The 1940s brought dramatic change. The U.S. military expanded across the Florida Panhandle, particularly with the growth of Eglin Field (later Eglin Air Force Base). Crestview, situated only miles away, became a crucial support town. Soldiers passed through, defense contracts brought jobs, and families connected to the base settled nearby.
World War II transformed Crestview’s identity. No longer just a courthouse town, it became a military community, tied to aviation, training, and national defense.
Postwar Boom and Suburban Expansion (1950s–1970s)
The decades after World War II were years of prosperity and growth. Crestview’s population swelled as veterans returned, military presence expanded, and infrastructure improved. Highways replaced sandy wagon paths, linking Crestview to Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, and Tallahassee.
The timber industry remained important, but agriculture diversified. Peanut farming, poultry, and cattle production thrived. Meanwhile, Crestview’s schools grew, its churches multiplied, and civic organizations flourished.
By the 1960s, Crestview’s identity as the “Hub City” solidified. With U.S. Highway 90 and, later, Interstate 10 crossing near town, Crestview became a crossroads not only within the county but across the Panhandle. Travelers stopped for fuel, food, and lodging, feeding the local economy. shutdown123