Panama City, Florida

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 the most populous city in Bay County and a principal city of the Panama City–Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of approximately 200,534. According to the 2020 United States census, the city's population was 32,939 (excluding Panama City Beach). History Name The development in this once unincorporated part of Northwest Florida was created by combining the settlements and communities of Floriopolis, Harrison, Millville, Park Resort, and St. Andrews. In 1906, the development was named Panama City and it was first incorporated as Panama City in 1909. When Panama City was incorporated, its original city limits were 15th Street (Hwy 98) on the north, Balboa Avenue on the west and Bay Avenue on the east. According to the Panama City Public Library's A History of Panama City, George Mortimer West hoped to spur real estate development in Bay County during a period of intense popular interest in the construction of the Panama Canal by changing the town's name from Harrison to Panama City, because a straight line between Chicago and the Central American country Panama's national capital intersected the Florida town. Additionally, since required meanders around land formations in a seaborne route to the canal added distance when starting at other ports, Panama City was the closest developed port in the US mainland to the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal. Geography Panama City is located within the Florida panhandle, and along the Emerald Coast. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city limits encompass an area of 35.4 square miles (91.8 km2), of which 29.3 square miles (75.8 km2) is land and 6.2 square miles (16.0 km2), or 17.39%, is water. Climate Panama City has a humid subtropical climate, with short, mild winters and long, hot and humid summers. In January, the average low is 42.6 °F (5.9 °C), and in July the average high is 91.1 °F (32.8 °C). Due to its location on the Gulf Coast, the city is susceptible to tropical cyclones. Panama City was directly hit by Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018, which made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. The storm caused catastrophic damage to the city and surrounding communities, with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) at landfall. The city previously suffered significant indirect impacts from Hurricane Ivan (2004) and Hurricane Opal (1995). Panama City is also no stranger to tornadoes, having recently been affected by an EF3 tornado on January 9, 2024 and an EF2 tornado on March 18, 2022. The city rarely sees snow, but in the 2025 Gulf Coast blizzard, up to 6.0 inches (15 cm) of snow fell. Demographics Racial and ethnic composition 2020 census As of the 2020 census, Panama City had a population of 32,939. The median age was 41.1 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.8 males age 18 and over. 99.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 0.4% lived in rural areas. There were 13,559 households in Panama City, of which 27.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 37.5% were married-couple households, 21.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 33.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. There were 16,305 housing units, of which 16.8% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%. 2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 36,484 people, 15,419 households, and 8,893 families residing in the city. As of the census of 2010, the population density was 1,245.2 inhabitants per square mile (480.8/km2). There were 17,438 housing units at an average density of 595.2 per square mile (229.8/km2). In 2010, there were 15,419 households, out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were headed by married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.91. In 2010, in the city, the population was 20.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males. 2000 census As of the 2000 census, the city's median household income was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The city's per capita income was $17,830. About 12.1% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over. Economy Industry Two military bases make the federal government the largest employer. As of 2024, industrial employers in the Bay County area include Eastern Shipbuilding Group, L-3 Technologies, Oceaneering, Florida Power & Light, Trane, and Jensen-Group. Military Tyndall Air Force Base to the east, is undergoing a $5.3 billion rebuild to make it the "installation of the future" after Hurricane Michael hit the base in 2018. Naval Support Activity Panama City and Coast Guard Station Panama City are just over the Hathaway Bridge in Panama City Beach. The 153rd Cavalry Regiment, part of the Florida Army National Guard, is headquartered in Panama City with units throughout the panhandle. Panama City is also approximately 100 miles south of Fort Novosel, Alabama, home to the U.S. Army's Aviation Center of Excellence. Retail The city's main retail center was the Panama City Mall until it was permanently closed after Hurricane Michael. In August 2020, owners of the Panama City Mall released plans to demolish the mall and build a new commercial complex. The plans included a hotel, shops, and restaurants. As of 2023, those plans have not come to fruition. Another local retail center is the Bay City Pointe, on FL 368 (locally known as 23rd St.). Pier Park, on the beach across the Hathaway Bridge spanning St. Andrews Bay, is a third local retail center. Other retail areas in the Panama City Metro are the 15th Street Shopping Strip (An area between Harrison Ave/US Highway 231 and Beck Ave/US Bus 98/State Road 390), 23rd Street Shopping Strip, Downtown Panama City, Historic St. Andrews, and Millville Historic District. Education Panama City's public schools are operated by Bay District Schools. Charter schools include: Bay Haven (K-8) North Bay Haven (K-12) Palm Bay Academy (6–12) The Collegiate School University Academy (K-8) Public high schools in the Panama City metro-area include: Rutherford High School Bay High School A. Crawford Mosley High School Arnold High School Deane Bozeman Learning Center Rosenwald High School Private schools in the city include: Holy Nativity Episcopal School St. John Catholic School Jacob Austin Prep. Academy Covenant Christian School College Panama City is home to several institutions of higher education. Gulf Coast State College is a public college with its main campus in the city's northwest suburbs. Additionally, the city is home to the Florida State University Panama City campus and a satellite campus of Troy University. Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University also operates a satellite campus at Tyndall Air Force Base. Tom P. Haney Technical College, operated by Bay District Schools, provides vocational training programs as an alternative to traditional college education. Media Infrastructure Transportation Major highways US 98 (15th Street, 18th Street) US 231 SR 77 (Martin Luther King Jr. Bolevard) SR 390 (St. Andrews Bolevard) SR 368 (23rd Street) Roads The two main east–west thoroughfares in Panama City proper are 23rd Street and US 98. SR 368 runs east–west across the northern part of the city as a bypass. US 98 runs east–west through the city itself, leading southeast 24 miles (39 km) to Mexico Beach and west 10 miles (16 km) to Panama City Beach. The two main north–south thoroughfares in the city are Martin Luther King Boulevard, otherwise known as SR 77 and US 231. SR 77 leads north six miles (9.7 km) to the Panama City suburb of Lynn Haven. US 231 begins its national journey northward in the city, leading northeast 83 miles (134 km) to Dothan. Other more local highways run through the city, including many county roads. Bridges Because of the city's position on St. Andrews Bay, bridges are very important to the area, and most directions into or out of the city require the use of one of three large bridges to cross parts of the bay. These are the Bailey Bridge to the north on Hwy 77, the Dupont Bridge to the south on Hwy 98 and the Hathaway Bridge to the west on Hwy 98. The largest of these is the Hathaway Bridge, which is the only direct connection between Panama City and Panama City Beach. Rail The Bay Line Railroad has an 82-mile (132 km) rail line running north to Dothan, Alabama, to a connection with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. Until some point between 1955 and 1956 the Atlanta and St. Andrews Bay Railroad ran passenger trains from Panama City to Dothan, Alabama. Additionally, the A&StA operated sleeping car service to Atlanta from Panama City. Bus transportation Local transit is handled by the Bayway. Service generally runs Monday–Saturday from 6 AM to 7 PM. Air transportation The city was served by the Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN) until May 22, 2010. It was replaced by the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) with Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. In June 2018, ECP also added American Airlines. In 2020, ECP was ranked the fourth fastest growing airport in the U.S. Port The Port of Panama City is on St. Andrews Bay. Hospitals The city has two hospitals, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (known as Bay Medical Sacred Heart until Hurricane Michael destroyed a large portion of it) and HCA Florida Gulf Coast Medical Center. Notable people Robert A. Barth, Naval diver Mike Campbell, lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Jaye Chapman, former MLB pitcher Donnie Craft, former NFL and CFL player Clint Daniels, country music artist Daniel Davidson, former MLB pitcher Neal Dunn, member of the U.S. House of Representatives Javien Elliott, former NFL and CFL player Jay Gainer, former MLB player Codi Galloway, member of the Idaho House of Representatives Clarence Earl Gideon, the plaintiff in Gideon v. Wainwright David Hart, actor David Herndon, former MLB pitcher with the New York Yankees Hulon, smooth jazz saxophonist John James, former NFL player Alonzo Johnson, former NFL linebacker Brandon Jones, former MLB player Tasha K, online personality Eric Kelly, former NFL player Greg Kelser, former NBA player and commentator Bob LeBlanc, former NFL player Eric Lee, former NFL player Cy McClairen, former NFL player Robert Lee McKenzie, first mayor of Panama City John Robert Middlemas, former representative for Florida Kahanna Montrese, drag queen Carolyn Murphy, model Chip Myers, former NFL player and coach Doug Nettles, former NFL player Jimmy Patronis, U.S. Representative for Florida's 1st congressional district Dan Peek, member of the soft rock band America Blake Percival, whistleblower who exposed USIS Blood Raw, rapper with the group U.S.D.A and Young Jeezy Bert Reed, former NFL player Jeff Richards, American football coach at Jacksonville State University Janarius Robinson, NFL defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs Kenny Saief, player for the United States men's national soccer team Tom Shields, Olympic swimmer Anwar Stewart, former CFL defensive lineman and coach at University of Kentucky Jim Still, former NFL player Khyri Thornton, former NFL player Jay Trumbull, member of the Florida House of Representatives Thurop Van Orman, made The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack Jeremiah Warren, former NFL offensive lineman Jonathan White, U.S. Navy admiral leader of Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Ray Wilson, NFL defensive back for the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers Stacy Wilson, former captain of the Canada women's national ice hockey team William Witherspoon, former NFL linebacker See also Port of St. Andrews Notes References External links Panama City official website Destination Panama City Panama City, Florida's history with tropical systems from hurricanecity.com Historic newspapers for Panama City in the Florida Digital Newspaper Library including the Panama City Pilot U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Panama City, Florida