Bay County, Florida

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Bay County
County
The Bay County Courthouse in March 2008
The Bay County Courthouse in March 2008
Flag of Bay County
Flag
Official seal of Bay County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Bay County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°14′N 85°38′W / 30.24°N 85.63°W / 30.24; -85.63
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedApril 24, 1913
Named forSt. Andrews Bay
SeatPanama City
Largest cityPanama City
Area
 • Total1,033 sq mi (2,680 km2)
 • Land758 sq mi (1,960 km2)
 • Water275 sq mi (710 km2)  26.6%%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2019)
174,705
 • Density242/sq mi (93/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.bay.fl.us

Bay County is a county on the Gulf coast in northwestern Florida. As of the 2010 census, the population was 168,852 (Estimate of 185,287 as of 1 July 2018).[1] Its county seat is Panama City.[2]

Bay County is included in the Panama City, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The county is best known for its white sand beaches and emerald green water, where large pods of dolphins swim year-round. These beaches attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world each year.

History[]

On February 12, 1913, representatives from five towns on St. Andrews Bay met in Panama City to select a name for a proposed new county. The name Bay was selected because it was satisfactory to the majority of the citizens and descriptive of the territory that would be included. On July 1, 1913, the Legislature created Bay County from portions of Washington, Calhoun and Walton counties.

Panama City was where Gideon v. Wainwright, a 1963 US Supreme Court decision that gave all persons accused of a crime the right to an attorney paid for by the government, originated.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,467 square miles (3,800 km2), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km2) is land and 708 square miles (1,830 km2) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected area[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
192011,407—
193012,0916.0%
194020,68671.1%
195042,689106.4%
196067,13157.3%
197075,28312.1%
198097,74029.8%
1990126,99429.9%
2000148,21716.7%
2010168,85213.9%
2019 (est.)174,705[4]3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2015[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 148,217 people, 59,597 households, and 40,466 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 people per square mile (75/km2). There were 78,435 housing units at an average density of 103 per square mile (40/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 84.17% White, 10.64% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 1.73% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.66% from other races, and 1.94% from two or more races. 2.42% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 59,597 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.00% were married couples living together, 12.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 30.20% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,092, and the median income for a family was $42,729. Males had a median income of $30,116 versus $21,676 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,700. About 9.80% of families and 13.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 11.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

Elected Officials[]

Bay County Government
Sheriff Tommy Ford [10] Republican
Tax Collector Chuck Perdue Republican
Clerk of the Court Bill Kinsaul Republican
Supervisor of Elections Mark Anderson Republican
Superintendent of Schools William Husfelt, III Republican
Property Appraiser Dan Sowell Republican

Board of Commissioners[]

5 members, elected from districts (zero Democrats, five Republicans)[11]

District Commissioner Party Positions
1 Tommy Hamm Republican
2 Robert Carroll Republican
3 Bill Dozier Republican Chair of the County Commission
4 Keith Baker Republican
5 Phillip "Griff" Griffits Republican Vice Chair of the County Commission

Politics[]

Voter registration[]

According to the Secretary of State's office, Republicans are a majority of the registered voters in Bay County.

Bay County Voter Registration & Party Enrollment as of August 31, 2017[12]
Political Party Total Voters Percentage
Republican 60,008 52.02%
Democratic 30,391 26.35%
Independent 24,244 21.02%
Third Parties 704 0.61%
Total 115,347 100%

Statewide elections[]

Presidential elections results
Previous gubernatorial elections results
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2018 72.17% 45,709 26.46% 16,757 1.37% 865
2014 71.79% 40,956 22.77% 12,990 5.44% 3,104
2010 66.39% 36,512 28.53% 15,689 5.08% 2,796
2006 65.26% 31,382 30.78% 14,802 3.96% 1,907
2002 70.02% 34,107 29.27% 14,258 0.71% 344
1998 69.01% 26,759 30.99% 12,017 0.00% 2
1994 56.87% 23,498 43.12% 17,816 0.01% 2

Education[]

Bay District Schools operates public schools serving all portions of the county except Mexico Beach, which is served by Gulf County Schools.[14][15][16]

Schools in Bay County[]

Pre-K – 12 schools[]

Deane Bozeman School

North Bay Haven Charter Academy

Palm Bay Preparatory Academy

PreK-8 Schools

Breakfast Point Academy

Bay Haven Charter Academy

University Academy

High schools[]

Zoned

J. R. Arnold High School (Panama City Beach)

Bay High School (Panama City)

A. Crawford Mosley High School (Lynn Haven)

Rutherford High School (Springfield) Optional

A.D. Harris High School (Panama City)

Haney Technical High School (Panama City)

New Horizons Learning Center(Lynn Haven)

Rosenwald High School(Panama City)

Middle schools[]

Everitt Middle Schoo

Jinks Middle School

Merritt Brown Middle School

Mowat Middle School

Surfside Middle School (Panama City Beach)

Elementary schools[]

Callaway Elementary School

Cedar Grove Elementary School

Hiland Park Elementary School

Hutchison Beach Elementary School (Panama City Beach)

Lucille Moore Elementary School

Lynn Haven Elementary School

M. Cherry Street Elementary School

Millville Elementary School

Northside Elementary School

Oakland Terrace Elementary School

Parker Elementary School

Patronis Elementary School (Panama City Beach)

Patterson Elementary School

Southport Elementary School

Springfield Elementary School

St. Andrew Elementary School

Tommy Smith Elementary School

Tyndall Elementary School

Waller Elementary School

West Bay Elementary School

Public transportation[]

Airports[]

The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport opened for commercial flights in 2010. It connects the region to several major airports in the South and Midwest.

Public surface transportation[]

The county operates the Baytown Trolley, which runs several routes in and around Panama City. The county also have a greyhound in Panama City.[17]

Library[]

Bay County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System[18] (NWRLS), which also serves Gulf and Liberty Counties. The Bay County Public Library is the headquarters library for the system. The Bay County Board of Commissioners is the system's governing authority and single administrative unit.[19]

Locations:

  • Bay County Public Library
  • Panama City Beach Public Library
  • Parker Public Library
  • Springfield Public Library
  • Gulf County Public Library
  • Charles Whitehead Public Library
  • Harrell Memorial Library of Liberty County
  • Jimmy Weaver Memorial Library
  • Bay County Law Library (at the Bay County Public Library)[20]

Communities[]

Panama City Beach

Cities[]

Census-designated places[]

Unincorporated communities[]

Former Census-designated places[]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population 2018 Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. December 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2020: Florida Counties Gazeteer File". United States Census Bureau. 2020. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
  4. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  5. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  9. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  10. ^ Jackson, Tiffany (August 7, 2016). "New era for Bay County: Tommy Ford sworn-in as Sheriff". Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 13, 2016.
  11. ^ cysy.com, Cyber Sytes, Inc. "Page Not Found - Bay County Florida Online". Cite uses generic title (help)[permanent dead link]
  12. ^ "Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Archived from the original on October 24, 2016.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  14. ^ "Bay District Schools High School Attendance Zones Archived 2009-02-27 at the Wayback Machine." Bay District Schools. Accessed October 10, 2008.
  15. ^ "Bay District Schools Middle School Attendance Zones Archived 2009-02-27 at the Wayback Machine." Bay District Schools. Accessed October 10, 2008.
  16. ^ "Bay District Schools Elementary School Attendance Zones Archived 2008-10-31 at the Wayback Machine." Bay District Schools. Accessed October 10, 2008.
  17. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved November 26, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 1, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  19. ^ "Long-Range Plan & Mission" (PDF). Retrieved March 14, 2021.
  20. ^ "Bay County Law Library". Retrieved March 14, 2021.

External links[]

Government links/Constitutional offices[]

Special districts[]

Judicial branch[]

Tourism links[]

News media[]

Coordinates: 30°14′N 85°38′W / 30.24°N 85.63°W / 30.24; -85.63

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