City of Freeport Florida

City of Freeport Florida Home

Freeport, Florida

HISTORY OF FREEPORT Freeport began about 1830 when settlers were attracted to the natural harbor of LaGrange Bayou located near the eastern end of Choctawhatchee Bay and the mouth of the Choctawhatchee River. ORIGIN OF THE NAME "FREEPORT"Freeport was first known as Genoa and later Four Mile Landing. During the Civil War, Four Mile Landing began to be referred to as Freeport, literally because there was no charge to dock at the port area at the junction of Four Mile Creek and LaFayette Creek. Another locally circulated story is that at some point in that time period, an unclaimed shipment of wine was discovered in the port area and everyone in the area was encouraged to come have a little "free port"!FIRST SETTLERSFreeport remains home for many the founding families who first settled in this area. In the 1850 census, most of the heads of house were listed as farmer/boatmen. Many of the residents farmed their land and fished in the down-time or worked the commercial fishing boats/cargo vessels. The farmers traded their farm produce and livestock for other items they could not grow or make themselves. A goodly number of folk migrated to the area with the establishment of the lumber mills. The various landings were named for the families that settled along LaGrange Bayou, Four Mile Creek, Black Creek and the Choctawhatchee River INDUSTRY, PAST AND PRESENT For many years, Freeport, with its steamboat and schooner connections to Pensacola, and up the Choctawhatchee River to Geneva, Alabama was the commercial and political hub of Walton County. The first mail delivered in the county came by water from Pensacola to Freeport, and an overland stagecoach route from Tallahassee connected with steamboat service near Freeport. Most of the goods ordered from Pensacola were freighted from Freeport by commercially operated wagon trains which followed the routed leading northeast from Freeport through the Euchee Valley to the town of Cerro Gordo on the Choctawhatchee River above Westville. Following Reconstruction (post-Civil War), the lumbering and naval stores industries became important. Mills were built along waterways as they had to depend on water transportation. In 1918, the Valparaiso Development Company purchased land at Freeport for the North and South Farms, planted sugar cane and shipped to Chicago. Today, the Freeport Shipyard and Murphy Oil dominate the original port area at the juncture of Four Mile Creek and LaFayette Creek at the head of LaGrange Bayou. A goodly number of residents work on Eglin Air Force Base, as military personnel, contractors or civil service, but the lions share work south of the Bay in South Walton County either in county employment, construction, or in one of the service industries associated with the tourist trade of that area (real estate, hotels, restaurants, retail, etc.) Freeport is literally the crossroads between North and South Walton County. It is advantageously situated and within driving proximity to Tallahassee, Pensacola, Montgomery, Ft. Walton Beach, and Panama City. It is within an hour of the Okaloosa County Regional Airport, the Bay County Regional Airport the Destin Municipal Airport and the DeFuniak Springs Municipal Airport. It is a half-hours drive from the beaches and golf courses of South Walton. Freeport is a proud cooperative neighbor of Eglin Air Force Base which borders the city limits. Freeport is a progressive small city on the verge of great things to come!Note: The historical information contained in this summary was generously provided by Freeport Historian Becky Buxton.

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Business Directory

Economic Alliance

Sports Complex

5 baseball fields

2 basketball courts

3 tennis courts

2 Full size soccer fields

1 Sand Volleyball court

18 hole Disc Golf Course

and much more!

NEW! We have just added a downloadable list of FREEPORT REGISTERED BUSINESSES & NONRESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT. Click the button below to download the .pdf file.

Directory.pdf

Contact

City Telephone: 850-835-2822 City FAX: 850-835-3137City Email: freeport_freeportflorida.govPostal AddressP.O. Box 339 Freeport Fl. 32439 Street Address (Shipping)112 Hwy 20 West Freeport Fl. 32439

Email List

Contact List
NOTICE: Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing. Chapter 668, Florida StatutesFreeport City Council J.M. Marse Mayor / Administrator - mayor_freeportflorida.gov Earl King Council Member Ray Jackson Council Member Charlie Simmons Council Member Elizabeth Brannon Council Member Harold Taunton Jr. Council MemberCity Staff Robin Haynes City Clerk - rhaynes_freeportflorida.gov Office: 850-835-2822 Al Wilson Administrative Assistant - awilson_freeportflorida.gov Latilda Henninger Planning & Zoning - lhenninger_freeportflorida.gov Office: 850-835-2340 Floyd McKenzie Accounts Payable - fmckenzie_freeportflorida.gov Jennifer Douglas - Utility Billing Clerk - jdouglas_freeportflorida.gov Donna Hinson - Utility Billing Clerk - dhinson_freeportflorida.govRecreation Department Shane Supple - Parks - ssupple_freeportflorida.gov Office: 850-835-2822 www.freeportsportscomplex.comPublic Works Larry Tuggle - Water Supervisor - ltuggle_freeportflorida.gov Office: 850-880-6553 Fax: 850-880-6554 Robert Fawcett Sewer Supervisor - rfawcett_freeportflorida.gov Office: 850-835-4544 Fax: 850-835-3272 Fire Department Ben Greenslait Fire Chief - bgreenslait_freeportflorida.gov Office: 850-835-2192 Fax: 850-835-2426

Links

Links

Fire and Rescue

Walton EMS

Sheriffs Office

Sewer Department

Water Department

Parks

Community Centers

Schools

Employment

Other Links

Fire and Rescue

Fire and Rescue

The City of Freeport Fire Department provides fire protection and BLS First Response Medical to the citizens of the City of Freeport and the Communities of Black Creek, Bay Grove, J. W. Hollington, Portland, and Basin Bayou.

The City of Freeport Fire Department is a combination (Paid/Volunteer) department that is always looking for new members. If you are interested in volunteering for the department and live in one of the communities listed above please contact the fire department at 850-835-2192

Walton EMS

Sheriffs Office

Sewer Department

Sewer Department

The City of Freeport provides waste water treatment to the citizens with in the city limits of Freeport at this time. The city is working to expand sewer lines around Bay Loop Rood and to the Communities of Black Creek and Bay Grove.

For more information on sewer service please call 850-835-2822

Water Department

Water Department

City of Freeport provides potable drinking water for the City of Freeport and the communities of Black Creek, Bay Grove, J.W. Hollington, and Portland

The City of Freeport Purchased the North Bay Water System from a privet company several years ago and began a multi million dollar upgrade to provide reliable drinking water to the citizens of the communities of Villa Tasso and Choctaw Beach in western Walton County. All water customers should be on the new system by May 31st 2005. The upgrades consisted of all new water lines, a new water tower, a new new water well, and fire hydrants being installed. The fire hydrants should lower home owners insurance. Please contact the Tri-Village Fire Department for more information

For more information on the North Bay Water System please call 850-835-2822

The City of Freeport owns and operates the North Bay Water System that provides potable drinking water to the communities of Villa Tasso and Choctaw Beach in western Walton County.

2010 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report

2010CCR Freeport.pdf

2010CCRNorth BayCCR.pdf

Parks

Parks

Freeport Regional Sports Complex

Freeport Municipal Pool

Casey Kids Park

H A Laird Park

Freeport Regional Sports Complex www.freeportsportscomplex.comThe Freeport Regional Sports Complex is a brand new state of the art facility located off East Bayloop Rd. on 60 acres in Freeport, Florida. The complex boast Baseball and Softball fields, Soccer/ Football fields, Basketball courts, Tennis courts, Shuffle Board courts, Beach Volleyball, paved walking/ jogging trails, and a massive playground with multiple options for children of all ages!Park hours are 10 am to 10 pm Monday Friday and 7 am to 10 pm Saturday-Sunday and are subject to change if need be.Complex Rules: Absolutely NO alcohol at anytime in any section of the complex! No Animals (excluding service dogs) No Scooters or Skateboards No Unsportsmanlike Conduct No Littering Please be courteous and respectful to the people around you Please use designated smoking areas. Please help keep your park clean. Please use trash receptacles and ashtrays. Have a great day and enjoy our beautiful complex!

Freeport Municipal Pool

Freeport Municipal Pool

Open 7 days a week

835-2574

This park is managed by the YMCA of Walton County

Click here to visit their web site for more info

Casey Kids Park

Casey Kid's Park is located next to city hall on Hwy 20 West

H A Laird Park

H. A. Laird Park is located on Hwy 20 West about 1.5 miles west of the intersection of Hwy 331 and Hwy 20 West.

H. A. Laird park offers a small play ground, 2 covered pavilions, restrooms and a walking trail.

Community Centers

Community Centers

Rates

Old Post Office

331 Community Center

Rates

The city has 2 community centers that are available to the public for use upon request. To request the use of one of the community centers please come by city hall located at 112 Hwy 20 West to pick up a application, click the button below, or call 850-835-2822

cc rental.pdf

(Adobe Reader required to view files)

Old Post Office

Old Post Office

The Old Post Office Community Center is located at 41 Hwy 20 East.

It has 1 meeting room and it will seat up to 40 people.

331 Community Center

331 Community Center

The 331 Community Center is located at 16040 US Hwy 331 South and offers 2 meeting rooms and a kitchen.

It also has seating for up to 75 people

Schools

Schools

The Walton County School District maintains a elementary, middle, and high school with in the City of Freeport.

These schools not only serve the cities school children but the communities around Freeport also.

Walton County School District

The Walton County School District is responsible for all public schools within Walton County

To learn more about the the school district CLICK HERE or call 850-892-1100

Freeport Elementary School

Freeport Elementary School is located at 15381 US Highway 331 South and is a A+ school

To learn more about the school CLICK HERE or call 850-892-1211

Freeport Middle School

Freeport Middle School is located at 360 Kylea Laird Dr. and is a A school

To learn more about the school CLICK HERE or call 850-892-1221

Freeport High School

Freeport High School is located at 12615 US Highway 331 South and is a C school

To learn more about the school CLICK HERE or call 850-892-1209

Employment

Employment

City of Freeport has the current vacancies:

None

The City of Freeport has 0 current job openings

For more information or a application contact city hall 850-835-2822

City of Freeport is a Drug-free Workplace according to Florida Statutes 400.102; EOE/AA/VP

Other Links

Other Links

Local Links

Walton County

City of DeFuniak Springs

Walton County Chamber of Commerce

Walton County Economic Development Council

State Links

State of Florida

National Link

FEMA

Calendar

City of Freeport Calendar

Reports

Reports

Download The City Of Freeport's reports below. Adobe Reader is required and available as a free download below.

(Adobe Reader required to view files)

2009 Freeport City Elections Audit Report

Economic Development Incentives Report

2010 Water Quality Reports

ECREPORT2010.pdf

2010CCR Freeport.pdf

VotingReport.pdf

ECREPORT2011.pdf

2010CCRNorth BayCCR.pdf

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