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Gulf County Profile
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County Website : www.gulfcountyedc.org
Nearest MSA: Panama City-Lynn Haven-Pa
Time Zone: Central
Local Area Code(s): 850
Largest Cities:1 Port St. Joe
2 Wewahitchka
Miles* To:
Tallahassee...................................77
Orlando...................................257
Tampa...................................215
Jacksonville...................................222
Miami...................................420
Atlanta...................................280
Chicago...................................843
Dallas...................................709
New York...................................987
*Miles are calculated from county seat.
Click here to learn about this county.
Gulf
1980:10,658
1990:11,504
2009:15,755
2015(p):17,000
2030(p):18,000
(p) Denotes Projected Population
Florida
9,746,961
12,938,071
18,537,969
19,881,200
23,821,300
Gulf Florida
2006$24,025$38,161
2007$24,583$39,036
2008$25,447$39,064
Average TemperatureHighLow
January:6145
July:8975
Florida Mean Annual Precipitation...........................53
Average Annual Rain Days...........................105
(2008)
In-Migration757
Out-Migration701
Net-Migration 56
*Estimates based on IRS Statistics of Income data
(2009)
Labor Force6,411
Labor Force % of County Population40.7
Number in County Unemployed613
Unemployment Rate9.6%

  Monthly labor force data are available from the Florida Agency
  for Workforce Innovation.
N/D = No DataGulfFlorida
(2008)
Average Annual Employment3,9307,945,162
Natural Resources & Mining1.4%1.2%
Construction8.5%6.5%
Trade, Transportation and Utilities15.1%20.5%
Manufacturing3.5%4.7%
InformationN/D
Other Services1.5%3.2%
Public administration26.9%5.9%
UnclassifiedN/D
Leisure & Hospitality10.1%11.9%
Education & Health Services9.3%19.4%
Professional & Business Services5.1%14.4%
Financial Activities7.3%6.6%

Average Annual Wage
(2008)
All Industries$32,148
Construction$36,301
Education & Health Services$24,684
Financial Activities$34,141
InformationN/D
Leisure & Hospitality$14,986
Manufacturing$50,583
Natural Resources & Mining$37,133
Other Services$24,094
Professional & Business Services$30,001
Public administration$33,421
Trade, Transportation and Utilities$35,841
UnclassifiedN/D
Major Private Sector Employers

GAC Contractors
Business Line: Construction
Number of Employees..................................................... 207

Bay St. Joseph Care & Rehabilitation Center
Business Line: Assisted Living & Rehabilitation Center
Number of Employees..................................................... 150

Duren's Piggly Wiggly
Business Line: Grocer
Number of Employees..................................................... 85

Fairpoint Communications
Business Line: Telecommunications
Number of Employees..................................................... 58

Raffield Fisheries
Business Line: Seafood
Number of Employees..................................................... 55

Tapper & Company
Business Line: Hospitality
Number of Employees..................................................... 35

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative
Business Line: Electric Co-op
Number of Employees..................................................... 35

Wood's Fisheries
Business Line: Seafood
Number of Employees..................................................... 20

Taunton Truss
Business Line: Trusses & Panels
Number of Employees..................................................... 19

Premier Chemical LLC.
Business Line: Chemicals/Manufacturing
Number of Employees..................................................... 14
Federal InterstatesNone
Federal HighwaysUS-98
State HighwaysSR- 71
RailroadsApalachicola Northern Railroad
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Commerical Airline Service:Panama City/Bay County International Airport
# Runways2
Longest Paved Runway(ft.)6308
General Aviation AirportsApalachicola Municipal Airport

Local Deep Water PortPort St. Joe
Miles to Closest Port2
COUNTY
Countywide Ad Valorem Millage Rates:
Government5.7679
Schools6.6480
Special0.0450
Total12.4609
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption: Yes
Retail Sales Tax (Local Option)1.00
Federal Enterprise ZoneNo
State Enterprise ZoneEZ-2301
STATE
Corporate Income Tax5.5%
Personal Income Tax0.0%
Retail Sales Tax6.0%
Electric Companies:
  • Gulf Coast Electric Co-op
  • Progress Energy Florida
  • Gulf Power Company

    • Natural Gas Companies:
  • St. Joe Natural Gas
  • Amerigas

    • Telephone Companies:
  • Fairpoint Communications

    • Water & Sewer Companies:
  • City of Port St. Joe
  • City of Wewahitchka


    • Existing Industrial Zoned LandYes
    Number of Acres54
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel54

    Industrial ParksYes
    Number of Acres14
    Largest Available Contiguous Parcel12

    Foreign Trade ZonesNo
    Zone Number(s)
    Public
    Schools    		TeachersEnrollments
    Elementary:653963
    Secondary:4791,208
    Totals:101322,171

    Private Schools Available: Yes
    POST SECONDARY EDUCATION SERVING THE COUNTY:

    Colleges/Universities:
  • Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University/Tyndall AFB
  • Florida State University/Panama City Campus
  • Troy State University/Tyndall AFB

    • Junior/Community Colleges:
  • Gulf Coast Community College-Gulf/Franklin Center
  • Gulf Coast Community College - Panama City

    • Vocational/Technical Schools:
  • Haney Vocational/Technical School-Panama City

    • Other Schools:
  • none

    • Local Radio Stations:
  • WFCT 105.5 FM
  • 104.5 FM
  • WOYS 100.5 FM
  • WOCY 106.5 FM
    • Local Television Stations:
  • St. Joe News Network








    • Locally Printed Newspapers:
  • The Star
  • Gulf County Breeze
  • Must See Magazine
    		•

    Number of Banks:4

    Number of Savings and Loans:0

    Number of Credit Unions:2
    Cost of Living
    Price Level Index, (2007)
    Florida State Average = 100
    Sample
    Total88.62
    Food98.00
    Housing79.00
    Medical Care87.00
    Personal Goods and Services 93.00
    Transportation97.00
    Medical Services:
  • Bay County Medical Center, Panama City
  • George E. Weems Memorial Hospital, Apalachicola
  • Gulf Coast Medical Center, Panama City
  • Gulf County Health Department, Port St. Joe
  • Gulf County Public Health Department, Wewahitchka
  • North Florida Medical Center, Wewahitchka
  • Sacred Heart Hospital, Port St. Joe

    • Recreational Opportunities:
  • Boating
  • Diving & Snorkeling
  • Fishing
  • Golfing
  • Horseback Riding
  • Shelling
  • Swimming & Pet Friendly Beaches

    • Historical Points Of Interest:
  • Cape San Blas Lighthouse
  • Constitution Convention Museum State Park
  • Dead Lakes State Park & Boat Ramp
  • Historic Downtown Shopping District
  • Old St. Joseph Historical Cementary
  • St. Joseph Peninsula State Park & Boat Ramp
  • The Florida Constitution Moument & Museum

    • Cultural Events/Festivals:
  • Blast on the Bay Songwriter's Festival
  • Christmas on the Coast- Parade & Reindeer Run
  • Independence on the Coast
  • Kid's Win Fishing Tournament
  • Lighted Boat Parade
  • Scallop Festival
  • Tupelo Honey Festival

    • Enterprise Florida, Inc. 800 North Magnolia Avenue, Suite 1100 Orlando, Florida 32803 Phone 407-956-5600 Fax(407)956-5599
    Visit us on the World Wide Web: http://www.eflorida.com