Fort Walton Beach, FL

The city of Fort Walton Beach is one of the many fishing and beach resort communities situated on Florida's Emerald Coast, the stretch of shoreline running along the Gulf of Mexico. Fort Walton Beach has about 19,000 residents. The town is surrounded by the huge Eglin Air Force Base, a center for arms testing and the home of the Air Force Armament Museum.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Located in Okaloosa County, Fort Walton Beach is divided into 11 distinct neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has associations, which link the communities with the city. Two of the neighborhoods in particular are most popular. Okaloosa Island is a district that boasts white sand beaches and crystal clear waters. Residents and visitors can fish off the pier or walk along the boardwalk. The island also features shopping, dining and entertainment.

The second popular neighborhood is Graton Beach, which is one of the most popular beaches in Florida. This area offers residents historic cottages as well as modern housing. There are also a number of opportunities to enjoy nature with fishing, hiking, bird watching and canoeing.

Fort Walton Beach has over 9,000 houses, of which 35 percent are occupied by tenants; there are about 1,200 houses situated in a square mile area.

A car or some other mode of transport is needed to travel in and around the city as most of the amenities are far from the center of the city.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

The two drivers of the economy of Fort Walton Beach are the military and tourism. Local military contractors and a wide variety of service industries benefit from Eglin Air Force Base and and the Air Force's Hurlburt Field that border Fort Walton Beach. The city is also known as a year-long beach-and-fishing-resort and is a very popular destination for Spring Breakers.

The most common industries that prevail here are construction, accommodation and food services, educational services, health care, professional, scientific and technical services, and public administration.

The top employers in the city are TYBRIN Corp., DRS Training & Control Systems Inc., Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Bridgeway Center Inc.

FAMILY FUN

• BMX/Skate Park offers around 9,000 square feet of skate park, including a street course.
• Cecelia Park features a playground, a basketball court, and picnic areas.
• Chester Pruitt Park features a softball field, pavilions, playground equipment, picnic areas, and restroom facilities.
• Ferry Park has a playground, baseball fields, tennis courts, a walking track, restroom facilities, a concession stand, in-line hockey, and picnic areas.
• Municipal Tennis Center features the Women's $25,000 Challenger, a professional tennis competition. The center also features racquetball, a clubhouse, and a pro shop.
• Fort Walton Landing is a large section of waterfront land. A popular fishing destination, the area includes a boardwalk, boat ramps, a playground, and a stage for concerts and special events.
• Hedrick Athletic Complex has lighted multipurpose fields, a skate park, restroom facilities, and a playground.
• Garniers Beach Park, a beachfront park featuring a boat ramp, a playground, a picnic area, and restroom facilities.
• Jet Drive Park has a fenced in playground, basketball and tennis courts, and a picnic area.
• Jet Stadium/Covey Field is comprised of a lighted baseball field as well as soccer and football fields. The park also has picnic areas, restroom facilities, and a concession stand. This park is home to many community league sports.

EVENTS

• Gulf Coast Bridal Fair: This fair offers everything a bride needs, including florists, DJs, bakers, hotels, caterers, and wedding planners. Brides-to-be can enjoy live music as they visit the various vendors.
• Annual Antique Show and Sale: This three-day event is located at the Northwest Florida Fairgrounds and features a variety of antiques for sale.
• Bowlegs Festival: This event features live entertainment, food, and arts and crafts. The highlight is when Pirate Billy Bowlegs goes head to head with the mayor of Fort Walton Beach. The festival comes to a conclusion with the Torchlight Parade.
• Dog Daze: This event affords dogs and dog owners a day out with a Canine Good Citizen Test.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Emerald Coast Science Center: This center is located on the water, and visitors can use the picnic areas outside. At this facility, a number of exhibits, including an Electricity and Wind Tunnel, Critters and Bubble Room, and a Color and Light exhibit are displayed. The Science Center also hosts a number of educational programs throughout the year.
• Air Force Armament Museum: Aircraft and weaponry from World War I to the present day can be seen at this museum, as can the Engineers for America exhibit. Through this program, teachers can use various museum displays for education.
• Florida's Gulfarium: This attraction is the place to go to see Florida's marine wildlife. Dolphin shows, sea lion shows, and a multispecies show can be enjoyed here. Also featured are salt-water aquariums, the dune lagoon, an alligator exhibit, and various other animals. Patrons can support this facility through their "adopt an animal" program.
• Indian Temple Mound and Museum: This historic landmark is a monument to Native Americans. Originally a religious center, the site dates back 10,000 years.

EDUCATION

• Northwest Florida State College: The Fort Walton Beach campus offers associate and bachelor's degree programs in the Arts and Sciences. Certificate programs and continuing education lectures and seminars are also given at this campus location.
• Troy University: This university has been educating students since 1887 with a well-rounded curriculum of academics, continuing education, and athletics.

HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center is an acute care center that recently constructed a Cancer Care Center. Various educational courses are also taught at the medical center.

LOCAL MEDIA

• WFTW 1260 (News/Talk)
• WBAU 1400 (Nostalgia)

• WPSM 91.1 (Christian Contemporary)
• WZNS 96.5 (Top 40)
• WKSM 99.5 (Rock)