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Gulf County, Florida

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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.[1] Its county seat is Port St. Joe.[2] Gulf County is included in the Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Gulf County
County
Gulf County Courthouse
Gulf County Courthouse
Official seal of Gulf County
Seal
Map of Florida highlighting Gulf County
Location within the U.S. state of Florida
Map of the United States highlighting Florida
Florida's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 29°54′N 85°14′W / 29.9°N 85.24°W / 29.9; -85.24
Country United States
State Florida
FoundedJune 6, 1925
Named forGulf of Mexico
SeatPort St. Joe
Largest cityPort St. Joe
Government
 • County AdministratorMichael Hammond
Area
 • Total
756 sq mi (1,960 km2)
 • Land564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water192 sq mi (500 km2)  25.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,192
 • Estimate 
(2023)
15,693 Increase
 • Density19/sq mi (7.2/km2)
Time zones
Southern portionUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Northern portionUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.gulfcounty-fl.gov

History

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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

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Entering the Eastern Time Zone

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 756 square miles (1,960 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 192 square miles (500 km2) (25.4%) is water.[3]

Communities

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Cities

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Unincorporated communities

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Unincorporated areas include:[4][5]

Time zones

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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

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National protected area

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19303,182—
19406,951118.4%
19507,4607.3%
19609,93733.2%
197010,0961.6%
198010,6585.6%
199011,5047.9%
200013,33215.9%
201015,86319.0%
202014,192−10.5%
2023 (est.)15,693[6]10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2019[1]
Gulf County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a]
Race Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 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%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 14,192 people, 5,897 households, and 3,940 families residing in the county.

As of the census[15] of 2000, there were 13,332 people, 4,931 households, and 3,535 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 inhabitants per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 7,587 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). 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

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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).

Gulf County is a part of Florida's 2nd Congressional District and is represented by Neal Dunn (R).

United States presidential election results for Gulf County, Florida[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 6,684 76.62% 1,970 22.58% 70 0.80%
2020 6,113 74.80% 1,985 24.29% 74 0.91%
2016 5,329 72.69% 1,720 23.46% 282 3.85%
2012 4,995 70.10% 2,014 28.26% 117 1.64%
2008 4,980 68.99% 2,149 29.77% 89 1.23%
2004 4,805 66.03% 2,407 33.08% 65 0.89%
2000 3,553 57.79% 2,398 39.00% 197 3.20%
1996 2,430 40.55% 2,480 41.39% 1,082 18.06%
1992 2,651 45.29% 1,938 33.11% 1,265 21.61%
1988 3,042 62.44% 1,688 34.65% 142 2.91%
1984 3,573 66.70% 1,784 33.30% 0 0.00%
1980 2,127 43.18% 2,700 54.81% 99 2.01%
1976 1,584 37.00% 2,641 61.69% 56 1.31%
1972 2,628 78.54% 713 21.31% 5 0.15%
1968 364 9.58% 711 18.71% 2,725 71.71%
1964 2,001 54.67% 1,659 45.33% 0 0.00%
1960 657 21.86% 2,348 78.14% 0 0.00%
1956 570 24.12% 1,793 75.88% 0 0.00%
1952 490 21.69% 1,769 78.31% 0 0.00%
1948 146 9.25% 1,219 77.20% 214 13.55%
1944 83 6.15% 1,267 93.85% 0 0.00%
1940 105 6.01% 1,642 93.99% 0 0.00%
1936 71 7.76% 844 92.24% 0 0.00%
1932 30 4.42% 648 95.58% 0 0.00%
1928 156 34.98% 275 61.66% 15 3.36%

Education

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Gulf County is served by Gulf County Schools.

Libraries

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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

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Airports

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[11][12]

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, Conversion of Two F-15 Fighter Squadrons to F-22 Fighter Squadrons: Environmental Impact Statement". September 23, 2000 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ "Florida Geographic Names". U.S.G.S. Topographic Division, Office of Research & Technical Standards, National Center. September 23, 1981 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census.gov". Census.gov.
  12. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  15. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
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Government links/Constitutional offices

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Special districts

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Judicial branch

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29°54′N 85°14′W / 29.90°N 85.24°W / 29.90; -85.24

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