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General Information
State Facts
State Flower: Orange Blossom
State Tree: Sabal Palm
State Bird: The Mockingbird
State Song: Suwannee River (Stephen Foster)
Driving Mileage (from Niceville)
| TO |
MILES |
|
| Camp Timpoochie, FL |
8 |
| Cape San Blas, FL |
123 |
| Crestview, FL |
20 |
| DeFuniak Springs, FL |
26 |
| Ft Walton Beach, FL |
21 |
| Gainesville, FL |
300 |
| Jacksonville, FL |
325 |
| Newberry, FL |
13 |
| Ocala, FL |
325 |
| Orlando, FL |
400 |
| Panama City, FL |
60 |
| Pensacola, FL |
47 |
| Quincy, FL |
144 |
| Tallahassee, FL |
158 |
| Tampa, FL |
390 |
Population
Numbers are courtesy of the University of West Florida Haas Center
2002
| Niceville (32578) |
27,862 |
| Valparaiso (32580) |
5,096 |
| Total |
32,958 |
| Okaloosa County |
178,104 |
| |
| Composition of population by age - 1999 |
| 0-24 |
65,093 |
| 25-64 |
96,505 |
| 65+ |
19,638 |
| Unemployment |
3.0% |
|
Climate
| TEMPERATURE |
|
| Season Average: |
| Winter |
51 degrees F |
| Summer |
91 degrees F |
| Annual Average |
70 degrees F |
| PRECIPITATION AND WINDS |
|
| Rainfall: Annual Average |
64.92 inches |
| Snowfall: Annual Average |
0 inches |
| Prevailing Winds: Summer - South; Winter - North/Northeast |
Income
Estimated 2000
| Average Household Income |
$89,880 |
| Median Household Income |
$36,392 |
| Per Capita Income |
$29,938 |
Utilities
| ELECTRICITY |
|
| For the municipalities of Niceville-Valparaiso and county residences west of
Rocky Bayou. |
Gulf Power Company
1057 E. John Sims Parkway
Niceville, FL 32578 |
(800) 225-5797 |
| For the county residences in Bluewater Bay, Seminole, and areas east of Rocky
Bayou. |
Choctawhatchee Electric Co-op, Inc.
Cat Mar Road & Hwy 20 E
Bluewater Bay |
892-2111
800-342-0990 |
| WATER / SEWAGE / GARBAGE |
|
Niceville City Hall
208 N. Partin Drive
Niceville, FL 32578 |
729-4000 |
Valparaiso City Hall
465 Valparaiso Parkway
Valparaiso, FL 32580 |
729-5402 |
Okaloosa Water & Sewage
1804 Lewis Turner Blvd, Suite 300
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547 |
651-7171 |
Okaloosa County Garbage (Niceville to Ft. Walton)
BFI, 638D Anchors Street
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 4430, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32549 |
664-5591 |
Waste Management of NW Florida
108 Hill Ave.
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548
Commercial Services, Disposal Services, Industrial Services, Recycling
Services, Residential Services |
800-862-7141 |
| TELEPHONE |
|
| Sprint Florida |
811
800-326-2497 |
Media
| CABLE |
|
Cox Communications
Cable and High Speed Internet
Parkway East Shopping Ctr., 1173 John Sims Pkwy
Niceville, FL |
862-0175 |
Valparaiso Communications
Cable and High Speed Internet
495 Valparaiso Parkway
Valparaiso, FL |
729-5402 |
| NEWSPAPERS |
|
| Bay Beacon (Weekly) |
678-1080 |
| Bluewater Advertiser (Monthly) |
678-8000 |
| Bluewater Breeze (Monthly) |
678-1080 |
| Destin Log (Weekly) |
837-2828 |
| Northwest Florida Daily News (Daily) |
863-1111 |
| American Classifieds (Weekly) |
243-6771 |
| RADIO / TV |
|
| WNWF, 1120 AM |
654-4040 |
| ESPN, 1340 AM |
654-4040 |
| WFTW, 1260 AM |
243-7676 |
| WBAU, 1400 AM |
244-1400 |
| WKSM, 99 FM |
243-7676 |
| WWRK, 92.1 FM |
244-1400 |
| WMXZ, 103 FM |
654-1031 |
| WNCV, 100.3 FM |
243-2323 |
| WPSM, 91.1 FM |
244-7667 |
| WTKE, 98.1 FM |
244-1400 |
| WWAV, 102 FM |
654-1031 |
| WYZB, 105.5 FM |
243-7676 |
| WZNS, 96.5 FM |
243-7676 |
| |
|
| WEAR (ABC) |
862-3000 |
| COX CABLE (IND) |
862-0175 |
| WJHG (NBC) |
(850) 230-5244 |
| BEACH TV (IND) |
837-9333 |
| GULF COAST TV |
314-8111 |
| WSRE (PRB) |
(850) 484-1210 |
Public Services
| LIBRARIES |
|
Niceville City Library
208 N. Partin Drive
Niceville, FL 32578 |
729-4070 |
Valparaiso Community Library
459 Valparaiso Parkway
Valparaiso, FL |
729-5406 |
|
COMMUNITY CENTER |
|
Niceville Community Center
204 N. Partin Drive,
Niceville, FL |
729-4087 |
|
| OKALOOSA COUNTY COURTHOUSE |
|
| Crestview |
729-1400 |
| Annex, Shalimar |
651-7100 |
| POLICE STATIONS |
|
Niceville Police Department
212 N. Partin Drive
Niceville |
729-4030 |
Valparaiso Police Department
465 Valparaiso Parkway
Valparaiso |
729-5400 |
Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department
50 2nd Street
Shalimar |
651-7400 |
911 Emergency Available Throughout the County
Real Estate Property Tax -
2003
| PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES |
Okaloosa County
Property Appraiser
151-D NE Eglin Parkway, Ft. Walton Beach
101 E. James Lee Blvd., Crestview |
651-7240
689-5900 |
|
| Area |
Rate (Mill.) |
|---|
|
| Niceville |
3.50 |
| Valparaiso |
3.99 |
| County |
4.25 |
| County School |
8.063 |
| East Niceville Fire District |
2.00 |
| North Bay Fire District |
2.07 |
| NW Florida Water Management District |
0.05 |
| County Park MTSU |
.2654 |
Homestead exemption of $25,000 upon qualification
| LOCAL NON-PROPERTY TAXES |
|
| County |
|
| Income (wage) |
None |
| State |
|
| Retail |
6% |
| Individual Income |
None |
Corporate Income
($5,000 Exemption) |
5.5% |
Intangibles (individual)
Over $250,000
Over $500,000 |
0.001
0.001 |
| Tangibles |
None |
Other Area Information
| State Legislators
Representing the Bay Area |
|
Florida State Senate District 4
Charles W. Clary III
1241 Airport Road, Suite A
Destin, FL 32541 |
(850) 833-9159 |
Florida House of Representatives District 4
Ray Sansom, (R)
348 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, Suite 8
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
(850) 833-9328 |
United States House of Representatives
First District
Jeff Miller
348 SW Miracle Strip Pkwy, Suite 21
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548 |
(850) 664-1266 |
Okaloosa County Commission District 5
James Campbell
1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite 100
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32547 |
(850) 651-7105 |
| CITY GOVERNMENTS |
|
City of Niceville
Mayor: Randall Wise
City Manager: Lannie Corbin
208 N Partin Drive
Niceville, FL 32578 |
729-4008 |
City of Valparaiso
Mayor: Bruce Arnold
465 Valparaiso Parkway
Valparaiso, FL 32580 |
729-5402 |
| FLORIDA MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION |
|
| Vehicle registration is required
30 days after becoming a permanent resident in the state. A $100
registration fee for the license plate may be required. Other fees vary, when applicable.
Information needed includes identification, proof of Florida insurance, title or copy of
title. Some additional information may be required depending on type of transaction.
See:
www.okaloosatax.com |
|
Okaloosa County Tax Collector's Offices are located at: |
| 151-C NE Eglin Parkway,
Ft. Walton Beach, FL |
| 101 James Lee
Blvd.,
Crestview, FL 32536 |
| 310
VanMatre, Bldg. 210, Room 155, Eglin AFB, FL 32542 |
| 827 Hwy 98,
Destin, 32541 |
| 506
Highway 85 north, Niceville, FL 32578 |
|
651-7300, See: www.okaloosatax.com |
| DRIVER'S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS |
|
| Florida operators license
required 30 days after becoming a permanent resident of the state.
(i.e., children enrolled in school system, employment established, etc.)
If you have a valid or expired license from another state, you need only
to take a visual exam. The license is valid for 6 years to your
birthday. For insurance purposes, new residents should record existing
license (former state) information before surrendering. Required is
current out-of-state license, Social Security card or other government
document verifying Social Security number, and a certified original
birth certificate or valid passport. Fee is $20.00. Manuals may be
obtained from examining stations: Crestview 197-A James Lee Blvd.,
689-7861; Ft. Walton Beach, 106 S.W. Hollywood Blvd. 833-9121.
www.myflorida.com |
| |
Crestview
Highway Patrol Station
corner of U.S. Hwy 90 & SR 85 |
Ft. Walton Beach Exam Station
106 SW Hollywood Boulevard |
| 833-9121 |
|
VOTER REGISTRATION |
|
Registration forms are
available at the Chamber of Commerce. You may contact the Supervisor of
Elections office, 1804 Lewis Turner Blvd., Suite 404, Ft. Walton Beach
(651-7272), for the nearest convenient location to register to vote.
Voter registration is permanent as long as legal residency is maintained
and the Supervisor of Elections is kept informed of current address. The
registration books close 29 days prior to an election. Email:
phollarn@co.okaloosa.fl.us
www.govote-okaloosa.com |
| Requirements: Must be a legal
resident of Florida and Okaloosa County, and at least 18 years of age
(Pre-registration can be done at age 17); not now be adjudicated
mentally incapacitated with respect to voting in Florida or any other
State; not have been convicted of a felony in Florida, or any other
State, without your civil rights having been restored; not claim the
right to vote in other County or State. |
| EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES |
|
| Employment/Workforce
Development Board: Employment/ workforce development services for
employers and job seekers are available through the
JobsPlus /
One-Stop Centers located at: 409 NE Racetrack Rd., Ft. Walton Beach,
833-7587; 212 N Wilson St., Crestview, 689-7823; and 171 N 9th St.,
DeFuniak Springs, 892-8668. Workforce Development Board Office: 109 8th
Ave. Shalimar, 651-2315.
|
| CONSUMER HOTLINES (TALLAHASSEE) |
|
| Consumer Services |
(800) 435-7352 |
| Business & Professional Regulation |
(850) 487-1395 |
| Florida Dept. of Financial Services |
(800) 342-2762 |
| |
(800) 848-3792 |
| U.S. POST OFFICES |
|
90 N. Palm Boulevard
Niceville, FL 32578 |
678-2021 |
John Sims Parkway & 306 Edge Avenue
Valparaiso, FL 32580 |
678-2921 |
MEETING FACILITIES |
|
Community Life Center
First United Methodist Church |
678-2821 |
| Niceville Community Center |
642-5356 |
|
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|
911 EMERGENCY
AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY
911 EMERGENCY
AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY
|
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