View source for Valparaiso, Florida

{{other places|Valparaiso (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|official_name            = City of Valparaiso
|name                     = Valparaiso, Florida
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]
|motto                    = "Vale of Paradise"<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.valp.org/|title= City of Valparaiso Florida Website|publisher= City of Valparaiso Florida Website via [[Wayback Machine]] (August 20, 2012)|access-date= December 27, 2023|archive-date= August 20, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120820071314/http://www.valp.org/|url-status= bot: unknown}}</ref>
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline            = City Hall of Valparaiso, Florida.JPG
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = Valparaiso City Hall, September 2014.
|image_flag               = 
|flag_size                = 
|image_seal               = 
|seal_size                = 
|image_shield             = 
|shield_size              = 
|image_blank_emblem       = 
|blank_emblem_type        = 
|blank_emblem_size        = 
|image_map                = Okaloosa_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Valparaiso_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|image_dot_map            = 
|dot_mapsize              = 
|dot_map_caption          = 
|dot_x                    = 
|dot_y                    = 
|pushpin_map              = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
|pushpin_label_position   = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none -->
|pushpin_map_caption      = 
|pushpin_mapsize          = <!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = {{flag|United States}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = {{flag|Florida}}
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = {{noflag|[[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa]]}}
|subdivision_type3        = 
|subdivision_name3        = 
|subdivision_type4        = 
|subdivision_name4        = <!-- Politics ----------------->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = [[Mayor-council government|Mayor-Commission]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Brent Smith
|leader_title1            = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
|leader_name1             = Edward Crosby,<br>Tom Browning,<br>Kay Hamilton, and<br>Christine Wasdin
|leader_title2            = [[City Manager|City Administrator]]
|leader_name2             = Carl Scott
|leader_title3            = [[City Clerk]]
|leader_name3             = Tammy Johnson
|leader_title4            = 
|leader_name4             = 
|established_title        = <!-- Settled -->
|established_date         = 
|established_title2       = <!-- Incorporated (town) -->
|established_date2        = 
|established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date3        = 1921
|area_magnitude           = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=December 2, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 30.63
|area_land_km2            = 30.41
|area_water_km2           = 0.22
|area_total_sq_mi         = 11.83
|area_land_sq_mi          = 11.74
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.09
|area_water_percent       = 
|area_urban_km2           = 
|area_urban_sq_mi         = 
|area_metro_km2           = 
|area_metro_sq_mi         = 
|area_blank1_title        = 
|area_blank1_km2          = 
|area_blank1_sq_mi        = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 4752
|population_density_km2   = 156.28
|population_density_sq_mi = 404.77
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_metro_km2     = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi   = 
|population_urban         = 
|population_density_urban_km2     = 
|population_density_urban_sq_mi   = 
|population_blank1_title  = 
|population_blank1        = 
|population_density_blank1_km2    = 
|population_density_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = CDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -5
|coordinates              = {{coord|30|30|N|86|30|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 14
|elevation_ft             = 46
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 32580
|area_code                = [[Area code 850|850]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-73675<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0305048<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.valp.org/ City of Valparaiso Florida Website]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
}}
'''Valparaiso''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|v|æ|l|p|ə|ˈ|r|eɪ|z|oʊ}} {{Respell|val|pə|RAY|zoh}}<ref name="Cohen">{{cite encyclopedia|entry=Valparaiso|encyclopedia=The Columbia Gazetteer of the World |edition=Second |volume=3: P to Z |editor-first=Saul B. |editor-last=Cohen |publisher=Columbia University Press |location= New York |date=2008 |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=C6PLxz8EMk0C&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&lpg=PR3&pg=PA4062#v=onepage&q&f=false 4062] |isbn=9780231145541}}</ref>) is a city in [[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa County]], [[Florida]], United States. It is part of the [[Crestview, Florida|Crestview]]&ndash;[[Destin, Florida|Fort Walton Beach&ndash;Destin, Florida]] [[Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area|Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 4,752, down from 5,036 at the 2010 census.

==History==
[[File:Florida - Valparaison through West Palm Beach - NARA - 23936853 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|Aerial view, 1935]]
Valparaiso was named after [[Valparaiso, Indiana]] (which in turn, was named after [[Valparaiso, Chile]])<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=8978|title= Profile for Valparaiso, Florida, FL|publisher= ePodunk|access-date= September 19, 2012|archive-date= January 30, 2012|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120130061544/http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=8978|url-status= dead}}</ref> and is a twin city also with its neighboring city, [[Niceville, Florida|Niceville]]. The name of the city is [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and translates to "paradise [[Valley#Vale|vale]]" or "paradise valley".

[[Chicago]] businessman [[James E. Plew]], who relocated to the [[Florida Panhandle]] of [[Northwest Florida]] in 1922, became "one of Northwest Florida's pioneer developers,"<ref name="Okaloosa News-Journal 1938, page 1">''Okaloosa News-Journal'', Crestview, Florida, "Jas. Plew, Business Man, Dies", Friday, April 22, 1938, Volume 24, Number 17, page 1.</ref> and settled on Valparaiso "as the most likely spot for development.

In 1924, he founded the Bank of Valparaiso, constructed the [[Valparaiso Inn]], organized the Chicago Country Club which constructed the Valparaiso Country Club golf course, and was instrumental in many other development activities in the community."<ref name="Okaloosa News-Journal 1938, page 1"/>

"Other interests of Mr. Plew included the founding of the Shalimar Winery, which was established to use the surplus grape crop of the county. He also founded the Valparaiso Novelty Company, helped to establish a knitting mill in the community and was interested in a number of other enterprises to which he made investments to help their development."<ref name="Okaloosa News-Journal 1938, page 1"/>

Plew thought that a military payroll would boost the depression-stricken economy of the region. He leased from the city of Valparaiso the Valparaiso Airport, an arrowhead-shaped parcel of {{convert|137|acre|km2}} cleared in 1933 as an [[Aerodrome|airdrome]].<ref>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 Field, Florida, 1944, reprint by Office of History, Munitions Systems Division, Eglin AFB, Florida, 1989, page 46D.</ref>

In 1934, Plew offered the U.S. government {{convert|1460|acre|km2|0}} contiguous land for a bombing and gunnery base. This leasehold became the headquarters for the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base activated on June 14, 1935, under the command of Captain Arnold H. Rich. This was the founding of [[Eglin Air Force Base]]. The field was assigned the [[International Civil Aviation Organization airport code|ICAO airport code]] VPS for Valparaiso, which [[Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport]] retains to this day. In Niceville, there is an elementary school named in his honor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.okaloosaschools.com/plew/home|title=Home {{!}} Plew Elementary School|website=www.okaloosaschools.com|language=en|access-date=2018-10-01}}</ref>

==Geography==

Valparaiso is located at {{Coord|30|30|N|86|30|W|type:city}} (30.5070, –86.4970).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which  {{convert|11.9|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.8|sqmi|km2}} (6.35%) is water.

==Climate==
The climate is characterized by relatively high temperatures and evenly distributed precipitation throughout the year. Temperatures are high and can lead to warm, humid nights. Summers are usually somewhat wetter than winters, with much of the rainfall coming from [[Convectional storms|convectional thunderstorm]] activity. The [[Köppen Climate Classification]] subtype for this climate is a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone ([[Humid subtropical climate|Cfa]]).<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=12227&cityname=Valparaiso%2C+Florida%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Valparaiso, FL]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1930= 99
|1940= 221
|1950= 1047
|1960= 5975
|1970= 6504
|1980= 6142
|1990= 4672
|2000= 6408
|2010= 5036
|2020= 4752
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Valparaiso racial composition'''<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Valparaiso city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Valparaiso+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Valparaiso city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Valparaiso+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|4,069
|3,493
|80.80%
|73.51%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|278
|220
|5.52%
|4.63%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|30
|13
|0.60%
|0.27%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|173
|161
|3.44%
|3.39%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|8
|15
|0.16%
|0.32%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|4
|25
|0.08%
|0.53%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|195
|422
|3.87%
|8.88%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|279
|403
|5.54%
|8.48%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''5,036'''
|'''4,752'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 4,752 people, 1,876 households, and 1,335 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Valparaiso city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Valparaiso+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 5,036 people, 1,700 households, and 899 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Valparaiso city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Valparaiso+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 6,408 people, 1,928 households, and 1,284 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|536.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,023 housing units at an average density of {{convert|169.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 80.77% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 9.91% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.64% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.67% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.11% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.18% of the population.

In 2000, there were 1,928 households, out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.4% were non-families. 28.1% 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 2.36 and the average family size was 2.87.

In 2000, in the city the population was spread out, with 16.8% under the age of 18, 20.1% from 18 to 24, 31.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 164.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 181.6 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $39,521, and the median income for a family was $46,411. Males had a median income of $22,267 versus $18,781 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $19,934. About 3.1% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture==

===Museums and other points of interest===
The [[Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida]] is located in Valparaiso.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.heritage-museum.org/|title= Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida|publisher= Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida |access-date= September 19, 2012}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
Commercial aircraft fly into nearby [[Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport]], which also serves the cities of [[Destin, Florida|Destin]] and [[Fort Walton Beach, Florida|Fort Walton Beach]]. Located within [[Eglin Air Force Base]], the airport code VPS is taken from the city of Valparaiso, which is adjacent to the base.

==References==
<references />

==External links==
{{Commons category}} <!-- for current and future use if material is uploaded -->
* [http://www.valp.org/ City of Valparaiso Florida Website] Portal style website, Government, Business, Library, Recreation and more
* [http://www.nwfdailynews.com/ Northwest Florida Daily News]
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Valparaiso-Florida.html City-Data.com] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Valparaiso

{{Okaloosa County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida]]
[[Category:1920s establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in the 1920s]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]