Laurel Hill is a city in
Okaloosa County,
Florida
Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...
, United States. It is part of the
Crestview–
Fort Walton Beach–Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 584 at the 2020 US Census, up from 537 at the 2010 census.
History
The area which is now Laurel Hill was one of the first post-American annexation, English-speaking settlements in Florida. There had been settlements by English-speaking loyalists in Florida during the
American Revolution
The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...
. Settlers were documented establishing a community, originally known as "''Almirante''", soon after Florida's acquisition by the United States in 1821.
In the 1880s, railroad access to north-west Florida opened up a booming lumber industry, with the
Yellow River Railroad reaching the Almirante (Laurel Hill) area by 1892. In 1895, Almirante, then just a small logging and farming community, was platted and renamed Laurel Hill, the name purportedly inspired by a large laurel tree which grew in the center of the community. Growing rapidly, the community was officially incorporated as the "City of Laurel Hill" by the
Florida Legislature in 1905.
Although in 1915, Laurel Hill was the largest community in newly created Okaloosa County, the town lost out becoming Okaloosa's county seat to the more centrally located town of
Crestview. Laurel Hill's economic fortunes went into a decline after
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
, a waning intensified by the Florida land speculation collapse of the 1920s, which resulted in the closing of Laurel Hill's only bank. In order to install infrastructure improvements and to re-stimulate the community, Laurel Hill was officially reincorporated as a municipality on June 2, 1953.
[
Once served by the ]Louisville & 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 t ...
, which purchased the Yellow River Railroad in 1906, the line was abandoned and lifted in the 1980s.
First held in 1992, the Laurel Hill Hobo Festival is an annual event scheduled for the first Saturday in October.
Historic churches in the city include South Ebenezer Baptist Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, Laurel Hill First Baptist Church, and Mount Zion Baptist Church.
Geography
The approximate coordinates for the City of Laurel Hill is located at (30.965369, –86.459149).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 , all land. It is the northernmost incorporated city in the state of Florida.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification divides Earth climates into five main climate groups, with each group being divided based on patterns of seasonal precipitation and temperature. The five main groups are ''A'' (tropical), ''B'' (arid), ''C'' (te ...
, the City of Laurel Hill has 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 ...
zone (''Cfa'').
Demographics
2010 and 2020 census
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 584 people, 225 households, and 125 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 537 people, 204 households, and 178 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 ...
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 ...
, 21.68% 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 ...
, 0.18% Native American, 0.73% from other races, and 0.18% 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 1.09% of the population.
In 2000, there were 223 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% 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, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.
In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,385, and the median income for a family was $28,281. Males had a median income of $25,809 versus $17,500 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 $12,949. About 18.0% of families and 21.6% 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 ...
, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
All public schools located within the City of Laurel Hill are served by the Okaloosa County School District
Okaloosa County School District is a public school district that covers Okaloosa County, Florida. The Okaloosa County School District is located in the Panhandle of Florida, known for its beautiful white sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. ...
.
* Okaloosa Comprehensive Head Start
Laurel Hill School
The team name for the Laurel Hill School is the ''Hobo
A hobo is a migrant worker in the United States. Hoboes, tramps, and bums are generally regarded as related, but distinct: a hobo travels and is willing to work; a tramp travels, but avoids work if possible; a bum neither travels nor works.
Et ...
es'', allegedly the only school in the US with this team name.
Image:Laurel Hill School (FL) Hobos sign.JPG, Laurel Hill School sign
References
External links
Northwest Florida Daily News
{{authority control
Cities in Okaloosa County, Florida
Populated places established in 1895
Cities in Florida
1895 establishments in Florida