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Geography
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County Seat:
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Crestview
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Nearest MSA:
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Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin
Metropolitan Statistical Area
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Largest Cities:
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1) Fort Walton Beach
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2) Crestview
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3) Niceville
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Miles* To:
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Tallahassee
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...................................
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140
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Orlando
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...................................
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350
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Tampa
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...................................
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313
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Jacksonville
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...................................
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298
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Miami
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...................................
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521
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Atlanta
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...................................
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242
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Chicago
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...................................
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767
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Dallas
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...................................
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617
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New York
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...................................
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984
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*Miles are calculated from county seat.
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Local Contact
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The Economic Development
Council
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of
Okaloosa County, Florida
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Post
Office Box 4097
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Fort
Walton Beach, FL 32549
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Name:
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Larry Sassano, President
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Phone:
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850-651-7374
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Toll Free:
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800-995-7374
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Fax:
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850-651-7378
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E-mail:
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larrys@florida-edc.org
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Web
Page:
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www.florida-edc.org
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Time Zone: Central Area
Code: 850
Climate
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Average Temperature
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High
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Low
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January
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60
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37
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July
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91
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71
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Florida Mean Annual Precipitation
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..............
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53
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Average Annual Rain Days
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..............
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110
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Population
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Okaloosa
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Florida
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1980:
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109,920
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9,746,961
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1990:
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143,777
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12,938,071
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2000
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170,498
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15,982,378
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2005:
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182,172 |
17,789,864 |
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2010(p) |
202,600 |
19,397,414 |
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2015(p) |
217,231 |
21,767,500 |
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2030 (p) |
266,500 |
26,419,200 |
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(p) Denotes Projected Population
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Migration
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(2006)
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In-Migration
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15,123 |
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Out-Migration
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17,033
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Net-Migration
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-1,910
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Labor Force
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(2006)
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Labor Force
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98,757 |
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Labor Force % of County Population
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54.8
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Number in County Unemployed
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2,386
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Unemployment Rate
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2.4%
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Employment by Industry
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N/D = No Data
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Okaloosa
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Florida
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(2006) Total Employment
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84,890 |
7,952,023 |
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Agriculture & Mining
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0.1%
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0.1% |
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Construction & Real Estate
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7.5%
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8.0% |
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Education & Health Services
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9.3% |
18.4% |
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Finance & Insurance
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7.8% |
6.9% |
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Information
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2.5% |
2.1% |
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Leisure & Hospitality |
14.82% |
11.4% |
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Manufacturing |
5.5% |
5.1% |
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Other Services |
3.3% |
3.1% |
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Professional & Business Services |
14% |
17.% |
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Public Administration |
10.7% |
5.8% |
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Trade/Transportation/Utilities |
18.7% |
20.8% |
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Unclassified |
0.0% |
0.1% |
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Average
Wage In Industries
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(2006)
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All
Industries
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$34,409
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Agriculture, & Mining
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N/D |
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Construction & Real Estate
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$33,875 |
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Education & Healthcare Services |
$34,123 |
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Finance & Insurance
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$38,849 |
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Information |
$52,759 |
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Leisure & Hospitality |
$16,355 |
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Manufacturing |
$43,858 |
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Other Services |
$25,513 |
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Professional & Business Services |
$45,187 |
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Public Administration |
$49,611 |
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Trade/Transportation/Utilities |
$25,688 |
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Unclassified |
$34,941 |
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Per
Capita Income
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Okaloosa
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Florida
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2000
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$26,969
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$28,511
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2001 |
$28,336 |
$29,247 |
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2002 |
$29,481 |
$29,709 |
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2003 |
$30,969 |
$30,128 |
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2004 |
$33,068 |
$31,469 |
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2005
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$35,275
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$34,001
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Top-Ten Private Sector
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1. Tybrin Corporation
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Business:
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Engineering analysis & software development |
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Number of Employees:
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1,390 |
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2.
Resort Quest
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Business:
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Real estate sales & property management. |
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Number of Employees:
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1,000 |
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3. Fort Walton Beach Medical
Center
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Business:
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Full Service Hospital |
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Number of Employees:
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912 |
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4. L-3/Crestview Aerospace
Corporation
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Business:
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Aircraft manufacturing, modification |
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Number of Employees:
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898 |
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5. DRS Training & Control Systems
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Business:
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Defense electronics |
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Number of Employees:
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811 |
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6. InDyne, Inc. |
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Business:
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Range/Test Facilities; Security Systems; Multimedia |
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Number of Employees:
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800 |
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7. Sverdrup Technology/Jacobs
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Business:
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Engineering services |
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Number of Employees:
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650 |
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8. North Okaloosa Medical Center
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Business:
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Full Service Hospital |
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Number of Employees:
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650 |
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9.
Okaloosa-Walton College |
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Business: |
College Professional School |
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Number of Employees: |
600 |
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10.
Legendary, Inc. |
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Business: |
Development, retail |
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Number of Employees: |
500 |
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Transportation
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Federal Interstates:
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I-10
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Federal Highways:
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US-90, US-98
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State Highways:
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Route 20, Route 85
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Railroads:
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CSX
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Deep Water Ports:
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Port of Pensacola & Foreign Trade Zone;
Port of Panama City & Foreign Trade Zone
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Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commercial
Airline Service:
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Okaloosa Regional Airport
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# Runways:
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2
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Longest Paved Runway (ft.):
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12,010
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General Aviation Airports:
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Crestview Bob Sikes Airport, Destin Airport
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Miles to Closest Port:
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44
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State and
Local Taxation
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COUNTY
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Ad Valorem Millage Rates (2006):
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Government
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3.6500
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Schools
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7.7860 |
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Special |
0.0500 |
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Total
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11.4860
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Ad Valorem Tax Exemption:
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Yes
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Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)
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0.0
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Local
Communications Service Tax
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3.4 |
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Federal Enterprise Zone
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No
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State Enterprise Zone
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EZ-4601
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STATE
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Corporate Income Tax
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5.5%
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Personal Income Tax
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0.0%
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Retail Sales Tax
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6.0%
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Intangible Tax (per $1,000)
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$.50
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Commercial/Industrial
Services
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Electric Companies:
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Gulf Power Company
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Choctawhatchee (CHELCO)
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Natural Gas Companies:
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Okaloosa Gas District
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Telephone Companies:
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Embarq
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Water & Sewer Companies:
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Okaloosa Water & Sewage
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Individual Cities Water Management Districts
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Existing Industrial Zoned Land
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Yes
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Number of Acres
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1,065
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Largest Available Contiguous Parcel
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0
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Industrial Parks
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Yes
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Number of Acres
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900
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Largest Available Contiguous Parcel
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0
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Foreign Trade Zones
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No
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Zone Number(s)
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N/A
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Education
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Public
Schools
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Teachers
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Enrollments
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Elementary:
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23
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742 |
13,802
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Secondary:
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16
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740
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17,204
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Totals:
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39
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1,482
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31,006
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Private Schools Available: Yes
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Post
Secondary Education Serving the County:
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Colleges/Universities:
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Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
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Troy State University
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University of Arkansas
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University of West Florida
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UF - Research Engineering & Education
Facility
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Junior/Community Colleges:
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Okaloosa-Walton College - OWC
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Vocational/Technical Schools:
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Bay Area Vocational Technology School
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Crestview Vocational Technology Center
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Okaloosa Applied Technology Center
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Other:
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Collegiate High School - OWC
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Community High Okaloosa
Institutes for Career Education - CHOICE |
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Media
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Locally Printed Newspapers:
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The Bay Beacon
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The Crestview News Bulletin
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The Destin Log
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The Northwest Florida Daily News
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Local Radio Stations:
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WFTV - AM 1260
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WSNX - FM 96.5
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WKSM - FM 99.5
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WWAV - FM 102.1
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WMXA - FM 103.1
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WYZB - FM 105.5
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WNCV - FM 100.3
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Local Television Stations:
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Beach TV
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Blab Television
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Emerald Coast TV
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WFGX-TV
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Financial
Institutions
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Number of Banks:
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22
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Number of Savings and Loans:
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0
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Number of Credit Unions:
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3
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Quality of
Life
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Cost
of Living
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Price
Level Index (2007)
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(Population
Weighted Category Indices)
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Florida
State Average = 100
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Sample
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Total
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96
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Food
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93
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Health Care
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107
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Housing
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94
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Other Goods and Services
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104
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Transportation
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100
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Utilities |
83 |
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Medical Services:
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Fort Walton Beach Medical Center
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North Okaloosa Medical Center
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Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast
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Twin Cities Hospital
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White-Wilson Medical Center
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Recreational Opportunities:
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Beaches/Waterparks/Boardwalks
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Camping
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Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
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Golf
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Hunting &
Fishing (private &
charter)
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Scuba Diving/Snorkeling
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Shopping/Dinning
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Water sports/Boating
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Historical Points Of Interest:
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Air Force Armament Museum
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Camp Walton School House
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Carver-Hill Museum |
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Destin History & Fishing Museum |
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Heritage Museum of NW
Florida
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Indian Temple Mound Museum & Park
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Cultural Events/Festivals:
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Amphitheater
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Arts Center of Okaloosa-Walton College
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Arts & Crafts Festivals
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Emerald Coast Science Center
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Northwest Florida Ballet Academy
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Seafood Festivals
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World Cobia Fishing Tournament
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The
Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County, Florida
Phone (850) 651-7374 Toll Free (800) 995-7374 Fax (850) 651-7378
www.florida-edc.org
March 2008
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