Walton County Map, Florida
Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Walton County, Florida. With a population of 75,305 living across 1,058 square miles of land, Walton County is one of 15 counties in the Northwest Florida region. The county seat is DeFuniak Springs, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12131 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.
Walton contains South Walton — the 26 miles of Emerald Coast beach communities along Scenic Highway 30A, including Seaside, Rosemary Beach, and Watercolor — as well as the historic inland town of DeFuniak Springs.
Walton County at a glance
A concise reference summary of Walton County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.
- Official name
- Walton County
- County seat
- DeFuniak Springs
- FIPS code
- 12131
- Region
- Northwest Florida
- Established
- 1824
- Named for
- George Walton, Georgia signer of the Declaration of Independence.
- Land area
- 1,058 sq mi
- Water area
- 174 sq mi
- Total area
- 1,232 sq mi
- Population (2020)
- 75,305
- Population density
- 71 / sq mi
- Time zone
- Central Time
Where is Walton County, Florida?
Walton County is located in the Northwest Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, DeFuniak Springs, is the administrative hub — home to the courthouse, county commission chambers, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court.
The county spans a total of 1,232 square miles — 1,058 of land and 174 of water — and operates on Central Time. Federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, USGS, and FEMA reference the county by its FIPS code, 12131, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.
Walton County shares borders with 4 neighboring counties: Okaloosa County, Holmes County, Washington County, Bay County. Use the interactive map above to explore where those boundaries meet or jump directly to any neighboring county page for a side-by-side comparison.
Walton County geography & landscape
Sugar-white Gulf beaches, coastal dune lakes (a globally rare feature), the Choctawhatchee Bay, and inland pine forests.
The county's overall footprint — 1,058 square miles of land plus 174 square miles of water — places it in the mid-range of Florida's 67 counties by area. Elevation across most of Florida is modest, and land-use, drainage basins, and habitat corridors defined by state and federal agencies (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Water Management Districts) shape how growth and conservation coexist here.
Economy & industry in Walton County
Tourism and vacation rentals (30A), real estate, construction, and agriculture and forestry in the north.
Employment, tax base, and land use in Walton County reflect its location in Northwest Florida and its position in the state's middle tier of population. Economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publish updated employer and workforce data for the county on their portals.
History of Walton County
Established 1824. DeFuniak Springs was a late-19th-century Chautauqua town; Seaside (founded 1981) became a landmark of New Urbanism and served as the setting for The Truman Show.
Established in 1824, Walton County is one of Florida's earliest counties. Its boundaries, seat, and government have evolved through territorial, statehood, Reconstruction, and modern eras — a lineage documented by the Florida Historical Society, the State Archives of Florida, and the Walton County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.
Tourism & things to do in Walton County
Scenic Highway 30A, Seaside, Rosemary Beach, Grayton Beach State Park, Point Washington State Forest, and DeFuniak Springs' historic Circle.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Walton County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its Northwest Florida identity. For the latest hours, admission fees, and seasonal events, check the county's official tourism development council and the Florida State Parks portal (floridastateparks.org).
Cities, towns & communities in Walton County
Walton County contains the following incorporated cities, towns, and notable census-designated places. Each municipality provides local services, zoning, and police protection within the broader county jurisdiction. Use the ZIP code lookupto jump between Florida counties instantly.
Getting to Walton County
Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Walton County.
- I-10
- US-98
- US-331
- US-90
- SR-30A
- Destin–Fort Walton Beach nearby
- Northwest Florida Beaches International nearby
Walton County GIS, parcel & boundary data
Walton County's authoritative boundary lines, parcel data, zoning layers, flood zones, and land-use inventories are maintained by county government and state agencies. Use the official links in the sidebar for parcel lookups, appraiser searches, and record requests. For statewide GIS, the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publish downloadable layers keyed to FIPS 12131.
You can download this county's outline as SVG, PNG, or a printable PDF factsheet using the export tools in the sidebar — perfect for reports, presentations, classroom handouts, or planning documents.
Frequently asked about Walton County
Population figures reflect the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 decennial count with ACS 5-year updates where noted. Land and water areas come from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files. Highway designations use Florida Department of Transportation route inventories. County establishment dates and namesakes are drawn from the Florida Association of Counties and State Archives of Florida. See our methodology page.
Nearby Florida counties
Counties that share a border with Walton County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.