Moving to Niceville
—
July 13th, 2021
Niceville, FL sees a lot of new visitors every year. Located near Elgin Air Force Base, our town is proud to have both members of the military and the civilian workforce located in the area. If you’re one of the many people who have recently moved here, we’re happy to see you come. Here are a few great things that you should know about our great town if you’re moving to Niceville, FL.
Moving to Niceville, FL One of the Best Towns in America
We are proud that Niceville, FL features regularly in “best-of” lists. Here are a few of our great mentions in national websites and media:
-10 Best Place to Live in Florida - SmartTravel.Tips
-Best Place to Raise Kids 2012 - Bloomberg Businessweek
-One of Florida's Safest Places to Raise a Family - niche.com
-One of the Safest Places in Florida - Movoto.com
-The Cheapest Yet Greatest Place to Live in Florida - OnlyInYourState.com
-One of the 100 Safest Cities in Florida - National Council for Home Safety
Located near Elgin Air Force Base, Niceville has a population of approximately 15,000. This perfect size, just big enough to have stuff to do and small enough to feel like a small town, makes Niceville a great place to raise a family. Here are some reasons why:
-Great Schools: Niceville schools are consistently ranked highly in Florida with a high school graduation rate that is 6 percent higher than the Florida average
-Crime: Niceville is one of the safest cities in Florida with a crime rated as 41 percent lower than the rest of the state
-Employment: The median household income in Niceville is 24 percent higher than the rest of the state
Since Niceville is such a great area, the cost of living can be a little higher than the rest of Florida. Some people find that the housing they can afford doesn’t quite fit all their belongings. You may want to check on a local storage unit in case you need one.
Short History of Niceville, FL
Niceville began as Boggy, Florida (you can see why we changed the name!). It was founded by William Nathey when he settled in the area in 1840 and built the first gristmill. In 1862, the homestead act provided that every adult citizen who had never born arms against the U. S. Government could claim 160 acres of government land. This created a boom in the Niceville, and the town has been here ever since.
President Roosevelt established Choctawhatchee National Forest in 1908, setting aside much of the surrounding area as a forest preserve. Just prior to World War II, congress transferred the national forest to the War Department and eventually to the Air Force, and it has been home to Elgin Air Force Base ever since.
Fun Things To Do
There are many wonderful things to do in our fair town. Here are a few of the highlights:
Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park Located on the waters of Rocky Bayou, Fred Gannon Rocky Bayou State Park houses some amazing examples of old-growth, longleaf pine trees, some of which are more than 300 years old. It’s proximity to the water makes it a popular site for boating and fishing with one of the best boat ramps in the area. Hiking, camping, and playgrounds make this a popular spot.
Children’s Park The children’s park, in Niceville, is a popular spot for parents to bring their children for outdoor fun. The park has attendants to answer questions and to help parents and their children have a fun, safe time. The spray park is an especially popular way too cool off in the summer. Palm trees, mushrooms, and blue herons spray water at playing children with tables and sun umbrellas nearby for parents.
Mullet Festival The Mullet festival is not business in the front, party in the back. The celebration focuses on smoked and fried mullet along with many other interesting foods like shrimp, alligator on a stick, crawfish, oysters, and other great treats. Local bands provide entertainment for the annual three-day festival. Looking forward to it’s 42nd year in 2018, the festival is like an annual reunion for the locals, and it has been rated in the top 10 small-town festivals in Florida.
Whenever someone moves to a new area, there’s a lot to learn. You should have a lot of fun learning about the wonderful city of Niceville. One of the best cities in Florida, it has a great economy, lots of activities, and it’s a great place to raise a family.
Storage Blog