Crestview is the largest city and
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
of
Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. The population was 27,134 at the
2020 census, up from 20,978 at the
2010 census.
With an elevation of above sea level, it is one of the highest points in the state.
Crestview is a principal city of the Crestview–
Fort Walton Beach–
Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History

Crestview was largely an outgrowth of the arrival of railroad service to the western Panhandle of Florida.
The
Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad Company, chartered in 1881, opened its line between
Pensacola
Pensacola ( ) is a city in the Florida panhandle in the United States. It is the county seat and only city in Escambia County. The population was 54,312 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Pensacola metropolitan area, which ha ...
and
Chattahoochee in January 1883. Two express passenger trains, the ''Atlantic Express'' and the ''Gulf Express'', as well as a local accommodation train that made stops along the route, were in daily operation. The express trains took about six hours for the journey, while the local train took thirteen hours. When the railroad company was unable to cover its debt obligations, the
Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad , commonly called the L&N, was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.
Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1850, the road grew into one of ...
covered the shortfalls until 1885 and then foreclosed, absorbing the route into its system as the L&N's Pensacola and Atlantic Division.
In 1894, sawmill operator W. B. Wright opened the
Yellow River Railroad between Crestview and
Florala, Alabama via Auburn, Campton, and
Laurel Hill. The
L&N provided the line with freight cars and purchased the operation in 1906, renaming it the Yellow River Branch. However, without significant shippers to sustain the line, it was eventually used for freight car storage in the early 1980s and was abandoned in May 1985, with 25.3 miles of track removed. Parts of the former right of way were paved as local streets.
Crestview was officially incorporated as a city in 1916.
[ The 1920 US Census recorded the population of Crestview at 500 residents.
On July 23, 1920, Crestview hosted Okaloosa County's first public hanging. Robert Blackwell was convicted of murdering Nancy and Bud Davis in 1917 and was sentenced to death. A week before his execution, Blackwell confessed, and his confession was printed in local newspapers on the day of his hanging. The second and final public execution in Okaloosa County took place on September 23, 1921, when Putnam Ponsell and Jacob Benjamin Marin were hanged for the murder of John F. Tuggle. This double hanging was the last public execution in Florida.
In 1937, Smith-Johnson Company, Inc. opened a garment factory in Crestview, which utilized 250 machines and employed around 300 workers.
A modern bus terminal served by ]Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc. is an American operator of Intercity bus service, intercity bus services. Greyhound operates the largest intercity bus network in the United States, and also operates charter and Amtrak Thruway services, as well as interci ...
' Jacksonville-Los Angeles route, with connections north to Atlanta
Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
, Memphis, and New York, opened on the corner of Ferdon and Pearl Streets on May 9, 1941. The terminal featured waiting rooms, a lounge, smoking rooms, a restaurant, and a loading concourse, and was segregated according to the norms of the time.
As nearby Eglin Field expanded into a major testing base, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad , commonly called the L&N, was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.
Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1850, the road grew into one of ...
laid a long sidetrack in Crestview in the spring of 1941 to handle the influx of oil tank cars required for a vast paving project on ten new airfields. A fleet of trucks operated around the clock to offload an estimated 180 carloads of petroleum products.
A recreation center for enlisted men at Eglin Field was opened in Crestview on June 21, 1941, through the efforts of the Community Recreation Council, the Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration (WPA; from 1935 to 1939, then known as the Work Projects Administration from 1939 to 1943) was an American New Deal agency that employed millions of jobseekers (mostly men who were not formally educated) to car ...
, and the Okaloosa Progressive Association.
In January 1943, a misunderstanding involving Crestview's constabulary led to the town being briefly off-limits to military personnel from Eglin Field. The ''Pensacola News Journal
The '' Pensacola News Journal'' is a daily morning newspaper serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties in Florida. It is Northwest Florida's most widely read daily.
The ''News Journal'' is owned by Gannett, a national media holding company t ...
'' reported on January 31, 1943, that the restriction had been lifted after a conference between town officials and Eglin authorities. The incident was triggered when the town marshal attempted to arrest a soldier for reckless driving and an Eglin officer for interference. The overzealous marshal was suspended following the event.
On July 31, 1949, the L&N inaugurated the '' Gulf Wind'' streamliner through Crestview, connecting New Orleans and Jacksonville in partnership with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad
The Seaboard Air Line Railroad , known colloquially as the Seaboard Railroad during its time, was an American railroad that existed from April 14, 1900, until July 1, 1967, when it merged with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, its longtime ri ...
, replacing the heavyweight ''New Orleans-Florida Limited''. This service was discontinued on April 30, 1971, when Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
took over most U.S. passenger rail services.
In the 1960s, Crestview was home to the studio of the Apache Records label.
As part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, Crestview experienced significant population growth when the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group relocated from Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Fort Bragg (formerly Fort Liberty from 2023–2025) is a United States Army, U.S. Army Military base, military installation located in North Carolina. It ranks among the largest military bases in the world by population, with more than 52,000 m ...
to a newly built facility on the northern end of the Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso, Florida, Valparaiso in Okaloosa County, Florida, Okaloosa County.
The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test ...
reservation, about six miles south of the city.
In 2007, longtime mayor George Whitehurst resigned, leading to the election of David Cadle, a retired director of the Crestview High School band, The Big Red Machine. Cadle was succeeded in 2019 by JB Whitten, a retired U.S. Air Force member, high school teacher, and Crestview city council member.
Geography
Topography
According to the United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (0.23%) is water.
Climate
Crestview's climate is officially classified as a humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (1951–2014), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author ...
''Cfa''). In summer, Crestview experiences some of the hottest temperatures in the state, with an average summer high of . Summer lows typically range from the high 60s to low 70s, with occasional days reaching 100 °F or more. The all-time record high is , recorded on July 14, 1980. On average, the city receives of rainfall annually.
Winters in Crestview are similar to those of interior Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Highs typically range from the lower to mid-60s (16°-19 °C), and lows average in the upper 30s (almost 4 °C). The all-time record low is , recorded on January 13, 1981. However, nearby areas such as DeFuniak Springs and Tallahassee recorded lows of and before the Crestview airport began keeping records. The city lies within the USDA Hardiness Zone 8, where the coldest temperature of the season typically ranges between and . On average, there are 38.5 nights per year when the temperature falls below freezing, with the average window for freezes occurring between November 10 and March 23. Snowfall happens approximately every three years, but significant snowfall only occurs about once every 10 years.
Vegetation in Crestview includes typical Floridian flora, as well as several deciduous species from farther north. Some palm trees grow in the area, but only cold-hardy varieties, such as the state tree, the ''Sabal palmetto
''Sabal palmetto'' (, ''Help:Pronunciation respelling key, SAY-bəl''), also known as cabbage palm, cabbage palmetto, sabal palm, blue palmetto, Carolina palmetto, common palmetto, Garfield's tree, and swamp cabbage, is one of 15 species of Saba ...
''. Other common species include dogwood, maple, hickory, and sweet gum. Blueberries are a native crop sold locally, along with strawberries. In 1919, M.A. Sapp reported shipping blueberries from May 10 until the end of August, earning $605.85 for his crop, in addition to sharing some with friends and family. Fall foliage can be seen in November and December, while spring blossoms typically appear from early March through May. Summer generally lasts from late April to early October, and winter extends from mid-December to mid-February.
Demographics
2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,134 people, 8,984 households, and 5,971 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,978 people, 7,319 households, and 5,150 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 14,766 people, 5,297 households, and 3,893 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,918 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 74.71% White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 18.41% African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.60% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 1.22% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 3.26% of the population. The population estimate for 2005 wa
17,707
people.
In 2000, there were 5,297 households, out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.
In 2000, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $23,122, and the median income for a family was $31,824. Males had a median income of $27,829 versus $19,261 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $14,479. About 15.2% of families and 19.7% 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 ...
, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.
Arts and culture
Library
The city's first library was founded in the 1940s. In 2002, the Crestview Robert L. F. Sikes Public Library opened, named in honor of the local congressman. The library is part of the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative.
Education
The public schools in Crestview are served by the Okaloosa County School District.
Public high school
*Crestview School, the first school for African Americans in Crestview, was built in 1926. In 1944, a city block was purchased for a new high school for Black students. In 1945, Crestview Colored High School was built on School Avenue. It was later renamed after George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver ( 1864 – January 5, 1943) was an American Agricultural science, agricultural scientist and inventor who promoted alternative crops to cotton and methods to prevent soil depletion. He was one of the most prominent bla ...
and eventually became known as Carver-Hill School in honor of Ed Hill's efforts.
*After integration in 1966, high school students were transferred to the previously all-white Crestview High School, and Carver-Hill was utilized for younger students until 1982, when it was converted to administrative use.
Public middle schools
*Davidson Middle School is located at the north end of the city, and Shoal River Middle School is located at the south end.
Public elementary schools
*Northwood Elementary School, as well as Bob Sikes Elementary School are located at the north end of the city, Riverside Elementary School is located at the south end, and Walker Elementary School is located on the central-east side of the city.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Bob Sikes Airport is a public-use airport located northeast of the central business district of Crestview. It was established in 1941.
Major highways through Crestview include:
* U.S. Route 90
* Florida State Road 85
* I-10
* FL-85
From early 1994 through August 2005, Crestview was served by the tri-weekly Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...
''Sunset Limited
The ''Sunset Limited'' is a long-distance passenger train run by Amtrak, operating on a route between New Orleans and Los Angeles. Major stops include Houston, San Antonio and El Paso in Texas, as well as Tucson, Arizona. Opening in 1894 thr ...
''. However, service east of New Orleans
New Orleans (commonly known as NOLA or The Big Easy among other nicknames) is a Consolidated city-county, consolidated city-parish located along the Mississippi River in the U.S. state of Louisiana. With a population of 383,997 at the 2020 ...
to Jacksonville
Jacksonville ( ) is the most populous city proper in the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida, northeastern Florida. It is the county seat of Duval County, Florida, Duval County, with which the City of Jacksonv ...
and Orlando was suspended due to damage to the rail line of CSX
CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Railroad classes, Class I freight railroad company operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. Operating about 21,000 route miles () of trac ...
caused by Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
in 2005. This was previously the route of the '' Gulf Wind'' streamlined passenger train, operated by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
The Louisville and Nashville Railroad , commonly called the L&N, was a Class I railroad that operated freight and passenger services in the southeast United States.
Chartered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1850, the road grew into one of ...
.
Sister cities
* Noirmoutier-en-l'Île, France
References
External links
*
{{authority control
Cities in Okaloosa County, Florida
County seats in Florida
Populated places established in 1883
Cities in Florida
1883 establishments in Florida