Gulf County, Florida

County in Florida, United States

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County in Florida

Gulf County

County

Gulf County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Florida

Florida's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 29°54′N 85°14′W﻿ / ﻿29.9°N 85.24°W﻿ / 29.9; -85.24
Country|  United States
State|  Florida
Founded| June 6, 1925
Named after| Gulf of Mexico
Seat| Port St. Joe
Largest city| Port St. Joe
Government

• County Administrator| Michael Hammond
Area

• Total

| 756 sq mi (1,960 km2)
• Land| 564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Water| 192 sq mi (500 km2)  25.4%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 14,192

• Estimate

(2023)

| 15,693
• Density| 19/sq mi (7.2/km2)
Time zones
Southern portion| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Northern portion| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 2nd
Website| www.gulfcounty-fl.gov

Gulf County is a county located in the panhandle of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,192.[1] Its county seat is Port St. Joe.[2] Gulf County is included in the Panama City, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

## History

[edit]

Gulf County, created in 1925, was named for the Gulf of Mexico. Wewahitchka was its first county seat and the 1927 Gulf County Courthouse is still in existence. In 1965 the county seat was moved to Port Saint Joe, which under its original name Saint Joseph, had been the site of Florida's first Constitutional Convention in 1838.

In 2018, Category 5 Hurricane Michael made landfall just miles north of the county line in Mexico Beach, severely damaging large parts of the region and its timber and shellfish industries. The area has largely recovered in the years since.

## Geography

[edit]

Entering the Eastern Time Zone

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 756 square miles (1,960 km2), of which 564 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 192 square miles (500 km2) (25.4%) is water.[3]

### Communities

[edit]

#### Cities

[edit]

* Port St. Joe
* Wewahitchka

#### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

Unincorporated areas include:[4][5]

* Cape San Blas
* Dalkeith
* Highland View
* Honeyville
* Howard Creek
* Indian Pass
* Oak Grove
* Overstreet
* St. Joe Beach
* White City

### Time zones

[edit]

By way of the Intracoastal Waterway, Gulf County is one of a small number of counties in the United States to be in two time zones, Eastern and Central in this case.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Calhoun County, Florida — north
* Liberty County, Florida — northeast
* Franklin County, Florida — east
* Bay County, Florida — west

### National protected area

[edit]

* St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge (part)

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1930| 3,182| | —
1940| 6,951| | 118.4%
1950| 7,460| | 7.3%
1960| 9,937| | 33.2%
1970| 10,096| | 1.6%
1980| 10,658| | 5.6%
1990| 11,504| | 7.9%
2000| 13,332| | 15.9%
2010| 15,863| | 19.0%
2020| 14,192| | −10.5%
2023 (est.)| 15,693| [6]| 10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2019[1]
Gulf County racial composition as of 2020
(NH = Non-Hispanic)[a] Race  | Pop 2010[13] | Pop 2020[14] | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|

White (NH)  | 11,881  | 11,222  | 74.9%  | 79.07%
Black or African American (NH)  | 2,937  | 1,692  | 18.51%  | 11.92%
Native American or Alaska Native (NH)  | 59  | 66  | 0.37%  | 0.47%
Asian (NH)  | 41  | 57  | 0.26%  | 0.4%
Pacific Islander (NH)  | 3  | 0  | 0.02%  | 0.0%
Some Other Race (NH)  | 8  | 34  | 0.05%  | 0.24%
Mixed/Multi-Racial (NH)  | 256  | 566  | 1.61%  | 3.99%
Hispanic or Latino | 678  | 555  | 4.27%  | 3.91%
Total  | 15,863  | 14,192  | 100.00%  | 100.00%

Legend

* Non-Hispanic White

50–60%

80–90%

>90%

### 2020 census

[edit]

The 2020 United States census counted 14,192 people, 5,571 households, and 3,656 families in Gulf County, Florida.[15][16] The population density was 25.6 per square mile (9.9/km2). There were 8,796 housing units at an average density of 15.9 per square mile (6.1/km2).[16][17] The racial makeup was 80.32% (11,399) white or European American (79.07% non-Hispanic white), 12.0% (1,703) black or African-American, 0.54% (76) Native American or Alaska Native, 0.4% (57) Asian, 0.03% (4) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, 1.66% (236) from other races, and 5.05% (717) from two or more races.[18] Hispanic or Latino of any race was 3.91% (555) of the population.[19]

Of the 5,571 households, 23.7% had children under the age of 18; 49.0% were married couples living together; 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. 28.2% of households consisted of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[16] The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.5.[20] The percent of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher was estimated to be 19.6% of the population.[21]

16.7% of the population was under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 30.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males.[16] For every 100 females ages 18 and older, there were 86.0 males.[16]

The 2016-2020 5-year American Community Survey estimates show that the median household income was $50,640 (with a margin of error of +/- $3,582). The median family income was $60,978 (+/- $11,534).[22] Males had a median income of $34,738 (+/- $4,577) versus $26,463 (+/- $5,198) for females. The median income for those above 16 years old was $31,055 (+/- $3,077).[23] Approximately, 10.0% of families and 12.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those ages 65 or over.[24][25]

### 2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[26] of 2000, there were 13,332 people, 4,931 households, and 3,535 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 inhabitants per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 7,587 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.89% White, 16.94% Black or African American, 0.65% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,931 households, out of which 28.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 29.40% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,276, and the median income for a family was $36,289. Males had a median income of $27,539 versus $20,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,449. About 13.70% of families and 16.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

## Politics

[edit]

Once heavily Democratic, Gulf County voted Republican at the presidential level for the first time in 1964 and has transitioned to a Republican stronghold at the presidential level. The county still supported conservative Democrats for local office until the 2000s. Republicans flipped most county offices in the 2010s and now consist of a strong majority of registered voters as of 2023.

The county is governed by a five-member Board of County Commissioners, elected in single-member districts. At the state level, Gulf County is represented by state senator Corey Simon (R) and state representative Jason Shoaf (R).

Gulf County is a part of Florida's 2nd Congressional District and is represented by Neal Dunn (R).

United States presidential election results for Gulf County, Florida[27][28] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 6,684  | 76.62% | 1,970  | 22.58%  | 70  | 0.80%
2020 | 6,113  | 74.80% | 1,985  | 24.29%  | 74  | 0.91%
2016 | 5,329  | 72.69% | 1,720  | 23.46%  | 282  | 3.85%
2012 | 4,995  | 70.10% | 2,014  | 28.26%  | 117  | 1.64%
2008 | 4,980  | 68.99% | 2,149  | 29.77%  | 89  | 1.23%
2004 | 4,805  | 66.03% | 2,407  | 33.08%  | 65  | 0.89%
2000 | 3,553  | 57.79% | 2,398  | 39.00%  | 197  | 3.20%
1996 | 2,430  | 40.55%  | 2,480  | 41.39% | 1,082  | 18.06%
1992 | 2,651  | 45.29% | 1,938  | 33.11%  | 1,265  | 21.61%
1988 | 3,042  | 62.44% | 1,688  | 34.65%  | 142  | 2.91%
1984 | 3,573  | 66.70% | 1,784  | 33.30%  | 0  | 0.00%
1980 | 2,127  | 43.18%  | 2,700  | 54.81% | 99  | 2.01%
1976 | 1,584  | 37.00%  | 2,641  | 61.69% | 56  | 1.31%
1972 | 2,628  | 78.54% | 713  | 21.31%  | 5  | 0.15%
1968 | 364  | 9.58%  | 711  | 18.71%  | 2,725  | 71.71%
1964 | 2,001  | 54.67% | 1,659  | 45.33%  | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 657  | 21.86%  | 2,348  | 78.14% | 0  | 0.00%
1956 | 570  | 24.12%  | 1,793  | 75.88% | 0  | 0.00%
1952 | 490  | 21.69%  | 1,769  | 78.31% | 0  | 0.00%
1948 | 146  | 9.25%  | 1,219  | 77.20% | 214  | 13.55%
1944 | 83  | 6.15%  | 1,267  | 93.85% | 0  | 0.00%
1940 | 105  | 6.01%  | 1,642  | 93.99% | 0  | 0.00%
1936 | 71  | 7.76%  | 844  | 92.24% | 0  | 0.00%
1932 | 30  | 4.42%  | 648  | 95.58% | 0  | 0.00%
1928 | 156  | 34.98%  | 275  | 61.66% | 15  | 3.36%

## Education

[edit]

Gulf County is served by Gulf County Schools.

### Libraries

[edit]

Gulf County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System (NWRLS), which serves Bay and Liberty Counties as well.

* Bay County Public Library
* Panama City Beach Public Library
* Parker Public Library
* Springfield Public Library
* Gulf County Public Library
* Charles Whitehead Public Library
* Harrell Memorial Library of Liberty County
* Jimmy Weaver Memorial Library

## Transportation

[edit]

### Airports

[edit]

* Costin Airport

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Gulf County, Florida

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.[11][12]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. ^ "Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB), Florida, Conversion of Two F-15 Fighter Squadrons to F-22 Fighter Squadrons: Environmental Impact Statement". September 23, 2000 – via Google Books.
5. ^ "Florida Geographic Names". U.S.G.S. Topographic Division, Office of Research & Technical Standards, National Center. September 23, 1981 – via Google Books.
6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 13, 2014.
11. ^ "Census.gov". Census.gov.
12. ^ "About the Hispanic Population and its Origin". www.census.gov. Retrieved May 18, 2022.
13. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
14. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
15. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P16: Household Type". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
16. ^ a b c d e "US Census Bureau, Table DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
17. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
18. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P1: RACE". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
19. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
20. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1101: Households and Family". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
21. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1501: Educational Attainment". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
22. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1903: Median Income in the Past 12 Months (In 2020 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
23. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S2001: Earnings in the Past 12 Months (In 2020 Inflation-Adjusted Dollars)". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
24. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1701: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
25. ^ "US Census Bureau, Table S1702: Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months of Families". data.census.gov. Retrieved January 4, 2025.
26. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
27. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
28. ^ "Our Campaigns". Retrieved June 22, 2025.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gulf County, Florida.

### Government links/Constitutional offices

[edit]

* Gulf County Board of County Commissioners
* Gulf County Supervisor of Elections
* Gulf County Property Appraiser
* Gulf County Sheriff's Office
* Gulf County Tax Collector

#### Special districts

[edit]

* Gulf County School District
* Northwest Florida Water Management District

#### Judicial branch

[edit]

* Gulf County Clerk of Courts
* Circuit and County Court for the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties

### Tourism links

[edit]

* Gulf County Tourism Development Council

### Business links

[edit]

* Gulf County Chamber of Commerce

* v
* t
* e

Places adjacent to Gulf County, Florida

|  | Calhoun County | Liberty County

|
|

|  |
Bay County |

Gulf County, Florida

| Franklin County
|  |
| Gulf of Mexico |

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Gulf County, Florida, United States

County seat: Port St. Joe

Cities|

* Port St. Joe
* Wewahitchka

Unincorporated
communities|

* Cape San Blas
* Dalkeith
* Highland View
* Oak Grove
* White City

Ghost town|

* St. Joseph

* Florida portal
* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

Geography of Florida

Natural features|

* Beaches
* Caves
* Everglades (drainage and development)
* Keys
* Lakes
* Lake Okeechobee
* Reef
* Rivers
* Sinkholes
* Springs
* Straits
* Swamps

Regions|

* Big Bend
* region
* coast
* Central Florida
* Emerald Coast
* Everglades
* First Coast
* Forgotten Coast
* Gold Coast
* Halifax area
* Heartland
* Keys
* Nature Coast
* North central Florida
* North Florida
* Panhandle
* South Florida
* Southwest Florida
* Space Coast
* Suncoast
* Tampa Bay Area
* Treasure Coast

Metro areas|

* Cape Coral–Fort Myers
* Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin
* Deltona–Daytona Beach–Ormond Beach
* Gainesville
* Homosassa Springs
* Jacksonville
* Lakeland–Winter Haven
* Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach
* Naples-Immokalee-Marco Island
* North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton
* Ocala
* Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford
* Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville
* Panama City
* Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent
* Port St. Lucie
* Punta Gorda
* Sebastian-Vero Beach
* Sebring
* Tallahassee
* Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater
* The Villages

Largest cities|

* Jacksonville
* Miami
* Tampa
* Orlando
* St. Petersburg
* Hialeah
* Port St. Lucie
* Tallahassee
* Cape Coral
* Fort Lauderdale
* Pembroke Pines
* Hollywood
* Gainesville
* Miramar
* Coral Springs
* Palm Bay
* West Palm Beach
* Clearwater
* Lakeland
* Pompano Beach
* Miami Gardens
* Davie

Counties|

* Alachua
* Baker
* Bay
* Bradford
* Brevard
* Broward
* Calhoun
* Charlotte
* Citrus
* Clay
* Collier
* Columbia
* DeSoto
* Dixie
* Duval
* Escambia
* Flagler
* Franklin
* Gadsden
* Gilchrist
* Glades
* Gulf
* Hamilton
* Hardee
* Hendry
* Hernando
* Highlands
* Hillsborough
* Holmes
* Indian River
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Lake
* Lee
* Leon
* Levy
* Liberty
* Madison
* Manatee
* Marion
* Martin
* Miami‑Dade
* Monroe
* Mosquito (former county)
* Nassau
* Okaloosa
* Okeechobee
* Orange
* Osceola
* Palm Beach
* Pasco
* Pinellas
* Polk
* Putnam
* Santa Rosa
* Sarasota
* Seminole
* St. Johns
* St. Lucie
* Sumter
* Suwannee
* Taylor
* Union
* Volusia
* Wakulla
* Walton
* Washington

Other|

* State forests
* State parks
* Wakulla Volcano

* v
* t
* e

North Florida

Regions of Florida

Topics|

* Climate
* Geography
* Culture
* Economy
* Transportation
* Partition proposals
* Pork Chop Gang
* Laura Street

Map of North Florida

Counties|

* Alachua
* Baker
* Bay
* Bradford
* Calhoun
* Clay
* Columbia
* Dixie
* Duval
* Escambia
* Flagler
* Franklin
* Gadsden
* Gilchrist
* Gulf
* Hamilton
* Holmes
* Jackson
* Jefferson
* Lafayette
* Leon
* Levy
* Liberty
* Madison
* Marion
* Nassau
* Okaloosa
* Putnam
* Santa Rosa
* St. Johns
* Suwannee
* Taylor
* Union
* Wakulla
* Walton
* Washington

Major cities|

* Jacksonville
* Tallahassee
* Gainesville

Cities and towns
50k–100k|

* Ocala
* Palm Coast
* Pensacola

Cities and towns
10k–40k|

* Atlantic Beach
* Callaway
* Crestview
* Destin
* Fernandina Beach
* Fort Walton Beach
* Jacksonville Beach
* Lake City
* Lynn Haven
* Niceville
* Palatka
* Panama City Beach
* St. Augustine
* Panama City

Metro areas|

* Fort Walton Beach–Crestview–Destin
* Gainesville
* Jacksonville
* Ocala
* Palm Coast
* Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach
* Pensacola–Ferry Pass–Brent
* Tallahassee

Regions|

* Big Bend
* Emerald Coast
* First Coast
* Florida panhandle
* Forgotten Coast
* Halifax area
* Nature Coast
* North Central Florida
* Northeast Florida

29°54′N 85°14′W﻿ / ﻿29.90°N 85.24°W﻿ / 29.90; -85.24

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* Israel

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