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Welcome to the City of DeFuniak Springs
Official Website
On behalf of the City of DeFuniak Springs, Mayor C. Harold Carpenter and
the members of the City Council welcome you to the Official Home Page of the
City of DeFuniak Springs. We've designed this site as a place for residents,
businesses and visitors to find detailed information on the many services
we provide. We also hope you will explore the information on our history
and discover our many attractions that offer you a beautiful place to live
or visit! Again, welcome and we look forward to serving you.
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Click Here for Information for Military Families or Others Transitioning to Our Area.
July Newsletter July Calendar of Events
August Newsletter August Calendar of Events
REQUEST FOR BIDS - FENCE AT PAT COVELL PARK
REQUEST FOR WRITTEN QUOTES - INFORMATIONAL SIGNS
DeFuniak Springs Airport User Survey Form
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Overview
The City of DeFuniak Springs is governed by a Mayor
and five Council Members. The Mayor is elected for a four-year term, and
five Council Members are staggered, four-year terms. The Council is elected by
the citizens to establish policy for the health, safety, and general welfare of the
community. It establishes policies by ordinance or resolution with the affirmative
vote of a majority of the members. The Council makes final judgment on all policy
decisions. The rules and regulations set forth by the City Council are administered
through the direction of the City Manager.
Brief History
In the 1700's and 1800's the Muscogee / Creek / Euchee Indians lived in and around
the DeFuniak Springs area. Lake DeFuniak area was known as Big Pond. Some of these
Native American families are still in the area today. Members of the Muscogee Nation of
Florida live in and around DeFuniak Springs.
In the 1880's, a surveying party comprised of Colonel W.D. Chipley, Major W.J. VanKirk
and W.T. Wright came to a tired halt near a round lake in the heart of a virgin forest.
They explored and rested at the site of what is now Lake DeFuniak. Colonel W.D.
Chipley, so overwhelmed by the beauty set forth before him, exclaimed, "here a town
shall be built!" This was when they first envisioned DeFuniak Springs known as Lake
DeFuniak, in honor of Fred R. DeFuniak, who had held many high offices in the Louisville
and Nashville Railroad, including that of General Manager. Later, the park around the lake
was named Chipley Park, in honor of William Dudley Chipley. Today, Lake DeFuniak is
said to be one of two perfectly round lakes in the world.
Under an order from Colonel W.D. Chipley, the area known as Lake DeFuniak was
preserved and a station was built there. With the establishment of the station at
Lake DeFuniak, people moved up from Euchee Anna and Alaqua and built homes
near the lake.
At the same time that the Chautauqua organization received its charter in 1855, the
Legislature created the Lake DeFuniak Land Company with Chipley in charge and
the real estate boom was on. Today a permanent carousel of homes can be found
around the lake which would envision a walk into Victorian times when labor and materials
were plentiful and elaborate architectural details were incorporated.
The Walton-DeFuniak Library was established in 1886. It is the second oldest in Florida,
with only the library in St. Augustine considered as being older. However, some facts
have come to light recently which prove that our library is the oldest in the state that
was built as a library and still continues to be used as such.
On March 4, 1881, the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad was incorporated by an act of
the Florida Legislature. The purpose of the act was to construct a 70-mile road from
the northwest corner of Florida, near Flomaton, Alabama, where it would join the t
rackage of what started as the Pensacola and Selma Railroad. This was later in the
control and ownership of the Louisville & Nashville, to a connection with the existing
Seaboard. Colonel Chipley, in an address delivered in 1896, noted that he had been a
member of the 1881 surveying party and that they had camped on the shore of a large
pond in Walton County. Being enamored of the spot, Chipley ordered that the area
be preserved and that a station be built there.
The City of DeFuniak Springs is the current owner of The Depot Station located on
1140 Circle Drive. The Walton County Heritage Association has transformed it into a
Museum with Historical items from Walton County to include DeFuniak Springs. Also The
Walton County Heritage Association handles the Caboose and Information Center on
Circle Drive. For their hours of operation or other information please contact them
at 850-951-2127.
The Historic Chautauqua Building is also owned by the City of DeFuniak Springs and
is located at 96 Circle Drive. The Chautauqua Building (A.K.A. Hall of Brotherhood)
was established in 1909 and served as an enclosed amphitheater. The building was
fully equipped with foot lights and dissolving color effects for the presentation of many
plays and grand concerts. This large portion of the auditorium was severely damaged
during a hurricane in 1975 and was subsequently removed. Remaining portions of the
building have been restored and continue to serve as a focal point of the community,
being used for a wide variety of activities.
