CRESTVIEW
History
Following
a path that ran parallel between the Yellow and Shoal
rivers, early traders established routes through Northwest
Florida. Farmers, merchants, ranchers, lumbermen and
mercantile owners operated a trading center on a crest
of land between these two rivers. By the late 1800s,
rail service came to the area with the Pensacola and
Atlantic Railroad laying track for the first passenger
and freight lines in Northwest Florida. The station
name, Crestview, came from the land ridge rising between
the Yellow and Shoal rivers that had long been used
as a trade link between Florida, and points north and
west. At 235 feet above sea level, this ridge is the
second highest point in Florida.
Created from portions of western Walton and eastern Santa Rosa counties in 1915, Okaloosa County designated Crestview as the county seat of government. Incorporated as a municipality the following year, Crestview, the oldest city in Okaloosa County, remains the county seat today.
Today
Keeping with its history as a trade route for businesses throughout Florida and the entire country, Crestview today lies in the juncture of Florida State Highways 85 and 90, and Interstate 10, earning it the nickname “Hub City.” CSX Rail Transportation System runs parallel to Highway 90, offering freight service throughout the U.S., and passenger rail service is provided in the Hub City by Amtrak’s Sunset Limited line, running east to west from Florida to California.
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| Bob Sikes Airport |
Located just 50 miles east of Pensacola, 120 miles
west of Tallahassee, and 30 miles inland from the Gulf
of Mexico, Crestview remains a center of economic resources.
Crestview is home to many corporate headquarters including
the Tom Thumb Stores, Nugget Oil and Ritz Food Stores.
Crestview is also home to the first Wal-Mart Super
Center to open in Florida. Many of Crestview’s
industries are tied to nearby Eglin Air Force Base,
with aerospace research and manufacturing companies
located in city’s 400-acre Industrial Park.
Ranching and farming is also a multi-million dollar
industry in Crestview with agribusiness concerns in
timber, Christmas trees, soybeans, peanuts, tomatoes,
corn, wheat, cotton poultry, cattle and hogs.
Weather
- Average yearly temperature: 79
- Hottest month: July and August – average high 92
- Coldest month: Jan. – average low 39
- Annual rainfall: 64 inches
- Monthly average rainfall: 5.3 inches
- Wettest month: June – 7.41 inches
- Driest month: Oct. 3.2 inches
- Hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30 each year
- Major hurricanes (Category 3 and higher) that have struck the Northwest Gulf Coast of Florida in the past 154 years: 14
[As of 08/06/05 – Source NOAA]
Demographics
- Population (2000 census) – 14,766 full time residents
- Total Area – 12.8 square miles: 12.8 sq. miles land, 0.04 sq. miles water
- Per capita income - $15,479
- Median family income - $38,824
- Median age - 33
- Population ratio - (males: females) – 93.4:100
- Major industry - Air Force, aerospace, agribusiness
Local Directory
Schools (Elementary)
- Antioch
- Bob Sikes
- Northwood
- Walker
- Southside
Schools (K-12)
- Baker
- Laurel Hill
Schools (Middle)
- Davidson
- Richbourg
Schools (High)
- Crestview
Law enforcement
- 321 W. Woodruff Ave. – (850) 682-3544 or (850) 682-3603
Post office
- 1325 Commerce Dr - (800) 275-8777 or (850) 682-2634
Library
- 1445 Commerce Drive – (850) 682-4432 or (850) 682-8776
Fire station
- 321 West Woodruff Avenue – (850) 682-6121
City Hall - 198 North Wilson Street
- (City Clerk) – (850) 682-1560 or (850) 682-1091
- (Mayor) – (850) 682-3812
Community Center
- Twin Hills – Dept. of Leisure Services – (850) 682-4715
Chamber of Commerce
- 502 South Main Street – (850) 682-3212
Airport:
- Bob Sikes Airport – 5551 John Givens Ave. – (850) 682-6811 – public service airport provides for general aviation, corporate aviation, air taxi service, and some military operations. It does not provide service to commercial airlines
For Things to Do in Crestview, click here.
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Apalachicola | ||
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Crestview |
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Destin |
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Fort
Walton Beach |
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Navarre |
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Niceville | ||
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Panama City | ||
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Port St. Joe | ||
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South Walton | ||