Photo courtesy of Beverly Rasmussen

Welcome to the Niceville, Valparaiso, Bay Area, a locale rich in both beauty and history. This year we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our Chamber of Commerce.

We can thank John B. Perrine for first discovering this area. Charmed with our area’s beauty and potential, he spent much of his life developing what would become our local communities. James E. Plew, founder of the Valparaiso Development Company, assumed control of Perrine’s enterprise and was responsible for city planning, farming and other enterprises . . . and our communities were on the path to growth.

The City of Valparaiso was established in 1921. Valparaiso State Bank and Valparaiso Realty Company were two of the first business in our area. In an effort to promote Valparaiso, James E. Plew would bring people down from Chicago to stay at the Valparaiso Inn and enjoy beautiful Boggy Bayou and a wonderful nine-hole golf course. Needless to say, the warmer climate had significant appeal to many of our neighbors to the North. The City of Niceville was granted a charter shortly thereafter in 1938. Formally the City of Boggy, the area was abounding with farms and turpentine distilleries. Niceville, now a thriving community with a population of over 12,000, has progressed a great deal from its bucolic roots.

The first recorded school in our area was constructed in 1922. This school consisted of only the front section of the present Edge Elementary School building. Now we have seven schools from Bluewater Bay to Valparaiso, all receiving the Florida A+ rating for outstanding programs and faculty. When the military was looking to procure land for a bombing and test range in 1937, nearly 1600 acres of land was donated to form the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Base. Today we know it as Eglin Air Force Base. Eglin is responsible for the development, acquisition, testing, and fielding of all air-delivered weapons for the USAF while representing the largest single base mobility commitment in the Air Force.

In 1956, a small group of about 10 people got together to look at ways to promote local business. The Chamber of Commerce was born! Now here we are -- 50 years later -- over 700 members strong representing business interests across Niceville, Valparaiso, Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Crestview.

The Niceville Valparaiso Bay Area Chamber of Commerce has worked hard to connect business with opportunity for 50 years. As we celebrate the Chamber’s Golden Anniversary, we look forward to continued growth and prosperity and invite you to be a part of our thriving organization.

Marion Riley Taylor
Chair of the Board
Niceville-Valparaiso-Bay Area Chamber of Commerce
Connecting Business with Opportunity for 50 Years