1550Military
== History ==
Prehistoric settlement of Fort Walton Beach is attributed to the mound building "Fort Walton Culture" that flourished from approximately 1100–1550 CE.
1566History
The area is described at "40 deaths a day" in a Spanish map dated 1566.
1821Government
George Walton, who served as secretary of West Florida during Andrew Jackson's governorship (1821–1822) and whose father, George Walton Sr., was the 56th signatory of the Declar...
1838History
Alvarez, who received land plots in 1838.
1861Military
In 1861, Camp Walton was a Confederate Army camp, a fortified post, made up of the "Walton Guards", an independent Company of Florida Volunteer Infantry from Walton County.
1862Culture
The post was abandoned in August 1862, and the "Walton Guards" were assigned to reinforce the 1st Florida Infantry Regiment, with duty in the Western Theatre on the Tennessee fr...
1911History
It was not until 1911 that the name "Camp Walton" appeared on Florida maps.
1928Disaster
Tower Beach, named for a tall observation tower at the site which was later destroyed by a hurricane, had been an amusement area operated from 1928 by the Island Amusement Compa...
1932Civil Rights
The United States Post Office changed the official name on their cancellations from Camp Walton to Fort Walton on March 1, 1932.
1940Military
The 1940 census counted 90 residents in Fort Walton.
1941Military
Fort Walton was incorporated by a state senate bill effective June 16, 1941.
1942Disaster
Brooks, with a boardwalk, casino, restaurant, dance pavilion, "40 modernly equipped beach cottages", and concession stands which was largely destroyed by fire on Saturday, March...
1950History
This 875-acre (354 ha) parcel of Santa Rosa Island with three miles of Gulf frontage was conveyed to Okaloosa County on July 8, 1950, in an informal ceremony at the county court...
1953Military
The community's name was officially changed from Fort Walton to Fort Walton Beach on June 15, 1953, by agreement with the state legislature in Tallahassee, and incorporated a po...
1955Architecture
The remaining Tower Beach summer cottages were removed after the 1955 tourist season as the new Okaloosa Island Authority redeveloped the site with a new hotel and casino.
1956History
A special census conducted in 1956 listed 9,456 residents, which grew to 11,249 by 1960.
1977Disaster
Other significant winter precipitation events that affected the city include January 1977, and on January 28, 2014, during the January 2014 Gulf Coast winter storm.
1995Architecture
The last of three county-owned buildings on Okaloosa Island was torn down on May 31, 1995.
2000History
=== 2000 census ===
As of the census of 2000, there are 19,973 people, 8,460 households, and 5,422 families residing in the city.
2003Civil Rights
For example, the 'Massive Ordnance Air Blast' or 'Mother of All Bombs' (MOAB) was first tested at Eglin AFB on March 11, 2003.
2010History
== Demographics ==
=== 2010 and 2020 census ===
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 20,922 people, 9,246 households, and 5,195 families residing in the city.
2025Military
The county paid the federal government $4,000 ($53,527 in 2025) to complete the transaction, the result of the efforts of Congressman Bob Sikes.