DeFuniak Springs, Florida

The town was founded during the late 19th century as a resort development by the officers of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad, a subsidiary of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. The P&A was organized to connect the terminus of the L&N at Pensacola to the western terminus of a predecessor of the Seaboard Air Line Railroad at River Junction—now Chattahoochee—in the 1880s. The town was named after Frederick R. DeFuniak,{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=KZdPAAAAIBAJ&sjid=6gUEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4593%2C5984338 | title=The early railroad made West Florida | work=Ocala Star-Banner | date=Jun 27, 1982 | access-date=7 June 2015 | author=Washington, Ray | pages=7F}} a vice-president of the L&N. Like much of Northwest Florida, DeFuniak Springs was settled mainly by Scots from Virginia and the Carolinas.

DeFuniak Springs was established as a final-destination resort. The developers enlisted the cooperation and aid of the Chautauqua Movement. The Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood, an auditorium seating 4,000, was constructed on Lake DeFuniak in the center of town. Seminars, classes, and the like were held in the Hall of Brotherhood building for people on vacation.

The auditorium of the building was severely damaged by Hurricane Eloise in 1975 and razed. In 2003, the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood Foundation, Inc., a charitable foundation, started a capital campaign to restore the historic building.{{Cite web |url=http://www.chobf.org/ |title=Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood Foundation Inc. |access-date=2019-07-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051201032528/http://www.chobf.org/ |archive-date=2005-12-01 |url-status=dead }} The westerly portion of the building facing Circle Drive was still in use at that time.

As part of the intellectual atmosphere of the town, a college and a private high school (named Palmer College and Palmer Academy, respectively), as well as a technical school (Thomas Industrial Institute) and a teacher training school (Florida Normal College) were established in the late 19th century. Florida Normal College was later incorporated into Florida State University. The other schools closed during the Great Depression, which created financial strains. There remains a College Avenue that once led to Palmer College.

In 1886, the town held an important meeting that changed the course of public education in Florida. At this meeting, teachers from around the state formed the Florida Education Association. This teachers' union remains the state's predominant voice for educators and is affiliated with the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.

A chicken processing plant operated by Perdue Farms at DeFuniak Springs was closed in April 2004.Fort Walton Beach, Florida, "Today in Local History", Northwest Florida Daily News,Friday 17 April 2015, Volume 69, page A5.

Image:DeFuniak Springs Hist Dist Lake01.jpg]]

The city is located in the Florida Panhandle along Interstate 10 and U.S. Routes 90 and 331. I-10 runs south of the city from west to east, providing access from exit 85 (U.S. Route 331). I-10 leads east {{convert|119|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Tallahassee, the state capital, and west {{convert|80|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Pensacola. U.S. Route 90 runs through the city from west to east as Nelson Avenue, and leads east {{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Ponce de Leon and west {{convert|29|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Crestview. U.S. Route 331 is the main north–south route in the city and its main connection to the Gulf coast. U.S. 331 leads northwest {{convert|25|mi|km|abbr=on}} to Florala, Alabama, and south {{convert|26|mi|km|abbr=on}} to U.S. Route 98 near Santa Rosa Beach. Florida State Road 83 also runs through the city as well, leading south to Santa Rosa Beach (with U.S. 331) and north {{convert|19|mi|km|abbr=on}} to the Florida-Alabama state line.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of {{convert|11.2|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|11.0|sqmi|km2}} is land, and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} (2.49%) is water.

File:Celtic Cross in Magnolia Cemetery, DeFuniak Springs, Florida 02.jpg

DeFuniak Springs, Florida has several neighborhoods, including the Historic District, Paxton, Mossy Head, and other unincorporated communities:

The Historic District is the center of the city, featuring the 260-acre Chipley Park and Lake DeFuniak, which is fed by natural springs. The area also includes the Historic Downtown District, which has shops, restaurants, and bakeries.

Paxton is a family-friendly community with agricultural history, lakes for kayaking, and Britton Hill, which is home to Florida's highest point.

Magnolia Cemetery which is owned and operated by the City of DeFuniak Springs is located in the northeast section of DeFuniak Springs.

DeFuniak Springs has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) with abundant precipitation, particularly during the summer months, due to its location on the Gulf Coast and consequent vulnerability to tropical storms and hurricanes.

{{Weather box|width=auto

|location = DeFuniak Springs 1 E, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1896–2010

|single line = Y

| Jan high F = 62.3

| Feb high F = 65.8

| Mar high F = 72.7

| Apr high F = 79.2

| May high F = 86.4

| Jun high F = 90.3

| Jul high F = 92.3

| Aug high F = 91.4

| Sep high F = 88.3

| Oct high F = 80.5

| Nov high F = 71.3

| Dec high F = 64.3

|year high F = 78.7

|Jan mean F = 50.9

|Feb mean F = 54.6

|Mar mean F = 60.4

|Apr mean F = 66.6

|May mean F = 74.8

|Jun mean F = 80.3

|Jul mean F = 82.4

|Aug mean F = 81.5

|Sep mean F = 77.8

|Oct mean F = 68.9

|Nov mean F = 58.9

|Dec mean F = 53.1

|year mean F = 67.5

| Jan low F = 39.5

| Feb low F = 43.4

| Mar low F = 48.0

| Apr low F = 54.0

| May low F = 63.1

| Jun low F = 70.2

| Jul low F = 72.4

| Aug low F = 71.7

| Sep low F = 67.4

| Oct low F = 57.4

| Nov low F = 46.6

| Dec low F = 41.8

|year low F = 56.3

|Jan record high F = 84

|Feb record high F = 86

|Mar record high F = 91

|Apr record high F = 97

|May record high F = 102

|Jun record high F = 107

|Jul record high F = 105

|Aug record high F = 104

|Sep record high F = 104

|Oct record high F = 98

|Nov record high F = 92

|Dec record high F = 89

|year record high F =

|Jan record low F = 3

|Feb record low F = 0

|Mar record low F = 19

|Apr record low F = 21

|May record low F = 35

|Jun record low F = 43

|Jul record low F = 54

|Aug record low F = 55

|Sep record low F = 35

|Oct record low F = 28

|Nov record low F = 16

|Dec record low F = 5

|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 5.04

| Feb precipitation inch = 5.07

| Mar precipitation inch = 5.18

| Apr precipitation inch = 4.30

| May precipitation inch = 3.99

| Jun precipitation inch = 7.10

| Jul precipitation inch = 7.50

| Aug precipitation inch = 6.95

| Sep precipitation inch = 6.04

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.58

| Nov precipitation inch = 4.43

| Dec precipitation inch = 5.45

|year precipitation inch = 64.63

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 9.2

| Feb precipitation days = 8.3

| Mar precipitation days = 8.0

| Apr precipitation days = 7.0

| May precipitation days = 7.6

| Jun precipitation days = 12.7

| Jul precipitation days = 14.2

| Aug precipitation days = 13.9

| Sep precipitation days = 10.3

| Oct precipitation days = 6.2

| Nov precipitation days = 7.0

| Dec precipitation days = 8.6

| year precipitation days = 113.0

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|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=tae

| title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = June 25, 2021

}}{{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=USC00082220&format=pdf

| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| accessdate = June 25, 2021

}} }}

{{US Census population

|1890= 672

|1910= 2017

|1920= 2097

|1930= 2636

|1940= 2570

|1950= 3077

|1960= 5282

|1970= 4966

|1980= 5563

|1990= 5120

|2000= 5089

|2010= 5177

|2020= 5919

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{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}}

}}

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 5,919 people, 2,848 households, and 1,789 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: DeFuniak Springs city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=DeFuniak+Springs+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 5,177 people, 2,306 households, and 1,287 families residing in the city.{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: DeFuniak Springs city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=DeFuniak+Springs+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=United States Census Bureau}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,089 people, 2,105 households, and 1,324 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|464.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,464 housing units at an average density of {{convert|224.7|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 71.78% White, 22.99% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 1.81% from other races, and 1.83% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.30% of the population.

In 2000, there were 2,105 households, out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were married couples living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30, and the average family size was 2.91.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 23.6% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.7 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $24,516, and the median income for a family was $28,750. Males had a median income of $24,219 versus $19,255 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,298. About 18.2% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

File:DeFuniakCaboose.jpg depot, now the Walton County Heritage Museum]]

Image:DeFuniak Springs Hist Dist CD0003a.jpg, the oldest extant library in Florida]]

Image:ChatauquaBuilding.jpg]]

Image:DeFuniak Springs Sun Bright02.jpg, home of Sidney Johnston Catts, Florida's 22nd governor]]

The surrounding landscape of Lake DeFuniak is decorated for the holidays between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day; this is known to locals as the "Christmas Reflections".{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}

Historic sites include:

• Walton-DeFuniak Library, the oldest extant library in Florida.Blazek, R. (1987). "The Library, the Chautauqua, and the Railroads in DeFuniak Springs". The Journal of Library History, 22(4), 377-396.
• Walton County Heritage Museum, housed in the former Louisville and Nashville Railroad depot.
• St. Agatha's Episcopal Church, built in 1895–1896.
• First Presbyterian Church.
• The first Confederate Monument in Florida, is located on the lawn of the Walton County Courthouse.

At the time of planning, the founders of DeFuniak Springs were interested in the adult education movement. For DeFuniak Springs, this movement did not only include the Chautauqua center, McCormick University and Academy, and the State Normal School, but also a community library.

In 1887, a group of women formed the Ladies Library Association, and their goal was to establish a library that would become the "little sister" to the Chautauqua center, university, and school.{{cite journal |last1=Blazek |first1=R. |title=The library, the chautauqua, and the railroads in DeFuniak Springs, Florida |journal=The Journal of Library History |date=1987 |volume=22 |issue=4 |pages=377–396}} The Ladies Library Association chose a plot of land adjacent to the Chautauqua center and signed a lease for ninety-nine years. By the end of 1887, five years after the initial plan of the village, there was a community library; the Ladies Library Association's main goal of establishing a social library was complete. Initially, the library relied on book donations, but also purchased books from the Ladies Reading Club and a private book owner, J. L. Shearer. The Ladies Library Association persisted and was able to maintain the library, books, and maintenance of the library for quite some time. However, by 1923, the Ladies Library Association was unable to continue to sustain the library and requested city funds, which the city took on gradually. It was not until the 1960s when the subscription fees were finally eliminated, and the county and city assumed total responsibility for its maintenance and collection development. Today, the Walton-DeFuniak Library contains antiquities, a medieval weapon collection, and many first-edition books.{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}

Public schools in Defuniak Springs are run by the Walton County School District.{{cite web |title=Walton County School District |url=http://www.walton.k12.fl.us/ |access-date=2 March 2019}}

• Walton High School
• Walton Middle School
• Maude Saunders Elementary School
• Mossy Head Elementary School
• West DeFuniak Elementary School
• Walton Academy

• First Christian Academy

• Buck Showalter, MLB manager.
• Kyrsten Sinema, Arizona Senator
• Jerry Shriver, U.S. Army Special Forces
• Wankard Pooser, Florida politician
• Juanyeh Thomas, NFL player
• Azareye'h Thomas, rising NFL player

• Perry L. Biddle House
• DeFuniak Springs Historic District
• Sun Bright

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{{Wikivoyage|DeFuniak Springs}}

• [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00028316 DeFuniak Herald] newspaper that serves DeFuniak Springs, Florida is available in full-text with images in [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/fdnl1 Florida Digital Newspaper Library]

{{Walton County, Florida}}

{{Florida county seats}}

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Category:County seats in Florida

Category:Cities in Walton County, Florida

Category:Cities in Florida

Category:1880s establishments in Florida

Category:Populated places established in the 1880s