Fort Walton Beach

Fort Walton Beach
a city in NW Florida. 20,829.

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      city, Okaloosa county, northwestern Florida, U.S. It lies at the western end of Choctawhatchee Bay (an arm of the Gulf of Mexico), on Santa Rosa Sound (separated from the gulf by Santa Rosa Island), about 40 miles (65 km) east of Pensacola. The fort was established during the Seminole Wars and named for Colonel George Walton, territorial secretary of West Florida (1821–22) and East-West Florida (1822–26). The settlement became known as Camp Walton during the American Civil War—when a Confederate contingent was organized there to guard the sound—and, after the war, as Brooks Landing for settler John Thomas Brooks. The settlement later evolved as a resort and yachting centre. Created as a municipality called Fort Walton in 1937, it was reincorporated in 1941 as a town; it was rechartered in 1947 and in 1953, when it was renamed the City of Fort Walton Beach. Its population grew rapidly in the first few decades after World War II.

      Eglin Air Force Base, established in 1935 and covering some 725 square miles (1,900 square km), is located north and west of the city and (together with adjacent Hurlburt Field) is a major factor in its economy. Tourism and manufacturing, particularly high-technology products, are also important. The Indian Temple Mound Museum is home to a Mississippian-period mound and a museum containing Native American artifacts. Other attractions in the area include the Air Force Armament Museum near the base and the Gulfarium, which exhibits marine life. The Billy Bowlegs Festival, commemorating an 18th-century pirate of the region, is held annually in June. Gulf Islands National Seashore is west of the city, and several state parks and recreation areas are located eastward along the gulf coast and the shore of the bay. Fort Walton Beach is home to campuses of the University of West Florida and Troy State University, and Okaloosa-Walton Community College (1963) is at nearby Niceville. Pop. (1990) city, 21,471; Fort Walton Beach MSA, 143,776; (2000) city, 19,973; Fort Walton Beach MSA, 170,498.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Fort Walton Beach — Surnom : « The Emerald Coast » Administration Pays …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Fort Walton Beach — Ciudad de los Estados Unidos …   Wikipedia Español

  • Fort Walton Beach — Spitzname: The Emerald Coast …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Fort Walton Beach — Fort Walton Beach, FL U.S. city in Florida Population (2000): 19973 Housing Units (2000): 9007 Land area (2000): 7.444150 sq. miles (19.280259 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.761040 sq. miles (1.971084 sq. km) Total area (2000): 8.205190 sq. miles… …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Fort Walton Beach, FL — U.S. city in Florida Population (2000): 19973 Housing Units (2000): 9007 Land area (2000): 7.444150 sq. miles (19.280259 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.761040 sq. miles (1.971084 sq. km) Total area (2000): 8.205190 sq. miles (21.251343 sq. km) FIPS …   StarDict's U.S. Gazetteer Places

  • Fort Walton Beach — Original name in latin Fort Walton Beach Name in other language Fort Volton Bich, Fort Volton Bich, fwrt waltwn bych, flwryda, fwrt waltwn bytsh, flwryda, hua er dun bao tan, Форт Волтон Бич, Форт Волтон Біч, State code US Continent/City… …   Cities with a population over 1000 database

  • Fort Walton Beach High School — is a secondary school located in the center of Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Mrs. Charlene Couvillion is the current principal. Fort Walton Beach High School serves residents of Fort Walton Beach and of Destin. FWBHS Beliefs * All students learn… …   Wikipedia

  • Fort Walton Beach (United States) — Hotels: Quality Inn Bayside Fort Walton (Fort Walton Beach) Ramada Plaza Beach Resort (Fort Walton Beach) …   International hotels

  • Fort Walton Beach, Florida — Infobox Settlement official name = Fort Walton Beach, Florida other name = native name = nickname = The Emerald Coast settlement type = City motto = imagesize = image caption = flag size = image seal size = image shield = shield size = image… …   Wikipedia

  • Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area — The Fort Walton Beach Crestview Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) consisting of Okaloosa County in the state of Florida in the USA. The principal cities in the MSA are Fort Walton Beach,… …   Wikipedia

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