Bay County, Florida

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
County
The Bay County Courthouse in March 2008
Flag
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 30°14′N 85°38′W
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 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, originated.

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Panama City in Bay County on October 10, 2018, as one of the strongest and most destructive hurricanes in American history, destroying a large part of the county, including many structures in Mexico Beach and Panama City.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,033 square miles (2,680 km2), of which 758 square miles (1,960 km2) is land and 275 square miles (710 km2) (26.6%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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
SheriffTommy Ford [10]Republican
Tax CollectorChuck PerdueRepublican
Clerk of the CourtBill KinsaulRepublican
Supervisor of ElectionsMark AndersonRepublican
Superintendent of SchoolsWilliam Husfelt, IIIRepublican
Property AppraiserDan SowellRepublican

Board of Commissioners

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

DistrictCommissionerPartyPositions
1Tommy HammRepublican
2Robert CarrollRepublican
3Bill DozierRepublicanChair of the County Commission
4Keith BakerRepublican
5Phillip "Griff" GriffitsRepublicanVice 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 presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 70.9% 66,097 27.5% 25,614 1.6% 1,502
2016 70.5% 62,194 24.7% 21,797 4.8% 4,231
2012 71.0% 56,876 27.5% 22,051 1.5% 1,174
2008 69.7% 56,683 29.1% 23,653 1.3% 1,030
2004 71.2% 53,404 28.1% 21,068 0.7% 552
2000 65.7% 38,682 32.1% 18,873 2.2% 1,321
1996 54.9% 28,365 33.0% 17,068 12.1% 6,261
1992 49.9% 22,842 28.1% 12,846 21.9% 10,001
1988 72.5% 31,796 26.5% 11,603 1.0% 452
1984 75.8% 29,356 24.2% 9,384 0.0% 4
1980 60.6% 20,948 35.9% 12,389 3.5% 1,224
1976 48.2% 14,208 50.4% 14,858 1.4% 418
1972 83.8% 20,245 16.2% 3,914
1968 21.1% 5,121 16.5% 4,020 62.4% 15,161
1964 62.1% 12,849 37.9% 7,846
1960 33.9% 5,435 66.1% 10,579
1956 36.5% 4,971 63.5% 8,645
1952 35.4% 4,812 64.6% 8,789
1948 12.7% 928 70.7% 5,168 16.6% 1,216
1944 15.1% 1,126 84.9% 6,317
1940 11.7% 684 88.3% 5,153
1936 14.5% 541 85.6% 3,202
1932 13.8% 429 86.3% 2,692
1928 44.3% 974 54.1% 1,190 1.6% 36
1924 25.5% 318 67.2% 838 7.4% 92
1920 37.0% 551 54.9% 818 8.1% 121
1916 23.6% 279 61.4% 725 14.9% 176
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]

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 serves Gulf and Liberty Counties as well.

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

Communities
Panama City Beach

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former Census-designated places

See also

References
  1. "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 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  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 2011-05-14.
  10. Jackson, Tiffany (7 August 2016). "New era for Bay County: Tommy Ford sworn-in as Sheriff". Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  11. cysy.com, Cyber Sytes, Inc. "Page Not Found - Bay County Florida Online". Cite uses generic title (help)
  12. "Voter Registration - Current by County - Division of Elections - Florida Department of State". Archived from the original on 2016-10-24.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
  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 2013-12-03. Retrieved 2013-11-26.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-11-01. Retrieved 2013-10-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

News media

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