History of Walton County

In the spring of 1818, the Euchee Chief Sam Story, who was on a traveling visit to Pensacola, invited Nell McLennan and Daniel D. Campbell to join him.  This was the start of a migration of emigrants of Scottish descent from the Carolinas.  The original settlement was at Eucheeanna near Bruce Creek.  This was the Walton County seat from 1828 until 1890, when the seat was moved to its current location of DeFuniak Springs.

With it's location on Choctawhatchee Bay, Freeport was founded in the 1830s as port for commerce, cattle, lumber, and naval stores.  Red Bay was also founded in the 1820s, Paxton in the 1830s.  While the beach area had limited population, the construction of the Clyde B. Wells Bridge over the Bay in 1946 facilitated growth along the coast.

The County's early settlers were stockmen working sheep and cattle.  In the late 1800s and early 1900s, naval stores and timber played an important part in the country's economy.

Walton County boasts the highest point in the state of Florida and 345 feet above sea level near Lakewood.  It also is home to the oldest library in the state in its original building in DeFuniak Springs, the state's oldest organized Presbyterian Church, which was founded on May 27, 1827.  It also has the first confederate war memorial monument to honor those from the county who fell in the Civil War.  The memorial was first located in Eucheeanna at the Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church; in the 1890s it was moved to its present location on the courthouse grounds in DeFuniak Springs.

Grayton Beach is the oldest of all of Walton County's Beach Communities.  From as early as the 1890's, families from DeFuniak Springs and Chipley began making Grayton Beach their vacation destination.  In 1920, the area was marketed for development.  In 1940, electricity was brought to this hidden coastal treasure.  In 1942, Grayton Beach became a guard station for beach patrol at that time the pristine beaches were patrolled by horses.  It is said in those days one could spend days on the untouched beaches with little or no human contact.  In 1981, Seaside became the symbol for small town southern living.  Since then the beach communities of Walton County have seen much growth and development with a strong commitment to maintain the original charm and quaintness of the area.