Destin, Florida

Destin, Florida
Destin, Florida
City
	City of Destin
	View of Destin from the Destin Harbor
	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 / 30.39333°N 86.47528°W
Country	United States of America
State	Florida
County	Okaloosa
Government
• Type	Council-Manager
• Mayor	Bobby Wagner
• City Council	Councilors: Matthew Sweetser; Dewey Destin; Terésa Hebert; Johnny King; Kevin Schmidt; Jim Bagby; Torey Geile;
• 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

Destin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. It is a principal city of the Crestview–Fort Walton Beach–Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 13,931 at the 2020 census, up from 12,305 at the 2010 census.

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.^[4] The city styles itself "The World's Luckiest Fishing Village"^[5]^[6] and claims to have the largest fishing vessel fleet in the state of Florida.^[7]

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.

^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
^ "Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Segments & Information - Segment 2 - Santa Rosa Sound/Emerald Coast". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
^ Goggin, Emma, "Destin Is Still Luckiest Fishing Village Around", Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Wednesday 19 March 1975, Volume 30, Number 35, page 2C.
^ "World's Luckiest Fishing Village". Destin Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
^ "Welcome to the City of Destin!". City of Destin. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2007.

[CenPopGazetteer2020-1] "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 31, 2021.

[GR2-2] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

[GR3-3] "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.

[dep-emeraldcoast-4] "Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail Segments & Information - Segment 2 - Santa Rosa Sound/Emerald Coast". Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Archived from the original on July 31, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2022.

[5] Goggin, Emma, "Destin Is Still Luckiest Fishing Village Around", Playground Daily News, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Wednesday 19 March 1975, Volume 30, Number 35, page 2C.

[history-fishing-6] "World's Luckiest Fishing Village". Destin Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved November 26, 2007.

[city-history-7] "Welcome to the City of Destin!". City of Destin. Archived from the original on January 16, 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2007.

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