A Fort Walton Local Shares Why He Loves Living in Okaloosa County, FL

Mike Haytack

Steve Riggs first visited Fort Walton Beach in 1958 as a 4-year-old when his family came to the region while his uncle was based at Eglin Air Force Base. While his family was driving back home to Arkansas, his parents announced they were selling everything, including his dad’s grocery store, and moving to Fort Walton Beach. Liquidating their assets took two years, but they made the move in 1960. Riggs was a first grader. 

“I didn’t know it at the time, but the day we moved to Okaloosa County was the happiest day of my life,” he says. “It turned out to be a wonderful choice.” 

Riggs went to college in Pensacola, where he studied to become a CPA. Then he moved across the state to Jacksonville, where he spent eight years. He and his family decided to return to Okaloosa County when his oldest son was getting ready to enter kindergarten, as they didn’t like the school options in their area. They returned in 1980 and have lived here since. Livability chatted with Riggs about living and working here. 

What do you love about Okaloosa County and what made you want to return? 

It’s a clean, decent area to live and raise children. It’s just a different environment here than it is in other larger cities, and that’s attractive to me. 

What kind of entertainment options are in the area and nearby? 

If you wanted to go to a bigger city, you’re a 3.5-hour drive from New Orleans and a 5-hour drive from Atlanta. I participated in youth sports, and so did my children. In middle and high school, my three sons and one daughter were in sports and one was in band. My kids also took advantage of the outdoors – they love boating and fishing. We have plays that are performed in the area, and there are concerts; a lot of famous artists have second homes here. 

What types of opportunities are there for people to get involved and volunteer? 

I was active in Rotary, but the area has every civic club or charity that is out there. There are so many things you can be active doing, if you’re so inclined. I was part of the Okaloosa County Economic Development Council, for example, which is more business-related, but there’s a little bit of everything here. 

Is the community friendly and welcoming to newcomers? 

There are a lot of military kids here; they’re used to moving and getting acclimated, which is just part of military life. As a school kid, you might have someone move into your high school and a year later, they’re class president. There’s also an element of Southern gentility here in Fort Walton Beach, because we’re part of the South, and people are just nice. I’m considered a local, but even our people here because of military service who are here temporarily get along well with everyone. 

Are there job opportunities for people looking to grow in their career? 

Every defense contractor has a physical location, whether it’s Boeing, Lockheed Martin, just name the defense contractor. If you’re in that industry or manufacturing, science or engineering, there are lots of opportunities. There are always opportunities for people in law or accounting. 

If you want to be the lead in a Broadway show, you have to go to New York, but apart from that, northwest Florida has jobs for everybody in every profession, mathematics, hospitality, restaurants. There’s anything here if you’re willing to work.