# Chipley, Florida

Chipley is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Florida, United States, located between Tallahassee and Pensacola. Its population was 3,660 in the 2020 census, up from 3,605 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Panama City—Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area is served by Chipley High School.

## History

Originally called "Orange", the city was renamed Chipley in 1882 for William Dudley Chipley, president of the Pensacola and Atlantic Railroad and Florida state senator from 1895 to 1897.
During the cold snap of January 1985, a temperature of 2 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded at one of the city's golf courses, making it the second-coldest Florida temperature ever recorded and the lowest January reading for the state.
The city was officially incorporated in 1901.

## Geography

The exact coordinates for the City of Chipley is located at 30°46′45″N 85°32′21″W﻿ / ﻿30.779225°N 85.539087°W﻿ / 30.779225; -85.539087.
The city is located in the Florida Panhandle along Interstate 10 and U.S. Route 90. U.S. Route 90 runs through the downtown area from west to east as Jackson Avenue, and leads east 10 mi (16 km) to Cottondale and west 9 mi (14 km) to Bonifay. Interstate 10 runs from west to east south of the city, with access from exit 120 (Florida State Road 77). I-10 leads east 86 mi (138 km) to Tallahassee, the state capital, and west 116 mi (187 km) to Pensacola. FL-77 is the main north–south route through the city, and leads north 12 mi (19 km) to Graceville and south 47 mi (76 km) to Panama City.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.1 square miles (11 km$^2$), all land.

## Climate

The City of Chipley is part of the humid subtropical climate zone with a Köppen Climate Classification of "Cfa" (C = mild temperate, f = fully humid, and a = hot summer).
Climate data for Chipley, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1939–present :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 86 (30) | 89 (32) | 92 (33) | 97 (36) | 100 (38) | 104 (40) | 104 (40) | 102 (39) | 102 (39) | 99 (37) | 90 (32) | 90 (32) | 104 (40) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 77.2 (25.1) | 79.9 (26.6) | 84.6 (29.2) | 88.8 (31.6) | 94.0 (34.4) | 96.9 (36.1) | 97.7 (36.5) | 97.4 (36.3) | 95.5 (35.3) | 90.0 (32.2) | 83.7 (28.7) | 79.0 (26.1) | 98.6 (37.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 63.6 (17.6) | 67.4 (19.7) | 74.0 (23.3) | 80.3 (26.8) | 87.6 (30.9) | 91.6 (33.1) | 93.0 (33.9) | 92.4 (33.6) | 89.3 (31.8) | 82.0 (27.8) | 72.3 (22.4) | 65.7 (18.7) | 79.9 (26.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 51.1 (10.6) | 54.4 (12.4) | 60.7 (15.9) | 66.8 (19.3) | 74.8 (23.8) | 80.6 (27.0) | 82.6 (28.1) | 82.2 (27.9) | 78.2 (25.7) | 69.0 (20.6) | 59.1 (15.1) | 53.3 (11.8) | 67.7 (19.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 38.6 (3.7) | 41.4 (5.2) | 47.3 (8.5) | 53.3 (11.8) | 62.1 (16.7) | 69.6 (20.9) | 72.2 (22.3) | 71.9 (22.2) | 67.1 (19.5) | 56.1 (13.4) | 45.8 (7.7) | 41.0 (5.0) | 55.5 (13.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 25.9 (−3.4) | 31.3 (−0.4) | 39.3 (4.1) | 48.8 (9.3) | 62.0 (16.7) | 67.1 (19.5) | 65.1 (18.4) | 55.2 (12.9) | 40.2 (4.6) | 30.4 (−0.9) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 20.9 (−6.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 2 (−17) | 10 (−12) | 20 (−7) | 31 (−1) | 39 (4) | 47 (8) | 55 (13) | 55 (13) | 36 (2) | 27 (−3) | 17 (−8) | 8 (−13) | 2 (−17) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 5.09 (129) | 5.53 (140) | 5.65 (144) | 4.86 (123) | 4.09 (104) | 5.29 (134) | 7.16 (182) | 6.17 (157) | 4.22 (107) | 3.66 (93) | 4.25 (108) | 4.79 (122) | 60.76 (1,543) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.8 | 9.2 | 8.5 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 12.3 | 15.3 | 14.0 | 9.7 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 9.4 | 117.1 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2010 and 2020 census

Chipley racial composition (Hispanics excluded from racial categories) (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White (NH) | 2,398 | 2,255 | 66.52% | 61.61% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 951 | 927 | 26.38% | 25.33% |
| Native American or Alaska Native (NH) | 29 | 23 | 0.80% | 0.63% |
| Asian (NH) | 41 | 38 | 1.14% | 1.04% |
| Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH) | 3 | 11 | 0.08% | 0.30% |
| Some other race (NH) | 2 | 14 | 0.06% | 0.38% |
| Two or more races/Multiracial (NH) | 75 | 244 | 2.08% | 6.67% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 106 | 148 | 2.94% | 4.04% |
| Total | 3,605 | 3,660 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 3,660 people, 1,287 households, and 766 families residing in the city.
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 3,605 people, 1,256 households, and 692 families residing in the city.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there are 3,592 people, 1,442 households, and 908 families residing in the city. The population density was 872.5 inhabitants per square mile (336.9 inhabitants/km$^2$). There were 1,694 housing units at an average density of 411.5 per square mile (158.9/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city is 67.85% White, 28.51% African American, 1.28% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 1.45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In 2000, there are 1,442 households out of which 28.4% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.2% are married couples living together, 19.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 37.0% are non-families. 33.2% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.0% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.33 and the average family size is 2.97.
In 2000, in the city, the population is spread out with 25.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 82.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 77.4 males.
In 2000, the median income for a household in the city was $21,686, and the median income for a family was $28,792. Males had a median income of $23,715 versus $19,662 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,842. About 25.1% of families and 27.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.4% of those under age 18 and 22.3% of those age 65 or over.

## Points of interest

* Washington County Courthouse
* Chipley City Hall
* Falling Waters State Park
* South Third Street Historic District
* Tri-County Airport
* Woman's Club of Chipley

## Education

It is in the Washington County School District, the sole school district in the county.

## Notable people

* Marcel Albert, French Air Ace and Hero of the Soviet Union; lived here and was honored with a bust presented by Russia to the city of Chipley
* Mary Lena Faulk, golfer who won the U.S. Amateur and several professional tournaments; born in Chipley
* Artis Gilmore, NBA Hall of Fame basketball player; born in Chipley and attended Roulhac High School
* Amasa Coleman Lee, lawyer and legislator in Alabama
* Amp Lee, halfback at Florida State University and in the NFL
* Will McLean "father of Florida folk fusic," The Black Hat Troubadour, Florida Artists Hall of Fame
* Cody Slate, tight end at Marshall University and in the NFL
* Bert Yancey, Professional Golfers Association player; born in Chipley
* Trent Forrest, professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks; grew up in Chipley.

## Media

* The Washington County News
* Foster Folly News
* Chipley Bugle
* Investigator online newspaper