Panama City Beach, Florida | |
---|---|
Town | |
Nickname(s): PCB, Capital of Redneck Riviera, Crystal Sands, Spring Break Capital of The World | |
Motto: The World's Most Beautiful Beaches | |
Coordinates: 30°10′36″N85°48′20″W / 30.17667°N 85.80556°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Florida |
County | Bay |
Incorporated | 1970 |
Government | |
• City Manager | Drew Whitman (Republican)(2021–Present) |
• Mayor | Stuart Tettemer (Republican) (2024-Present) |
Area | |
• Total | 19.53 sq mi (50.57 km2) |
• Land | 19.32 sq mi (50.05 km2) |
• Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2) |
Elevation | 10 ft (3 m) |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,094 |
• Density | 936.40/sq mi (361.55/km2) |
Time zone | UTC– 06:00 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC– 05:00 (CDT) |
ZIP | 32401, 32407, 32408, 32413, 32417 |
Area code(s) | 850, 448 |
FIPS code | 12-54725 [2] |
GNIS feature ID | 0308451 [3] |
Website | www |
Panama City Beach is a resort town in the Florida Panhandle, and principal city of the Panama City Metropolitan Area. It is a popular vacation destination, especially among people in the Southern United States, and is located in the "Emerald Coast" area. Panama City Beach had a population of 18,094 at the 2020 census, up from 12,018 in 2010. [4] Panama City Beach's slogan is "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches" due to the unique, [5] sugar-white sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle.
The town is also a popular spring break destination, due to its beach and proximity to most of the Southern United States.
Panama City Beach has dangerous rip currents. [6] Multiple people have drowned at Panama City Beach while struggling against rip currents. [6] Sea conditions are particularly dangerous during periods when lifeguards have put up double red flags, indicating active rip currents. [6] Drowning often occurs when people attempt to swim directly against a rip current. [7] By attempting to directly return to the beach, against the rip current, swimmers get tired-out in the process and drown. [7] Instead, swimmers caught in a rip current should relax, and swim parallel to the beach, until they are naturally carried out of the rip current. [7]
A construction boom in the early to mid-2000s changed the image of the area due to the older homes and motels being replaced with high-rise condominiums and more expansive homes. However, this is turning unobstructed, low-rise beach views and affordable waterfront property into rarities. At the peak of the real estate boom, many beachfront properties had quadrupled or more in value since 2000. In November 2006 CNN/Money named Panama City Beach the No. 1 real estate market in America for the next five years in. [8]
Beachfront property has sold for upwards of $60,000 per "front foot" (linear foot) at the top of the market. The downturn in the U.S. real estate market in 2007, combined with a surge of new condo construction, brought spiraling prices somewhat under control. With the real estate boom, Panama City Beach became a well known destination for spring break. [9]
Category 5 Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach in Bay County on October 10, 2018, becoming one of the strongest and most-destructive hurricanes in American history as it destroyed a large part of the county, including many structures in Mexico Beach and Panama City. [10] [11] An EF-0 tornado did minor damage to the northwest part of Panama City Beach, Florida on February 15.
Panama City Beach is located at 30°12′27″N85°51′5″W / 30.20750°N 85.85139°W (30.207362, −85.851485). [12]
The city is located in the panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico. The main roads through the city are U.S. Route 98 and Florida State Road 30. US 98 runs from northwest to southeast just inland from the coast, leading east 10 mi (16 km) to Panama City and northwest 47 mi (76 km) to Destin. FL-30 runs along the coast from northwest to southeast as Front Beach Rd, leading east to Panama City and northwest 15 mi (24 km) to Rosemary Beach. There are approximately 9 miles (14 km) of shoreline in Panama City Beach fronting the Gulf of Mexico.
The city has a total area of 18.6 square miles (48.2 km2)— 18.4 square miles (47.6 km2) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2) (1.17%) is water. [13]
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1960 | 36 | — | |
1970 | 67 | 86.1% | |
1980 | 2,148 | 3,106.0% | |
1990 | 4,051 | 88.6% | |
2000 | 7,671 | 89.4% | |
2010 | 12,018 | 56.7% | |
2020 | 18,094 | 50.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [14] |
Race | Pop 2010 [15] | Pop 2020 [16] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White (NH) | 10,334 | 14,181 | 85.99% | 78.37% |
Black or African American (NH) | 268 | 947 | 2.23% | 5.23% |
Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 64 | 74 | 0.53% | 0.41% |
Asian (NH) | 326 | 556 | 2.71% | 3.07% |
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 6 | 15 | 0.05% | 0.08% |
Some other race (NH) | 22 | 73 | 0.18% | 0.40% |
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 301 | 885 | 2.50% | 4.89% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 697 | 1,363 | 5.80% | 7.53% |
Total | 12,018 | 18,094 | ||
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 18,094 people, 5,538 households, and 3,440 families residing in the city. [17]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 12,018 people, 5,149 households, and 3,166 families residing in the city. [18]
In 2010, [2] the population density was 653.2 persons per square mile (252.2 persons/km2). There were 17,141 housing units at an average density of 931.6 houses per square mile (359.7 houses/km2). [4]
In 2010, there were 5,149 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were headed by married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals. 9.5% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22. The average family size was 2.76. [4]
In 2010, 18.0% of the population were under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males. [4]
In the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city was $41,198, and the median income for a family was $49,127. Males had a median income of $32,459 versus $22,358 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,734. About 2.2% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.
The City of Panama City Beach has a council–manager government. The Mayor sits as a Council member-at-large and presides over City council meetings. If the Mayor cannot preside over a City Council meeting, then the Vice Mayor is the presiding officer of the meeting until the Mayor returns to his seat.
The City Manager is responsible for the administration and the day-to-day operation of all of the municipal services and city departments. The City Manager also maintains intergovernmental relationships with federal, state, county and other local governments.
The primary law enforcement agency in the city is the Panama City Beach Police Department. Part of the city is in unincorporated Bay County and is under the jurisdiction of the Bay County Sheriff's Office.
Surfside Middle School serves as the main middle school and Arnold High School serves as the main high school for Panama City Beach.
Primary and secondary public education is provided by the Bay District Schools (BDS).
The Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, just across the Hathaway Bridge from Panama City Beach.
The Florida State University Panama City branch campus is also located in Panama City, just across the Hathaway Bridge from Panama City Beach.
The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) provides commercial flights into the area. The airport serves private aircraft, domestic passenger flights, and freight/cargo flights. It is the first international airport to be constructed after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Other modes of transportation include scooters, which can be rented by the day, as well as taxi and shuttle companies, which are permitted by the local police.
Panama City Beach also has public bus transportation known as Bayway available hourly Monday through Saturday. The Bayway runs throughout the county giving its tourists and locals the resource they need to get around Bay County.
The city was home to the Panama City Beach Pirates, a fourth-division soccer team from 2007 to 2015.
It is also notable that World Championship Wrestling held their last WCW Nitro event in Panama City Beach. [19] [20] WCW was bought out by their rival competition WWF (now WWE).
Bay County is a county on the Emerald Coast in Northwest Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 175,216. Its county seat is Panama City. Bay County is included in the Panama City, Florida metropolitan area.
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. Its county seat is Port St. Joe. Gulf County is included in the Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Martin County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida, in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 158,431. Its county seat is Stuart. Martin County is in the Port St. Lucie, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Okaloosa County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, extending from the Gulf of Mexico to the Alabama state line. As of the 2020 census, the population was 211,668. Its county seat is Crestview. Okaloosa County is included in the Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Santa Rosa County is a county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2020, the population was 188,000. The county seat is Milton, which lies in the geographic center of the county. Other major communities within Santa Rosa County are Navarre, Pace, and Gulf Breeze. Navarre is the most populated community with a population of approximately 45,000 residents. Santa Rosa County is included in the Pensacola—Ferry Pass—Brent, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which also includes Escambia County.
Baldwin County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Alabama, on the Gulf coast. It is one of only two counties in Alabama that border the Gulf of Mexico, along with Mobile County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 231,767, making it the fourth-most populous county in Alabama. The county seat is Bay Minette. The county is named after the founder of the University of Georgia, Senator Abraham Baldwin.
Gulf Shores is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 15,014.
Orange Beach is a resort city in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. The population was 8,095 at the 2020 census. and according to 2023 census estimates, the city is estimated to have a population of 8,534.
Lynn Haven is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States, north of Panama City. Like many communities in Bay County, the city was severely damaged by Category 5 Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018. The population was 18,695 at the 2020 census, up from 18,493 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Panama City—Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Mexico Beach is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States. It is located 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Panama City on the Florida Panhandle. It is part of the Panama City-Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area in North Florida. The population was 916 at the 2020 census, down from 1,072 at the 2010 census.
Panama City is a city in and the county seat of Bay County, Florida, United States. Located along U.S. Highway 98 (US 98), it is the largest city between Tallahassee and Pensacola. It is also the most populated city and a principal city of the Panama City–Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,939, down from the figure of 36,484 at the 2010 census.
Marco Island is a city and barrier island in Collier County, Florida, 20 miles (32 km) south of Naples on the Gulf Coast of the United States. It is the largest barrier island in Southwest Florida's Ten Thousand Islands area, which extends southerly to Cape Sable. Marco Island is home to an affluent beach community with resort amenities.
Pensacola is a city in the Florida Panhandle. It is the county seat and only city in Escambia County. Pensacola was first settled by the Spanish Empire in 1559, predating the establishment of St. Augustine by six years. It is the principal city of the Pensacola Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had 511,503 residents in 2020.
Palm Coast is a city in Flagler County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 89,258, an increase of almost 200% since the 2000 count of 32,832. The population was estimated to be 98,411 as of July 1, 2022. It is the most populous city in Flagler County. Palm Coast is part of the Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach, FL metropolitan statistical area.
Port St. Joe is a city and the county seat of Gulf County, Florida. It is located at the intersection of U.S. Highway 98 and State Road 71. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,357.
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Fort Walton Beach, often referred to by the initialism FWB, is a city in southern Okaloosa County, Florida, United States. As of the 2020 U.S. census, the population was 20,922, up from 19,507 in 2010. It is a principal city of the Crestview−Fort Walton Beach−Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Florida panhandle is the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida. It is a salient roughly 200 miles (320 km) long, bordered by Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is arbitrarily defined. It is defined by its southern culture and rural geography relative to the rest of Florida, as well as closer cultural links to French-influenced Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Its major communities include Pensacola, Navarre, Destin, Panama City Beach, and Tallahassee.
The Miami metropolitan area is a coastal metropolitan area in southeastern Florida. It is the ninth-largest metropolitan statistical area (MSA) in the United States, the fifth-largest metropolitan area in the Southern United States, and the largest metropolitan area in Florida. It is also known as South Florida, SoFlo, SoFla, the Gold Coast, Southeast Florida, the Tri-County Area, or Greater Miami, and officially as the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area. With a population of 6.18 million, its population exceeds 31 of the nation's 50 states as of 2023. It comprises the three most populated counties in the state, Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County, which rank as the first, second, and third-most populous counties in the state, respectively. Miami-Dade County, with 2,701,767 people in 2020, is the seventh-most populous county in the United States.