New Resident Guide on Freeport, Florida News

Emergency Information

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Emergency Information

Emergency: Dial 911

Non-Emergency Numbers

Service	Phone
Walton County Sheriff	(850) 892-8111
South Walton Fire	(850) 267-1298
Florida Highway Patrol	*347 or (850) 617-2301
Poison Control	1-800-222-1222

Hospitals

** nearest hospitals:**

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center (30 min)
📍 1000 Mar-Walt Drive, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
📞 (850) 862-1111

Sacred Heart Hospital Emerald Coast (35 min)
📍 7800 US-98, Miramar Beach, FL 32550
📞 (850) 278-3600

Northwest Florida Community Hospital (DeFuniak Springs, 25 min)
📍 1360 US-331, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433
📞 (850) 892-5100

Getting Here & Around

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Getting Here & Around

By Car

From I-10: Take Exit 85 (US-331 South). Freeport is 12 miles south.

From the Beach (30A/Santa Rosa Beach): Take US-331 North about 20 miles.

From Destin: Head east on US-98 to US-331 North (~30 miles).

From Panama City: Take US-98 West to US-331 North (~45 miles).

Local Roads

US-331 — Main north-south highway through town
Business 331 — Parallel route through downtown
Highway 20 — East-west through Freeport, connects to Niceville headed west and Ebro headed east
Highway 81 — Runs north to the Alabama border

Traffic Tips

Rush hour: 7:00–8:30 AM and 4:30–6:00 PM on 331
Beach traffic: Friday afternoons and Sunday evenings (spring/summer)
School zones: Watch for reduced speeds near Freeport schools
331 widening: Construction ongoing — check FL511 for updates

Getting Around

No public transit in Freeport — car required
Nearest airport: Destin-Fort Walton Beach (VPS) — 30 min
Rideshare: Uber/Lyft available but limited
Biking: Growing trail network, but 331 is not bike-friendly

Last updated: May 2026

Local Government

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Local Government

City of Freeport

City Hall
📍 112 Highway 20 West, Freeport, FL 32439
📞 (850) 835-2191
🌐 freeportflorida.gov

Mayor: Richard Barley
City Manager: Tim Hiebert

City Council

Meets 2nd Tuesday and 4th Thursday of each month at 9:00 AM
Location: Freeport City Hall — Council Chambers, 112 Highway 20 West, Freeport, FL 32439

Council Members:

Russell Butler
Josh Elliott
Kim Henderson
Steve McCormick
John Norris

Planning Board

Meets as needed — check city website for agendas.

Schools & Education

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Schools & Education

Public Schools (Walton County School District)

Freeport Elementary School
📍 360 FL-20, Freeport, FL 32439
📞 (850) 892-1230
Grades: PK–5

Freeport Middle School
📍 360 FL-20, Freeport, FL 32439
📞 (850) 892-1230
Grades: 6–8
(Opened late 2024 to handle growth)

Freeport High School
📍 360 FL-20, Freeport, FL 32439
📞 (850) 892-1230
Grades: 9–12

School Registration

Contact the Walton County School District:
📞 (850) 892-1100
🌐 walton.k12.fl.us

Things to Do

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Things to Do in Freeport

Whether you’re a longtime resident or just moved here, Freeport has more going on than you might expect. From youth sports tournaments to bayfront fishing, here’s what’s available.

Annual Events

Bayfest (September)
Freeport’s biggest festival. Live music on multiple stages, local food vendors, arts and crafts, a car show, and a fireworks finale. It draws thousands from across Walton County and beyond. If you only attend one event all year, make it this one.

Utilities & Services

Sun, 17 May 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Utilities & Services

Electricity

CHELCO
📞 (850) 892-2111
🌐 chelco.com

Water & Sewer

City of Freeport
📞 (850) 835-2191
🌐 freeportflorida.gov

Water deposit required for new accounts
Sewer available in most of city limits
Septic still common in rural areas

Natural Gas

Okaloosa Gas District
📞 (850) 729-4000
🌐 okaloosagas.com

Natural gas available in parts of Freeport
Interest-free financing up to $1,500 on gas appliances/installation
Service area includes Walton, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties

Most homes also use: