DeFuniak Springs, Florida

DeFuniak Springs ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Walton County, Florida, United States. The population was 5,919 as of the 2020 Census, up from 5,177 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Crestview— Fort Walton Beach—Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.

DeFuniak Springs is home to Lake DeFuniak, one of two spring-fed lakes in the world that is nearly perfectly round.

DeFuniak Springs serves as a hub for residents in surrounding rural and unincorporated communities. Areas such as Paxton, Mossy Head, Ponce de Leon, and others in between utilize the services of DeFuniak Springs.

History

Founding

The town was founded during the late 19th century as a resort development by the officers of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, a subsidiary of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The P&A was organized to connect the terminus of the L&N at Pensacola to the western terminus of a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad at River Junction—now Chattahoochee—in the 1880s. The town was named after Frederick R. DeFuniak, a vice-president of the L&N. Like much of Northwest Florida, DeFuniak Springs was settled mainly by Scots from Virginia and the Carolinas.

Chautauqua

DeFuniak Springs was established as a final-destination resort. The developers enlisted the cooperation and aid of the Chautauqua Movement. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood, an auditorium seating 4,000, was constructed on Lake DeFuniak in the center of town. Seminars, classes, and the like were held in the Hall of Brotherhood building for people on vacation.

The auditorium of the building was severely damaged by Hurricane Eloise in 1975 and razed. In 2003, the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood Foundation, Inc., a charitable foundation, started a capital campaign to restore the historic building. The westerly portion of the building facing Circle Drive was still in use at that time.

Education

As part of the intellectual atmosphere of the town, a college and a private high school (named Palmer College and Palmer Academy, respectively), as well as a technical school ( Thomas Industrial Institute) and a teacher training school ( Florida Normal College) were established in the late 19th century. Florida Normal College was later incorporated into Florida State University. The other schools closed during the Great Depression, which created financial strains. There remains a College Avenue that once led to Palmer College.

In 1886, the town held an important meeting that changed the course of public education in Florida. At this meeting, teachers from around the state formed the Florida Education Association. This teachers' union remains the state's predominant voice for educators and is affiliated with the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.

Farming

A chicken processing plant operated by Perdue Farms in DeFuniak Springs was closed in April 2004.

Geography

The city is located in the Florida Panhandle along Interstate 10 and U.S. Routes 90 and 331. I-10 runs south of the city from west to east, providing access from exit 85 (U.S. Route 331). I-10 leads east to Tallahassee, the state capital, and west to Pensacola. U.S. Route 90 runs through the city from west to east as Nelson Avenue, and leads east to Ponce de Leon and west to Crestview. U.S. Route 331 is the main north–south route in the city and its main connection to the Gulf coast. U.S. 331 leads northwest to Florala, Alabama, and south to U.S. Route 98 near Santa Rosa Beach. Florida State Road 83 also runs through the city as well, leading south to Santa Rosa Beach (with U.S. 331) and north to the Florida-Alabama state line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land, and (2.49%) is water.

Neighborhoods

DeFuniak Springs, Florida has several neighborhoods, including the Historic District, Paxton, Mossy Head, and other unincorporated communities:

The Historic District is the center of the city, featuring the 260-acre Chipley Park and Lake DeFuniak, which is fed by natural springs. The area also includes the Historic Downtown District, which has shops, restaurants, and bakeries.

Paxton is a family-friendly community with agricultural history, lakes for kayaking, and Britton Hill, which is home to Florida's highest point.

Magnolia Cemetery which is owned and operated by the City of DeFuniak Springs is located in the northeast section of DeFuniak Springs.

Climate

DeFuniak Springs has a humid subtropical climate (''Cfa'') with abundant precipitation, particularly during the summer months, due to its location on the Gulf Coast and consequent vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes.

Demographics

2010 and 2020 census

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,919 people, 2,848 households, and 1,789 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 5,177 people, 2,306 households, and 1,287 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,089 people, 2,105 households, and 1,324 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 2,464 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 71.78% White, 22.99% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.30% of the population.

In 2000, there were 2,105 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.91.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $24,516, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $24,219 versus $19,255 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,298. About 18.2% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Traditions

The surrounding landscape of Lake DeFuniak is decorated for the holidays between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day; this is known to locals as the "Christmas Reflections".

Historic sites

Historic sites include:
* Walton-DeFuniak Library, the oldest extant library in Florida.
* Walton County Heritage Museum, housed in the former Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot.
* St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, built in 1895–1896.
* First Presbyterian Church.
* The first Confederate Monument in Florida, is located on the lawn of the Walton County Courthouse.

Library

At the time of planning, the founders of DeFuniak Springs were interested in the adult education movement. For DeFuniak Springs, this movement did not only include the Chautauqua center, McCormick University and Academy, and the State Normal School, but also a community library.

In 1887, a group of women formed the Ladies Library Association, and their goal was to establish a library that would become the "little sister" to the Chautauqua center, university, and school. The Ladies Library Association chose a plot of land adjacent to the Chautauqua center and signed a lease for ninety-nine years. By the end of 1887, five years after the initial plan of the village, there was a community library; the Ladies Library Association's main goal of establishing a social library was complete. Initially, the library relied on book donations, but also purchased books from the Ladies Reading Club and a private book owner, J. L. Shearer. The Ladies Library Association persisted and was able to maintain the library, books, and maintenance of the library for quite some time. However, by 1923, the Ladies Library Association was unable to continue to sustain the library and requested city funds, which the city took on gradually. It was not until the 1960s when the subscription fees were finally eliminated, and the county and city assumed total responsibility for its maintenance and collection development. Today, the Walton-DeFuniak Library contains antiquities, a medieval weapon collection, and many first-edition books.

Education

Public schools

Public schools in Defuniak Springs are run by the Walton County School District.

* Walton High School
*Walton Middle School
*Maude Saunders Elementary School
*Mossy Head Elementary School
*West DeFuniak Elementary School
*Walton Academy

Private schools

*First Christian Academy

Notable people

* Buck Showalter, MLB manager.
* Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona Senator
* Jerry Shriver, U.S. Army Special Forces
* Wankard Pooser, Florida politician
* Juanyeh Thomas, NFL player
* Azareye'h Thomas, rising NFL player

See also

* Perry L. Biddle House
* DeFuniak Springs Historic District
* Sun Bright

References

External links

''DeFuniak Herald''
newspaper that serves DeFuniak Springs, Florida is available in full-text with images i
Florida Digital Newspaper Library

{{authority control

County seats in Florida
Cities in Walton County, Florida
Cities in Florida
1880s establishments in Florida
Populated places established in the 1880s