Bay County, Florida

Bay County, Florida
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 , of which is land and is water.
Bay County is included in the Panama City, Florida metropolitan area along with Washington County.
Adjacent counties
Washington County - north
Jackson County - northeast
Calhoun County - east
Gulf County - southeast
Walton County - west
National protected area
Apalachicola National Forest (part)
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 . There were 78,435 housing units at an average density of . 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
Zoned
J. R. Arnold High School (Panama City Beach)
Bay High School (Panama City)
A. Crawford Mosley High School (Lynn Haven)
Rutherford High School (Springfield)
Optional
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
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 Baytown 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:
Bay County Public Library
Panama City Beach Public Library
Parker Public Library
Springfield Public Library
Gulf County Public Library
Charles Whitehead Public Library
Harrell Memorial Library of Liberty County
Jimmy Weaver Memorial Library
Bay County Law Library (at the Bay County Public Library)
Communities
Cities
Callaway
Lynn Haven
Mexico Beach
Panama City
Panama City Beach
Parker
Springfield
Census-designated places
Cedar Grove
Laguna Beach
Lower Grand Lagoon
Pretty Bayou
Tyndall AFB
Upper Grand Lagoon
Unincorporated communities
Bayou George
Cedar Grove
Fountain
Glenwood
Millville
Sand Hills
Santa Monica
Southport
Sunnyside
Vicksburg
Youngstown
Former Census-designated places
Hiland Park
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Bay County, Florida
Notes
References
External links
Government links/Constitutional offices
Bay County Board of County Commissioners
Bay County Supervisor of Elections
Bay County Property Appraiser
Bay County Sheriff's Office
Bay County Tax Collector
Special districts
Bay District Schools
Beach Mosquito Control District
Northwest Florida Water Management District
Panama City-Bay County Airport and Industrial District
Judicial branch
Bay County Clerk of Courts
Circuit and County Court for the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties
Tourism links
Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau
News media
Panama City News Herald
94.5 WFLA - FOX NEWS RADIO
WYOO Talk Radio 101
WMBB TV 13
WJHG TV 7
Florida counties
1913 establishments in Florida
Populated places established in 1913
North Florida