Niceville is a city in
Okaloosa County,
Florida
Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
, United States, located near
Eglin Air Force Base on
Boggy Bayou that opens into
Choctawhatchee Bay
Choctawhatchee Bay is a bay in the Emerald Coast region of the Florida Panhandle. The bay, located within Okaloosa and Walton counties, has a surface area of .
It is an inlet of the Gulf of Mexico, connected to it through East Pass (also kn ...
.
The population was 11,684 at the
2000 census. The 2010 census population for Niceville was 12,749.
Niceville is part of the
Fort Walton Beach
Fort Walton Beach is a city in southern Okaloosa County, Florida. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 20,922, up from 19,507 in 2010. It is the principal city of the Fort Walton Beach− Crestview− Destin Metropolitan Statistical Area ...
–
Crestview–
Destin Metropolitan Statistical Area
In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally incorporated as a city or tow ...
.
History
When mail service began on July 21, 1868, the city was known as Boggy, and on November 5, 1910, the name was officially changed to Niceville. The name Niceville was selected by the postmaster's daughter. In 1915, Niceville became part of newly formed Okaloosa County after previously being in Walton County. It is a twin city along with
Valparaiso, which borders it on the west side of the city.
Geography
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
Climate
Demographics
As of
census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...
of 2000, there were 11,684 people, 4,637 households, and 3,385 families living in the city. The population density was . There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of . The
racial makeup
A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...
of the city was 87.25% White, 4.58% African American, 0.74% Native American, 3.20% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.71% of the population.
Of the 4,637 households 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.8% of households were one person and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.89.
The age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.
The median household income was $45,685 and the median family income was $51,627. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $20,987 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,175. About 7.2% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...
, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
* Bluewater Elementary
* Lula J. Edge Elementary
* James E. Plew Elementary
* C.W. Ruckel Middle School
* Addie R. Lewis Middle School
*
Niceville High School
Niceville Senior High School (NHS) is a public high school in the city of Niceville, Florida. It is ranked as the top high school within its high-performing Okaloosa County School District. In 1996 NHS was selected as one of 226 secondary schools ...
*
Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College
Northwest Florida State College is a public college in Niceville, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Northwest Fl ...
*
Northwest Florida State College
Northwest Florida State College is a public college in Niceville, Florida. It is part of the Florida College System and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate and baccalaureate degrees. Northwest Fl ...
Rocky Bayou Christian School
Arts and culture
The
Boggy Fest
A bog or bogland is a wetland that accumulates peat as a deposit of dead plant materials often mosses, typically sphagnum moss. It is one of the four main types of wetlands. Other names for bogs include mire, mosses, quagmire, and muskeg; ...
, previously known as the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival, was held annually in Niceville.
Notable people
*
Anna Banks
Anna Banks is an American author, best known for her New York Times best selling ''Syrena Legacy'' series. Mad Hatter Entertainment, producer on the ''How to Train Your Dragon
''How to Train Your Dragon'' (abbreviated ''HTTYD'') is an Amer ...
, author
*
Louis C. Menetrey, Army general
*
Jason Craig, comic book artist
*
Roy Finch, football player
*
Shin Hyun-joon, South Korean diplomat, military officer and the first Commandant of the
Republic of Korea Marine Corps
The Republic of Korea Marine Corps (ROKMC; ko, 대한민국 해병대, Daehanminguk Haebyeongdae), also known as the ROK Marine Corps or ROK Marines, is the marine corps of South Korea. The ROKMC is a branch of the Republic of Korea Navy respo ...
, retired here
*
Jarret Johnson, football player
*
Cris Judd, actor
*
Jimmy Nelson, baseball pitcher
*
Pam Oliver
Pam Oliver (born ) is an American sportscaster known for her work on the sidelines for various National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Football League (NFL) games.
Early life and education
Oliver was born in Dallas, Texas. She att ...
, sportscaster
*
Julian Pittman
Julian Roosevelt Pittman (born May 22, 1975) is a former professional American football defensive end in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played with the New Orleans Saints in 1998.
In th ...
, football player
*
Alan Ritchson
Alan Michael Ritchson (born November 28, 1982) is an American actor, model, singer and songwriter. He made his acting debut as Aquaman / Arthur Curry on The CW superhero series ''Smallville'' (2005–2010), where he appeared as a guest star betw ...
, actor
*
Tony Sipp
Tony Marcel Sipp (born July 12, 1983) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks, Houston Astros, and Washington Nationals.
Amateur career
B ...
, baseball player
*
Toby Turner, Youtuber known as Tobuscus
*
Conrad Ricamora
Conrad Wayne Ricamora (born February 17, 1979) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Oliver Hampton on the ABC television series ''How to Get Away with Murder'' (2014–20). As a stage actor, he is noted for his roles in th ...
, actor
References
External links
*
boggyflora.comNorthwest Florida Daily News
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Cities in Okaloosa County, Florida
Cities in Florida
Populated places on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida