Niceville, Florida

Niceville is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States, located near Eglin Air Force Base on Boggy Bayou that opens into Choctawhatchee Bay. It is part of the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 15,772 at the 2020 census, up from 12,749 at the 2010 census.

Niceville, Florida
City
Niceville City Hall, September 2014
Location in Okaloosa County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 30°30′58″N 86°28′18″W
Country	United States
State	Florida
County	Okaloosa
Area [1]
• Total	14.92 sq mi (38.63 km2)
• Land	14.41 sq mi (37.33 km2)
• Water	0.50 sq mi (1.30 km2)
Elevation	36 ft (11 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	15,772
• Density	1,094.21/sq mi (422.49/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP codes	32578, 32588
Area code	850
FIPS code	12-48750[2]
GNIS feature ID	0294621[3]
Website	www.cityofniceville.org

History

When mail service began on July 21, 1868, the city was known as Boggy,^[4] and on November 5, 1910, the name was officially changed to Niceville.^[5] The name Niceville was selected by the postmaster's daughter.^[6] In 1915, Niceville became part of newly formed Okaloosa County after previously being in Walton County.^[7] It is a twin city along with Valparaiso, which borders it on the west side of the city.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.3 square miles (29 km²), of which 10.9 square miles (28 km²) is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) is water.

Climate

Climate data for Niceville, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1937–present
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	80 (27)	87 (31)	96 (36)	92 (33)	101 (38)	102 (39)	107 (42)	103 (39)	102 (39)	99 (37)	89 (32)	84 (29)	107 (42)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	72.3 (22.4)	74.9 (23.8)	80.7 (27.1)	83.4 (28.6)	91.1 (32.8)	94.0 (34.4)	95.6 (35.3)	95.1 (35.1)	93.2 (34.0)	88.8 (31.6)	81.1 (27.3)	75.0 (23.9)	97.0 (36.1)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	61.2 (16.2)	64.7 (18.2)	70.2 (21.2)	76.2 (24.6)	83.5 (28.6)	88.2 (31.2)	89.9 (32.2)	89.7 (32.1)	87.1 (30.6)	80.2 (26.8)	70.7 (21.5)	63.8 (17.7)	77.1 (25.1)
Daily mean °F (°C)	49.6 (9.8)	52.8 (11.6)	58.3 (14.6)	64.6 (18.1)	72.4 (22.4)	78.8 (26.0)	80.8 (27.1)	80.6 (27.0)	77.3 (25.2)	68.4 (20.2)	57.9 (14.4)	52.4 (11.3)	66.2 (19.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	38.0 (3.3)	40.8 (4.9)	46.4 (8.0)	53.0 (11.7)	61.4 (16.3)	69.4 (20.8)	71.7 (22.1)	71.5 (21.9)	67.6 (19.8)	56.5 (13.6)	45.1 (7.3)	41.0 (5.0)	55.2 (12.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	21.0 (−6.1)	24.7 (−4.1)	30.0 (−1.1)	38.3 (3.5)	47.9 (8.8)	62.5 (16.9)	67.3 (19.6)	66.3 (19.1)	55.6 (13.1)	39.5 (4.2)	29.9 (−1.2)	25.4 (−3.7)	19.9 (−6.7)
Record low °F (°C)	4 (−16)	11 (−12)	19 (−7)	20 (−7)	38 (3)	48 (9)	55 (13)	55 (13)	37 (3)	27 (−3)	18 (−8)	8 (−13)	4 (−16)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	5.86 (149)	5.25 (133)	5.35 (136)	5.99 (152)	3.78 (96)	6.79 (172)	8.91 (226)	9.21 (234)	6.97 (177)	4.60 (117)	4.97 (126)	5.68 (144)	73.36 (1,862)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	10.0	9.6	7.9	7.6	7.2	12.5	14.6	14.9	9.9	6.3	7.0	11.2	118.7
Source: NOAA[8][9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1940	948		—
1950	2,497		163.4%
1960	4,517		80.9%
1970	4,155		−8.0%
1980	8,543		105.6%
1990	10,507		23.0%
2000	11,684		11.2%
2010	12,749		9.1%
2020	15,772		23.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 and 2020 census

Niceville racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race	Pop 2010[11]	Pop 2020[12]	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	10,704	11,922	83.96%	75.59%
Black or African American (NH)	519	721	4.07%	4.57%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	65	49	0.51%	0.31%
Asian (NH)	400	549	3.14%	3.48%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)	11	36	0.09%	0.23%
Some other race (NH)	23	79	0.18%	0.50%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)	427	1,135	3.35%	7.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	600	1,281	4.71%	8.12%
Total	12,749	15,772

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 15,772 people, 5,454 households, and 4,153 families residing in the city.^[13]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 12,749 people, 5,245 households, and 3,933 families residing in the city.^[14]

2000 census

As of census^[2] of 2000, there were 11,684 people, 4,637 households, and 3,385 families living in the city. The population density was 1,069.8 inhabitants per square mile (413.1/km²). There were 4,907 housing units at an average density of 449.3 per square mile (173.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.25% White, 4.58% African American, 0.74% Native American, 3.20% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 1.14% from other races, and 2.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.71% of the population.

Of the 4,637 households in 2000, 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.3% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.0% were non-families. 21.8% of households were one person and 7.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.89.

In 2000, the age distribution was 23.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.1 males.

In 2000, the median household income was $45,685 and the median family income was $51,627. Males had a median income of $34,583 versus $20,987 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,175. About 7.2% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

• Bluewater Elementary
• James E. Plew Elementary
• Lula J. Edge Elementary
• Addie R. Lewis Middle School
• C.W. Ruckel Middle School
• Niceville High School
• Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College
• Northwest Florida State College
• Rocky Bayou Christian School

Arts and culture

The Boggy Fest, previously known as the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival, was held annually in Niceville.^[15]

Notable people

• Anna Banks, author
• Jason Craig, comic book artist
• Roy Finch, football player
• Matt Gaetz, former U.S. Representative for Florida's 1st congressional district, lives here^[16]
• Rece Hinds, baseball player
• Shin Hyun-joon, South Korean diplomat, military officer and the first Commandant of the Republic of Korea Marine Corps, retired here^[17]
• Jarret Johnson, football player
• Cris Judd, actor
• Louis C. Menetrey, Army general
• Jimmy Nelson, baseball pitcher
• Pam Oliver, sportscaster
• Julian Pittman, football player
• Conrad Ricamora, actor
• Alan Ritchson, actor
• Tony Sipp, baseball player
• Toby Turner, YouTuber known as Tobuscus