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Valparaiso, FL


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Valparaiso, Florida

Introduction to Valparaiso, Florida

Valparaiso, Florida, in Okaloosa county, is 43 miles E of Pensacola, Florida (center to center) and 216 miles E of New Orleans, Louisiana. The city benefits from easy access to the nearby cities and towns with which it shares the Fort Walton Beach metropolitan area. Valparaiso has a population of approximately 6,408.

Valparaiso History

In the 1800s, the area now known as Valparaiso, was Federal Government-owned uninhabited forest land. Allen Brown, Jr. established his home here in 1901, and The Consolidated Land and Lumber Company purchased the entire region in 1909. Gradually, a sawmill near the north of Tom's Bayou became the center of a small community. John B. Perrine, a Chicago industrialist who visited the area and was impressed by its natural beauty, named it "Valparaiso", a Spanish word meaning "Vale of Paradise". The charter for the City of Valparaiso was granted in 1921. The Eglin Air Force Base, which was established in 1935, played an important role in the development of the city. Numerous World War II pilots were trained at this base, and many of them made Valparaiso their home. Today, the Eglin Air Force Base has become one of the largest air force installations in the world.

Valparaiso and Nearby Attractions

  • Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida
  • Pensacola Museum of Art
  • Topsail Hill Preserve State Park
  • Boll Weevil Monument
  • Grayton Beach State Park
  • Gulfarium

Things To Do In Valparaiso

Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida, located in the city of Valparaiso, displays documents, photographs, and audio visual materials documenting the development of the region from an uninhabited forest and fishing area to a popular tourist destination and advanced technology military nexus. The Heritage Park and Cultural Center includes the Camp Walton Schoolhouse Museum, the Indian Temple Mound Museum, and the Garnier Post Office Museum. The Gulfarium houses dolphins and also organizes sea life shows. The Gulf World is a popular marine park near the city. At the Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park, visitors can enjoy swimming, camping, boating, and fishing. Henderson Beach State Park has beaches, nature trails, and facilities for fishing, swimming, and camping. The Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, another popular park in the area, provides recreational facilities such as nature trails, beaches, biking, and scuba diving.

Valparaiso Transportation

Pensacola Regional Airport is the closest major airport.

Valparaiso Higher Education

Pensacola Junior College, Okaloosa-Walton Community College, and The University of West Florida are nearby colleges.

High Points

Valparaiso strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Florida):

CategoryTrophy
Low Violent Crime
(vs. Peers)
Top 3%trophyValparaiso Low Violent Crime
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)
Top 3%trophyValparaiso Short Commute Times
Well-Paid Single Men
(vs. Peers)
Top 9%Valparaiso Well-Paid Single Men
Racial Diversity
(vs. Peers)
Top 14%Valparaiso Racial Diversity
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)
Top 17%Valparaiso Walking and Biking to Work

Comparative Profile of Valparaiso, FL

Comparing Valparaiso to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Florida (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Male Share of the Population1010
Well-Paid Single Men1010
Racial Diversity97
Senior Citizens32
Age of the Population32
Children Under 5 Years Old13
Female Share of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Portion of People Married67
Average Household Size45

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
People Above Poverty79
College Educated Adults66
People in Middle Class or Better57
Median Family Income57

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work98
Short Commute Times910
Public Transportation Use66
Working at Home22

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Affordability of Property Taxes97
Housing Recently Built74
Affordability of Rents77
Seasonal and Vacation Housing72
People Living Alone76
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals56

Crime

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers
Compared
to State
Low Violent Crime1010
Low Property Crime79
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