Panama City Beach, Florida

Panama City Beach is a resort town in Bay County, Florida, United States, on the Gulf of Mexico coast. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 12,018.[5] The city is often referred to under the umbrella term of "Panama City". Panama City Beach's slogan is "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches" due to the unique,[6] sugar-white sandy beaches of northwest Florida.

Not to be confused with Panama City, Florida.
Panama City Beach, Florida
City
View of the beach looking northwest from St. Andrews State Park
Flag
Seal
Nickname(s): 
PCB, Capital of Redneck Riviera
Motto(s): 
The World's Most Beautiful Beaches
Location in Bay County and the state of Florida
Coordinates: 30°10′36″N 85°48′20″W
Country United States
State Florida
County Bay
Incorporated1977
Government
 • City ManagerTony O'Rourke (2020-present) Mario Gisbert (2012–2020)
Richard Jackson (1980–2012)
Area
 • Total19.48 sq mi (50.44 km2)
 • Land19.28 sq mi (49.92 km2)
 • Water0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation
10 ft (3 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total12,018
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
12,583
 • Density662.79/sq mi (255.91/km2)
Time zoneUTC−06:00 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−05:00 (CDT)
ZIP
32401, 32407, 32408, 32413, 32417
Area code(s)850
FIPS code12-54725[3]
GNIS feature ID0308451[4]
Websitewww.pcbgov.com

Panama City Beach has been a popular vacation destination, especially among people in the Southern United States. The city is also a very popular spring break destination, due to the popularity of the beach and its proximity to most of the Southern United States, and relative proximity as a drive destination for the Midwest. The MTV show Floribama Shore was set in the city – Filming took place over the Summer of 2017.

History

Real estate boom

A construction boom in the early to mid 2000s changed the image of the area due to the older homes and motels being replaced with high-rise condominiums and more expansive homes. However, this is turning unobstructed, low-rise beach views and affordable waterfront property into rarities. At the peak of the real estate boom, many beachfront properties had quadrupled or more in value since 2000. In November 2006 CNN/Money named Panama City Beach the No. 1 real estate market in America for the next five years in.[7] Beachfront property has sold for upwards of $60,000 per "front foot" (linear foot) at the top of the market. The downturn in the U.S. real estate market in 2007, combined with a surge of new condo construction, brought spiraling prices somewhat under control. With the real estate boom, Panama City Beach became a well known destination for spring break.[8]

Hurricane Michael made landfall near Mexico Beach in Bay County on October 10, 2018, as one of the strongest and most-destructive hurricanes in American history and destroyed a large part of the county including many structures in Mexico Beach and Panama City.[9][10]

Geography

Panama City Beach is located at 30°12′27″N 85°51′5″W (30.207362, −85.851485).[11]

The city is located in the panhandle on the Gulf of Mexico. The main roads through the city are U.S. Route 98 and Florida State Road 30. US 98 runs from northwest to southeast just inland from the coast, leading east 10 mi (16 km) to Panama City and northwest 47 mi (76 km) to Destin. FL-30 runs along the coast from northwest to southeast as Front Beach Rd, leading east to Panama City and northwest 15 mi (24 km) to Rosemary Beach. There are approximately 9 miles (14 km) of shoreline in Panama City Beach fronting the Gulf of Mexico.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.6 square miles (48.2 km2)— 18.4 square miles (47.6 km2) is land and 0.23 square miles (0.6 km2) (1.17%) is water.[12]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
196036—
19706786.1%
19802,1483,106.0%
19904,05188.6%
20007,67189.4%
201012,01856.7%
Est. 201912,583[2]4.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 12,018 people, 5,417 households, and 3,068 families residing in the city. The population density was 653.2 persons per square mile (252.5/km²). There were 17,141 housing units at an average density of 931.6 houses per square mile (360.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.5% White, 2.3% African American, 0.6% American Indian or Alaska Native, 2.7% Asian and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.8% of the population.[5]

There were 5,417 households, out of which 21.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were headed by married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.4% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22, and the average family size was 2.76.[5]

In the city, the population was spread out with 18.0% under the age of 18, 10.3% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 29.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.[5]

Ancestries: English (17.7%), German (17.4%), Irish (14.8%), United States (11.1%), Italian (3.6%), French (3.1%).

At the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city was $41,198, and the median income for a family was $49,127. Males had a median income of $32,459 versus $22,358 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,734. About 2.2% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.9% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

The City of Panama City Beach has a council–manager government. The Mayor sits as a Council member-at-large and presides over City Council meetings. In the event that the Mayor cannot preside over a City Council meeting, the Mayor Pro-Tem is the presiding officer of the meeting until such time as the Mayor returns to his seat. The City Manager is responsible for the administration and the day-to-day operation of all of the municipal services and city departments. The City Manager also maintains intergovernmental relationships with federal, state, county and other local governments.

The primary law enforcement agency in the city is the Panama City Beach Police Department. The city and the rest of Bay County are also under the jurisdiction of the Bay County Sheriff's Office.

City council
  • Mark Sheldon – Mayor (term expires in 2024)
  • Paul Casto – Ward 1 Council member (term expires in 2022)
  • Phil Chester – Ward 2 Council member (term expires in 2020)
  • Geoff McConnell – Ward 3 Council member (term expires in 2022)
  • Michael Jarman – Ward 4 Council member (term expires in 2024)[14]

City management
  • Tony O’Rourke (2020–present) – City Manager
  • Holly J. White – City Clerk
  • Bill Kinsaul – Bay County Clerk of Courts

Services
  • Panama City Beach Police Department
  • Panama City Beach Fire Rescue
  • Dan Rowe; President and CEO, Panama City Beach CVB
  • Susan Estler – Vice-President, Marketing, Panama City Beach CVB

Education

Primary and secondary public education is provided by the Bay District Schools (BDS).

The Gulf Coast State College is located in Panama City, just across the Hathaway Bridge from Panama City Beach.

The Florida State University Panama City branch campus is also located in Panama City, just across the Hathaway Bridge from Panama City Beach.

Transportation

The new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport provides commercial flights into the area. The airport serves private aircraft, domestic passenger flights, and freight/cargo flights. It is the first international airport to be constructed after the September 11 terrorist attacks. Other modes of transportation include scooters, which can be rented by the day, as well as taxi and shuttle companies, which are permitted by the local police.

Panama City Beach also has a road trolley system available which runs hourly. The Bay Town Trolley system runs throughout the county giving its tourists and locals the resource they need to get around Bay County.

Major highways
  • US 98 is an east-west highway running along the Gulf Coast. It is the main route to Destin and to Panama City proper.
  • State Road 79 is a north-south highway that starts in Panama City Beach and heads north to Interstate 10 and on to the Alabama state line.
  • State Road 30, formerly US 98 Alt, also named Front Beach Road, is an east-west highway that runs mostly along the beach front, beginning and ending at US 98.

Sports

The city was home to the Panama City Beach Pirates, a fourth-division soccer team from 2007–2015.

It is also notable that World Championship Wrestling held their last WCW Nitro event in Panama City Beach.[15] WCW was bought out by their rival competition WWF (now WWE).

Recreation
Panama City Beach Panorama
  • The city lies on Florida's "Emerald Coast" of the Gulf of Mexico
  • Clear waters as seen from Pier Park's pier
  • "Ripley's Believe it or Not!" museum, a tourist attraction
  • Looking down on Front Beach Road

Panama City Beach is the setting for the 2015 film Dancin': It's On!

Notable People
  • Jamie Hale, Award-Winning Sports Anchor, former Southern Miss cheerleader

References
  1. "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Jul 7, 2017.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau.
  4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  5. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Panama City Beach city, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  6. About Panama City Beach – Panama City Beach Information
  7. Top 10 cities: Where to buy now money.cnn.com
  8. Panama City Beach, Florida Real Estate Market Conditions realtytimes.com
  9. Fedschun, Travis (2018-10-11). "Hurricane Michael devastation in Panama City, Florida seen in drone video, photos". Fox News. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  10. "In a harrowing two hours, Hurricane Michael devastates Panama City". Florida Today. Retrieved 2019-03-17.
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Panama City Beach city, Florida". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. CYber SYtes, Inc. - www.cysy.com (2010-07-14). "The Official Site of the City of Panama City Beach, Florida". Pcbgov.com. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
  15. "World Championship Wrestling - Promotions Database". Cagematch.net. Retrieved 9 December 2019.
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