Bay County Information

Summary

Located in the panhandle of Florida, Bay County is predominantly known for its tourist destinations like Panama City Beach. With a population over 174,000, the county has a mix of coastal towns and rural communities.
The Apalachicola National Forest is the largest U.S. National Forest in the state of Florida. It encompasses 632,890 acres (988.89 sq mi; 2,561.2 km2)[1] and is the only national forest located in the Florida Panhandle. (See Bonus Link for Wikipedia)

History

Established in 1913, Bay County has a rich military history and is home to Tyndall Air Force Base. The area has experienced tremendous growth since World War II, both as a military center and as a vacation destination.

Natural Disasters

Being a coastal county, Bay is at high risk for hurricanes and tropical storms. The most impactful in recent years was Hurricane Michael in 2018, which caused extensive damage.

Statistics for 2020

  • Population: 174,705
  • Area: 1,033 square miles
  • Median Income: $50,133