Panama City, Florida

Panama City is a city in and the county seat of Bay County, Florida, United States. Located along U.S. Highway 98 (US 98), it is the largest city between Tallahassee and Pensacola. It is also the most populated city and a principal city of the Panama City–Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 32,939, down from the figure of 36,484 at the 2010 census.

Name
The development in this once unincorporated part of Northwest Florida was created by combining the settlements and communities of Floriopolis, Harrison, Millville, Park Resort, and St. Andrews. In 1906, the development was named Panama City and it was first incorporated as Panama City in 1909. When Panama City was incorporated, its original city limits were 15th Street (Hwy 98) on the north, Balboa Avenue on the west and Bay Avenue on the east. According to the Panama City Public Library's A History of Panama City, George Mortimer West hoped to spur real estate development in Bay County during a period of intense popular interest in the construction of the Panama Canal by changing the town's name from Harrison to Panama City, because a straight line between Chicago and the Central American country Panama's national capital intersected the Florida town. Additionally, since required meanders around land formations in a seaborne route to the canal added distance when starting at other ports, Panama City was the closest developed port in the US mainland to the Caribbean entrance of the Panama Canal.

Geography
The approximate coordinates for the City of Panama City is located at 30.17444°N, -85.66444°W (30.174451, –85.664480) within the Florida Panhandle, and along the Emerald Coast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city limits encompass an area of 91.8 km2, of which 75.8 sqkm is land and 16.0 sqkm, or 17.39%, is water.

Climate
Panama City has a humid subtropical climate, with short, mild winters and long, hot and humid summers. In January, the average low is 42.6 °F (5.9 °C), and in July the average high is 91.1 °F (32.8 °C).

Due to its location on the Gulf Coast, the city is susceptible to tropical cyclones. Panama City was directly hit by Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018, which made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane. The storm caused catastrophic damage to the city and surrounding communities, with winds of 160 mph (260 km/h) at landfall. The city previously suffered significant indirect impacts from Hurricane Ivan (2004) and Hurricane Opal (1995). Panama City is also no stranger to tornadoes, having recently been affected by an EF3 tornado on January 9, 2024 and an EF2 tornado on March 18, 2022.

Time zone
Panama City is part of the Central Time Zone, unlike the city of Tallahassee to its east.

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 32,939 people, 15,733 households, and 8,856 families residing in the city.

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 36,484 people, 15,419 households, and 8,893 families residing in the city.

As of the census of 2010, the population density was 1,245.2 PD/sqmi. There were 17,438 housing units at an average density of 595.2 /sqmi.

In 2010, there were 15,419 households, out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were headed by married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.8% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% were someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28, and the average family size was 2.91.

In 2010, in the city, the population was 20.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 26.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

As of the 2000 census, the city's median household income was $31,572, and the median income for a family was $40,890. Males had a median income of $30,401 versus $21,431 for females. The city's per capita income was $17,830. About 12.1% of families and 17.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.

Industry
Two military bases make the federal government the largest employer. As of 2024, industrial employers in the Bay County area include Eastern Shipbuilding Group, Oceaneering, Florida Power & Light, Trane, L-3 Communications, and Jensen-Group.

Real estate
In 2006, Panama City was named the best place to invest in real estate in the US by CNN's Business 2.0 magazine.

Military
Tyndall Air Force Base to the east, is undergoing a $5.3 billion rebuild to make it the "installation of the future" after Hurricane Michael hit the base in 2018. Naval Support Activity Panama City and Coast Guard Station Panama City are just over the Hathaway Bridge in Panama City Beach. The 153rd Cavalry Regiment, part of the Florida Army National Guard, is headquartered in Panama City with units throughout the panhandle. Panama City is also approximately 100 miles south of Fort Novosel, Alabama, home to the U.S. Army's Aviation Center of Excellence.

Retail
The city's main retail center was the Panama City Mall until it was permanently closed after Hurricane Michael. In August 2020, owners of the Panama City Mall released plans to demolish the mall and build a new commercial complex. The plans included a hotel, shops, and restaurants. As of 2023, those plans have not come to fruition. Another local retail center is the Bay City Pointe, on FL 368 (locally known as 23rd St.). Pier Park, on the beach across the Hathaway Bridge spanning St. Andrews Bay, is a third local retail center. Other retail areas in the Panama City Metro are the 15th Street Shopping Strip (A area between Harrison Ave/US Highway 231 and Beck Ave/US Bus 98/State Road 390), 23rd Street Shopping Strip, Downtown Panama City, Historic St. Andrews, and Millville Historic District.

Hospitals
The city has two hospitals, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (known as Bay Medical Sacred Heart until Hurricane Michael destroyed a large portion of it) and HCA Florida Gulf Coast Medical Center.

Roads
The two main east–west thoroughfares in Panama City proper are 23rd Street and US 98. SR 368 runs east–west across the northern part of the city as a bypass. US 98 runs east–west through the city itself, leading southeast 24 mi to Mexico Beach and west 10 mi to Panama City Beach.

The two main north–south thoroughfares in the city are Martin Luther King Boulevard, otherwise known as SR 77 and US 231. SR 77 leads north 6 mi to the Panama City suburb of Lynn Haven. US 231 begins its national journey northward in the city, leading northeast 83 mi to Dothan, Alabama.

Other more local highways run through the city, including many county roads.

Bridges
Because of the city's position on St. Andrews Bay, bridges are very important to the area, and most directions into or out of the city require the use of one of three large bridges to cross parts of the bay. These are the Bailey Bridge to the north on Hwy 77, the Dupont Bridge to the south on Hwy 98 and the Hathaway Bridge to the west on Hwy 98. The largest of these is the Hathaway Bridge, which is the only direct connection between Panama City and Panama City Beach.

Rail
The Bay Line Railroad has an 82 mi rail line running north to Dothan, Alabama, to a connection with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern. Until some point between 1955 and 1956 the Atlanta and St. Andrews Bay Railroad ran passenger trains from Panama City to Dothan, Alabama. Additionally, the A&StA operated sleeping car service to Atlanta from Panama City.

Bus transportation
Local transit is handled by the Bayway. Service generally runs Monday–Saturday from 6 AM to 7 PM.

Air transportation
The city was served by the Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN) until May 22, 2010. It was replaced by the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) with Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. In June 2018, ECP also added American Airlines. In 2020, ECP was ranked the fourth fastest growing airport in the U.S.

Port
The Port of Panama City is on St. Andrews Bay.

Media
Sports Talk
 * The News Herald, newspaper
 * WJHG, NBC affiliate on channel 7
 * WMBB, ABC affiliate on channel 13 with The CW Plus on DT2
 * WECP-LD, CBS affiliate on channel 18 with MyNetworkTV on DT2
 * WPGX, Fox affiliate on channel 28
 * WFSG, PBS affiliate on channel 56 (satellite of WFSU-TV, Tallahassee)
 * WPCT – Public-access television cable TV
 * WGSX, 104.3 ESPN Northwest Florida,
 * WASJ, Bob FM 105.1, 1980s/1990s/2000s
 * WBPC, Beach 95.1, Oldies
 * WFLF-FM, Fox News Radio
 * WFSW, public radio
 * WFSY, adult contemporary
 * WILN, Island 106, Contemporary hit radio
 * WKGC-FM, public radio
 * WKNK, Kick'n Country, country
 * WPAP, country
 * WPFM, K-Love, Contemporary Christian music
 * WRBA, Classic Rock 95.9, Classic Rock
 * WYOO, Talk Radio 101, Talk Radio
 * WYYX, 97X, "Panama City's Rock Station"
 * WAYP-FM, 88.3 WAY-FM Christian Hit Radio

Education
Panama City's public schools are operated by Bay District Schools. A system of charter schools: Bay Haven (K-8) North Bay Haven (K-12) Palm Bay Academy(6-12) [https://tcs.fsu.edu/#:~:text=The%20Collegiate%20School%20welcomed%20its,preparatory%20curriculum%20and%20career%20preparation. The Collegiate School] (9th as of 2024), and University Academy (K-8) also service the Panama City area. Private schools in the city include, Holy Nativity Episcopal School, St. John Catholic School, Jacob Austin Prep. Academy, Covenant Christian School. Gulf Coast State College, formerly Gulf Coast Community College, is now a 4-year state college. Florida State University Panama City Campus and a satellite campus of Troy University are located in the city. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has a satellite campus on Tyndall Air Force Base. Tom P. Haney Technical College is a local alternative to traditional college, offering a variety of vocational training programs. The school operates under the auspices of Bay District Schools. Public high schools in the Panama City metro-area include Rutherford High School, Bay High School, A. Crawford Mosley High School, Arnold High School, Deane Bozeman Learning Center, and Rosenwald High School.

Notable people

 * Mike Campbell, lead guitarist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
 * Jaye Chapman, pitcher with the Chicago Cubs
 * Adam Cole, professional wrestler
 * Donnie Craft, running back for the NFL and CFL
 * Clint Daniels, country music artist
 * Codi Galloway, member of the Idaho House of Representatives
 * Clarence Earl Gideon, the plaintiff in Gideon v. Wainwright
 * David Herndon, MLB pitcher with the New York Yankees
 * Robert Lee McKenzie, entrepreneur, real estate developer, first mayor of Panama City, and an important figure in the early history of Bob Jones University
 * Dan Peek, member of the soft rock band America
 * Blake Percival, whistleblower who exposed USIS
 * Blood Raw, rapper with the group U.S.D.A and Young Jeezy
 * Janarius Robinson, 2016 graduate of Bay High School, defensive end in the NFL for the Las Vegas Raiders, former defensive end for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Minnesota Vikings, former defensive linemen for the Florida State Seminoles
 * Kenny Saief, player for the United States men's national soccer team
 * Anwar Stewart, CFL defensive lineman for the Montreal Alouettes
 * Thurop Van Orman, took inspiration from the city when living here as a kid to make The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack
 * Ray Wilson, NFL defensive back for the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers
 * Stacy Wilson, former captain of the Canada women's national ice hockey team, former assistant coach, author, and former head coach of the Bowdoin College women's ice hockey team
 * William Witherspoon, 1998 graduate of Rutherford High School, NFL linebacker

Twinned City
Panama City, Florida is twinned with one city:
 * 🇲🇽 Mérida, Yucatán (November 13, 2003)