WALTON COUNTY
County Offices
76 North 6th Street
DeFuniak Springs 850-892-8155
www.co.walton.fl.us
Chamber of Commerce
95 Circle Drive
Defuniak Springs 850-892-3191
www.waltonareachamber.com
Stretching over 1,240 square miles from the Alabama state line to the Emerald Coast, fast-growing Walton County is one of Florida’s largest. While much of the county features a uniquely hilly terrain, South Walton County is fringed by Gulf of Mexico waters and proudly offers some of the world’s most spectacular beaches. Efficient transportation facilities serve the region, including Interstate 10 and US Highways 98 and 331. Air travel is available at Northwest Florida Regional Airport and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport.
Services
First-rate educational opportunities in Walton County begin with an array of private schools and a public school district that consistently receives statewide recognition as “academically high performing.” Those on a career path can take advantage of the Walton Career Development Center, providing secondary and post-secondary programs that lead to certifications in relevant, progressive fields. Northwest Florida State College operates two satellite campuses in Walton County that offer a wide variety of program choices including a wide respected degree program in hospitality that meets the booming tourist industry’s need for highly trained staff and professional management. The University of West Florida maintains a branch campus in nearby Fort Walton Beach, while Panama City is home to a satellite center for Florida State University and the flagship campus for Gulf Coast State College. The latter offers select bachelor’s degrees, an Associate in Arts degree, and 75 transfer tracks as well as workforce-specific Associate in Science degrees and technical certifications.
Residents enjoy quick and easy access to state-of-the-art healthcare services close to home, anchored to the north by Healthmark Regional Medical Center just south of DeFuniak Springs. Ranked 2nd in Florida for patient satisfaction, the Medical Center provides a general, short term, acute-care, medical surgical hospital. Services include emergency care, surgical specialties, home health, advanced imaging, physical therapy, wellness seminars, and a walk-in clinic. Residents of South Walton County and those in portions of Okaloosa County look to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast for a full range of medical and surgical services. This fast-growing 58-bed facility now includes the Olson Women’s Diagnostic Center and Family Birth Center. The Sacred Heart Health System is a regional leader with a 566-bed hospital in Pensacola that houses the region’s only Children’s Hospital. Other important Sacred Heart Health facilities include a Regional Heart and Vascular Institute, a regional Stroke Center, a Level II Trauma Center, and a Cancer Center associated with MD Anderson Physicians Network.
Lifestyle
Historically and culturally rich, Walton County has long hosted the Florida Chautauqua Assembly in DeFuniak Springs. Emerging as a winter continuation of the New York Chautauqua summer program in the early 1900s, the four-day Florida Chautauqua is an educational program for families featuring famous keynote speakers, educational breakout sessions, performance teas, evening dinner performances, and exhibits that relate to an annual theme. Throughout the county’s celebrated beach communities, the arts spring to life in an atmosphere that attracts a significant number of painters, crafters, and sculptors. While events like local workshops and arts festivals enjoy strong support, the area is dotted with fine galleries and popular venues that showcase live musical entertainment throughout the year. Seaside is the proud home of the Repertory Theatre known simply as The REP, celebrated as Northwest Florida’s premier professional theatre company and a magnet for the finest regional and national talent.
Combining the best of land and sea environments, Walton County offers a scenic backdrop for every imaginable outdoor adventure from boating, fishing, kayaking, canoeing and water sports to hiking, horseback riding, cycling, and nature study. Long-established towns contrast with vibrant new planned communities that command breathtaking views of the Gulf or Choctawhatchee Bay and elaborate amenities like bike paths, nature trails, and first-class recreational facilities. The unique communities along beachside Scenic Highway 30-A are often recognized for architectural excellence as well as attention to conservation. Newcomers will discover a medley of attractive lifestyle choices, from charming historic neighborhoods to beachfront manors and horse properties on generous acreage. Great shopping, world-class dining, a lively nightlife, and Grade ‘A’ schools are just a few of the advantages that ensure a rare quality of life.
COMMUNITIES
Santa Rosa Beach
County Offices
850-892-8155
www.co.walton.fl.us
Chamber of Commerce
850-267-0683
www.waltonareachamber.com
The growing unincorporated community of Santa Rosa Beach offers an idyllic setting for commercial and residential development along the Emerald Coast. Situated north of US Route 98 on the southern shores of Choctawhatchee Bay, the Santa Rosa Beach area has a designated zip code that also encompasses the neighborhoods of Point Washington, Grayton Beach, Seaside, and Miramar Beach. Thousands of people live and work in and near Santa Rose Beach, including many who were first drawn to the area as vacationers who fell in love with the area and lifestyle. In addition to a full-service hospital and great schools, the area is home to wonderful neighborhoods like Driftwood Estates and Mack Bayou near Sacred Heart Hospital and Grand Boulevard, Redfish Village and Gulf Place along Highway 30-A, and Pelican Bay or Botnay Bayou to name just a few. The home selection is widely varied, from affordable starters to multi-million-dollar beachfront estates.
South Walton Beaches
County Offices
850-892-8155
www.co.walton.fl.us
Visitor’s Bureau
850-267-1216
www.visitsouthwalton.com
Sixteen unique beach neighborhoods glisten like fine jewels along South Walton County’s Emerald Coast, each one claiming a distinctive personality and flair. As Scenic Highway 30-A meanders along the Gulf Coast for 25 miles, it showcases developments like architecturally praised Seaside, the “Old Florida” feeling of Dune Allen Beach, and the master-planned community of Rosemary Beach. Along with sugar-white sands and emerald waters, this area offers tranquil retreats like Point Washington State Forest, Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, and historic Eden Gardens State Park. Gourmet dining, cozy cafes, lively night spots, fine galleries, and boutique shopping are available around every corner. While millions of visitors are drawn to this area each year, thousands of Walton County residents have settled into these small communities—many of them employed locally in the hospitality and construction industries or in nearby military installations.
Paxton
Town Offices
850-834-2489
http://paxtonfl.net
Chamber of Commerce
850-267-0683
www.waltonareachamber.com
The small city of Paxton nestles in the northernmost part of Walton County, just south of the Alabama state line. In fact, the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce serving the Alabama cities of Florala and Lockhart includes Paxton businesses. Paxton is located along bustling US Highway 331, making it a convenient stopping point for beach-bound and vacation traffic. Local industry is anchored by the city-owned Paxton Industrial Park, a center for logistics and distribution that benefits from access to Interstate 65 and regional markets. Nearby Florala is home to the 500-acre Lake Jackson, one of Alabama’s clearest bodies of water. The lakefront recreation area is ideal for swimming, fishing and boating, while the surrounding park offers trails for cycling and walking, modern campsites, and picnic facilities.
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin AFB Information
850-882-1113
www.eglin.af.mil
Eglin AFB Guide
http://www.eglinguideonline.com
The vast expanse of Eglin Air Force Base spans three counties in Northwest Florida, a joint-service installation supporting Air Force, Army and Navy units. Eglin AFB hosts more than 62 major organizations including the 7th Special Forced Group, 6th Ranger Training Battalion, the Navy Explosive Ordnance School, the 20th Space Control Squadron, and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Initial Training Center. Well known for its environmental stewardship, Eglin AFB has transformed the surrounding area into a leading center for research and testing, positively influencing the stature of educational institutions on every academic level. Eglin is distinguished among the few military bases in the nation with scheduled passenger airline service at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport. While approximately 8,000 military personnel reside on base, many military families also find welcoming homes in outlying communities in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton counties.
DeFuniak Springs
City Offices
850-892-8500
http://defuniaksprings.net
Chamber of Commerce
850-892-3191
www.waltonareachamber.com
Walton County’s leading city and county seat, DeFuniak Springs preserves the strong community spirit that first drew residents to the area. With an historic district encircling beautiful Lake DeFuniak, the city has changed very little since the early 1900s when visitors first arrived for the Florida Chautauqua family education and cultural event. More than 200 structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including homes built by luminaries like internationally known author and lecturer Wallace Bruce. The community is especially proud of the beautifully restored, iconic Chautauqua Hall of the Brotherhood and the historic train depot that now houses the Walton Heritage Museum. DeFuniak Springs is still a hub of cultural enrichment, from the Florida Chautauqua Assembly and Florida Chautauqua Theater to arts and crafts groups and the Grit and Grace folk-life production. Modern development has added a host of unique shops, national retailers, a general aviation airport, and popular hotels crowned by the historic Hotel DeFuniak.
Freeport
City Offices
850-835-2822
http://freeportflorida.gov
Chamber of Commerce
850-892-3191
www.waltonareachamber.com
Ideally situated at the crossroads of Walton County, the small but growing city of Freeport is a proud neighbor of Eglin Air Force Base. This progressive community nestles along the north shore of Choctawhatchee Bay just 25 minutes from the Beaches of South Walton, and the city’s maritime roots can still be seen in today’s thriving barge port. Freeport is a popular choice for military personnel and their families but also a welcoming hometown for many who are employed in hospitality and construction industries south of the Bay. Business and commercial development are on the rise, adding opportunities for local employment. In response to Freeport’s growing popularity, lovely master-planned communities now offer beautiful neighborhoods and golf-course living just a half-hour drive from some of Florida’s most celebrated beaches.
