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Bay County Profile
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County Website : www.bayeda.com
Nearest MSA: Panama City-Lynn Haven-Pa
Time Zone: Central
Local Area Code(s): 850
Largest Cities:1 Panama City
2 Callaway
3 Lynn Haven
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................87
Orlando...................................287
Tampa...................................248
Jacksonville...................................242
Miami...................................451
Atlanta...................................260
Chicago...................................817
Dallas...................................679
New York...................................984
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Bay
1980:97,740
1990:126,994
2009:164,767
2015(p):179,200
2030(p):210,900
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,537,969
19,881,200
23,821,300
Bay Florida
2006$33,613$38,161
2007$34,723$39,036
2008$35,459$39,064
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:6137
July:9271
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................105
(2008)
In-Migration9,819
Out-Migration10,591
Net-Migration -772
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2009)
Labor Force89,720
Labor Force % of County Population54.5
Number in County Unemployed8,241
Unemployment Rate9.2%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataBayFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment72,3697,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining0.3%1.2%
Construction7.6%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities20.0%20.5%
Manufacturing4.9%4.7%
Information2.4%2.0%
Other Services3.4%3.2%
Public administration8.0%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality15.9%11.9%
Education & Health Services13.2%19.4%
Professional & Business Services10.4%14.4%
Financial Activities7.2%6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries$34,392
Construction$35,733
Education & Health Services$40,750
Financial Activities$38,771
Information$31,728
Leisure & Hospitality$17,153
Manufacturing$51,187
Natural Resources & Mining$38,098
Other Services$29,747
Professional & Business Services$43,870
Public administration$49,972
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$27,830
UnclassifiedN/D
Major Private Sector Employers

Bay Medical Center
Business Line: Health Care
Number of Employees..................................................... 1,991

Eastern Shipbuilding Group
Business Line: Shipbuilding Construction/Repair & Industrial Fabrication
Number of Employees..................................................... 793

Sallie Mae
Business Line: Broker/Student Loans
Number of Employees..................................................... 700

Gulf Coast Medical Center
Business Line: Health Care
Number of Employees..................................................... 621

Sprint
Business Line: Customer Care Center
Number of Employees..................................................... 600

Trane
Business Line: Air Conditioning Units
Number of Employees..................................................... 506

Paradise Found Resorts & Hotels
Business Line: Resorts
Number of Employees..................................................... 400

Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation
Business Line: Kraft Linerboard
Number of Employees..................................................... 400

Life Management Center of Northwest Florida
Business Line: Behavioral Health & Family Counseling Services
Number of Employees..................................................... 302

Oceaneering Multiflex Inc.
Business Line: Underwater Cable
Number of Employees..................................................... 298
Federal InterstatesI-10
Federal HighwaysUS-98, US-231
State HighwaysSR-20, SR-22, SR-77, SR-79
RailroadsBay Line
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Panama City-Bay County International Airport
# Runways2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)6308
General Aviation AirportsPanama City-Bay County International Airport

Local Deep Water PortPanama City Port Authority
Miles to Closest Port0
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government3.6500
Schools7.6230
Special0.0450
Total11.3180
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)0.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise Zone
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Gulf Power Company
  • Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative

    • Natural Gas Companies:
  • TECO Peoples Gas

    • Telephone Companies:
  • AT&T
  • Comcast
  • Knology

    • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • Bay County Water & Sewer Department
  • City of Panama City
  • City of Lynn Haven
  • City of Callaway
  • City of Panama City Beach


    • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres2,200
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel240

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres1,307
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel240

    Foreign Trade ZonesYes
    Zone Number(s)65
    Public
    Schools    		TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:1972112,639
    Secondary:1562613,595
    Totals:341,34726,234

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Florida State University- Panama City Campus
  • Troy University-Panama City/Tyndall AFB
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University - Tyndall AFB
  • Southern Illinois University Carbondale

    • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • Gulf Coast Community College

    • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Haney Technical Center

    • Other Schools:
  • none

    • Local Radio Stations:
  • WFSW 89.1 FM
  • WJTF 89.9 FM
  • WKGC 90.7 FM
  • WPAP 92.5 FM
  • WPFM 107.9 FM
  • WFLF 94.5 FM
  • WASJ 105.1 FM
  • WFSY 98.5 FM
    • Local Television Stations:
  • WJHG News Channel 7
  • WMBB News 13
  • WPGX FOX 28






    • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • The News Herald
    		•

    Number of Banks:30

    Number of Savings and Loans:13

    Number of Credit Unions:7
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total91.09
    Food103.00
    Housing82.00
    Medical Care86.00
    Personal Goods and Services 96.00
    Transportation96.00
    Medical Services:
  • Bay Medical Center
  • Gulf Coast Medical Center
  • HealthSouth Emerald Coast Rehabilitation Hospital

    • Recreational Opportunities:
  • 27 Miles of Beaches
  • Amusement Parks
  • Boating
  • Diving
  • Fishing
  • Golf
  • Shopping

    • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Civil War Era Salt Pot
  • Civil War Skirmish
  • Loftin's Ferry
  • Martin Theatre
  • Several Sunken Ships
  • Union Soldier Monument

    • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Annual Horse Show & Music Festival
  • Annual Jazz Festival
  • Annual Spring & Arts Festival
  • Concerts in the Park (summer)
  • Kidfest - Annual Children's Celebration
  • Mardi Gras Celebrations
  • Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Food Festival

    • Enterprise Florida, Inc. 800 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 1100 Orlando, Florida 32803 Phone 407-956-5600 Fax(407)956-5599
    Visit us on the World Wide Web: http://www.eflorida.com