Eglin AFB Relocation: Popular Areas Near Base
Military families stationed at Eglin Air Force Base commonly consider Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Navarre and surrounding communities. Each area offers different housing options and commute considerations, so it helps to compare locations before deciding where to buy or rent.
Brief History of Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin’s roots trace back to 1934, when local businessman James E. Plew donated over 1,400 acres of land near Valparaiso, Florida, for a military airfield. The Army Air Corps activated it the following year as the Valparaiso Bombing and Gunnery Range. In 1937, it was renamed Eglin Field in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick I. Eglin, who had died in a plane crash earlier that year, and it became a separate base in 1940.
Over the following decades, Eglin grew into one of the largest and most important test and evaluation installations in the Air Force, spanning involvement in six wars. Today, the base is home to the 96th Test Wing, which tests non-nuclear munitions, electronic combat systems, and navigation and guidance systems.
