 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Gulf County, Florida" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(April 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Gulf County, Florida | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofFlorida | |
 Florida's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:29°54′N85°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 | 25.2/sq mi (9.72/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 |
Gulf County is acounty located in thepanhandle of theU.S. state ofFlorida. As of the2020 census, the population was 14,192.[1] Itscounty seat isPort St. Joe.[2] Gulf County is included in thePanama City, FLMetropolitan Statistical Area.
Gulf County, created in 1925, was named for theGulf of Mexico.Wewahitchka was its first county seat and the 1927Gulf County Courthouse is still in existence. In 1965 the county seat was moved toPort Saint Joe, which under its original nameSaint Joseph, had been the site ofFlorida's firstConstitutional Convention in 1838.
In 2018, Category 5Hurricane Michael made landfall just miles north of the county line inMexico Beach, severely damaging large parts of the region and its timber and shellfish industries. The area has largely recovered in the years since.
According to theU.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]
Unincorporated areas include:[4][5]
By way of theIntracoastal Waterway, Gulf County is one of a small number of counties in the United States to be in two time zones,Eastern andCentral in this case.
| 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] | |||
| 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 orAlaska 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% |
| Non-Hispanic White 50–60% 80–90% >90% |
The2020 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 orEuropean American (79.07%non-Hispanic white), 12.0% (1,703)black orAfrican-American, 0.54% (76)Native American orAlaska Native, 0.4% (57)Asian, 0.03% (4)Pacific Islander orNative Hawaiian, 1.66% (236) fromother races, and 5.05% (717) fromtwo or more races.[18]Hispanic orLatino 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-yearAmerican 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 thepoverty line, including 13.9% of those under the age of 18 and 8.4% of those ages 65 or over.[24][25]
As of thecensus[26] of 2000, there were 13,332 people, 4,931 households, and 3,535 families residing in the county. Thepopulation 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). Theracial makeup of the county was 79.89%White, 16.94%Black orAfrican American, 0.65%Native American, 0.40%Asian, 0.05%Pacific Islander, 0.53% fromother races, and 1.55% from two or more races. 2.03% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $14,449. About 13.70% of families and 16.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.80% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.
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 byNeal Dunn (R).
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1928 | 156 | 34.98% | 275 | 61.66% | 15 | 3.36% |
| 1932 | 30 | 4.42% | 648 | 95.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1936 | 71 | 7.76% | 844 | 92.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 105 | 6.01% | 1,642 | 93.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 83 | 6.15% | 1,267 | 93.85% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 146 | 9.25% | 1,219 | 77.20% | 214 | 13.55% |
| 1952 | 490 | 21.69% | 1,769 | 78.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 570 | 24.12% | 1,793 | 75.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 657 | 21.86% | 2,348 | 78.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 2,001 | 54.67% | 1,659 | 45.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 364 | 9.58% | 711 | 18.71% | 2,725 | 71.71% |
| 1972 | 2,628 | 78.54% | 713 | 21.31% | 5 | 0.15% |
| 1976 | 1,584 | 37.00% | 2,641 | 61.69% | 56 | 1.31% |
| 1980 | 2,127 | 43.18% | 2,700 | 54.81% | 99 | 2.01% |
| 1984 | 3,573 | 66.70% | 1,784 | 33.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1988 | 3,042 | 62.44% | 1,688 | 34.65% | 142 | 2.91% |
| 1992 | 2,651 | 45.29% | 1,938 | 33.11% | 1,265 | 21.61% |
| 1996 | 2,430 | 40.55% | 2,480 | 41.39% | 1,082 | 18.06% |
| 2000 | 3,553 | 57.79% | 2,398 | 39.00% | 197 | 3.20% |
| 2004 | 4,805 | 66.03% | 2,407 | 33.08% | 65 | 0.89% |
| 2008 | 4,980 | 68.99% | 2,149 | 29.77% | 89 | 1.23% |
| 2012 | 4,995 | 70.10% | 2,014 | 28.26% | 117 | 1.64% |
| 2016 | 5,329 | 72.69% | 1,720 | 23.46% | 282 | 3.85% |
| 2020 | 6,113 | 74.80% | 1,985 | 24.29% | 74 | 0.91% |
| 2024 | 6,684 | 76.62% | 1,970 | 22.58% | 70 | 0.80% |
Gulf County is served byGulf County Schools.
Gulf Coast State College operates the Gulf/Franklin Campus in Port St. Joe.[29]
Gulf County is part of theNorthwest Regional Library System (NWRLS), which servesBay andLiberty Counties as well.
Places adjacent to Gulf County, Florida | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||||||||||||||
Municipalities and communities ofGulf County, Florida,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost town | ||
| Topics |  Map of North Florida | |
|---|---|---|
| Counties | ||
| Major cities | ||
| Cities and towns 50k–100k | ||
| Cities and towns 10k–40k | ||
| Metro areas | ||
| Regions | ||
29°54′N85°14′W / 29.90°N 85.24°W /29.90; -85.24
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
