Editing Laurel Hill, Florida

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name                     = Laurel Hill, Florida
|official_name            = City of Laurel Hill
|other_name               = 
|native_name              = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
|nickname                 = 
|settlement_type          = [[City (Florida)|City]]
|motto                    = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
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|image_map                = Okaloosa_County_Florida_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Laurel_Hill_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location in [[Okaloosa County, Florida|Okaloosa County]] and the state of [[Florida]]
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|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-Council]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]<ref name=LHInc/>
|leader_name              = Robert "Robby" Adams
|leader_title1            = [[City Council|Councilors]]
|leader_name1             = Debra Adams,<br>Shawn Cogan,<br>Kristine Gaskin,<br>Jacob Locke, and<br>Amanda Rosen
|leader_title2            = [[City Clerk]]
|leader_name2             = Nita Miller
|leader_title3            = [[City Attorney]]
|leader_name3             = Jonathan Holloway
|leader_title4            = 
|leader_name4             = 
|established_title        = [[Settler colonialism|Settled (Almirante)]]
|established_date         = 1821
|established_title2       = [[Plat|Platted (Almirante)]]
|established_date2        = 1895
|established_title3       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated<br>(City of Laurel Hill)]]
|established_date3        = 1905<ref name=LHInc/>
|established_title4       = [[Municipal corporation|Reincorporated<br>(City of Laurel Hill)]]
|established_date4        = June 2, 1953<ref name=LHInc/>
<!-- Area    --------------------->
|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=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
|area_total_km2           = 11.05
|area_land_km2            = 10.89
|area_water_km2           = 0.16
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.27
|area_land_sq_mi          = 4.21
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.06
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|area_blank1_sq_mi        = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_note          = 
|population_total         = 584
|population_density_km2   = 53.61
|population_density_sq_mi = 138.85
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|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|57|55|N|86|27|33|W|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes      = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
|elevation_m              = 86
|elevation_ft             = 282
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 32567
|area_code                = [[Area code 850|850]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 12-39650<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 0285397<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = 
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of            = 
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|population_est           = 
}}
'''Laurel Hill''' 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]]. The population was 584 at the 2020 US Census, up from 537 at the 2010 census.

==History==
The area which is now Laurel Hill was one of the first post-American annexation, English-speaking settlements in Florida. There had been settlements by English-speaking loyalists in Florida during the [[American Revolution]]. Settlers were documented establishing a community, originally known as "'''''Almirante'''''", soon after Florida's acquisition by the United States in 1821.

In the 1880s, railroad access to north-west Florida opened up a booming lumber industry, with the [[Yellow River Railroad]] reaching the Almirante (Laurel Hill) area by 1892. In 1895, Almirante, then just a small logging and farming community, was platted and renamed Laurel Hill, the name purportedly inspired by a large laurel tree which grew in the center of the community. Growing rapidly, the community was officially incorporated as the "'''City of Laurel Hill'''" by the [[Florida Legislature]] in 1905.<ref name=LHInc>{{Cite web|title=MUNICIPAL DIRECTORY: City of Laurel Hill|url=https://www.floridaleagueofcities.com/research-resources/municipal-directory
|website=Florida League of Cities}}</ref>

Although in 1915, Laurel Hill was the largest community in newly created Okaloosa County, the town lost out becoming Okaloosa's county seat to the more centrally located town of [[Crestview, Florida|Crestview]]. Laurel Hill's economic fortunes went into a decline after [[World War I]], a waning intensified by the Florida land speculation collapse of the 1920s, which resulted in the closing of Laurel Hill's only bank. In order to install infrastructure improvements and to re-stimulate the community, Laurel Hill was officially reincorporated as a municipality on June 2, 1953.<ref name=LHInc/>

Once served by the [[Louisville & Nashville Railroad]], which purchased the Yellow River Railroad in 1906, the line was abandoned and lifted in the 1980s.

First held in 1992, the Laurel Hill Hobo Festival is an annual event scheduled for the first Saturday in October.

Historic churches in the city include South Ebenezer Baptist Church, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Laurel Hill Presbyterian Church, Laurel Hill First Baptist Church, and Mount Zion Baptist Church.

==Geography==
The approximate coordinates for the City of Laurel Hill is located at {{coord|30.965369|-86.459149|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}} (30.965369, –86.459149).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=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|3.1|sqmi|km2}}, all land. It is the northernmost incorporated city in the state of Florida.

==Climate==
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the [[Köppen climate classification]], the City of Laurel Hill has a [[humid subtropical climate]] zone (''Cfa'').

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 316
|1920= 291
|1930= 302
|1940= 350
|1950= 327
|1960= 411
|1970= 418
|1980= 610
|1990= 543
|2000= 549
|2010= 537
|2020= 584
|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|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010 and 2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Laurel Hill 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) - Laurel Hill city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Laurel+Hill+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) - Laurel Hill city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Laurel+Hill+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|439
|452
|81.75%
|77.40%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|86
|71
|16.01%
|12.16%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|0
|4
|0.00%
|0.68%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|4
|3
|0.74%
|0.51%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|1
|5
|0.19%
|0.86%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Two or more races/Multiracial]] (NH)
|4
|37
|0.74%
|6.34%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|3
|12
|0.56%
|2.05%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''537'''
|'''584'''
|
|
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 584 people, 225 households, and 125 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Laurel Hill city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Laurel+Hill+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 537 people, 204 households, and 178 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Laurel Hill city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Laurel+Hill+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 549 people, 223 households, and 158 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|174.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 254 housing units at an average density of {{convert|80.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 77.23% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 21.68% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.73% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.18% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.09% of the population.

In 2000, there were 223 households, out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,385, and the median income for a family was $28,281. Males had a median income of $25,809 versus $17,500 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $12,949.  About 18.0% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
All public schools located within the City of Laurel Hill are served by the [[Okaloosa County School District]].
* Okaloosa Comprehensive Head Start
* [https://www.publicschoolreview.com/laurel-hill-school-profile Laurel Hill School] The team name for the Laurel Hill School is the ''[[Hobo]]es'', allegedly the only school in the US with this team name.

<gallery>
Image:Laurel Hill School (FL) Hobos sign.JPG|Laurel Hill School sign
</gallery>

==References==
<references />

==External links==
* [http://www.nwfdailynews.com/ Northwest Florida Daily News]

{{Okaloosa County, Florida}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Okaloosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1895]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:1895 establishments in Florida]]