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Destin, Florida

Coordinates: 30°23′36″N 86°28′31″W / 30.39333°N 86.47528°W / 30.39333; -86.47528
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Destin, Florida
City
City of Destin
View of Destin from the Destin Harbor
View of Destin from the Destin Harbor
Official seal of Destin, Florida
Seal
Nickname: 
"World's Luckiest Fishing Village"
Location in Okaloosa County and the state of Florida
Location in Okaloosa County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 30°23′36″N 86°28′31″W / 30.39333°N 86.47528°W / 30.39333; -86.47528
CountryUnited States of America
StateFlorida
CountyOkaloosa
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
 • MayorBobby Wagner
 • City Council
Councilors:
  • Matthew Sweetser
  • Dewey Destin
  • Terésa Hebert
  • Johnny King
  • Kevin Schmidt
  • Jim Bagby
  • Torey Geile
 • City ManagerLance Johnson
 • City ClerkRey Bailey
Area
[1]
 • Total7.66 sq mi (19.83 km2)
 • Land7.49 sq mi (19.41 km2)
 • Water0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2)
Elevation
26 ft (8 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,931
 • Density1,859.20/sq mi (717.82/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes
32540-32541
Area code850
FIPS code12-17325[2]
GNIS feature ID0281516[3]
Websitewww.cityofdestin.com
Map

Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. It is a principal city of the Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,931 at the 2020 census, up from 12,305 at the 2010 census.

Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its white beaches and emerald green waters. Originating as a small fishing village, it is now a popular tourist destination. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, over 80 percent of the Emerald Coast's 4.5 million visitors each year visit Destin.[4] The city styles itself "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village"[5][6] and claims to have the largest fishing vessel fleet in the state of Florida.[7]

The city is located on a peninsula separating the Gulf of Mexico from Choctawhatchee Bay. The peninsula was originally a barrier island. Hurricanes and sea level changes gradually connected it to the mainland. In the 1940s, it technically became an island again with the completion of the Choctawhatchee-West Bay Canal.

History

[edit]
Beach at Destin, 1973

Destin is named after Leonard Destin, a New London, Connecticut fishing captain who settled in the area between 1845 and 1850.[7][8][9] He built a New England colonial home at the location of the Moreno Point military reservation.[10] Captain Destin and his descendants fished the area for decades.[6]

Condominiums were first built in Destin during the 1970s,[11] although Destin was not incorporated as a municipality until 1984.[7][9] The city has experienced rapid growth since the 1980s.[4]

Geography

[edit]

The city is located on a peninsula[4] separating the Gulf of Mexico from Choctawhatchee Bay. The peninsula was originally an island; hurricanes and sea level changes gradually connected the island to the mainland.[4]

Destin is near several other cities in the region. The city of Fort Walton Beach is located to the west at the inlet of Santa Rosa Sound into Choctawhatchee Bay. North of Destin, across the bay is Niceville, with the Mid-Bay Bridge linking the two by road. U.S. Route 98 is the main route through the city, running from west to east. U.S. Route 98 leads east 56 mi (90 km) to Panama City and west 48 mi (77 km) to Pensacola.

At the western tip of the peninsula is East Pass (also known as Destin Pass), separating it from Santa Rosa Island to the west. East Pass is the only outlet of Choctawhatchee Bay into the Gulf of Mexico,[11] Many sources claim that the current pass was dug by hand[4][8] with an inrush of water widening it within hours. The early pass appears (at the East end of Destin Harbor) in early maps and surveys from Spanish, French, and English surveyors,[12] such as Thomas Jefferys's 1775 map The Coast of West Florida and Louisiana.[13] Frequent dredging is required to keep East Pass navigable.[8][11]

"Crab Island," was actually two islands made from sand that the Army Corps of Engineers dredged up from the East Pass. These islands were large enough to inhabit sea grass, small shrubs and nesting seabirds. It has been reduced to a significant sandbar, which appears only when the tide is out. It has become a popular anchorage[14] in the area. The entrance to Destin Harbor, a lagoon between the beaches and the main body of the western portion of the peninsula, is located just north of the East Pass jetty. The lagoon is formed by a sand spit named Holiday Isle; many condominiums have been built along the harbor since the 1970s.[11] Norriego Point protects the harbor and was doubled in size in order to protect against coastal erosion.[15]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21 km2), of which 7.5 square miles (19 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (7.95%) is water.

Climate

[edit]
Climate data for Destin, Florida (Destin–Fort Walton Beach Airport), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1996–present
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 89
(32) 		81
(27) 		86
(30) 		89
(32) 		98
(37) 		102
(39) 		99
(37) 		100
(38) 		100
(38) 		93
(34) 		91
(33) 		85
(29) 		102
(39)
Mean maximum °F (°C) 74.1
(23.4) 		74.3
(23.5) 		79.6
(26.4) 		83.3
(28.5) 		91.1
(32.8) 		94.5
(34.7) 		95.2
(35.1) 		95.2
(35.1) 		93.5
(34.2) 		88.7
(31.5) 		81.1
(27.3) 		77.2
(25.1) 		97.3
(36.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 63.1
(17.3) 		65.8
(18.8) 		70.7
(21.5) 		76.2
(24.6) 		83.5
(28.6) 		88.9
(31.6) 		90.9
(32.7) 		90.6
(32.6) 		88.5
(31.4) 		80.9
(27.2) 		72.1
(22.3) 		65.6
(18.7) 		78.1
(25.6)
Daily mean °F (°C) 54.2
(12.3) 		56.9
(13.8) 		62.2
(16.8) 		68.1
(20.1) 		75.8
(24.3) 		81.5
(27.5) 		83.6
(28.7) 		83.2
(28.4) 		80.5
(26.9) 		72.1
(22.3) 		62.6
(17.0) 		56.6
(13.7) 		69.8
(21.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 45.3
(7.4) 		47.9
(8.8) 		53.6
(12.0) 		60.1
(15.6) 		68.0
(20.0) 		74.1
(23.4) 		76.2
(24.6) 		75.8
(24.3) 		72.4
(22.4) 		63.2
(17.3) 		53.0
(11.7) 		47.5
(8.6) 		61.4
(16.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C) 28.6
(−1.9) 		33.2
(0.7) 		38.8
(3.8) 		49.5
(9.7) 		57.9
(14.4) 		69.3
(20.7) 		72.2
(22.3) 		72.5
(22.5) 		64.5
(18.1) 		49.0
(9.4) 		38.7
(3.7) 		35.0
(1.7) 		27.1
(−2.7)
Record low °F (°C) 20
(−7) 		23
(−5) 		30
(−1) 		41
(5) 		49
(9) 		62
(17) 		66
(19) 		66
(19) 		55
(13) 		42
(6) 		30
(−1) 		22
(−6) 		20
(−7)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.52
(115) 		4.96
(126) 		4.70
(119) 		4.55
(116) 		3.22
(82) 		4.70
(119) 		5.77
(147) 		6.08
(154) 		5.18
(132) 		2.82
(72) 		4.13
(105) 		4.72
(120) 		55.35
(1,406)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 10.0 9.4 8.7 7.9 6.4 9.7 11.2 12.4 8.2 6.1 8.9 10.6 109.5
Source: NOAA (mean maxima and minima 2006–2020)[16][17]

Environmental issues

[edit]

A 2013 study identified the city as one of the cities in Florida most at risk of inundation.[18] A 2019 report by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection listed sections of the beach as "critically eroded".[19]

The city received $11 million from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill settlement.[15] This was used to address coastal erosion on Norriego Point, which protects the important harbor.[15] Otherwise, the city has not developed a plan to address sea level rise and coastal erosion.[15]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19908,080—
200011,11937.6%
201012,30510.7%
202013,93113.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[20]

2010 and 2020 census

[edit]
Destin racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race Pop 2010[21] Pop 2020[22] % 2010 % 2020
White (NH) 10,645 10,930 86.51% 78.46%
Black or African American (NH) 180 337 1.46% 2.42%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) 31 46 0.25% 0.33%
Asian (NH) 248 320 2.02% 2.30%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) 13 10 0.11% 0.07%
Some other race (NH) 81 117 0.66% 0.84%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) 311 921 2.53% 6.61%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 796 1,250 6.47% 8.97%
Total 12,305 13,931

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 13,931 people, 6,377 households, and 3,576 families residing in the city.[23]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 12,305 people, 5,148 households, and 3,452 families residing in the city.[24]

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 11,455 people, 4,437 households, and 3,135 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,477.1 inhabitants per square mile (570.3/km2). There were 10,599 housing units at an average density of 1,408.0 per square mile (543.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.21% White, 0.37% African American, 0.40% Native American, 1.03% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.66% of the population.

In 2000, 24.8% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.72.

In 2000, the median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $53,042, and the median income for a family was $60,498. Males had a median income of $42,218 versus $26,146 for females. The per capita income for the city was $32,048. About 3.0% of families and 5.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.2% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

[edit]
Destin Commons Shopping center
Several road signs at Destin City boundary.

Tourism

[edit]

The white beaches and emerald waters of the Destin area draw many tourists. Florida's Department of Environmental Protection estimates that more than 80 percent of the Emerald Coast's 4.5 million yearly visitors travel to the region to visit Destin.[4] Visitors can charter fishing vessels from the harbor,[25] and there are 12 beach access points in the city.[26] Among the access points is Henderson Beach State Recreation Area. A portion of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, the Okaloosa Day Use Area, is just across East Pass on Santa Rosa Island.

The sand on Destin's beaches is some of the whitest in the world.[27] The sand comes from the Appalachian Mountains, and is made of finely ground quartz crystal giving the appearance of sugar.[28] Residue flows down the Apalachicola River and is deposited into the Gulf of Mexico.[28] Because of the currents the sand drifts west along the Gulf Coast and settles from east of Panama City to the Alabama coast.[29]

Several events also take place throughout the year as well. For the month of October, the annual Destin Fishing Rodeo draws anglers to Destin each year since 1948.[30] Also in the month of October is the Destin Seafood Festival, where fresh seafood and local artists gather for one weekend every October.[31][32]

In addition to an assortment of hotels and motels, many high-rise condominiums are located in Destin. The first condominiums in Destin were built in the 1970s,[11] and construction continues today.[4] Visitors play a large part in Destin's economy – the city's population of around 12,000 balloons to 40,000 during the tourist season.[4]

Real estate in Destin, Florida, is comprised in large part by privately owned vacation rentals, consisting of condominiums, beach homes, townhomes, resorts, studios, cottages, and a few bungalows. Most vacation properties are found on the south side of US Hwy 98 near the Gulf, while most locals live on the northern side of US Hwy 98 by the Choctawhatchee Bay.[33]

Destin's surroundings include other popular tourist destinations. Sandestin, located to the east in Walton County, is a popular golf and beach resort. Further east along the coast are the master-planned community of Seaside, filming location of the 1998 movie The Truman Show;[34] Grayton Beach, Florida; and Rosemary Beach, Florida. To the west are Navarre Beach and Pensacola Beach, and the Civil War fortification Fort Pickens is located at the western end of Santa Rosa Island. Many celebrities own homes in the area.[35]

Destin Library

Libraries

[edit]

Destin Library was founded in 1940.[36] It is part of the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative.[37]

Government

[edit]
Presidential election results in Destin[38]
Year Democratic Republican Others
2020 25.0% 2,327 73.3% 6,813 1.6% 151
2016 20.2% 1,674 74.8% 6,195 5.0% 417

The city has a Council-Manager form of government that consists of a mayor, seven-member city council, city clerk, city manager, and a city attorney.[39]

Education

[edit]

Okaloosa County School District operates public schools, including:

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h "Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Segments & Information - Segment 2 - Santa Rosa Sound/Emerald Coast". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  5. ^ Goggin, Emma, "Destin Is Still Luckiest Fishing Village Around", Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Wednesday 19 March 1975, Volume 30, Number 35, page 2C.
  6. ^ a b "World's Luckiest Fishing Village". Destin Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  7. ^ a b c "Welcome to the City of Destin!". City of Destin. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  8. ^ a b c "Vacation Info - History of Destin Florida". Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  9. ^ a b "Destin History and Culture". TripSmarter.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  10. ^ Angell, Joseph W. "History of the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command - Part One - Historical Outline 1933–1944", The Historical Branch, Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, Eglin AFB, Florida. Reprint by Office of History, Munitions Systems Division, Eglin AFB, Florida, 1989, p.33.
  11. ^ a b c d e "East Pass Inlet Management Study Implementation Plan Certificate of Adoption" (PDF). Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 8, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  12. ^ John D. Ware (1982). George Gauld, Surveyor and Cartographer of the Gulf Coast. Gainesville: University Press of Florida.
  13. ^ "The Coast of West Florida and Louisiana. Jefferys, Thomas, 1775". The David Rumsey Collection. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  14. ^ "Crab Island in Destin Florida: The Complete Visitors Guide". Destin Vacation Boat Rentals. Retrieved January 31, 2016.
  15. ^ a b c d "Uneven preparation". Rising Seas. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  17. ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  18. ^ Welsh, Jennifer. "These 1,429 US Towns Could Be Destroyed By Rising Sea Levels". Business Insider. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  19. ^ Critically Eroded Beaches in Florida (PDF) (Report). Division of Water Resource Management Florida Department of Environmental Protection. June 2019.
  20. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Destin city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  22. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Destin city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  23. ^ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Destin city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Destin city, Florida". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "Fishing, Boating, & Water Sports". Destin Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on December 19, 2007. Retrieved November 16, 2007.
  26. ^ "Beach Locations". City of Destin. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  27. ^ "Eglin Air Force Base Guide". Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  28. ^ a b "Santa Rosa Sound/Emerald Coast". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  29. ^ "History of our Sand". Destin Chamber of Commerce. Archived from the original on November 14, 2007. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  30. ^ "Tournament Info". Destin Fishing Rodeo. Archived from the original on March 6, 2009. Retrieved March 11, 2009.
  31. ^ "Destin Seafood Festival". Archived from the original on May 7, 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2009.
  32. ^ "YouTube Search Results for Destin Seafood Festival". YouTube. Retrieved January 7, 2010.
  33. ^ Godar, Cory (October 2, 2020). "Destin Vacation Rentals". Destinflorida.com News.
  34. ^ Eric Young (Executive Producer) (1998). "How's It Going To End? The Making of The Truman Show, Part II" (DVD (Special Feature)). Paramount Pictures Home Entertainment.
  35. ^ Vasquez, Savannah (June 6, 2017). "Celebs spotted on the Emerald Coast". NWF Daily News.
  36. ^ "Library History | Destin, FL - Official Website". www.cityofdestin.com. Retrieved November 9, 2024.
  37. ^ "Library Cooperative". Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  38. ^ "Dave's Redistricting". Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  39. ^ "Mayor & Council | Destin, FL - Official Website".
  40. ^ "Welcome to Destin Elementary School | Destin Elementary School".
  41. ^ "Welcome to Destin Middle School | Destin Middle School".
  42. ^ "Home". destinhighschool.org.
  43. ^ Catherine, Andrea (March 14, 2019). "Emeril's Coastal Cuisine: Florida's Most Remarkable (and Yummy) Restaurant". My Vacation Haven.
  44. ^ Carrels, Mike (August 20, 2012). "Native Artist Rector Dies After Turning 77". Muskogee Phoenix.
  45. ^ "Guess Which Celebrities Vacation in Destin, Florida?". TripShock. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
[edit]
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