Destin, Florida
Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. It is a principal city of the Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin metropolitan area.
Destin, Florida | |
|---|---|
| City of Destin | |
|
Seal | |
| Nickname: "World's Luckiest Fishing Village" | |
Location in Okaloosa County and the state of Florida | |
| Coordinates: 30°23′36″N 86°28′31″W | |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | Florida |
| County | Okaloosa |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Bobby Wagner |
| • City Council | Councilors:
|
| • City Manager | Lance Johnson |
| • City Clerk | Rey Bailey |
| Area | |
| • Total | 7.66 sq mi (19.83 km2) |
| • Land | 7.49 sq mi (19.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2) |
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
| • Total | 13,931 |
| • Density | 1,859.20/sq mi (717.82/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP codes | 32540-32541 |
| Area code | 850 |
| FIPS code | 12-17325 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0281516 |
| Website | www.cityofdestin.com |
Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its white beaches and emerald green waters. Originating as a small fishing village, it is now a popular tourist destination. According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, over 80 percent of the Emerald Coast's 4.5 million visitors each year visit Destin. The city styles itself "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village" and claims to have the largest fishing vessel fleet in the state of Florida.
The city is located on a peninsula separating the Gulf of Mexico from Choctawhatchee Bay. The peninsula was originally a barrier island. Hurricanes and sea level changes gradually connected it to the mainland. In the 1940s, it technically became an island again with the completion of the Choctawhatchee-West Bay Canal.