The buildings had originally housed the Okaloosa Island Authority and more recently the Okaloosa County Council on Aging. 75-456 (June 23, 1975), the Okaloosa Island Authority was abolished and its assets turned over to the Board of County Commissioners, Okaloosa County, for management with the full force of direction to be retained in the PROTECTIVE COVENANTS AND RESTRICTIONS then in effect. Unlike many communities in Northwest Florida, disputes on Okaloosa Island more often involve issues of sand quality and quantity than those of where the public can spread a beach towel. The Boardwalk and Beasley Park are probably Okaloosa Countys most popular public beach areas, Kisela said. To share the positive things that make the area unique. Copyright 2015 Okaloosa County, Florida. WebOriginally, land on Okaloosa Island was "leased" from the Okaloosa Island Authority. It Was Only Yesterday Whether visiting the winding rivers flowing through north county tree lines,parks and recreational points of interestor spending a few days at the white sandy beaches reflecting upon the Gulf of Mexico shoreline, the TDD promises to get kids outside on the water to give their adventurous side room to grow! The 1.3-acre (0.53ha) tract on the north side of Santa Rosa Boulevard was sold.[3]. The buildings had originally housed the Okaloosa Island Authority and more recently the Okaloosa County Council on Aging. In 1963, a new quitclaim deed was presented to the island authority. WebOn July 8, 1950 the federal government conveyed an 875-acre (3.54 km 2) parcel of Santa Rosa Island with 3 miles (4.8 km) of Gulf frontage to Okaloosa County. Board of Commissioners Special Meeting 9/21/22. View Conditions . For Local Businesses including Food & Drinks, Services, Health & Medical, Education, Sports & Recreation, Arts & Entertainment and more, click here. Hiking trails can be found all along the Panhandle with lots of state parks, local parks, forests and preserves that feature trails for both hikers and bikers. Webfrom the 1970 Annual Report of the Okaloosa Island Authority; Chapter 75-456 House Bill No. vE>c!|},V@(a?Dk;kkSJjw_Su h&}/^r: fZ In 1934, Plew proposed to donate 1,460 adjoining acres to the U.S. government for a bombing and gunnery range. They made their way south on foot, ox carts, boats, and mule wagons to establish small sustenance farms. Okaloosa Beginnings Okaloosa is a Choctaw word meaning "black water"; oka means "water" and lusa means "black" in the Choctaw language.[4]. The lease was for 99 years with an automatic renewal for 99 years. Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. Retrieved from, Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area, List of county roads in Okaloosa County, Florida, National Register of Historic Places listings in Okaloosa County, Florida, "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990", "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin", https://www.cityofdestin.com/DocumentCenter/View/602/Introduction-to-Okaloosa-County-Public-Library-Cooperative, https://readokaloosa.org/client/en_US/default/?rm=ABOUT, "2008 US Presidential Election Results by County - USATODAY.com", "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Okaloosa_County,_Florida&oldid=1140364708, Florida placenames of Native American origin, List of place names of Choctaw origin in the United States, Wikipedia articles needing factual verification from August 2022, Articles with dead external links from January 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line. For moreinformation on the SunPass Frequent Customer Rebate Program, Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, Florida Department of Economic Opportunitys Special District Accountability Program. WebOkaloosa Island Attractions. In 1953, Okaloosa Island Authority was created as an instrumentality of the Okaloosa County to administer that portion of Santa Rosa Island owned by Okaloosa County. WebThe last of three county-owned buildings on Okaloosa Island was torn down on May 31, 1995. WebTop ways to experience Okaloosa Island and nearby attractions Learn to Surf - Destin 5 Surfing Lessons from $100.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Snorkeling and Dolphin Tour 39 Recommended Adventure Tours from $60.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Original Cruisin' Tikis 3hr Crab Island Sandbar Adventure 363 Recommended Water Okaloosa Island features gorgeous sunsets and sunrises. WebMembers of the Board of the Okaloosa Island Authority are public officers subject to financial disclosure pursuant to s. 112.312(7)(b), F. S. (1974 Supp.). WebThe last of three county-owned buildings on Okaloosa Island was torn down on May 31, 1995. Okaloosa pioneers gathered often to exchange ideas, goods and news. #Q, 1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite 100 WebTop ways to experience Okaloosa Island and nearby attractions Learn to Surf - Destin 5 Surfing Lessons from $100.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Snorkeling and Dolphin Tour 39 Recommended Adventure Tours from $60.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Original Cruisin' Tikis 3hr Crab Island Sandbar Adventure 363 Recommended Water WebBook your tickets online for Okaloosa Island, Fort Walton Beach: See 1,574 reviews, articles, and 703 photos of Okaloosa Island, ranked No.2 on Tripadvisor among 27 attractions in Fort Walton Beach. Thanks to the P&A Railroad, much of Okaloosas commodities traveled to Floridas east coast. WebMembers of the Board of the Okaloosa Island Authority are public officers subject to financial disclosure pursuant to s. 112.312(7)(b), F. S. (1974 Supp.). If you check your cars odometer you will see that as you approach the end of the road, before you enter Eglin Air Force Base property, you will have traveled exactly three miles from the sign indicating the beginning of Okaloosa Island. Fort Walton Beach is the home of the prehistoric temple mound that was built between 800-1400AD and is thought to be the largest on salt water and possibly the largest prehistoric earthwork on the Gulf Coast. In 1953, Okaloosa Island Authority was created as an instrumentality of the Okaloosa County to administer that portion of Santa Rosa Island owned by Okaloosa County. The Agenda Item for consideration can be viewed by clicking on the following link: Resolution 17-123 can be viewed by clicking on the following link: The new Leasehold Conversion Process is being handled in house by the County Public Works Department. endstream endobj 1269 0 obj <>stream August 13, 2021 Before the railroad, like the majority of the Northwest Florida region, Okaloosa County transported lumber and turpentine via rivers and bayous. We are honored to serve, Thank you for your support! Not as busy as some of the Destin area beaches, this area is a perfect location if you want to be close enough to Destin, but a bit out of the more touristyareas. 2023 www.nwfdailynews.com. Save time and get to the beach faster! :3m(Qcm|OQ\3F]Xh{EkK/WPOt*;\|5'|XE$}Q*=Swl[j%"8x9:C=CyRX0m,osJmYt0K}*:eCeq oN'=UH.8y^riUpS uR\hi)GGHK#t8}t#G z$QQ>LMMgu4} [s! While Okaloosa Island is not one of the top destinations for shelling, and some of the shells found are seasonal, it is always fun to search for that unique treasure from the ocean. Okaloosa Island on the About Us page. Okaloosa Island is an area on Santa Rosa Island, Florida. In 1939, the Santa Rosa National Monument was proclaimed by President Roosevelt. Call 850-689-5050 or 850-423-1542for all departments. Island visitors benefit greatly by having wide expanses of public beach behind the Boardwalk near the Okaloosa Island pier that extends west from the Okaloosa Island Pier all the way down to Beasley Park and at Beasley Park. Jennifer Adams, Director WebOkaloosa County is located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. WebOriginally, land on Okaloosa Island was "leased" from the Okaloosa Island Authority. However, due to a lack of funding and then the outbreak of World War II, nothing was done. Shalimar, FL 32579. Just gorgeous dunes that line the area going into the National Seashore where you can enjoy the most natural beachfront scenery. Located in Northwest Florida, Destin-Fort Walton Beach is not only an ideal place to unwind, but discover natural beauty, encounter wildlife and ultimately uncover the adventurous side within. Lumber, Turpentine and Fishing were the main economic drivers of the time and they, in turn, were supported by the Pensacola & Atlantic Railroad (P&A) which was a division of the already existing Louisville & Nashville Railroad (L&N). On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. August 14, 2021 As of the 2020 census, the population was 211,668. The purpose of Okaloosa County Government is to be responsive to citizens in providing an appropriate level We have provided for the promotion of Fire Safety through our Fire Prevention program and annual inspections. The 1.3-acre (0.53 ha) tract on the north side of Santa Rosa Boulevard was sold. Beyond Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Okaloosa Island, are several must-see destinations across Okaloosa County. Fitting, because many residents today began as a tourist! Why is tourism important for Okaloosa county? [7] Our goal is simple. Originally, land on Okaloosa Island was "leased" from the Okaloosa Island Authority. Its county seat is Crestview. Od1Sn&|]&3hV[JbPLDXa"3'P4Q1B[*a&H2,`@YMDjPVePn&8p& 3vd,5"b`KQp4cl(lXX\"Kj\SBma040[@R4lJ1:4PfyDrv@Zl@"4B1kDQY)Oy-(7s,RZXa5.BVOwVa85# B-*0=|v(.,Rw@Yvlm &!h")D!DaXPrP rPY18H9Rr@CH ;4\#|SI"7?|{]kMCl?})[ r}pR9h}~OcU|:FvIyu/qgZ}V7FfoiY Most importantly we provide Fire Suppression and Advanced Emergency Medical Care to the residents of Okaloosa Island and surrounding areas. *The TDD is solely funded by the lodging tax paid by visitors staying overnight in short-term rentals in Okaloosa County. 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