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.

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 1467 sqmi, of which 759 sqmi is land and 708 sqmi is water. Bay County is included in the Panama City, Florida metropolitan area along with Washington County.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 175,216 people, 73,536 households, and 47,432 families residing in the county. As of the census of 2000, there were 148,217 people, 59,597 households, and 40,466 families residing in the county. The population density was 194 /mi2. There were 78,435 housing units at an average density of 103 /mi2. 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

Board of Commissioners

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

Politics

Voter registration

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

Statewide elections

Education

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

Schools in Bay County

Pre-K – 12 schools

Deane Bozeman School North Bay Haven Charter Academy Palm Bay Preparatory Academy Rising Leaders Academy

PreK-8 Schools

Breakfast Point Academy Bay Haven Charter Academy University Academy

High schools

J. R. Arnold High School (Panama City Beach) Bay High School (Panama City) A. Crawford Mosley High School (Lynn Haven) Rutherford High School (Springfield) 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

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 Deer Point 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 St. Andrew Elementary School Tommy Smith Elementary School Tyndall Elementary School Waller Elementary School West Bay Elementary School

Public transportation

Major highways

Bay County does not have any interstate connections; the nearest connection is with I-10 at US-231 near Cottondale.

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 Bayway (formerly Bay Town Trolley), which runs several routes in and around Panama City. The county also have a greyhound in Panama City.

Library

Bay County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System (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. Locations:

Communities

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former Census-designated places

Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts

Judicial branch

Tourism links

News media