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Walton County, Florida

123 topographic sheets cover 76 settlements here, and 8 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

8 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Florida within the United States
Walton County within Florida

What the record shows

  • 1,173 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 8 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 6 buildings, 1 district and 1 structure.
  • 2 of the 8 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 77 populated places in this county; 76 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

8

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
Perry L. Biddle Housebuilding199292001049
Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhoodbuilding197272000358
DeFuniak Springs Historic Districtdistrict199292001048
Eden Mansionbuilding2021100006749
GOVERNOR STONE (schooner)structure199191002063
Herman Lodge No. 108 Free & Accepted Masons of Floridabuilding2021100006121
Lakeside Hospitalbuilding2021100006750
Sun Brightbuilding197979000693

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 2,558 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, 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, 1947-03-17, scale 1:43200
1947-03-17, scale 1:43200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-03-17, scale 1:43200
1947-03-17, scale 1:43200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-03-17, scale 1:43200
1947-03-17, scale 1:43200. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1947-03-17, scale 1:43200
1947-03-17, scale 1:43200. 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, 1955-10-23, scale 1:30000
1955-10-23, scale 1:30000. 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, 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, 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, 1942-11-04, scale 1:43100
1942-11-04, scale 1:43100. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1942-11-04, scale 1:43100
1942-11-04, scale 1:43100. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1942-11-04, scale 1:43100
1942-11-04, scale 1:43100. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1942-11-04, scale 1:43100
1942-11-04, scale 1:43100. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-05, scale 1:57000
1951-04-05, scale 1:57000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-05, scale 1:57000
1951-04-05, scale 1:57000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-05, scale 1:57000
1951-04-05, scale 1:57000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1951-04-05, scale 1:57000
1951-04-05, scale 1:57000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-01-30, scale 1:69000
1952-01-30, scale 1:69000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1952-01-30, scale 1:69000
1952-01-30, 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, 1965-11-30, scale 1:20000
1965-11-30, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-11-30, scale 1:20000
1965-11-30, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-11-30, scale 1:20000
1965-11-30, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1965-11-30, scale 1:19700
1965-11-30, scale 1:19700. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-07, scale 1:20000
1966-01-07, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-07, scale 1:20000
1966-01-07, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-07, scale 1:20000
1966-01-07, scale 1:20000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.
U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph, 1966-01-07, scale 1:20000
1966-01-07, scale 1:20000. 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, 1970-01-21, scale 1:4000
1970-01-21, 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, 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, 1971-01-16, scale 1:4000
1971-01-16, scale 1:4000. U.S. Geological Survey aerial photograph.

Weather records

18 stations, 12 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

20 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.

  • 66-1Commissioner's District 1: Commissioner's District 1 - That part north of Bruce Creek
  • 66-2Commissioner's District 1 - That part south of Bruce Creek
  • 66-3Commissioner's District 2: Commissioner's District 2 - That part east of State Hwy. 83
  • 66-4BCommissioner's District 2 - That part west of unnamed road via Lakewood
  • 66-4ACommissioner's District 2 - That part west of State Hwy. 83 and east of State Hwy. 187 and unnamed road via Lakewood
  • 66-5Commissioner's District 2 - That part west of State Hwy. 187
  • 66-6Commissioner's District 3: De Funiak Springs town: De Funiak Springs town - That part Bounded by Town limits; Town limits; Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad; Town limits
  • 66-7De Funiak Springs town - That part Bounded by Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad; Town limits; Town limits; Town limits, South Ave., 2nd
  • 66-8De Funiak Springs town - That part Bounded by Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad; 2nd; South Park Ave.; Town limits
  • 66-9West End, unincorporated (See boundaries shown on aerial photo CPI - 8A - 71)
  • 66-10ACommissioner's District 3 - That part outside of DeFuniak Springs town and the unincorporated place of Dixon, excluding Eglin Air Force Base (Pt.) bounded on the north by unnamed road extending east from western boundary one mile north of Shoal Creek to junction with State Hwy. 83, south along State Hwy. 83, 1 and 1/2 miles east along unnamed road to village of Union, thence east to eastern boundary.
  • 66-10BCommissioner's District 3 - That part north of unnamed road extending east from western boundary, one mile north of Shoal Creek to junction with State Hwy. 83, south along State Hwy. 83, 1 and 1/2 miles east along unnamed road to village of Union, thence east to eastern boundary.
  • 66-11Eglin Air Force Base - That part in Commissioner's District 3 (Remainder of Eglin Air Force Base is in Commissioner's Districts 4 and 5, Walton County, Commissioner's Districts 3 and 5, Okaloosa County and Commissioner's District 5, Santa Rosa County)
  • 66-12Commissioner's District 4: Commissioner's District 4 - That part north of Shoal Creek
  • 66-13Commissioner's District 4 - That part south of Shoal Creek, west of Portland - Piney Grove Rd. and excluding Eglin Air Force Base (Pt.)
  • 66-14Eglin Air Force Base - That part in Commissioner's District 4 (Remainder of Eglin Air Force Base is in Commissioner's Districts 3 and 5, Walton County, Commissioner's Districts 3 and 5, Okaloosa County and Commissioner's District 5, Santa Rosa County)
  • 66-15Commissioner's District 4 - That part east of Portland - Piney Grove Rd. and excluding Eglin Air Force Base (Pt.)
  • 66-16Commissioner's District 5: Commissioner's District 5 - That part east of State Hwy. 83 and north of U.S. Hwy. 98
  • 66-17Commissioner's District 5 - That part west of State Hwy. 83 and south of U.S. Hwy. 98, excluding Eglin Air Force Base (Pt.)
  • 66-18Eglin Air Force Base - That part in Commissioner's District 5 (Remainder of Eglin Air Force Base is in Commissioner's Districts 3 and 4, Walton County, Commissioner's Districts 3 and 5 Okaloosa County and Commissioner's District 5, Santa Rosa County)

Wildfire, 1992 to 2020

1,907 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 1,907 of them, burning about 23,757 acres. 147 started naturally and 115 were recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning399
Railroad operations and maintenance393
Equipment and vehicle use305
Missing data/not specified/undetermined263
Natural147
Arson/incendiarism115
Smoking114
Misuse of fire by a minor108
Recreation and ceremony31
Fireworks14
Other causes10
Power generation/transmission/distribution8

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

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 December 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined2,800 acresEglin Air Force BaseALAQUA
20 April 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined1,800 acresEglin Air Force Base140
7 May 2007Natural1,035 acresFlorida Forest ServiceBLACK CREEK
11 February 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined720 acresEglin Air Force BaseSANDY MOUNTAIN
8 May 1992Equipment and vehicle use583 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
14 May 2001Debris and open burning524 acresFlorida Forest ServiceSEAGROVE
7 March 2006Debris and open burning510 acresFlorida Forest Service66 / BRUCE FIRE
5 February 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined500 acresEglin Air Force BaseRED HEAD

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

Storms, 1958 to 2026

60 of 645 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 645 reports for this county, causing 20 deaths, 18 injuries and about $42,087,330 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind314
Flash Flood84
Tornado70
Hail61
Flood56
Lightning21
Heavy Rain14
Rip Current12
Funnel Cloud6
Waterspout3
Wildfire2
Storm Surge/Tide2

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
June 2003Rip CurrentInlet Beach6 killedAt least 28 people were rescued from rough surf off the Walton County beaches. Six persons drowned. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
June 2008LightningChoctaw Beach2 killedTwo Walton County men were killed when lightning struck their fishing boat on Choctawhatchee Bay.
January 2017FloodPond Creek1 killedFlood waters were approaching a resident's home. He possibly made an attempt to walk to his vehicle and was swept away in the flood water. No other homes were affected. The person involved was an elderly male in a travel trailer and possibly fell when stepping outside. The water level outside was approximately 3 feet deep. This flooding was river flooding from the Shoal River.
January 2006LightningGlendale1 killedLightning struck and killed a man. Reported by the Walton County Sheriff.
September 2005Rip CurrentMiramar Beach1 killedA man drowned in heavy surf caused by the remnants of Hurricane Rita. Reported by the Associated Press.
April 2004Rip CurrentMiramar Beach1 killedA man drowned attempting to rescue his wife and son from a rip current. Reported by the Walton County Sheriff.
June 2004Rip CurrentSandestin1 killedRip currents claimed the life of an elderly tourist at the Sandestin Golf and Beach resort. Three swimmers were rescued. Reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
September 2002Rip CurrentSeagrove Beach1 killedAn elderly man drowned while attempting to rescue a young boy from a severe rip current caused by Tropical Storm Hanna. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
July 1996Rip CurrentSandestin1 killedno account filed
July 1996Rip CurrentSandestin1 killedno account filed
July 1996Rip CurrentInlet Beach1 killedno account filed
July 1996Rip CurrentSeagrove Beach1 killedno account filed
July 1996Rip CurrentInlet Beach1 killedno account filed
July 1996Rip CurrentSeagrove Beach1 killedno account filed
November 1983Thunderstorm Windnot stated6 hurtno account filed
October 1985Tornado (F1)not stated5 hurt, $2,500,000no account filed
May 2021LightningAlpine Heights2 hurt, $2,000An accident occurred on I-10 near mile marker 81 due to lightning striking the road and sending debris through the windshield of a pickup truck. Two injuries resulted.
February 1983Tornado (F2)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
February 1974Tornado (F1)not stated1 hurt, $25,000no account filed
August 2003LightningBlue Mtn Beach1 hurt, $7,000Lightning struck a tree adjacent to a Dune Allen Beach house. The bolt bounced through the house, blowing doors off their hinges and knocking cabinets off the walls. One occupant was slightly injured when she was thrown into a kitchen wall by the force of the explosion. Reported by the Destin Log.
March 2005Rip CurrentMiramar Beach1 hurtTwenty swimmers were rescued by surfers and emergency workers from rip currents. One person suffered hypothermia and was sent to a local hospital. Red flags were flying due to dangerous surf conditions. Reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
June 1998WildfireSouthwest Portion1 hurtA 100-acre fire in Lake Pippin Estates in Okaloosa County crossed into Walton County. SR 20 was closed until containment. One firefighter was injured. Approximately 50 homes were threatened, but none were damaged.
September 2020Flash FloodClear Springs$11,000,000Extensive flash flooding occurred throughout Walton county with record flooding recorded along the Shoal River at Mossy Head. Damage cost was estimated.
July 2013FloodDarlington$11,000,000Disastrous areal flooding occurred across Walton county with a large number of county roads flooded. Transportation was severely impacted across the county. A listing of incidences of water over roads or flood-damaged roads in the county included 87 total reports. Preliminary damage estimates for the county were around $11 million.
September 2002Storm Surge/TideSouthwest Portion$4,150,000Storm surge heights from five to seven feet combined with large battering waves caused severe beach erosion. An estimated 400,000 cubic yards of sand was lost. Water was above the boardwalk at many locations. Sand fencing, trash receptacles and beach kiosks were also damaged. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
April 2014FloodClear Springs$1,760,000Disastrous flooding occurred across Walton county at the end of the month due to a combination of very heavy rainfall and already saturated conditions. Many roads in the county sustained damage, and some structures were impacted by flooding including several businesses. Road damage in the county was estimated at $1,464,696. At least 10 businesses were impacted with damage estimated at approximately $300,000.
August 2012LightningInlet Beach$1,600,000The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) received a call at 9:00 a.m. CDT reporting a structure fire at 145 Paradise By the Sea Blvd in the Inlet Beach area. Reports from the neighbors indicated that there was an early morning thunderstorm with severe lightning. Sometime close to 5:30 a.m. CDT neighbors stated they witnessed lightning strike near this residence. It wasn't until 3.5 hours later that smoke and flames were reported coming from this 3 story, (est.) 12,000 sq. ft. beach front home. Within minutes of receiving the initial 9-1-1 call, SWFD units arrived on scene and found fire coming from the third floor roof area. Prior to arrival, it was determined that fire had spread throughout the sub-floors making extinguishment difficult. Despite that, SWFD crews were able to minimize the fire damage and bring the scene under control within an hour of the initial call. The residence was valued at an estimated $9.6 million dollars with damage to the structure and contents estimated at $1.6 million dollars. The owners were not home at the time of the fire and there were no injuries to report. The fire was investigated by the SWFD Fire Marshal and the Florida State Fire Marshals Office.
February 2013FloodClear Springs$1,000,000Significant areal flooding occurred across Walton county due to prolonged periods of moderate to heavy rainfall. Four day rainfall totals of 8-12 inches were estimated across the county between Feb 22-26. Several creeks overflowed their banks and flooded several bridges and roadways. Monetary damage was estimated. Most of the damage cost was due to road repair. Several pictures of the flooding were posted on social media.
October 2001Tornado (F1)Argyle$750,000An F1 tornado touched down in extreme southeast Walton County, near the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and Smokehouse Lake Road. During its brief, intermittent one-mile track across Smokehouse Lake Road, it destroyed two and damaged twelve trailers, damaged two homes, damaged twelve vehicles, uprooted numerous trees and downed some power lines. Before it lifted, it damaged five homes in the Steele Field area. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
September 2002Tornado (F1)Sandestin$550,000A tornado touched down and damaged numerous homes near U.S. Highway 98. Numerous trees and power lines were snapped. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
August 2013FloodEucheeanna$500,000Due to recent heavy rainfall and increased water flow on Bruce Creek, the bridge at Indian Creek Ranch Road has been displaced. Monetary damage was estimated.
August 2013FloodBlue Mountain Beach$500,000Highway 30A partially collapsed on the north side over Big Red Fish Lake due to recent heavy rainfall combined with heavy rainfall in July. Monetary damage was estimated.
February 2009Thunderstorm WindDarlington$500,000Three homes were destroyed just southeast of Darlington.
May 1999Tornado (F1)De Funiak Spgs$500,000Walton County EMA reported tornado touched down several times along SR 83N and CR 192 north of De Funiak Springs. Five barns destroyed, seven outbuildings sustained minor damage, and a roof lifted off a residence. Numerous trees and power lines downed and electrical service disrupted for nearly six hours to 1,200 customers.
September 1998Flash FloodCountywide$500,000Choctawhatchee Bay water levels high and county creeks have overflowed their banks. Several homes along creek beds sustained some flood damage in the Freeport, Rock Hill, and Portland.
October 1997Tornado (F1)Seagrove Beach$500,000Two waterspouts moved ashore at Seagrove Beach along Walton County Road 30A and Seacrest Drive. Eleven homes heavily damaged and one destroyed.
September 2002Tornado (F1)Santa Rosa Beach$400,000A tornado touched down and damaged numerous mobile homes along U.S. Highway 98. One home was blown completely off its foundation. Numerous trees and power lines were snapped. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
April 1999WildfireSouthwest Portion$300,000200-acre wildfire destroyed one home and damaged two others as well as a boat and a number of docks in the Driftwood Estates area.
January 2023Tornado (EF2)Turquoise Beach$250,000A tornado touched down in the Driftwood Estates subdivision of South Walton County between Riverbirch Loop and Cocobolo Drive. The tornado caused mainly roof damage as it crossed the subdivision. Homes suffered damage to roof coverings on Cocobolo Drive, and both ends of Pin Oak Loop. The tornado then apparently lifted briefly as it crossed a wooded area. A drone provided by South Walton Fire District could find no damage in the woods. The tornado then touched down on Red Bay Court where it snapped or damaged several small hardwood trees and did some minor roof damage. More substantial roof damage occurred to three homes on Loblolly Bay Drive and four homes on Driftwood Point Road. One sturdy palm tree was snapped at the intersection of Red Bay and Loblolly with four others partially uprooted on Driftwood Point Road. The tornado then lifted over Choctawhatchee Bay. Most of the roof damage in this community was consistent with EF-1 winds. However, three homes experienced the uplift and failure of large sections of the roof structures themselves. That is consistent with EF-2 damage with maximum winds of 115 mph. Damage cost was estimated.
July 2023Flash FloodGrayton Beach$250,000Significant flooding of vehicles and property occurred in Seagrove Beach via picture posted on social media.
November 1975Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 1963Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
April 2004Thunderstorm WindCountywide$200,000Numerous downed trees, with some falling on vehicles and houses. Roofs were blown off several mobiles homes and barns. One barn was destroyed, with several others knocked off their foundations. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
March 2022LightningBruce$150,000A lightning strike resulted in a house fire.
June 2001LightningSanta Rosa Beach$150,000Four homes in Santa Rosa Beach were struck by lightning. Reported by the Fort Walton Beach Daily News.
September 2002Flash FloodCountywide$125,000Torrential rainfall produced significant flooding in the Ponce De Leon area on State Highway 81. Up to eight inches of water covered several roads. Gusty winds and saturated grounds downed several trees and power lines. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
June 2001Thunderstorm WindSoutheast Portion$125,000Numerous trees and power lines down. A mobile home sustained roof damage. Several homes and businesses received minor damage. Homes and businesses were without power along U.S. Highway 98 from County Road 30-A to U.S. Highway 331. Reported by the Walton County EMA.
January 2024Tornado (EF1)Santa Rosa Beach$100,000The tornado initially moved onshore with damage to trees and buildings at the intersection of W County Highway 30A and Laura Hamilton Blvd consistent with an EF-1 rating. It would then proceed to continue moving off to the northeast sporadically damaging trees and roofs of houses across the area. The tornado would then cross through a majority wooded area before crossing US Highway 98 before entering the woods once again. A high concentration of damage to homes and trees consistent with an EF-1 rating was found off of Chat Holly Rd. before the tornado crossed Choctawhatchee Bay. Max winds were estimated near 110 mph. The tornado would then parallel US Highway 331 as it crossed the bay before making landfall once again at Bay Grove Rd. where numerous manufactured homes were damaged along with tree damage consistent with an EF-1 rating. EF-1 damage had been observed leading up to US 331 where the tornado appears to have dissipated. Thanks to Walton County Emergency Management for assistance with this damage survey.
June 2022LightningPortland$100,000A residence in Freeport caught fire after it was struck by lightning.
April 2020Tornado (EF1)De Funiak Springs$100,000Tree damage was first noted along Bob Sikes Rd. just west of Hwy 331. The tornado then crossed Hwy 331 knocking down a few business signs and trees as well as blowing in four windows of a series of businesses at a strip mall. A large retail business|also had part of it's roof peeled back and a couple HVAC units blown off. The tornado continued east northeast with points surveyed along Bay Ave southeast of DeFuniak Springs as well as County Rd 183 south of Argyle. Trees and large limbs were downed|at both locations. The location south of Argyle was the last portion of the track able to be surveyed as the track then went into inaccessible portions of Holmes County south of HWY 90. Radar was used to extend the track a few more miles into Holmes|county. The tornado lifted before reaching Ponce De Leon or Highway 81.
April 2014Flash FloodBlue Mountain Beach$100,000Significant flash flooding occurred for an unusually long period of time as very heavy rain moved repeatedly over the area. A section of driveway and part of a house washed out just off of Highway 30A. Monetary damage was estimated.
April 2003Tornado (F0)New Harmony$100,000A weak tornado briefly touched down. A barn and several homes were damaged, along with downed trees. Reported by a SKYWARN storm spotter.
June 2007Thunderstorm WindDe Funiak Springs$75,000Straight-line winds downed nearly 700 acres of pine trees along U.S. Highway 331 northwest of De Funiak Springs. In Freeport, a vehicle was damaged by a fallen tree and a home sustained roof damage. A barn was destroyed on County Road 2.
April 2014Flash FloodMiramar Beach$60,000Significant flash flooding occurred for an unusually long period of time as very heavy rain moved repeatedly over the area. At least three cars were flooded in the Miramar Beach area. Monetary damage was estimated.
January 2026Tornado (EF1)Liberty$50,000A tornado touched down in Walton County just west of Kings Lake Road and traveled east through a neighborhood along and just north of Paradise Island Drive. The tornado then presumably crossed the northern portion of Kings Lake causing more tree damage to the east of the lake. Along most of the path, EF-0 damage was observed. However, near the beginning of the patch two large trees were uprooted and rated EF-1. Near the end of the path, the tornado caused significant removal of the roofing material of a single family home. The porch was also badly damaged. Winds here were estimated at 95 mph, the highest found in this survey. The tornado then lifted quickly as there was no damage east of U.S 331 which is a swampy inaccessible area.
January 2024Tornado (EF1)Eucheeanna$50,000A tornado, associated with the same cell which produced a tornado in southern Walton County, touched down south of Rock Hill Road. A large concentration of tree damage and damage to a manufactured home were then observed off Rock Hill Rd. consistent with an EF-1 rating with max winds estimated at 95 mph. The tornado continued north and dissipated in a wooded area. Additional tree damage just to the east of the track along Rock Hill road may have been associated with very strong rear flank downdraft winds associated with this cell. Thanks to Walton County Emergency Management for assistance with this damage survey.
January 2024Tornado (EF1)De Funiak Springs Arpt$50,000A brief tornado touched down at the Defuniak Springs airport, damaging two hangars before crossing U.S. 90. The tornado then damaged the roof of a business, as well as numerous trees in the surrounding area. The damage at the airport and the business was consistent with an EF-1 tornado. Thanks to Walton County Emergency Management for assistance with this damage survey.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindDe Funiak Springs$50,000A large cedar tree blew down onto a house and vehicle.
January 2022Tornado (EF0)De Funiak Springs Arpt$50,000A tornado briefly touched down just north of the De Funiak Springs Municipal Airport near the intersection of Dr Roberts Drive and Bellini Road. The tornado uprooted a few trees and caused damage to several outbuildings and two mobile homes. The maximum wind is estimated at 80 mph, making this an EF-0 tornado.
July 2012LightningBlue Mountain Beach$50,000An unoccupied beach house was hit by lightning on E St. Lucia Lane. The house suffered significant fire damage. Two firefighters suffered minor injuries while responding to the fire.

Mines and quarries

28 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 28 workings inside this county. 6 still produce and 22 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction14
Sand9
Clay3
Kaolin1
Stone, Crushed/Broken1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Morrison Springs Limestone ProspectStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Thompson David R ProspectKaolinOccurrence
Unnamed Clay DepositClayProspect
Unnamed Clay DepositClayProspect
Unnamed Clay DepositClayProspect
Campbell Sand and Gravel - Mossy Head MineSandProducer
David Johnson - David JohnsonSandProducer
Dot Defuniak Springs - Argyle MineSandUnknown
Dot Defuniak Springs - Collinsworth MineSandUnknown
Dot Defuniak Springs - Stiller MineSandUnknown
Edward M. Chadburn, Inc. - Mossy HeadSandProducer
Mossy Head (Adams Sand Co.)SandProducer
Rodney G. Greenway, Inc. - Mossy HeadSandProducer
White Construction Company, Inc. - Pleasant Grove MineSandUnknown
Mossy Head MineSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionProspect
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionProspect
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionProspect
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionProspect
Unnamed Sand DepositSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unnamed Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProspect

Every populated place in the county

77

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.