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Panama City, Florida

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Not to be confused with Panama City, Panama.
Panama City, Florida
City
Older Picture of Harrison Avenue in Downtown Panama City
Older Picture of Harrison Avenue in Downtown Panama City
Location in Bay County and the U.S. state of Florida
Location in Bay County and the U.S. state of Florida
Country United States
State Florida
County Bay
Incorporated1909
Government
 • MayorScott Clemons
Area
 • City69.1 km2 (26.7 sq mi)
 • Land53.1 km2 (20.5 sq mi)
 • Water16.0 km2 (6.2 sq mi)
Elevation
8 m (26 ft)
Population
 (2000)
 • City37,188
 • Density685.2/km2 (1,774.8/sq mi)
 • Metro
163,505
Time zoneUTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip Codes
32401, 32402, 32403, 32404, 32405, 32406, 32407, 32408, 32409, 32411, 32412, 32413, 32417, 32461
Area code850
FIPS code12-54700Template:GR
GNIS feature ID0288448Template:GR
Websitewww.cityofpanamacity.com

Panama City is a city in and the county seat of Bay County, Florida, United States.Template:GR Located along U.S. Route 98 between Tallahassee, Florida and Pensacola, Florida it is the largest city between Pensacola and Tallahassee. It is the larger (population-wise) of two principal cities of the Panama City-Lynn Haven, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 36,417. It is located just east of the vacation destination of Panama City Beach. 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.

Major employers in the Bay County area include Tyndall Air Force Base (located east of the city), the Coastal Systems Station-Naval Surface Warfare Center, Gulf Power, Arizona Chemical, Smurfit-Stone Container, Sallie Mae, and Berg Pipe. Gulf Coast Community College and a satellite campus of Florida State University offer educational opportunities.

The city is served by Panama City-Bay County International Airport (PFN). It will be replaced by the new Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP) in May 2010 along with non-stop air service by Southwest Airlines to and from Orlando, Nashville, Baltimore, and Houston. It will be the first international airport designed and constructed since the September 11 attacks.

In 2006, Panama City was named the best place to invest in real estate in the US by CNN's Business 2.0 magazine.[1]

Geography

Panama City is located at 30°10′28″N 85°39′52″W / 30.17444°N 85.66444°W / 30.17444; -85.66444Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (30.174451, -85.664480),Template:GR within the Florida Panhandle and along the Emerald Coast.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city limits encompass an area of 26.7 square miles (69.1 km²)—20.5 square miles (53.1 km²) of it is land and 6.2 square miles (16.0 km² or 23.12%) of it is water.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 36,417 people, 14,819 households, and 9,039 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,774.8 people per square mile (685.2/km²). There were 16,548 housing units at an average density of 806.5 per square mile (311.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 73.64% White, 21.45% African American, 1.55% Asian, 0.63% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.75% from other races, and 1.89% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.91% of the population.

There were 14,819 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 15.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

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.

Transportation

Panama City is served by the Bay Line Railroad LLC with an 82 mile rail line running north to Dothan, Alabama to a connection with CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern.

Notable natives and residents

Media

Cultural references

  • Panama City, Florida is mentioned in an episode of CSI Miami
  • Elvis Presley sings about Panama City, in a verse of the song Guitar Man.
  • Scenes of Panama City and nearby Panama City Beach feature prominently in the 1993 film Ruby in Paradise.
  • "Laughed Until We Cried" by Jason Alden mentions going to Panama City to use fake IDs.
  • In an episode of Reno 911, it is revealed that Deputy Travis Junior has a brother, Henry Junior Junior, that is from Panama City, Florida
  • In an episode of Space Ghost Coast to Coast, Space Ghost mentions a tattoo he got in Panama City.
  • In an episode of Aqua Teen Hunger Force, the Aqua Teens vacation in Panama City.
  • In an episode of Star Trek: Enterprise, Commander Charles Tucker III reveals that he attended fictional Bay Shore Elementary in Panama City, Florida. Another episode, "The Expanse", Panama City, Florida including Trips's sister Elizabeth was destroyed by the Xindi weapon.
  • In an episode of My Name is Earl, Jaime Pressly's character wishes she was brought up somewhere classy like Panama City, Florida.
  • In an episode of The Daily Show, Stephen Colbert comes to a tattoo parlor in Panama City.
  • In the John Grisham novel The Firm, Mitch McDeere's mother has retired to Panama City.
  • Panama City was the setting for the 1980 Henry Fonda movie Gideon's Trumpet, which was in turn based upon the real life court case of Gideon v. Wainwright.
  • In the Sammy Kershaw song "Cadillac Style," (1992) the second verse includes the lyrics, "Well I don't have a condo in Panama City."
  • Before being arrested for federal tax evasion, Joe Francis, the founder of "Girls Gone Wild", was arrested multiple times in connection with "Girls Gone Wild" shooting in Panama City.
  • O.J. Simpson visited Panama City, after being released from jail, in 1995. The show A Current Affair, followed and interviewed one resident who rented a plane. He had the plane fly a banner saying, "GO AWAY O.J.!"
  • Singer Corey Smith references Panama City in his song "If I Could Do it Again"
  • Panama City was mentioned in numerous scenes in an episode of NCIS
  • In the Alabama (band) song "When It All Goes South when "Panama City oh it sure looks pretty"
  • The WWE tag team The Heart Throbs were billed from Panama City on numerous episodes of Monday Night Raw.
  • Panama City was the first Florida town, President George W. Bush visited, after the 2000 Florida re-count.

National Guard

Panama City is home to the HHC 3-124th INF which is part of Florida Army National Guard's 53rd Infantry Brigade.

Education

Panama City's public schools are operated by Bay District Schools.

Gulf Coast Community College is a two year junior college located on Highway 98 overlooking St. Andrews Bay.

Florida State University Panama City Campus is Located on Hwy 98, Across from Gulf Coast Community College

References

  1. ^ CNN.com
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