History of Okaloosa and Walton Counties | Publish Your Own History

History of Okaloosa and Walton Counties

In the early 1800s, hardy homesteaders established farms scattered across the northern part of the area now known as Okaloosa and Walton Counties. The region retained its primitive pioneer character for over 100 years. Not until the 1940s did the small farming and fishing communities enjoy such modern conveniences as electricity, telephones, and paved roads. You can see pioneer household utensils, farm implements, and one room schoolhouse memorabilia throughout the museum. 

Two industries, naval stores and lumbering, brought economic growth to the area during the pioneer period. Starting in the 1870s, turpentine stills dotted the piney woods and hundreds of workers slashed pine trees for raw materials for such things as paint, chemicals, and medicines. Lumbering also flourished in the densely forested region as saw mills cut the huge trees for lumber for building in the United States and abroad.

Although fishing has always been an important local business, it was primarily a family operation. Agriculture was limited to home gardens and experiments in blueberry culture, tung nut trees, sugar cane, and citrus. 

Railroad passenger and freight service to Okaloosa and Walton Counties was provided by L&N Railroad. Built by Col. W.D. Chipley, the route was completed in 1883, and little white depots were constructed beside the track in each railroad community. Incorporated in a museum corner vignette are the ticket window, train schedule board, freight counter, and other items that were salvaged when the Crestview depot was torn down after passenger service ended in 1971.

Eglin Air Force Base, which was established just prior to World War II, provided the impetus to transform the isolated pioneer area into modern communities with readily available goods and services. Geographically the nation's largest military installation, Eglin stretches across the marshes and forests of three counties, covering territory the size of the state of Rhode Island. Modern aircraft and armament are tested where the Indians and pioneers once lived.

Publish Your Own Okaloosa County History

See the History of your Family in Print

Are you or your family from Okaloosa County?

Okaloosa County residents are invited to submit their Florida family histories to be published in the second volume of The Heritage of Okaloosa County, Florida, a published record of our ancestors, and their life and culture in Okaloosa County.

Residents with family in and from the region are encouraged to submit histories by October 31. Important information to include is birth, marriage and death dates, school attendance, business history, and neighborhood or civic events. A special section on anniversaries of fifty years or more will be included. Histories in volume one include memories of casting nets and tugboats, information pertaining to the lumber and turpentine industry and even details about a mother’s best meal of biscuits, ham and fried fish.

The first volume of the book, published in 2004 by Heritage Publishing Consultants, Inc., is available for purchase at the Baker Block Museum in Baker, Destin History and Fishing Museum in Destin and the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida in Valparaiso. Other counties with published histories include Santa Rosa County, Walton and Washington.

Accomplished writing skills are not a prerequisite for submission. The success of this publication is based on the participation from residents in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Valparaiso, Crestview, and all other areas of the county. This is an excellent opportunity for residents to assist the historical community in documenting history and making it accessible to the public and for future generations.

For additional information and order forms, contact the Heritage Museum at 678-2615.

 

History of Okaloosa and Walton Counties | Publish Your Own History