Wewahitchka, Florida

Last updated

Wewahitchka, Florida
City
City of Wewahitchka
Gulfctycourthouseoldwewa02.jpg
Old Gulf County Courthouse
Motto: 
"Home of Dead Lakes & Tupelo Honey" [1]
Gulf County Florida Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Wewahitchka Highlighted.svg
Location in Gulf County and the state of Florida
USA Florida location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Wewahitchka
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Wewahitchka
Coordinates: 30°6′51″N85°11′55″W / 30.11417°N 85.19861°W / 30.11417; -85.19861
Country Flag of the United States.svg  United States
State Flag of Florida.svg  Florida
County   Gulf
Incorporated 1959 [2]
Government
 • Type Commission–Manager
 •  Mayor Phillip Gaskin
 •  Commissioners Johnny Paul, Brian Cox,
Ralph Fisher, and
Charlie Pettis
 •  City Administrator Michael Gortman
 •  City Clerk Rachel Jackson
 •  City Attorney Michelle Blankenship Jordan
Area
[3]
 • Total7.80 sq mi (20.20 km2)
 • Land6.69 sq mi (17.34 km2)
 • Water1.11 sq mi (2.87 km2)
Elevation
46 ft (14 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total2,074
 • Density309.88/sq mi (119.64/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
32465
Area code 850
FIPS code 12-77100 [4]
GNIS feature ID0294641 [5]
Website cityofwewahitchka.com

Wewahitchka is a city in Gulf County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,074 as of the 2020 census. From the creation of Gulf County in 1925 until 1965, it served as the county seat before the county seat was moved to Port St. Joe. The city took its name from a Native American word meaning "water eyes". Two lakes along the edge of town look like a perfect pair of eyes. [6]

Contents

Geography

The exact coordinates for the City of Wewahitchka is located 30°6′51″N85°11′55″W / 30.11417°N 85.19861°W / 30.11417; -85.19861 .

Wewahitchka is located in northeastern Gulf County at the junction of Florida State Roads 71 and 22. SR 71 leads north 27 miles (43 km) to Blountstown and south 24 miles (39 km) to Port St. Joe, while SR 22 leads west 28 miles (45 km) to Panama City.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Wewahitchka has a total area of 7.7 square miles (20.0 km2), of which 6.5 square miles (16.8 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.2 km2), or 15.80%, is water. [7]

It is located west of the Chipola River, a tributary of the Apalachicola River, and southwest of Dead Lakes.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Wewahitchka has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).

Climate data for Wewahitchka, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1901–present
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)85
(29)		86
(30)		93
(34)		93
(34)		99
(37)		104
(40)		105
(41)		101
(38)		99
(37)		98
(37)		93
(34)		87
(31)		105
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C)76.9
(24.9)		78.7
(25.9)		83.2
(28.4)		87.0
(30.6)		92.5
(33.6)		95.4
(35.2)		95.8
(35.4)		94.7
(34.8)		93.1
(33.9)		87.8
(31.0)		83.7
(28.7)		78.6
(25.9)		97.4
(36.3)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)63.1
(17.3)		66.5
(19.2)		72.2
(22.3)		78.1
(25.6)		84.9
(29.4)		88.4
(31.3)		89.4
(31.9)		89.0
(31.7)		86.1
(30.1)		79.7
(26.5)		71.5
(21.9)		65.3
(18.5)		77.9
(25.5)
Daily mean °F (°C)51.4
(10.8)		54.9
(12.7)		60.5
(15.8)		66.2
(19.0)		73.5
(23.1)		78.8
(26.0)		80.6
(27.0)		80.4
(26.9)		77.0
(25.0)		68.7
(20.4)		59.4
(15.2)		53.8
(12.1)		67.1
(19.5)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)39.8
(4.3)		43.3
(6.3)		48.8
(9.3)		54.3
(12.4)		62.2
(16.8)		69.1
(20.6)		71.7
(22.1)		71.7
(22.1)		67.9
(19.9)		57.7
(14.3)		47.3
(8.5)		42.4
(5.8)		56.4
(13.5)
Mean minimum °F (°C)23.9
(−4.5)		28.1
(−2.2)		32.8
(0.4)		40.5
(4.7)		49.6
(9.8)		62.0
(16.7)		67.7
(19.8)		66.7
(19.3)		58.2
(14.6)		42.0
(5.6)		31.5
(−0.3)		28.0
(−2.2)		22.3
(−5.4)
Record low °F (°C)11
(−12)		15
(−9)		20
(−7)		34
(1)		35
(2)		45
(7)		56
(13)		60
(16)		41
(5)		30
(−1)		22
(−6)		11
(−12)		11
(−12)
Average precipitation inches (mm)4.83
(123)		4.94
(125)		5.26
(134)		4.49
(114)		3.28
(83)		6.27
(159)		8.24
(209)		7.91
(201)		6.63
(168)		3.24
(82)		3.84
(98)		4.17
(106)		63.10
(1,603)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)9.08.67.47.16.713.416.716.511.26.36.78.3117.9
Source: NOAA [8] [9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1930 584—
1940 1,02275.0%
1950 1,28926.1%
1960 1,43611.4%
1970 1,73320.7%
1980 1,7420.5%
1990 1,7792.1%
2000 1,722−3.2%
2010 1,98115.0%
2020 2,0744.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2010 and 2020 census

Wewahitchka racial composition
(Hispanics excluded from racial categories)
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
RacePop 2010 [11] Pop 2020 [12] % 2010% 2020
White (NH)1,7121,77286.42%85.44%
Black or African American (NH)1651488.33%7.14%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)11180.56%0.87%
Asian (NH)140.05%0.19%
Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)000.00%0.00%
Some other race (NH)110.05%0.05%
Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)52962.62%4.63%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)39351.97%1.69%
Total1,9812,074

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 2,074 people, 797 households, and 534 families residing in the city. [13]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,981 people, 878 households, and 609 families residing in the city. [14]

2000 census

As of the census [4] of 2000, there were 1,722 people, 696 households, and 483 families residing in the city. The population density was 277.4 inhabitants per square mile (107.1/km2). There were 894 housing units at an average density of 144.0 per square mile (55.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.61% White, 7.55% African American, 7.64% Native American, 0.75% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.

In 2000, there were 696 households, out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.4% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.

In 2000, in the city, the population was spread out, with 26.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.7 males.

In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $25,755, and the median income for a family was $32,935. Males had a median income of $26,023 versus $19,886 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,731. About 16.6% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.3% of those under age 18 and 17.6% of those age 65 or over. Blake the Black, a local street thug and legend, demands 2.8% of all gross annual income as well as the right of Prima Nocta.

Schools

Wewahitchka is home to two schools of Gulf District Schools: Wewahitchka Elementary School and Wewahitchka High School, whose mascots are the Gators. There is a Head Start program at the old elementary site.

Tupelo honey

Wewahitchka is the site of one of Florida's largest beekeeping operations, which was the setting for Ulee's Gold , a movie filmed in the area. [15] This honey is produced by placing beehives, known by the beekeepers as "Bee Boxes", in the swamps along the Apalachicola and other area rivers. In some areas the bees are placed on platforms and rafts to keep them above potential floods. Prior to the tupelo bloom, all earlier season honeys are stripped from the bees to avoid contamination with lesser grades produced earlier. Likewise, as soon as bloom is finished, the honey must be removed quickly before the bees have a chance to add other types of nectar. Wewahitchka has a two-day Tupelo Honey festival each May.

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References

  1. ↑ "City of Wewahitchka". City of Wewahitchka. Retrieved November 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ "FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR" (PDF). Florida League of Cities.
  3. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ↑ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. ↑ "Wewahitchka Means 'Water Eyes'" . Retrieved February 14, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Wewahitchka city, Florida". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved November 21, 2016.[ dead link ]
  8. ↑ "NOWData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  9. ↑ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991–2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . Retrieved June 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wewahitchka city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  12. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wewahitchka city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  13. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Wewahitchka city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  14. ↑ "S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Wewahitchka city, Florida". United States Census Bureau .
  15. ↑ "Filming locations for Ulee's Gold". www.imdb.com. Retrieved November 6, 2012.
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