Let's Talk Walton & Okaloosa County Numbers

Walton County

Sources: VisitSouthWalton.com, Walton County Tourist Development Council

Okaloosa County

Military

Okaloosa County is home to Eglin Air Force base, the largest installation in the Department of Defense, Hurlburt Field and more than 300 defense related businesses, the highest concentration in the state. Defense-related spending accounts for 73 percent of the county’s economic activity. 

In March, Okaloosa was one of 10 communities from across the nation to be designated as “Great American Defense Communities” at the National Association of Defense Communities Innovation Forum. The designation recognizes areas for providing unwavering support to service members and military families.

U.S. AIR FORCE PHOTO/SAMUEL KING JR.

Eglin, which is the world’s largest Air Force installation, hosts the headquarters of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), the 96th Test Wing and the 33rd Fighter Wing (F-35 graduate flying and maintenance training wing) among others. With research and testing at the forefront of activities taking place at Eglin, numerous technology and defense contractors have located here – including renowned powerhouses Boeing, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and L3 Communications. 

Eglin covers 724 square miles and encompasses almost half of Okaloosa County’s land mass.

Population 

Population (2015) — 200,895

Median Age — 35.83

Labor Force    

College Degree — 41.12%

High School Degree or Some College — 43.89%

White Collar Workers — 35%

Blue Collar Workers — 64%

Budgets    

Household Expenditures (Average) — $54,637

Household Income (Median) — $54,027

Colleges and Universities

Embry Riddle Aeronautical University

Troy University

University of Arkansas

University of West Florida

University of Florida – Research Engineering & Education Facility

Northwest Florida State College

FAMU – College of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences

10 Top Employers/Number of Employees

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center — 1,000+

Jacobs Technology — 1,000+

Lockheed Martin Corporation — 800+

InDyne Inc. — 800+

North Okaloosa Medical Center — 700+

L-3 Crestview Aerospace — 600+

NEW (an Asurion Company) — 500+

The Boeing Company — 450

White Wilson Medical Center — 400+

BAE — 380    

10 Top Manufacturers/Number of Employees

L-3 Crestview Aerospace — 600+

Boeing — 450

BAE — 380

DRS Training and Control Systems — 325

Crane Electronics — 200

Fort Walton Machining — 199

MicroSystems — 135

Bay State Cable Ties — 100

G.S. Gelato — 90

Magna Manufacturing — 35

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County