Gulf County, Florida

Last updated

Gulf County
County
PSJ FL new crths02.jpg
Gulf County Courthouse
Gulf County Seal.png
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Gulf County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Florida in United States.svg
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°54′N85°14′W / 29.9°N 85.24°W / 29.9; -85.24
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Florida.svg  Florida
FoundedJune 6, 1925
Named for Gulf of Mexico
Seat Port St. Joe
Largest cityPort St. Joe
Government
 • County AdministratorMichael Hammond
Area
 • Total756 sq mi (1,960 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water192 sq mi (500 km2)  25.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,192 [1]
 • Density28.6/sq mi (11.0/km2)
Time zones
Southern portion UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Northern portion UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.gulfcounty-fl.gov

Gulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,192. [2] Its county seat is Port St. Joe. [3]

Contents

Gulf County is included in the Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Gulf County, created in 1925, was named for the Gulf of Mexico. Wewahitchka was its first county seat and the 1927 Gulf County Courthouse is still in existence. In 1965 the county seat was moved to Port Saint Joe, which under its original name Saint Joseph, had been the site of Florida's first Constitutional Convention in 1838.

In 2018, Category 5 Hurricane Michael made landfall just miles north of the county line in Mexico Beach, severely damaging large parts of the region and its timber and shellfish industries. The area has largely recovered in the years since.

Geography

Entering the Eastern Time Zone Enteringbaycounty.JPG
Entering the Eastern Time Zone

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 756 square miles (1,960 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 192 square miles (500 km2) (25.4%) is water. [4]

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Unincorporated areas include: [5] [6]

Time zones

By way of the Intracoastal Waterway, Gulf County is one of a small number of counties in the United States to be in two time zones, Eastern and Central in this case.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930 3,182—
1940 6,951118.4%
1950 7,4607.3%
1960 9,93733.2%
1970 10,0961.6%
1980 10,6585.6%
1990 11,5047.9%
2000 13,33215.9%
2010 15,86319.0%
2020 14,192−10.5%
2023 (est.)15,693 [7] 10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010-2019 [2]
Gulf County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic) [lower-alpha 1]
RacePop 2010 [14] Pop 2020 [15] % 2010% 2020
White (NH)11,88111,22274.9%79.07%
Black or African American (NH)2,9371,69218.51%11.92%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)59660.37%0.47%
Asian (NH)41570.26%0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH)300.02%0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)8340.05%0.24%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)2565661.61%3.99%
Hispanic or Latino 6785554.27%3.91%
Total15,86314,192100.00%100.00%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,192 people, 5,897 households, and 3,940 families residing in the county.

As of the census [16] of 2000, there were 13,332 people, 4,931 households, and 3,535 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 inhabitants per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 7,587 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.89% White, 16.94% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,931 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,276, and the median income for a family was $36,289. Males had a median income of $27,539 versus $20,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,449. About 13.70% of families and 16.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Once heavily Democratic, Gulf County voted Republican at the Presidential level for the first time in 1964 and has transitioned to a Republican stronghold at the Presidential level. The county still supported conservative Democrats for local office until the 2000s. Republicans flipped most county offices in the 2010s and now consist of a strong majority of registered voters as of 2023.

The county is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners, elected in single-member districts. At the state level, Gulf County is represented by State Senator Corey Simon (R) and State Representative Jason Shoaf (R).

Gulf County is a part of Florida's 2nd Congressional District and is represented by Neal Dunn (R).

United States presidential election results for Gulf County, Florida [17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,11374.80%1,98524.29%740.91%
2016 5,32972.69%1,72023.46%2823.85%
2012 4,99570.10%2,01428.26%1171.64%
2008 4,98068.99%2,14929.77%891.23%
2004 4,80566.03%2,40733.08%650.89%
2000 3,55357.79%2,39839.00%1973.20%
1996 2,43040.55%2,48041.39%1,08218.06%
1992 2,65145.29%1,93833.11%1,26521.61%
1988 3,04262.44%1,68834.65%1422.91%
1984 3,57366.70%1,78433.30%00.00%
1980 2,12743.18%2,70054.81%992.01%
1976 1,58437.00%2,64161.69%561.31%
1972 2,62878.54%71321.31%50.15%
1968 3649.58%71118.71%2,72571.71%
1964 2,00154.67%1,65945.33%00.00%
1960 65721.86%2,34878.14%00.00%
1956 57024.12%1,79375.88%00.00%
1952 49021.69%1,76978.31%00.00%
1948 1469.25%1,21977.20%21413.55%
1944 836.15%1,26793.85%00.00%
1940 1056.01%1,64293.99%00.00%
1936 717.76%84492.24%00.00%
1932 304.42%64895.58%00.00%
1928 15634.98%27561.66%153.36%

Education

Gulf County is served by Gulf County Schools.

Libraries

Gulf County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System (NWRLS), which serves Bay and Liberty Counties as well.

Transportation

Airports

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. [12] [13]

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References

  1. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Gulf County, Florida". Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, Conversion of Two F-15 Fighter Squadrons to F-22 Fighter Squadrons: Environmental Impact Statement". September 23, 2000 – via Google Books.
  6. ↑ "Florida Geographic Names". U.S.G.S. Topographic Division, Office of Research & Technical Standards, National Center. September 23, 1981 – via Google Books.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census.gov". Census.gov.
  13. ↑ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

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29°54′N85°14′W / 29.90°N 85.24°W / 29.90; -85.24

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