Gulf County, Florida: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 17:24, 27 April 2025

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Gulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,192.<ref name="QF">Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Port St. Joe.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Gulf County is included in the Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Gulf County, created in 1925, was named for the Gulf of Mexico. Wewahitchka was its first county seat and the 1927 Gulf County Courthouse is still in existence. In 1965 the county seat was moved to Port Saint Joe, which under its original name Saint Joseph, had been the site of Florida's first Constitutional Convention in 1838.

In 2018, Category 5 Hurricane Michael made landfall just miles north of the county line in Mexico Beach, severely damaging large parts of the region and its timber and shellfish industries. The area has largely recovered in the years since.

Geography

File:Enteringbaycounty.JPG

Entering the Eastern Time Zone

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (25.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

Unincorporated areas include:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Time zones

By way of the Intracoastal Waterway, Gulf County is one of a small number of counties in the United States to be in two time zones, Eastern and Central in this case.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

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Gulf County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)Template:Efn
Race	Pop 2010<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2020<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	% 2020
White (NH)	11,881	11,222	74.9%	79.07%
Black or African American (NH)	2,937	1,692	18.51%	11.92%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)	59	66	0.37%	0.47%
Asian (NH)	41	57	0.26%	0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH)	3	0	0.02%	0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)	8	34	0.05%	0.24%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)	256	566	1.61%	3.99%
Hispanic or Latino	678	555	4.27%	3.91%
Total	15,863	14,192	100.00%	100.00%

File:2023 Racial Demographics in Gulf County by Census tract.svg

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2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 14,192 people, 5,571 households, and 3,656 families in Gulf County, Florida.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=:0 /> The population density was 25.6 per square mile (9.9/kmTemplate:Sup). There were 8,796 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/kmTemplate:Sup).<ref name=:0>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup was 80.32% (11,399) white or European American (79.07% non-Hispanic white), 12.0% (1,703) black or African-American, 0.54% (76) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.4% (57) Asian, 0.03% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.66% (236) from other races, and 5.05% (717) from two or more races.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.91% (555) of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 5,571 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18; 49.0% were married couples living together; 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 28.2% of households consisted of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name=:0 /> The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.5.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 19.6% of the population.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

16.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males.<ref name=:0 /> For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 86.0 males.<ref name=:0 />

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $50,640 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,582). The median family income was $60,978 (+/- $11,534).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Males had a median income of $34,738 (+/- $4,577) versus $26,463 (+/- $5,198) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $31,055 (+/- $3,077).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Approximately, 10.0% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those ages 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 13,332 people, 4,931 households, and 3,535 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 7,587 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The racial makeup of the county was 79.89% White, 16.94% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,931 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,276, and the median income for a family was $36,289. Males had a median income of $27,539 versus $20,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,449. About 13.70% of families and 16.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Once heavily Democratic, Gulf County voted Republican at the Presidential level for the first time in 1964 and has transitioned to a Republican stronghold at the Presidential level. The county still supported conservative Democrats for local office until the 2000s. Republicans flipped most county offices in the 2010s and now consist of a strong majority of registered voters as of 2023.

The county is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners, elected in single-member districts. At the state level, Gulf County is represented by State Senator Corey Simon (R) and State Representative Jason Shoaf (R).

Education

Gulf County is served by Gulf County Schools.

Libraries

Gulf County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System (NWRLS), which serves Bay and Liberty Counties as well.

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

Transportation

Airports

Costin Airport

Notes

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References

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External links

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Government links/Constitutional offices

Special districts