Laurel Hill, Florida

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Laurel Hill, Florida
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in Okaloosa County and the state of Florida


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = flag|United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = flag|Florida
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = noflag|Okaloosa
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area_total_km2 = 8.1
area_land_km2 = 8.1
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.1
area_land_sq_mi = 3.1
area_water_sq_mi = 0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 549
population_density_km2 = 67.8
population_density_sq_mi = 177.1
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timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
latd = 30 |latm = 57 |lats = 55 |latNS = N
longd = 86 |longm = 27 |longs = 33 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 86
elevation_ft = 282
postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 32567
area_code = 850
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 12-39650GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0285397GR|3
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Laurel Hill is a city in Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. The population was 549 at the 2000 census. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 576 [http://www.census.gov/popest/cities/tables/SUB-EST2004-04-12.xls] .

Geography

Laurel Hill is located at coor dms|30|57|55|N|86|27|33|W (30.965369, -86.459149)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.1 km² (3.1 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 549 people, 223 households, and 158 families residing in the city. The population density was 67.5/km² (174.9/mi²). There were 254 housing units at an average density of 31.2/km² (80.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 77.23% White, 21.68% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.73% from other races, and 0.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.09% of the population.

There were 223 households out of which 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 17.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $25,385, and the median income for a family was $28,281. Males had a median income of $25,809 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,949. About 18.0% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

History and Other Features

The area which is now Laurel Hill was one of the first English-speaking settlements in Florida. Settlers were documented establishing a community, originally known as Almirante, soon after Florida's acquisition by the United States in 1821. In the 1880's, railroad access to north-west Florida opened up a booming lumber industry, with the Yellow River Railroad reaching the Almirante (Laurel Hill) area by 1892. In 1895 Almirante, then just a small logging and farming community, was platted and renamed Laurel Hill, the name purportedly inspired by a large laurel tree which grew in the center of the community. Growing rapidly, the community was incorporated by the Florida Legislature in 1905.

Although in 1915 Laurel Hill was the largest community in newly created Okaloosa County, the town lost out becoming the Okaloosa county seat to the more centrally located town of Crestview. Laurel Hill's economic fortunes went into a decline after World War I, a waning intensified by the Florida land speculation collapse of the 1920's which resulted in the closing of Laurel Hill's only bank. In order to install infrastructure improvements and to re-stimulate the community, Laurel Hill was reincorporated in 1953.

* First held in 1992, the Laurel Hill Hobo Festival is an annual event scheduled for the first Saturday in October.

* The team name for the Laurel Hill School is the "Hoboes", allegedly the only school in the US with this team name.

References

External links

[http://www.laurelhillhobo-pride.com/Home_Page.php Laurel Hill High School Reunion Committee website]

[http://laurelhillnow.com Laurel Hill Community website]

[http://laurelhillnow.com/hobo_festival.htm Laurel Hill Hobo Festival]