Resort . The strong blast of wind tore the roof off of the three story west wing of the condos, and deposited it in the adjacent parking lot and onto Santa Rosa Blvd., the highway located just north of the condominium complex. Some of the roof debris also hit and damaged the Sugar Isle Motel, which is located next door to the Blue Horizon. About 60 rooms of the Blue Horizon's west wing received major structural and water damage, and significant damage also occurred to automobiles in the adjacent parking lot, which were hit by flying debris. In addition, power lines and power polls along Santa Rosa Blvd were also downed by debris and high winds.
April 2014Flash FloodFlorosa$1,460,000Eight to foruteen inches of rain fell across Okaloosa County during the evening of April 29th and the early morning of April 30th. The rain resulted in widespread flash flooding across the county. 737 homes were damaged by flood waters. Numerous roads were impassable during the event, with several damaged or compromised by the fast moving flood waters.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindDestin Ft Walton Arp$1,000,000A thunderstorm wind gust of 70 mph destroyed two general aviation aircraft and damaged 10 others at the Destin Airport. Trees were also downed in the area.
March 1998Flash FloodCountywide$1,000,000no account filed
December 2002Tornado (F1)Florosa$600,000A tornado moved onshore near Florosa and caused damage as it moved northeast through a small subdivision. Two older manufactured homes were destroyed near the water as the tornado moved inland. The tornado moved across U. S. Highway 98 before dissipating. Several other homes suffered structural damage mostly to their roofs and siding. Some vehicles were also damaged by flying debris. No major injuries were reported.
April 1993Thunderstorm WindFort Walton Beach$500,000High winds caused damage to a metal building at Fort Walton Yacht Club.
December 1996Tornado (F2)Seminole$500,000no account filed
March 2022Tornado (EF1)Holt$361,000A tornado touched down just west of the intersection of Log Lake|Road and Sundance Way. The tornado damaged the roof of a house|where numerous shingles were removed down to the tar paper. In|addition, a manufactured home adjacent to the house was destroyed.|Numerous trees were snapped and several trees were uprooted. The|tornado proceeded east across Log Lake Road and damaged the roof|of a manufactured home as well as snapped and twisted additional|trees. A couple trees were also uprooted. The tornado continued|along and crossed Sundance Way Cutoff Road where several more|trees were snapped and uprooted. From there, the tornado|progressed northeast and hit a home, ripping off a portion of the|roof to include the decking underneath. This was thrown roughly 50|yards away into the front yard and into trees. Several large|trees were also snapped near the base and twisted. A few more were|uprooted as well. The tornado then lifted just beyond this|property. Overall, the maximum width of the tornado reached 50|yards with a path length of about 1.5 miles. Estimated peak winds were 95 mph.
July 2005LightningCinco Bayou$360,000A boat that was anchored in the Bayou because of Hurricane Dennis. It was struck by lightning and caught on fire. Firefighters could not get to the boat because it was anchored in the Bayou, and they had to watch it burn. It was totally destroyed.
August 2004LightningDorcas$300,000Lightning struck the roof at the unoccupied Dorcas volunteer fire station. The strike started a fire and the building was consumed in flames before anyone noticed the fire. The station burned to the ground, and several pieces of equipment also burned up.
September 1998Tornado (F1)Shalimar$300,000A tornado first touched down along the bay in Shalimar. The tornado damaged several homes as it moved northwest. Some of the homes had major roof damage. The tornado stayed on the ground for about a mile and lifted back into the cloud near State Highway 85. No one was injured.
December 1995Thunderstorm WindNiceville$300,000An apparent downburst of wind caused minor damage to temporary roofing on the gym and auditorium of Niceville High School. The school had suffered damage from Hurricane Opal and had a temporary roof on it. The wind peeled away the temporary roof and rains damaged the auditorium. The roof damage is an estimate to fix the total damage, although most of the damage occurred with Opal. Four residences near the high school also had some shingles blown from their homes and an automobile had its rear window knocked out by debris.
February 2017Thunderstorm WindShalimar$250,000A severe thunderstorm moved across Okaloosa Island and Destin, which produced areas of straight line wind damage along and near U.S. Highway 98. Several building were damaged in and around Destin with significant roof damage to a few condos and businesses. An EMS vehicle was damaged on Okaloosa Island with one injury. Numerous trees and power lines were downed. Three gas stations pumps were blown over at a gas station in Destin. There were two wind measurements at Okaloosa Pier and on Choctawhatchee Bay that recorded wind gusts of 87 mph. Several land based stations recorded wind gusts in excess of 60 mph.
June 1989Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
October 1980Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
March 1975Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 2007LightningMilligan$150,000Lightning struck a home near Milligan shortly after midnight. The home caught fire and was totally destroyed. The home had just been rebuilt after being damaged by Hurricane Ivan. The residents were able to get out of the burning house and were uninjured.
February 2017Thunderstorm WindNiceville$100,000A severe thunderstorm moved across Niceville and produced a corridor of straight line wind damage from winds of 70-90 mph from near the intersection of Highway 85 and Lewis Street to near Mile Marker 12 on Highway 293. Numerous trees and power lines were downed along the path with some landing on vehicles. Several downed trees caused damage to homes in the area. A church suffered roof damage and some damage to brick facade.
September 2015Flash FloodDestin Ft Walton Arp$100,000Significant flooding occurred in the Destin area due to slow moving thunderstorms. Destin Airport recorded a storm total of 12.54 inches. A trained spotter reported several feet of water due to the heavy rain in multiple locations near Destin. Some of the roads impacted include FL Hwy 293, US Highway 98, and around Middle Bay Bridge. Numerous cars were stalled due to the flood waters. The flood waters made it into the garages of a few homes in the Quail Run subdivision on Airport Rd.
May 2005LightningCrestview$100,000Lightning struck a home near Crestview. The strike started a fire and the home was destroyed.
June 2007LightningShalimar$60,000A home was destroyed when a lightning strike caused a fire. No injuries.
April 2005LightningCrestview$60,000Lightning struck a garage in Crestview. The strike started a fire and the garage and two vehicles parked in it were destroyed.

Mines and quarries

10 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 10 workings inside this county. 2 still produce and 8 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction4
Sand4
Clay2

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Mallory Jeffers - Jeffers MineClayUnknown
Okaloosa Co. Comm. - South Baker MineClayUnknown
Aultman Sand & Material - Aultman #1 MineSandUnknown
Beal MineSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Dorcas PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Dot Defuniak Springs - Bill Lundy MineSandUnknown
Dot Defuniak Springs - Crestview MineSandUnknown
Niceville MineSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Okaloosa Asphalt Co. - Okaloosa Asphalt PitSandProducer
Okaloosa PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

44

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.