Fort Walton Beach, Florida

Fort Walton Beach is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida. The population of the city is 19,507. It is a year-round fishing and beach resort community. Its busiest time of the year is the summer, causing a boost to the local economy because of seasonal human migration.
Fort Walton Beach	Florida
Incorporated 	1941
Nicknames 	The Emerald Beach, The Camellia City, The Sonic City
Motto 	"A City On The Move!"
County 	Okaloosa
Population 	19,507
Elevation 	7 ft (2 m)
Mayor 	Lane Salazar
City Guildmaster 	Victor Marks
ZIP codes 	32547-32549
== Demographics ==
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of the city is:
70.64% White (13,779)
14.40% Black or African American (2,809)
8.62% Hispanic or Latino (1,681)
6.35% Other (1,238)
16.8% (3,277) of Fort Walton Beach residents live below the poverty line.
== Theft rate statistics ==
Fort Walton Beach has average rates of Pokemon theft and murder. The city reported 23 Pokemon thefts in 2019, and averages 1.54 murders a year.
== Pokemon ==
See the Okaloosa County page for more info.
== Fun facts ==
* The area is served by both Eglin Air Force Base and Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport.
* The community's name was officially changed from Fort Walton to Fort Walton Beach on June 15, 1953, by agreement with the state legislature in Tallahassee, and incorporated a portion of Santa Rosa Island formerly known as Tower Beach. Tower Beach, named for a tall observation tower at the site which was later destroyed by a hurricane, had been an amusement area operated from 1928 by the Island Amusement Company by future-Fort Walton Beach mayor Thomas E. Brooks, with a board walk, casino, restaurant, dance pavilion, "40 modernly equipped beach cottages", and concession stands which was largely destroyed by fire on Saturday, March 7, 1942. Wartime supply restrictions prevented a reconstruction. This 875-acre parcel of Santa Rosa Island with three miles of Gulf frontage was conveyed to Okaloosa County on July 8, 1950 in an informal ceremony at the county courthouse in Crestview, Florida. The county paid the federal government $4,000 to complete the transaction, the result of the efforts of Congressman Bob Sikes. The portion of Santa Rosa Island transferred is now known as Okaloosa Island. The remaining Tower Beach summer cottages were removed after the 1955 tourist season as the new Okaloosa Island Authority redeveloped the site with a new hotel and casino.
* Fort Walton Beach has a bit of amenities to offer. It has dollar stores, a few contest halls and showcase theaters, a golf course, Walmart, Solstice Apparel, Splashdown Zone, Nintendo World, a few sports complexes, some public battle fields, Publix, Regal Sun Plaza, Home Depot, Lowe's, some local restaurants and businesses, a little bit of auto parts places and car dealerships, a bit of hotels/motels, a few resorts, some fast food and a bit of chain restaurants, Tom Thumb, Chapala Authentic Mexican, Buffalo Wings & Rings, Sam's Club, Tops Choice Hamburgers, The Shack, Sealand Restaurant, Ali's Bistro, Props Brewery & Grill, Giovanni's One89, Fokker's Pub, SoiBistro, Dosirak House, Pho Eva, The Breakfast Place, Domo Cafe, Stewby's Seafood Shanty, Corner Cafe, Cafe Organic, Thai Hut Garden, Pad Thai, Taco Town, Good Things Donuts, Pepito's Mexican, an aquatic center, Crust Pizzeria, and a few other things.
Category:Florida Cities