Panama City, Florida
| Panama City | |||
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| — City — | |||
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| Coordinates: 30°10′28″N 85°39′52″W / 30.17444°N 85.66444°WCoordinates: 30°10′28″N 85°39′52″W / 30.17444°N 85.66444°W | |||
| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Florida |
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| County | Bay | ||
| Incorporated | 1909 | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Greg Brudnicki | ||
| Area | |||
| • City | 35.4 sq mi (91.8 km2) | ||
| • Land | 29.3 sq mi (75.8 km2) | ||
| • Water | 6.2 sq mi (16.0 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 26 ft (8 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • City | 36,484 | ||
| • Density | 1,000/sq mi (400/km2) | ||
| • Metro | 168,852 | ||
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) | ||
| Zip Codes | 32401, 32402, 32403, 32404, 32405, 32406, 32407, 32408, 32409, 32411, 32412, 32413, 32417, 32461 | ||
| Area code(s) | 850 | ||
| FIPS code | 12-54700[1] | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 0288448[2] | ||
| Website | www.pcgov.org | ||
Panama City is a city and the county seat of Bay County, Florida, United States.[3] Located along U.S. Route 98, it is the largest city between Tallahassee and Pensacola. It is the larger (population-wise) of two principal cities of the Panama City-Lynn Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 36,484.[4] When Panama City was incorporated in 1909, its original city limits were 15th Street (Hwy 98) on the north, Balboa Avenue on the west and Bay Avenue on the east.[citation needed]
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[edit] Name
The city's semi-official history - A History of Panama City, put out by the Panama City Public Library [5] - gives an account of how it gained its name: The original name of the town was Harrison. Its developer, George Mortimer West, gave the town its present name because it was on a direct line between Chicago and Panama City, Panama, in Central America. The name change took place during the building of the Panama Canal, as a way to link the area to an ongoing media interest, in hopes of promoting real estate development in Bay County.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[1] of 2010, there were 36,484 people, 14,792 households, and 8,613 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,245.2 people per square mile (481.3/km2). There were 17,438 housing units at an average density of 595.2 per square mile (230.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 71.6% White, 22.0% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 1.2% some other race, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.1% of the population.[4]
There were 14,792 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, 16.8% 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.[4]
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.[4]
Ancestries: United States (12.9%), Irish (10.2%), German (9.8%), English (9.0%), Italian (2.9%), French (2.6%).[citation needed]
[edit] Geography
Panama City is located at 30°10′28″N 85°39′52″W / 30.17444°N 85.66444°W (30.174451, -85.664480),[6] within the Florida Panhandle and along the Emerald Coast. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city limits encompass an area of 35.4 square miles (91.8 km2), of which 29.3 square miles (75.8 km2) is land and 6.2 square miles (16.0 km2), or 17.39%, is water.[7]
[edit] Climate
Panama City has a humid subtropical climate, with short, mild winters and long, hot and humid summers. In January, temperatures fall to 37°F (3°C), and in summer, rise to 91°F (33°C), although in the winter of 2010, temperatures plummeted to 15°F (-9°C).
Hurricanes often impact the city, the last being in 1998 when Hurricane Earl brought winds exceeding 80 miles per hour (130 km/h).
| Climate data for Panama City, Fla. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °F (°C) | 63 (17) |
66 (19) |
73 (23) |
81 (27) |
86 (30) |
91 (33) |
91 (33) |
91 (33) |
88 (31) |
82 (28) |
73 (23) |
66 (19) |
79.3 (26.3) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 37 (3) |
41 (5) |
46 (8) |
52 (11) |
61 (16) |
68 (20) |
72 (22) |
72 (22) |
68 (20) |
55 (13) |
46 (8) |
39 (4) |
54.8 (12.6) |
| Source: [8] | |||||||||||||
[edit] Economy
 |
This section does not cite any references or sources. (May 2010) |
[edit] Personal income
As of the 2000 census, the median income for a household in the city 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 per capita income for the city 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.
[edit] Industry
Major employers in the Bay County area include Gulf Power, Rock-Tenn (formerly Smurfit-Stone Container), and Arizona Chemical.
[edit] 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.[9]
[edit] Military
Tyndall Air Force Base is located east of the city. The HHT 1-153 CAV is stationed there. It is part of Florida Army National Guard's 53rd Infantry Brigade.
[edit] Transportation
[edit] Rail
The Bay Line Railroad has an 82-mile (132 km) rail line running north to Dothan, Alabama, to a connection with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.
[edit] 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 and Delta Air Lines.
[edit] Notable people
- Paula Barbieri, former model and actress; ex-girlfriend of O. J. Simpson
- Robert E. "Bob" Barton, former member of the Louisiana House of Representatives, graduated from Bay High School
- Blood Raw, rapper with the group U.S.D.A and Young Jeezy
- Clint Daniels, country music artist
- Clarence Earl Gideon, the plaintiff in Gideon v. Wainwright
- Barry Kerch, 1994 graduate of Rutherford High School, current drummer of the Atlantic Records band Shinedown
- Bill Mazeroski, baseball Hall of Fame member
- Robert Lee McKenzie, entrepreneur, real estate developer, first mayor of Panama City, and an important figure in the early history of Bob Jones University
- Anwar Stewart, defensive lineman, Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League
- Ray Wilson, defensive back in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers
- William Witherspoon, 1998 graduate of Rutherford High School, linebacker in the National Football League, for the Carolina Panthers, St. Louis Rams & Philadelphia Eagles
- David Herndon, pitcher with the Philadelphia Phillies
[edit] Fictional References
- Charles "Trip" Tucker III, (short for “Triple”, since he is the third generation of his family to be named Charles Tucker), played by Connor Trinneer, is a fictional character in the television series Star Trek: Enterprise, which is the last generation of the Star Trek series. According to Star Trek lore, "Trip" was born and lived in Panama City, Florida, which was later destroyed by the Xindi in the year 2153.
[edit] Media
- The News Herald, newspaper
- WFSG, PBS affiliate on channel 56 (satellite of WFSU-TV, Tallahassee)
- WJHG, NBC affiliate on channel 7 (The CW & My Network TV digital)
- WMBB, ABC affiliate on channel 13
- WPGX, Fox affiliate on channel 28
- Panama City Beach TV - Public-access television cable TV[10]
- WASJ, Bob FM 105.1, "Everything"
- WBPC, Beach 95.1, Oldies
- WDIZ, The Breeze 590 AM, Adult Standards - Easy Listening
- WFLF-FM, Fox News Radio
- WFSW, public radio
- WFSY, adult contemporary
- WILN, Island 106, Contemporary hit radio
- WKGC, public radio
- WKNK, Kick'n Country, country
- WPAP-FM, country
- WPFM-FM, Hot 107.9, Contemporary hit radio
- WRBA, Arrow 95.9, Classic Rock
- WYOO, Talk Radio 101, Talk Radio
- WYYX, 97X, "Panama City's Rock Station"
[edit] Education
Panama City's public schools are operated by Bay District Schools. A system of Charter Schools, Bay Haven Schools, also services the Panama City area. Private schools in the city include Covenant Christian School. Gulf Coast State College, formerly Gulf Coast Community College, is now a 4 year state college. Satellite campuses of Florida State University Panama City Campus and Troy University are located in the city. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University has a satellite campus on Tyndall Air Force Base.
[edit] References
- ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. http://geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ a b c d "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Panama City city, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
- ^ Morris, Allen Covington & Joan Perry Morris. Florida Place Names: Alachua to Zolfo Springs, Pineapple Press Inc, 1995, pg. 190.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Panama City city, Florida". U.S. Census Bureau, American Factfinder. http://factfinder2.census.gov. Retrieved March 14, 2012.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Panama City, Fla.". http://www.panama-city.world-guides.com/panama_city_weather.html. Retrieved 2010-03-28.
- ^ CNN.com
- ^ Panama City Beach TV
[edit] External links
- Panama City official website
- Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Panama City, Florida's history with tropical systems from hurricanecity.com
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Panama City, Florida
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