General Information & Tourism
Walton, Okaloosa, and Bay counties are all located on the 100 mile stretch of The Emerald Coast. With beautiful white sand beaches and emerald green water, these counties are not only prime vacation destinations, but home to some of the best cities to raise a family.
Walton County
Walton County is located in the Florida Panhandle and is among the largest geographic counties in the state of Florida extending from the Alabama state line to the scenic Emerald Coast along the Gulf of Mexico. Walton County offers its residents and visitors powdery white beaches, emerald waters, enjoyable golf courses, and much more.
Okaloosa County
Okaloosa County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the state of Florida, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. As of July 2025, the population was 221,810, and its county seat is Crestview.
Bay County
Bay County is a county in the state of Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 168,852 and its county seat is Panama City, Florida. Bay County is included in the Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and crystal blue water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round. These beaches attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.
Airport & Transportation Services
Airport General Information
Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS)
Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) is the preferred aviation gateway to Florida’s Gulf Coast and is an excellent option when making travel plans to Northwest Florida. Convenient and centrally located within the top ten places to live and do business throughout the United States, Destin – Fort Walton Beach Airport (FlyVPS) is an exceptional resource for travelers who favor distinct modern amenities without congestion.
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Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP)
The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is a public airport 18 miles northwest of Panama City, in Bay County. The airport is owned by the Panama City-Bay County Airport & Industrial District. and is north of Panama City Beach, Florida, near West Bay. It replaced Panama City-Bay County International Airport, which was in Panama City.
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Hospitals and Emergency Services
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast is a 58-bed hospital located just east of Destin in Miramar Beach. Recognized by Thomson Reuters as one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals’ in 2008. Sacred Heart offers a wide range of medical and surgical services, including 24-hour emergency care, an intensive care unit, a dedicated joint replacement program, cardiac diagnostics, cancer care, rehabilitation services, laboratory and radiology services, and comprehensive women’s services with the Family Birth Place and the Olson Women’s Diagnostic Center.
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North Okaloosa Medical Center
North Okaloosa Medical Center is your community healthcare provider; a 110-bed facility with complete inpatient and outpatient care. We believe in the power of people to create great care. We’re more than 600 healthcare professionals strong. We are a Joint Commission and Mammography accredited facility. And we work hard every day to be a place of healing, caring and connection for patients and families in the community we call home.
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Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center
At Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center, you’ll find a hospital that has earned the Joint Commission’s National Gold Seal of Approval for our spine, stroke and wound care programs. Additionally, our cancer program is accredited with commendation by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
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Government
Each of these counties are home to a Sheriff’s Department that is an agency of the state of Florida.
Walton County Police Department
Website | 850.892.8111
Okaloosa County Police Department
Website | 850.689.5705 N. Okaloosa | 850.651.7400 S. Okaloosa
Bay County Police Department
Website | 850.747.4700