Editing Crestview, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement  
| name                     = Crestview, Florida  
| official_name            = City of Crestview  
| settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]  
| image_skyline            = New Crestview Courthouse.jpg  
| imagesize                =  
| image_caption            = Okaloosa County Courthouse (built 2018–2019)  
| image_map                = Okaloosa_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Crestview_Highlighted.svg  
| mapsize                  = 250x200px  
| map_caption              = Location in [[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa County]] and the state of [[Florida]]  
| subdivision_type         = 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        = [[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa]]  
| government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–Manager]]<ref name=CM/>  
| leader_title             = [[Mayor]]  
| leader_name              = JB Whitten  
| leader_title1            = [[Mayor Pro Tem]]  
| leader_name1             = Douglas Capps  
| leader_title2            = [[City Council|Council Members]]  
| leader_name2             = Joe Blocker, Andrew Rencich, Cynthia Brown, and Ryan Bullard  
| leader_title3            = [[City Manager]]  
| leader_name3             = Tim Bolduc  
| leader_title4            = [[City Clerk]]  
| leader_name4             = Maryanne Girard  
| established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]  
| established_date3        = 1916<ref name=CVInc>{{Cite web|title=MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY - Florida League of Cities|url=https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research-resources/municipal-directory|website=www.floridaleagueofcities.com}}</ref>  
| area_total_km2           = 44.74  
| area_land_km2            = 44.11  
| area_water_km2           = 0.63  
| area_total_sq_mi         = 17.27  
| area_land_sq_mi          = 17.03  
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.24  
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]  
| population_total         = 27,134  
| population_density_sq_mi = 1,593.12  
| timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|Central (CST)]]  
| utc_offset               = −6  
| timezone_DST             = CDT  
| utc_offset_DST           = −5  
| coordinates              = {{coord|30|45|15|N|86|34|22|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}  
| elevation_ft             = 236  
| postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]s  
| postal_code              = 32536, 32539  
| area_code                = [[Area code 850|850]]  
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]  
| blank_info               = 12-15475<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              = 0281044<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                  = {{URL|http://www.cityofcrestview.org/}}  
| population_density_km2   = 615.12  
| module                   = {{Infobox mapframe |wikidata=yes |zoom=12|frame-height=260 | stroke-width=1 |coord={{WikidataCoord|display=i}}}}  
}}

'''Crestview''' is the largest city and [[county seat]] of [[Okaloosa County, Florida]], United States. The population was 27,134 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], up from 20,978 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]].<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/crestviewcityflorida,US/POP010220 |title=QuickFacts - Crestview city, Florida; United States |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau |access-date=2022-05-04}}</ref><ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> With an elevation of {{convert|236|ft}} above sea level, it is one of the highest points in the state.

Crestview is a principal city of the Crestview–[[Fort Walton Beach]]–[[Destin, Florida]] [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[File:Crestview Okaloosa Cty crths01.jpg|thumb|Former Okaloosa County courthouse in March 2008 (replaced in 2018)]]
Crestview was largely an outgrowth of the arrival of railroad service to the western Panhandle of Florida.<ref>Turner, Gregg M., "A Journey Into Florida Railroad History", University Press of Florida, Gainesville, 2008, Library of Congress card number 2007050375, {{ISBN|978-0-8130-3233-7}}, p. 109.</ref>

The [[Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad|Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad Company]], chartered in 1881, opened its line between [[Pensacola]] and [[Chattahoochee, Florida|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.<ref>Turner, Gregg M., "A Journey Into Florida Railroad History", University Press of Florida, Gainesville, 2008, Library of Congress card number 2007050375, {{ISBN|978-0-8130-3233-7}}, p. 110.</ref>

In 1894, sawmill operator W. B. Wright opened the {{convert|26|mi|km|adj=on}} [[Yellow River Railroad]] between Crestview and [[Florala, Alabama]] via Auburn, Campton, and [[Laurel Hill, Florida|Laurel Hill]]. The [[Louisville and Nashville Railroad|L&N]] provided the line with freight cars and purchased the operation in 1906,<ref>Turner, Gregg M., "A Journey Into Florida Railroad History", University Press of Florida, Gainesville, 2008, Library of Congress card number 2007050375, {{ISBN|978-0-8130-3233-7}}, pp. 166-67.</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rail/PlanDevel/RSAC/Mtg2files/Premtg/1985%20Inventory.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2011-05-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810144817/http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rail/PlanDevel/RSAC/Mtg2files/Premtg/1985%20Inventory.pdf |archive-date=2011-08-10 }}</ref> Parts of the former right of way were paved as local streets.

Crestview was officially incorporated as a city in 1916.<ref name=CVInc/> The 1920 US Census recorded the population of Crestview at 500 residents.<ref>Crestview, the Forkland, Betty Sanders Curenton, Claudia Garrett Patten, {{ISBN|0-9725265-0-1}}</ref>

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.<ref>The Okaloosa News Journal, July 23, 1920</ref> 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.<ref>The Okaloosa News-Journal, September 23, 1921</ref>

In 1937, Smith-Johnson Company, Inc. opened a garment factory in Crestview, which utilized 250 machines and employed around 300 workers.<ref>Crestview, Florida, "Work To Pick Up In Factory!" ''Okaloosa News-Journal'', Monday, April 15, 1940, Volume 26, Number 16 - Extra, pp. 1-2.</ref>

A modern bus terminal served by [[Greyhound Lines]]' Jacksonville-Los Angeles route, with connections north to [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], and [[New York City|New York]],<ref>Display advert, ''The Okaloosa News-Journal'', Friday, May 9, 1941, Volume 27, Number 18, p. 4, Section 2.</ref> 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.<ref>Crestview, Florida, "New Bus Station Now Open", ''The Okaloosa News-Journal'', Friday, May 9, 1941, Volume 27, Number 18, p. 1.</ref>

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.<ref>Crestview, Florida, "Crews Work 24 Hours A Day To Haul Asphalt", ''Okaloosa News-Journal'', May 23, 1941, Vol. 27, No. 20, p. 1.</ref>

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.<ref>Crestview, Florida, "Recreation Center Is Now Assured For Men Of Eglin Field: To Be Opened With Ceremonies Saturday, June 21st", ''Okaloosa News-Journal'', June 13, 1941, Volume 27, Number 23, p. 1.</ref><ref>Crestview, Florida, "Crestview Highly Commended For Opening Recreation Center For Eglin Enlisted Men - Crestview People Did Not Shirk Duty When Need Explained", ''Okaloosa News-Journal'', October 31, 1941, Volume 27, Number 42, p. 4.</ref>

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.<ref>Special, "Crestview Is Off Eglin's 'Black List'", ''Pensacola News Journal'', January 31, 1943, p. 1.</ref>

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|date=June 2020}}

In the 1960s, Crestview was home to the studio of the [[Apache Records]] label.<ref>Crestview, Florida, "Local Recording Company Issues First Discs Here", ''The Okaloosa News-Journal'', Thursday, March 3, 1960, Volume 46, Number 9, page A-5.</ref>

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 (Florida)|Crestview High School]] band, The Big Red Machine.<ref>{{Citation |last = Ziglar |first = Adam |title = Band director David Cadle retiring after 28 years with the Big Red Machine |pages = 1 |newspaper = Crestview News Bulletin |location = Crestview |date = April 29, 2006 |url = https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028411/00105}}</ref> Cadle was succeeded in 2019 by JB Whitten, a retired U.S. Air Force member, high school teacher, and Crestview city council member.<ref name=CM>{{cite news |last1=Wilde |first1=Ashleigh |title=Whitten holds meeting to discuss a 'new view' for Crestview |url=https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20190403/whitten-holds-meeting-to-discuss-new-view-for-crestview |access-date=26 March 2020 |publisher=NWF Daily News}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |url=https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20190313/whitten-beats-clark-to-become-crestviews-next-mayor |title=Whitten beats Clark to become Crestview's next mayor |newspaper=Northwest Florida Daily News}}</ref>

==Geography==
===Topography===
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|12.8|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|12.76|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi|km2}} (0.23%) is water.

===Climate===
Crestview's climate is officially classified as a [[humid subtropical climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Cfa''). In summer, Crestview experiences some of the hottest temperatures in the state, with an average summer high of {{convert|92|°F|0}}. Summer lows typically range from the high 60s to low 70s, with occasional days reaching 100&nbsp;°F or more. The all-time record high is {{convert|105|°F|0}}, recorded on July 14, 1980.<ref name="NOAA">{{cite web |url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mob |title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data |access-date = 2016-02-08 |publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]}}</ref> On average, the city receives {{convert|63.6|in|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&nbsp;°C), and lows average in the upper 30s (almost 4&nbsp;°C). The all-time record low is {{convert|8|°F|0}}, recorded on January 13, 1981. However, nearby areas such as [[DeFuniak Springs, Florida|DeFuniak Springs]] and [[Tallahassee]] recorded lows of {{convert|0|°F|C|1}} and {{convert|-2|°F|C|1}} before the Crestview airport began keeping records. The city lies within the [[Hardiness zone|USDA Hardiness Zone]] 8, where the coldest temperature of the season typically ranges between {{convert|10|°F|0}} and {{convert|20|°F|0}}. 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 [[Arecaceae|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.<ref>The Punta Gorda Herald, Vol XXXII, Number 43, Thursday, October 23, 1919</ref> 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.

{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Crestview, Florida ([[Bob Sikes Airport]]), 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present
|single line = Y

|Jan record high F = 85
|Feb record high F = 85
|Mar record high F = 90
|Apr record high F = 95
|May record high F = 101
|Jun record high F = 104
|Jul record high F = 105
|Aug record high F = 103
|Sep record high F = 102
|Oct record high F = 101
|Nov record high F = 90
|Dec record high F = 84
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 76.8
|Feb avg record high F = 78.8
|Mar avg record high F = 84.9
|Apr avg record high F = 88.5
|May avg record high F = 95.2
|Jun avg record high F = 97.6
|Jul avg record high F = 98.6
|Aug avg record high F = 97.7
|Sep avg record high F = 95.5
|Oct avg record high F = 90.9
|Nov avg record high F = 83.8
|Dec avg record high F = 78.7
|year avg record high F = 99.6

|Jan high F = 62.7
|Feb high F = 66.8
|Mar high F = 73.3
|Apr high F = 79.4
|May high F = 86.9
|Jun high F = 91.1
|Jul high F = 92.4
|Aug high F = 91.7
|Sep high F = 88.6
|Oct high F = 81.1
|Nov high F = 71.6
|Dec high F = 64.6
|year high F = 79.2

|Jan mean F = 50.6
|Feb mean F = 54.1
|Mar mean F = 60.0
|Apr mean F = 66.0
|May mean F = 73.7
|Jun mean F = 79.8
|Jul mean F = 81.8
|Aug mean F = 81.4
|Sep mean F = 77.7
|Oct mean F = 68.3
|Nov mean F = 58.1
|Dec mean F = 52.6
|year mean F = 67.0

|Jan low F = 38.5
|Feb low F = 41.4
|Mar low F = 46.7
|Apr low F = 52.6
|May low F = 60.6
|Jun low F = 68.5
|Jul low F = 71.1
|Aug low F = 71.1
|Sep low F = 66.9
|Oct low F = 55.5
|Nov low F = 44.6
|Dec low F = 40.6
|year low F = 54.8

|Jan avg record low F = 20.3
|Feb avg record low F = 22.6
|Mar avg record low F = 27.5
|Apr avg record low F = 34.9
|May avg record low F = 45.2
|Jun avg record low F = 59.7
|Jul avg record low F = 65.6
|Aug avg record low F = 63.6
|Sep avg record low F = 53.5
|Oct avg record low F = 36.1
|Nov avg record low F = 26.3
|Dec avg record low F = 23.4
|year avg record low F = 18.1

|Jan record low F = 8
|Feb record low F = 10
|Mar record low F = 17
|Apr record low F = 29
|May record low F = 38
|Jun record low F = 52
|Jul record low F = 57
|Aug record low F = 56
|Sep record low F = 40
|Oct record low F = 28
|Nov record low F = 17
|Dec record low F = 9
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.66
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.58
|Mar precipitation inch = 5.66
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.92
|May precipitation inch = 4.13
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.96
|Jul precipitation inch = 7.92
|Aug precipitation inch = 6.42
|Sep precipitation inch = 5.06
|Oct precipitation inch = 4.09
|Nov precipitation inch = 4.27
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.93
|year precipitation inch = 63.60

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.1
|Feb precipitation days = 9.0
|Mar precipitation days = 8.2
|Apr precipitation days = 7.7
|May precipitation days = 8.4
|Jun precipitation days = 12.7
|Jul precipitation days = 15.9
|Aug precipitation days = 14.9
|Sep precipitation days = 10.2
|Oct precipitation days = 7.3
|Nov precipitation days = 7.5
|Dec precipitation days = 9.9
|year precipitation days =

|Jan snow inch =
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|year snow inch =

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days =
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|year snow days =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mob
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data (NOWData)
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|accessdate = August 10, 2023
}}
</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00013884&format=pdf
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020
|publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = June 25, 2021
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1920= 500
|1930= 930
|1940= 2252
|1950= 5003
|1960= 7467
|1970= 7952
|1980= 7617
|1990= 9886
|2000= 14766
|2010= 20978
|2020= 27134
|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"
|+Crestview 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) - Crestview city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Crestview+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) - Crestview city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Crestview+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|14,208
|15,964
|67.73%
|58.83%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|3,793
|4,905
|18.08%
|18.08%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|85
|118
|0.41%
|0.43%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|636
|763
|3.03%
|2.81%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|55
|76
|0.26%
|0.28%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|65
|173
|0.31%
|0.64%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|746
|2,146
|3.56%
|7.91%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,390
|2,989
|6.63%
|11.02%
|-
|Total
|20,978
|27,134
|100%
|100%
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 27,134 people, 8,984 households, and 5,971 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Crestview city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Crestview+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 20,978 people, 7,319 households, and 5,150 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Crestview city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Crestview+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
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 {{convert|1,153.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 5,918 housing units at an average density of {{convert|462.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 74.71% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 18.41% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.60% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.28% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.15% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.22% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.62% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.26% of the population. The population estimate for 2005 was [https://archive.today/20200212053312/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US1215475&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US12%7C16000US1215475&_street=&_county=Crestview&_cityTown=Crestview&_state=04000US12 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 [[Marriage|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.

==Arts and culture==
===Library===
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.<ref>{{cite web | title = About Us | publisher = The City of Crestview, Florida | url = https://www.cityofcrestview.org/179/About-Us | accessdate = April 23, 2024}}</ref>

==Education==
The public schools in Crestview are served by the [[Okaloosa County School District]].

===Public high school===
*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 (Florida)|Crestview High School]], and Carver-Hill was utilized for younger students until 1982, when it was converted to administrative use.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://www.wuwf.org/post/carver-hill-high-school-and-early-education-afro-americans-crestview|title=Carver-Hill High School And The Early Education Of Afro-Americans in Crestview|first=Danielle|last=Freeman|website=www.wuwf.org|date=29 February 2016 }}</ref>

===Public middle schools===
*Davidson Middle School is located at the north end of the city, and Shoal River Middle School is located at the south end.

===Public elementary schools===
*Northwood Elementary School, as well as Bob Sikes Elementary School are located at the north end of the city, Riverside Elementary School is located at the south end, and Walker Elementary School is located on the central-east side of the city.

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
[[Bob Sikes Airport]] is a public-use airport located {{convert|3|mi|km}} northeast of the central business district of Crestview. It was established in 1941.

Major highways through Crestview include:
* [[U.S. Route 90 in Florida|U.S. Route 90]]
* [[Florida State Road 85]]
* [[Interstate 10 in Florida|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, Florida|Jacksonville]] and [[Orlando, Florida|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]].

==Sister cities==
* {{flagicon|France}} [[Noirmoutier-en-l'Île]], France

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{official website|http://www.cityofcrestview.org/}}

{{Okaloosa County, Florida}}
{{North Florida}}
{{Florida county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1883]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:1883 establishments in Florida]]