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.

History

When mail service began on July 21, 1868, the city was known as Boggy, and on November 5, 1910, the name was officially changed to Niceville. The name Niceville was selected by the postmaster's daughter. In 1915, Niceville became part of newly formed Okaloosa County after previously being in Walton County. 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 , of which is land and is water.

Climate

Demographics

Racial and ethnic composition

{| class="wikitable"

|+Niceville racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>

!Race

!Pop 2010

!Pop 2020

!% 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

|

|

|-

|}

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Niceville had a population of 15,772. The median age was 40.2 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 17.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.2 males age 18 and over.

99.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,246 households in Niceville, of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 54.9% were married-couple households, 16.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 12,749 people, 5,245 households, and 3,933 families residing in the city.

2000 census

As of census

School district-operated public schools:

  • Bluewater Elementary
  • James E. Plew Elementary
  • Lula J. Edge Elementary
  • Addie R. Lewis Middle School
  • C.W. Ruckel Middle School
  • Niceville High School

Charter schools:

  • Collegiate High School at Northwest Florida State College

Private school:

  • Rocky Bayou Christian School

Colleges and universities:

  • Northwest Florida State College

Arts and culture

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

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
  • Rece Hinds, baseball player
  • Shin Hyun-joon, South Korean diplomat, military officer, retired here
  • 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

References

  • boggyflora.com
  • Northwest Florida Daily News