Overview

Introduction to Destin, Florida

Destin, Florida, in Okaloosa county, is 43 miles E of Pensacola, Florida (center to center) and 216 miles E of New Orleans, Louisiana. The city is in the Fort Walton Beach area.

Destin History

Destin has a rich historical heritage that dates back to the 7th century A.D. The city was named after fisherman Captain Leonard Destin who moved in this region from New London, Connecticut around 1845. He also pioneered the fishing industry of present day Destin. In 1984, the City of Destin was chartered as a municipality under the laws of the State of Florida.

Destin and Nearby Attractions

  • Florida's Gulfarium.
  • Indian Temple Mound Museum.
  • Old Destin Post Office.
  • Baytowne Golf Course.

Things To Do In Destin

Destin is known as the World's Luckiest Fishing Village, where you can enjoy deep-sea fishing. In addition, there are several other recreational facilities in the city like dinner and entertainment cruises, go-cart tracks, gulf front retreats, golf and tennis courts, snorkeling, diving, sea lion shows, marine life exhibits, performances by trained dolphins and camping/canoe trips. Destin is also known for the beautiful snow white colored sand on its beaches.

Destin Transportation

The closest airport to Destin is Fort Walton Beach/Valparaiso.

Destin Higher Education

Okaloosa-Walton Community College provides access to adult education.

Demographics

People

Total Population13,469
Male Share of the Population50.1%
Female Share of the Population49.9%
Senior Citizens17.4%
Employed Population 16+7,282
Age of the Population42

Families

% of people married51.5%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher34.9%
Median Earnings25+$37,558
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$19,113
Median Earnings With High School Degree$30,230

Wealth

Median Family Income$93,093
% Above Poverty Level91.7%
% Below Poverty Level8.3%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time22 minutes
% Working from Home7.9%
% Walking and Biking to Work1.7%
% Using Public Transportation%

Housing

People Living Alone30.3%
Median Gross Rent$1,404
Median House Value$317,200

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)22%
German15%
Irish13.2%
English12%
Italian9%
French Except Basque4.2%
Polish2.7%
Scottish1.7%
Canadian1.6%
Brazilian1.1%
Swedish1%
Norwegian0.9%
Slovak0.8%
Portuguese0.8%
Hungarian0.7%
Greek0.6%
Dutch0.6%
Danishn0.6%
Arab0.5%
Albanian0.5%
Welsh0.5%
Russian0.5%
Bulgarian0.5%
Czech0.5%
US/American0.4%
West Indian0.4%
British0.4%
Lithuanian0.4%
Ukrainian0.3%
Swiss0.3%
Egyptian0.3%
Austrian0.3%
Lebanese0.2%
Jamaican0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Turkish0.1%
+ Show More

Destin Almanac

CategoryValue
CountyOkaloosa County, Walton County
Standard Zip Codes32541, 32550
P.O. Box Zip Codes32540
Phone Area Codes850
Time ZoneAmerica/Chicago
Approximate Latitude30.4
Approximate Longitude-86.49

Destin Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationNICEVILLE
Distance9.7 miles
Jan Temp37 to 61 F
Apr Temp51 to 78 F
Jul Temp71 to 91 F
Oct Temp54 to 81 F
Annual Precip69.2 inches
StationCRESTVIEW BOB SIKES AP
Distance27 miles
Jan Temp39 to 62 F
Apr Temp53 to 79 F
Jul Temp71 to 92 F
Oct Temp55 to 80 F
Annual Precip63.9 inches
StationWHITING FIELD NAS
Distance38.2 miles
Jan Temp41 to 61 F
Apr Temp55 to 78 F
Jul Temp73 to 92 F
Oct Temp57 to 80 F
Annual Precip67.3 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Fort Walton Beach21,845$58,529
Freeport2,803$61,510
Mary Esther4,251$69,931
Niceville15,050$85,465
Shalimar892$98,375
Valparaiso5,035$73,177

Destin Hospitals

Rehabilitation Institute Of Northwest Florida
(Proprietary)
996 Airport Rd
(850) 862-1111

Destin Public Schools

Destin Elementary School
630 Kelly St
ZIP: 32541
(850) 833-4360
Primary
Total Enrollment 852
Destin Middle School
4608 Legendary Marina Dr
ZIP: 32541
(850) 833-7655
Middle
Total Enrollment 664

Destin Private Schools

Destin Christian Academy
201 Beach Dr
ZIP: 32541
Elementary
Total Enrollment 39
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