Crestview, Florida

 

Crestview was largely an outgrowth of the arrival of railroad service to the western Panhandle of Florida.^[7]

The Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad Company, chartered in 1881, opened its line between Pensacola and Chattahoochee in January 1883. Two express passenger trains, the Atlantic Express and the Gulf Express, as well as a local accommodation train that made stops along the route, were in daily operation. The express trains took about six hours for the journey, while the local train took thirteen hours. When the railroad company was unable to cover its debt obligations, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad covered the shortfalls until 1885 and then foreclosed, absorbing the route into its system as the L&N's Pensacola and Atlantic Division.^[8]

In 1894, sawmill operator W. B. Wright opened the 26-mile (42 km) Yellow River Railroad between Crestview and Florala, Alabama via Auburn, Campton, and Laurel Hill. The L&N provided the line with freight cars and purchased the operation in 1906,^[9] renaming it the Yellow River Branch. However, without significant shippers to sustain the line, it was eventually used for freight car storage in the early 1980s and was abandoned in May 1985, with 25.3 miles of track removed.^[10] Parts of the former right of way were paved as local streets.

Crestview was officially incorporated as a city in 1916.^[1] The 1920 US Census recorded the population of Crestview at 500 residents.^[11]

On July 23, 1920, Crestview hosted Okaloosa County's first public hanging. Robert Blackwell was convicted of murdering Nancy and Bud Davis in 1917 and was sentenced to death. A week before his execution, Blackwell confessed, and his confession was printed in local newspapers on the day of his hanging.^[12] The second and final public execution in Okaloosa County took place on September 23, 1921, when Putnam Ponsell and Jacob Benjamin Marin were hanged for the murder of John F. Tuggle. This double hanging was the last public execution in Florida.^[13]

In 1937, Smith-Johnson Company, Inc. opened a garment factory in Crestview, which utilized 250 machines and employed around 300 workers.^[14]

A modern bus terminal served by Greyhound Lines' Jacksonville-Los Angeles route, with connections north to Atlanta, Memphis, and New York,^[15] opened on the corner of Ferdon and Pearl Streets on May 9, 1941. The terminal featured waiting rooms, a lounge, smoking rooms, a restaurant, and a loading concourse, and was segregated according to the norms of the time.^[16]

As nearby Eglin Field expanded into a major testing base, the Louisville and Nashville Railroad laid a long sidetrack in Crestview in the spring of 1941 to handle the influx of oil tank cars required for a vast paving project on ten new airfields. A fleet of trucks operated around the clock to offload an estimated 180 carloads of petroleum products.^[17]

A recreation center for enlisted men at Eglin Field was opened in Crestview on June 21, 1941, through the efforts of the Community Recreation Council, the Works Progress Administration, and the Okaloosa Progressive Association.^[18][19]

In January 1943, a misunderstanding involving Crestview’s constabulary led to the town being briefly off-limits to military personnel from Eglin Field. The Pensacola News Journal reported on January 31, 1943, that the restriction had been lifted after a conference between town officials and Eglin authorities. The incident was triggered when the town marshal attempted to arrest a soldier for reckless driving and an Eglin officer for interference. The overzealous marshal was suspended following the event.^[20]

On July 31, 1949, the L&N inaugurated the Gulf Wind streamliner through Crestview, connecting New Orleans and Jacksonville in partnership with the Seaboard Air Line Railroad, replacing the heavyweight New Orleans-Florida Limited. This service was discontinued on April 30, 1971, when Amtrak took over most U.S. passenger rail services.^{[citation needed]}

In the 1960s, Crestview was home to the studio of the Apache Records label.^[21]

As part of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round, Crestview experienced significant population growth when the U.S. Army's 7th Special Forces Group relocated from Fort Bragg, North Carolina to a newly built facility on the northern end of the Eglin Air Force Base reservation, about six miles south of the city.

In 2007, longtime mayor George Whitehurst resigned, leading to the election of David Cadle, a retired director of the Crestview High School band, The Big Red Machine.^[22] Cadle was succeeded in 2019 by JB Whitten, a retired U.S. Air Force member, high school teacher, and Crestview city council member.^[2][23]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.8 square miles (33 km²), of which 12.76 square miles (33.0 km²) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km²) (0.23%) is water.

Crestview's climate is officially classified as a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa). In summer, Crestview experiences some of the hottest temperatures in the state, with an average summer high of 92 °F (33 °C). Summer lows typically range from the high 60s to low 70s, with occasional days reaching 100 °F or more. The all-time record high is 105 °F (41 °C), recorded on July 14, 1980.^[24] On average, the city receives 63.6 inches (1,620 mm) of rainfall annually.

Winters in Crestview are similar to those of interior Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia. Highs typically range from the lower to mid-60s (16°-19 °C), and lows average in the upper 30s (almost 4 °C). The all-time record low is 8 °F (−13 °C), recorded on January 13, 1981. However, nearby areas such as DeFuniak Springs and Tallahassee recorded lows of 0 °F (−17.8 °C) and −2 °F (−18.9 °C) before the Crestview airport began keeping records. The city lies within the USDA Hardiness Zone 8, where the coldest temperature of the season typically ranges between 10 °F (−12 °C) and 20 °F (−7 °C). On average, there are 38.5 nights per year when the temperature falls below freezing, with the average window for freezes occurring between November 10 and March 23. Snowfall happens approximately every three years, but significant snowfall only occurs about once every 10 years.

Vegetation in Crestview includes typical Floridian flora, as well as several deciduous species from farther north. Some palm trees grow in the area, but only cold-hardy varieties, such as the state tree, the Sabal palmetto. Other common species include dogwood, maple, hickory, and sweet gum. Blueberries are a native crop sold locally, along with strawberries. In 1919, M.A. Sapp reported shipping blueberries from May 10 until the end of August, earning $605.85 for his crop, in addition to sharing some with friends and family.^[25] Fall foliage can be seen in November and December, while spring blossoms typically appear from early March through May. Summer generally lasts from late April to early October, and winter extends from mid-December to mid-February.

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 27,134 people, 8,984 households, and 5,971 families residing in the city.^[31]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 20,978 people, 7,319 households, and 5,150 families residing in the city.^[32]

As of the census of 2000, there were 14,766 people, 5,297 households, and 3,893 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,153.7 inhabitants per square mile (445.4/km²). There were 5,918 housing units at an average density of 462.4 per square mile (178.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 74.71% White, 18.41% African American, 0.60% Native American, 2.28% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 2.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.26% of the population. The population estimate for 2005 was 17,707 people.

In 2000, there were 5,297 households, out of which 40.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.09.

In 2000, the population was spread out, with 29.2% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 32.5% from 25 to 44, 17.8% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $23,122, and the median income for a family was $31,824. Males had a median income of $27,829 versus $19,261 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,479. About 15.2% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

The city's first library was founded in the 1940s. In 2002, the Crestview Robert L. F. Sikes Public Library opened, named in honor of the local congressman. The library is part of the Okaloosa County Public Library Cooperative.^[33]

The public schools in Crestview are served by the Okaloosa County School District.

• Crestview School, the first school for African Americans in Crestview, was built in 1926. In 1944, a city block was purchased for a new high school for Black students. In 1945, Crestview Colored High School was built on School Avenue. It was later renamed after George Washington Carver and eventually became known as Carver-Hill School in honor of Ed Hill's efforts.

• After integration in 1966, high school students were transferred to the previously all-white Crestview High School, and Carver-Hill was utilized for younger students until 1982, when it was converted to administrative use.^[34]

• Davidson Middle School is located at the north end of the city, and Shoal River Middle School is located at the south end.

• Northwood Elementary School is located at the north end of the city, and Riverside Elementary School is located at the south end.

Bob Sikes Airport is a public-use airport located 3 miles (4.8 km) northeast of the central business district of Crestview. It was established in 1941.

Major highways through Crestview include:

• U.S. Route 90
• Florida State Road 85
• I-10
• FL-85

From early 1994 through August 2005, Crestview was served by the tri-weekly Amtrak Sunset Limited. However, service east of New Orleans to Jacksonville and Orlando was suspended due to damage to the rail line of CSX caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. This was previously the route of the Gulf Wind streamlined passenger train, operated by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad.

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