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Gulf County
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County Seat: Port St. Joe
Nearest MSA: Panama City MSA
Largest Cities:1 Port St. Joe
2 Wewahitchka
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................77
Orlando...................................257
Tampa...................................215
Jacksonville...................................222
Miami...................................420
Atlanta...................................280
Chicago...................................843
Dallas...................................709
New York...................................987
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Time Zone: Central
Local Area Code(s): 850
Gulf
1980:10,658
1990:11,504
2008:15,667
2015(p):17,900
2030(p):20,000
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,328,340
20,955,900
25,340,700
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:6145
July:8975
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................105
(2007)
In-Migration700
Out-Migration693
Net-Migration 7
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2008)
Labor Force6,323
Labor Force % of County Population40.4
Number in County Unemployed375
Unemployment Rate5.9%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataGulfFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment3,9307,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining1.4%1.2%
Construction8.5%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities15.1%20.5%
Manufacturing3.5%4.7%
InformationN/D
Other Services1.5%3.2%
Public administration26.9%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality10.1%11.9%
Education & Health Services9.3%19.4%
Professional & Business Services5.1%14.4%
Financial Activities7.3%6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries$32,148
Construction$36,301
Education & Health Services$24,684
Financial Activities$34,141
InformationN/D
Leisure & Hospitality$14,986
Manufacturing$50,583
Natural Resources & Mining$37,133
Other Services$24,094
Professional & Business Services$30,001
Public administration$33,421
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$35,841
UnclassifiedN/D
GulfFlorida
2005$20,990$34,709
2006$22,842$37,099
2007$23,233$38,417
Major Private Sector Employers

GT Com
Business Line: Telecommunications
Number of Employees..................................................... 172

Bay St. Joseph Care & Rehabilitation Center
Business Line: Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center
Number of Employees..................................................... 142

Tauton Industries
Business Line: Trusses & Panels
Number of Employees..................................................... 138

Arizona Chemical
Business Line: Chemicals
Number of Employees..................................................... 95

Raffield Fisheries
Business Line: Seafood
Number of Employees..................................................... 75

Duren's Piggly Wiggly
Business Line: Grocer
Number of Employees..................................................... 70

Premier Chemical, LLC
Business Line: Chemicals
Number of Employees..................................................... 40

Whitfield Timber
Business Line: Timber
Number of Employees..................................................... 38

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative
Business Line: Electric Co-op
Number of Employees..................................................... 30

Geri-Care
Business Line: Assisted Living & Rehabilitation Center
Number of Employees..................................................... 25

Federal InterstatesNone
Federal HighwaysUS-98
State HighwaysSR- 71
RailroadsApalachicola - Northern Railroad
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Panama City/Bay County International Airport
# Runways2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)6308
General Aviation AirportsApalachicola Municipal Airport

Local Deep Water PortPort St. Joe
Miles to Closest Port2
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government4.5862
Schools4.8840
Special0.0450
Total9.5152

Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise ZoneEZ-2301
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Gulf Coast Electric Co-op
  • Florida Light & Power
  • Lighhouse Utilities

  • Natural Gas Companies:
  • St. Joe Natural Gas
  • Amerigas
  • TECO

  • Telephone Companies:
  • GT COM

  • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • City of Port St. Joe
  • City of Wewahitchka


  • Existing Industrial Zoned LandNo
    Number of Acres0
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel0

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres14
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel12

    Foreign Trade ZonesNo
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools
    TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:253963
    Secondary:4791,208
    Totals:61322,171

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

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

  • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • Gulf Coast Community College-Gulf/Franklin Center
  • Gulf Coast Community College - Panama City

  • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Haney Vocational/Technical School-Panama City

  • Other Schools:
  • none

  • Local Radio Stations:
  • WFCT 105.5 FM








  • Local Television Stations:
  • ST Joe Network 44, 53








  • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • The Star
  • The Gulf Breeze
  • The Hook & Triggar

  • Number of Banks:4

    Number of Savings and Loans:0

    Number of Credit Unions:2
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total88.62
    Food98.48
    Housing79.63
    Medical Care87.32
    Personal Goods and Services 93.91
    Transportation97.24
    Medical Services:
  • Bay Medical Center, Panama City
  • Geri-Care Rehab & Assisted Living
  • Gulf Coast Medical Center, Panama City

  • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Boating
  • Diving/Snorkeling
  • Fishing
  • Shelling
  • Swimming/Sunbathing

  • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Cape San Blas Lighthouse
  • Constitution Convention Museum State Park
  • Dead Lakes State Park & Boat Ramp
  • Old St. Joseph Historical Cementary
  • St. Joseph Penninsula State Park & Boat Ramp
  • The Florida Constitution Moument & Museum

  • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Christmas on the Coast
  • Independence on the Coast
  • Indian Pass Salt Water Fishing Tournament
  • Scallop Festival
  • Taste of the Coast
  • Tupelo Festival
  • Wewahitchka Catfish Classic & 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