Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Okaloosa County

12-24475

Fort Walton Beach is a city in Okaloosa County in the U.S. state of Florida with 19,507 inhabitants ( 2010).

Geography

Fort Walton Beach is located on the western end of Choctawhatchee Bay near the Gulf Coast of Florida. The town is located about 40 km south of Crestview and about 60 kilometers east of Pensacola.

Demographics

According to the 2010 census, the then 19,507 inhabitants distributed to 9,592 households. The population density was 1,010.7 inh. / Km ². 77.7 % of the population were white, 12.3% African American, 0.7 % Native American and 3.2% Asian Americans. 2.4% were members of other ethnic groups and 3.7% in different ethnic groups. 7.9% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

In 2010, children under the age of 18 and 31.7 % of all households lived in 25.4 % of all households with persons at least 65 years. 59.6 % of households were family households (consisting of married couples with or without offspring or a parent with offspring ). The average size of a household was 2.26 persons and the average family size is 2.85 people.

21.6% of the population were younger than 20 years, 25.2% were 20-39 years old, 28.8 % were 40-59 years old and 24.4% were at least 60 years old. The median age was 43 years. 49.5 % of the population were male and 50.5 % female.

The average annual income was $ 47,282, while 11.8 % of the population lived below the poverty line.

In 2000, English was the mother tongue of 92.16 % of the population spoke Spanish 3.54% and 4.30% had a different mother tongue.

Economy

The economy of Fort Walton Beach is primarily determined by two factors: the military and tourism. The city is adjacent to the Air Force bases Hurlburt Field and Eglin Air Force Base, and benefited from the services sector and by the settlement of suppliers. Tourism is limited to the spring ( Spring Break ) and the main summer season.

In the city there are a number of libraries, both public and private.

Traffic

Fort Walton Beach is 188, 189 and 393 crossed by U.S. Highway 98 and the Florida State Roads 85. The Pensacola International Airport is located approximately 70 km west of the city.

Crime

The crime rate in 2010 was 342 points ( U.S. average: 266 points ) within the average range. There was a murder, eleven rapes, 17 robberies, 69 injuries, 186 burglaries, 681 thefts, 62 car thefts and one arson.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Jason Elam, American football player