View source for Panama City, Florida

{{short description|County seat of bay county Florida, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->| name               = Panama City
| official_name      = City of Panama City
| other_name         = 
| native_name        = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| named_for          = [[Panama City, Panama]]
| settlement_type    = [[City (Florida)|City]]
| motto              = <!-- images and maps  ----------->
| image_skyline      = Panama City FL City Hall.jpg
| imagesize          = 300px
| image_caption      = Panama City's Old city hall in November 2013, prior to Hurricane Michael.
| image_flag         = 
| flag_size          = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Panama City, Florida.png
| seal_size          = 
| image_shield       = 
| shield_size        = 
| image_blank_emblem = 
| blank_emblem_type  = 
| blank_emblem_size  = 
| image_map          = {{maplink|frame=yes|frame-align=center|frame-coord={{coord|30.2|N|85.59|W}}|plain=yes|zoom=10|type=shape|stroke-width=3}}
| map_caption        = Interactive map outlining Panama City
| image_map1         = 
| pushpin_map        = Florida#USA
| pushpin_label      = Panama City
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Florida##Location in the United States
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| image_dot_map      = 
| dot_mapsize        = 
| dot_map_caption    = 
| dot_x              = 
| dot_y              = <!-- Location ------------------>
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Florida]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Florida|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Bay County, Florida|Bay]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = <!-- Politics ----------------->
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Allan Branch <ref>{{cite web |title=Allan Branch elected as Panama City Mayor |url=https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/politics-news/allan-branch-elected-as-panama-city-mayor/ |website=myoanhandle - mypanhandle.com |access-date=June 16, 2025 |date=April 22, 2025}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = [[City Council|Commissioners]]
| leader_name1       = Brian Grainger, <br>Janice Lucas, <br>Robbie Hughes, <br>Josh Street
| leader_title2      = [[City Manager]]
| leader_name2       = Jonathan Hayes
| leader_title3      = [[City Clerk]]
| leader_name3       = Jan Smith
| leader_title4      = [[City Attorney]]
| leader_name4       = Nevin Zimmerman
| established_title  = [[Settler colonialism|Settled (Old Town-St. Andrews)]]
| established_date   = {{circa|1765|lk=yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Panama City Florida, United States|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Panama-City-Florida|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica|Britannica]]}}</ref>
| established_title2 = [[Settler colonialism|Settled (St. Andrews-Millville-Park Resort-Harrison-Floriopolis)]]
| established_date2  = 1827<ref name=PCSet>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Panama City city, Florida|url=https://destinationpanamacity.com/about-panama-city/#:~:text=For%20millennia%2C%20Native%20Americans%20thrived,baths%E2%80%9D%20that%20drew%20numerous%20visitors.|website=destinationpanamacity.com| date=May 25, 2016 }}</ref><ref name=PCInc/>
| established_title3 = [[Unincorporated area|Unincorporated (Panama City)]]
| established_date3  = 1906<ref name=PCInc/>
| established_title4 = [[Incorporation (municipal government)|Incorporated (City of Panama City)]]
| established_date4  = 1909<ref>{{Cite web|title=FLORIDA CITIES BY INCORPORATION YEAR WITH INCORPORATION & DISSOLUTION INFO|url=https://www.flcities.com/docs/default-source/research-institute-reports/2020citiesbyincorporationwithinfo.pdf?sfvrsn=5009d6d5_0|website=www.flcities.com|access-date=May 6, 2024|archive-date=February 13, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240213212456/https://www.flcities.com/docs/default-source/research-institute-reports/2020citiesbyincorporationwithinfo.pdf?sfvrsn=5009d6d5_0|url-status=dead}}</ref>
<!-- Area    --------------------->| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_12.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=October 31, 2021}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 106.90
| area_land_km2      = 90.97
| area_water_km2     = 15.93
| area_total_sq_mi   = 41.27
| area_land_sq_mi    = 35.12
| area_water_sq_mi   = 6.15
| area_water_percent = 
| area_urban_km2     = 
| area_urban_sq_mi   = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 1,312
| area_blank1_title  = 
| area_blank1_km2    = 
| area_blank1_sq_mi  = <!-- Population   ----------------------->
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 32939
| population_density_km2 = 362.09
| population_density_sq_mi = 937.82
| population_metro   = 202,236
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title = 
| population_blank1  = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = <!-- General information  --------------->
| timezone           = Central (CST)
| utc_offset         = -6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -5
| coordinates        = {{coord|30|10|28|N|85|39|52|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 8
| elevation_ft       = 26
<!-- Area/postal codes & others -------->| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code        = 32401–32409, 32411–32413, 32417, 32461
| area_codes         = [[Area code 850|850]], [[Area code 448|448]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 12-54700<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 0288448<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = [http://www.pcgov.org/ www.pcgov.org]
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
}}

'''Panama City'''{{Efn|officially the '''City of Panama City'''}} is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Bay County, Florida]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=2011-06-07|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> Located along [[U.S. Route 98 in Florida|U.S. Highway&nbsp;98]] (US&nbsp;98), it is the largest city between [[Tallahassee, Florida|Tallahassee]] and [[Pensacola, Florida|Pensacola]]. It is the most populous city in Bay County and a principal city of the [[Panama City, Florida metropolitan area|Panama City–Panama City Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which has a population of approximately 200,534. According to the [[2020 United States census]], the city's population was 32,939 (excluding [[Panama City Beach]]), a decrease from 36,484 at the [[2010 United States census]].

==History==
===Name===
The development in this once unincorporated part of [[Northwest Florida]] was created by combining the settlements and communities of Floriopolis, Harrison, Millville, Park Resort, and St. Andrews.<ref name=PCSet/><ref name=PCInc>{{cite web|url=http://www.baycounty100.com/History-Bay-County-FL.aspx|title=Bay County Centennial Celebration - A Proud Past, A Bright Future|first=Aaron Rich: ARINC IT Services|last=<www.arincitservices.com>|website=www.baycounty100.com|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-date=October 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012060112/http://www.baycounty100.com/History-Bay-County-FL.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1906, the development was named Panama City and it was first incorporated as Panama City in 1909. When Panama City was incorporated, its original city limits were 15th Street (Hwy 98) on the north, Balboa Avenue on the west and Bay Avenue on the east. According to the Panama City Public Library's ''A History of Panama City'',<ref>Morris, Allen Covington & Joan Perry Morris. ''Florida Place Names: Alachua to Zolfo Springs'', Pineapple Press Inc, 1995, pg. 190.</ref> George Mortimer West hoped to spur real estate development in Bay County during a period of intense popular interest in the construction of the [[Panama Canal]] by changing the town's name from Harrison to Panama City, because a straight line between [[Chicago]] and the Central American country [[Panama City|Panama's national capital]] intersected the Florida town. Additionally, since required meanders around land formations in a seaborne route to the canal added distance when starting at other ports, Panama City was the closest developed port in the US mainland to the [[Caribbean]] entrance of the Panama Canal.

==Geography==
Panama City is located within the [[Florida panhandle]], and along the [[Emerald Coast]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city limits encompass an area of {{convert|91.8|km2|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|75.8|sqkm|order=flip}} is land and {{convert|16.0|sqkm|order=flip}}, or 17.39%, is water.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Panama City city, Florida| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=March 14, 2012}}</ref>

===Climate===
Panama City has a [[humid subtropical climate]], with short, mild winters and long, hot and humid summers. In January, the average low is 42.6&nbsp;°F (5.9&nbsp;°C), and in July the average high is 91.1&nbsp;°F (32.8&nbsp;°C).

Due to its location on the Gulf Coast, the city is susceptible to tropical cyclones. Panama City was directly hit by [[Hurricane Michael]] on October 10, 2018, which made landfall as a [[Category 5 hurricane|Category&nbsp;5]] hurricane. The storm caused catastrophic damage to the city and surrounding communities, with winds of 160&nbsp;mph (260&nbsp;km/h) at landfall. The city previously suffered significant indirect impacts from [[Hurricane Ivan (2004)]] and [[Hurricane Opal (1995)]]. Panama City is also no stranger to tornadoes, having recently been affected by an EF3 tornado on [[January 8-10, 2024 North American storm complex#January 9 event|January 9, 2024]] and an EF2 tornado on [[Tornadoes of 2022#March 18|March 18, 2022]]. The city rarely sees snow, but in the [[2025 Gulf Coast blizzard]], up to {{convert|6.0|in|cm}} of snow fell.
{{Weather box|width=auto
|location = Panama City 5N, Florida, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–2023
|single line = Y

|Jan avg record high F = 75.5
|Feb avg record high F = 77.2
|Mar avg record high F = 81.9
|Apr avg record high F = 85.7
|May avg record high F = 91.9
|Jun avg record high F = 95.1
|Jul avg record high F = 96.4
|Aug avg record high F = 95.6
|Sep avg record high F = 94.2
|Oct avg record high F = 89.4
|Nov avg record high F = 83.3
|Dec avg record high F = 77.7
|year avg record high F = 97.8

| Jan high F = 64.4
| Feb high F = 67.4
| Mar high F = 72.9
| Apr high F = 78.7
| May high F = 85.3
| Jun high F = 89.3
| Jul high F = 91.1
| Aug high F = 90.9
| Sep high F = 89.0
| Oct high F = 82.2
| Nov high F = 73.3
| Dec high F = 66.5
|year high F = 79.2
|Jan mean F = 53.5
|Feb mean F = 56.7
|Mar mean F = 62.2
|Apr mean F = 68.2
|May mean F = 75.5
|Jun mean F = 81.1
|Jul mean F = 83.0
|Aug mean F = 82.8
|Sep mean F = 80.1
|Oct mean F = 71.7
|Nov mean F = 61.7
|Dec mean F = 55.8
|year mean F = 69.4
| Jan low F = 42.6
| Feb low F = 46.0
| Mar low F = 51.5
| Apr low F = 57.8
| May low F = 65.6
| Jun low F = 72.9
| Jul low F = 75.0
| Aug low F = 74.7
| Sep low F = 71.1
| Oct low F = 61.2
| Nov low F = 50.1
| Dec low F = 45.1
|year low F = 59.5

|Jan avg record low F = 25.3
|Feb avg record low F = 29.2
|Mar avg record low F = 34.7
|Apr avg record low F = 43.1
|May avg record low F = 52.1
|Jun avg record low F = 64.6
|Jul avg record low F = 68.7
|Aug avg record low F = 67.4
|Sep avg record low F = 59.7
|Oct avg record low F = 45.5
|Nov avg record low F = 34.0
|Dec avg record low F = 29.3
|year avg record low F = 24.3

|Jan record high F = 80
|Feb record high F = 88
|Mar record high F = 89
|Apr record high F = 93
|May record high F = 100
|Jun record high F = 101
|Jul record high F = 101
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 97
|Nov record high F = 91
|Dec record high F = 84
|year record high F =
|Jan record low F = 6
|Feb record low F = 15
|Mar record low F = 23
|Apr record low F = 34
|May record low F = 40
|Jun record low F = 46
|Jul record low F = 56
|Aug record low F = 59
|Sep record low F = 45
|Oct record low F = 33
|Nov record low F = 25
|Dec record low F = 11
|year record low F =
|precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 4.79
| Feb precipitation inch = 4.95
| Mar precipitation inch = 5.03
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.09
| May precipitation inch = 3.31
| Jun precipitation inch = 5.82
| Jul precipitation inch = 7.41
| Aug precipitation inch = 7.44
| Sep precipitation inch = 6.98
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.45
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.70
| Dec precipitation inch = 4.30
|year precipitation inch = 61.27
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.7
| Feb precipitation days = 7.6
| Mar precipitation days = 6.9
| Apr precipitation days = 6.0
| May precipitation days = 5.4
| Jun precipitation days = 10.8
| Jul precipitation days = 12.4
| Aug precipitation days = 13.6
| Sep precipitation days = 9.6
| Oct precipitation days = 5.6
| Nov precipitation days = 5.7
| Dec precipitation days = 7.9
| year precipitation days = 100.2
|Jan snow inch =
|Feb snow inch =
|Mar snow inch =
|Apr snow inch =
|May snow inch =
|Jun snow inch =
|Jul snow inch =
|Aug snow inch =
|Sep snow inch =
|Oct snow inch =
|Nov snow inch =
|Dec snow inch =
|year snow inch =
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days =
|Feb snow days =
|Mar snow days =
|Apr snow days =
|May snow days =
|Jun snow days =
|Jul snow days =
|Aug snow days =
|Sep snow days =
|Oct snow days =
|Nov snow days =
|Dec snow days =
|year snow days =
|source 1 = NOAA<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00086842&format=pdf
| title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| accessdate = June 24, 2021
}}</ref>
|source 2 = WRCC (extremes)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?fl6842
| title =  PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA (086842)
| publisher = [[Western Regional Climate Center]]
| accessdate = June 24, 2021
}}</ref>}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1910 = 422
| 1920 = 1722
| 1930 = 5402
| 1940 = 11610
| 1950 = 25814
| 1960 = 33275
| 1970 = 32096
| 1980 = 33346
| 1990 = 34378
| 2000 = 36417
| 2010 = 36484
| 2020 = 32939
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Panama City, Florida – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Panama City city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Panama+City+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref>{{Cite web|title=P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Panama City city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Panama+City+city;+Florida+&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] (NH)
|25,021
|20,358
|68.58%
|62.00%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] (NH)
|7,921
|6,248
|21.71%
|18.97%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] (NH)
|152
|741
|0.45%
|0.46%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] (NH)
|587
|713
|1.61%
|2.16%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] or [[Native Hawaiian]] (NH)
|22
|20
|0.06%
|0.06%
|-
|[[Other races (U.S. Census)|Some other race]] (NH)
|58
|170
|0.16%
|0.52%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|868
|1,742
|2.38%
|5.29%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|1,844
|3,536
|5.05%
|10.73%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''36,484'''
|'''32,939'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|-
|}

As of the [[2020 United States census]], there were 32,939 people, 15,733 households, and 8,856 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2020: Panama City city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Panama+City+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 36,484 people, 15,419 households, and 8,893 families residing in the city.<ref>{{Cite web|title=S1101 HOUSEHOLDS AND FAMILIES - 2010: Panama City city, Florida|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=Panama+City+city;+Florida+&tid=ACSST5Y2010.S1101|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2010, the population density was {{convert|1,245.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 17,438 housing units at an average density of {{convert|595.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.

In 2010, there were 15,419 households, out of which 23.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.3% were headed by [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 6.8% 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.<ref name="Census 2010">{{cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Panama City city, Florida| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=March 14, 2012}}</ref>

In 2010, 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.<ref name="Census 2010"/>

As of the 2000 census, the city's median household income 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 city's [[per capita income]] 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.

==Economy==

===Industry===
[[File:Rock-Tenn Facility Panama City FL.jpg|thumb|right|The WestRock [[paper mill]].]]
Two military bases make the federal government the largest employer. As of 2024, industrial employers in the [[Bay County, Florida|Bay County]] area include [[Eastern Shipbuilding|Eastern Shipbuilding Group]],  [[L3Harris#Ocean & Maritime Systems|L-3 Technologies]], [[Oceaneering International|Oceaneering]], [[Florida Power & Light]], [[Trane]], and Jensen-Group.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://co.bay.fl.us/about/employers.php|title=Major Employers|access-date=15 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629132737/http://co.bay.fl.us/about/employers.php|archive-date=29 June 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Military===
[[Tyndall Air Force Base]] to the east, is undergoing a $5.3 billion rebuild to make it the "installation of the future" after Hurricane Michael hit the base in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Five Years After Cat-5 Hurricane Hit, Florida AFB's $5B Rebuild Focuses on Resilience |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/57199-five-years-after-cat-5-hurricane-hit-florida-afbs-5b-rebuild-focuses-on-resilience |website=ENR Southeast |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref>  [[Naval Support Activity Panama City]] and [[Coast Guard Station Panama City]] are just over the Hathaway Bridge in Panama City Beach. The 153rd Cavalry Regiment, part of the [[Florida Army National Guard]], is headquartered in Panama City with units throughout the panhandle. Panama City is also approximately 100 miles south of [[Fort Novosel]], Alabama, home to the U.S. Army's Aviation Center of Excellence.

=== Retail ===
The city's main retail center was the [[Panama City Mall]] until it was permanently closed after [[Hurricane Michael]]. In August 2020, owners of the Panama City Mall released plans to demolish the mall and build a new commercial complex. The plans included a hotel, shops, and restaurants. As of 2023, those plans have not come to fruition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Will the Panama City Mall Ever See Progress? |url=https://www.wjhg.com/2023/02/14/will-panama-city-mall-ever-see-progress/ |website=WJHG News |date=February 14, 2023 |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref>  Another local retail center is the Bay City Pointe, on [[Florida State Road 368|FL 368]] (locally known as 23rd St.). [[Pier Park (Florida)|Pier Park]], on the beach across the [[Hathaway Bridge]] spanning [[St. Andrews Bay (Florida)|St. Andrews Bay]], is a third local retail center. Other retail areas in the Panama City Metro are the 15th Street Shopping Strip (An area between Harrison Ave/[[U.S. Route 231 in Florida|US Highway 231]] and Beck Ave/[[U.S. Route 98 in Florida|US Bus 98]]/[[Florida State Road 390|State Road 390]]), 23rd Street Shopping Strip, Downtown Panama City, Historic St. Andrews, and Millville Historic District.

==Education==
Panama City's public schools are operated by [[Bay District Schools]]. Charter schools include:
* Bay Haven (K-8)
* North Bay Haven (K-12)
* Palm Bay Academy (6–12)
* The Collegiate School
* University Academy (K-8)

Public high schools in the Panama City metro-area include:
* [[Rutherford High School (Florida)|Rutherford High School]]
* [[Bay High School (Florida)|Bay High School]]
* [[A. Crawford Mosley High School]]
* Arnold High School
* [[Deane Bozeman School|Deane Bozeman Learning Center]]
* [[Rosenwald High School (Panama City, Florida)|Rosenwald High School]]

Private schools in the city include:
* Holy Nativity Episcopal School
* St. John Catholic School
* Jacob Austin Prep. Academy
* [[Covenant Christian School (Panama City, Florida)|Covenant Christian School]]

====College====
[[File:Main entrance FSU Panama City, FL.jpg|thumb|200px|Main entrance of Florida State University–Panama City]]

Panama City is home to several institutions of higher education.  [[Gulf Coast State College]] is a [[public college]] with its main campus in the city's northwest suburbs. Additionally, the city is home to the [[Florida State University Panama City]] campus and a satellite campus of [[Troy University]]. [[Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University]] also operates a satellite campus at [[Tyndall Air Force Base]]. Tom P. Haney Technical College, operated by Bay District Schools, provides vocational training programs as an alternative to traditional college education.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://haney.edu/history-of-tom-p-haney-technical-center | title=History of Tom P. Haney Technical Center in Bay County, Florida | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211213200823/https://haney.edu/history-of-tom-p-haney-technical-center | archive-date=December 13, 2021}}</ref>

== Media ==
{{Div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[The News Herald (Panama City)|''The News Herald'']], newspaper
* [[WJHG-TV|WJHG]], [[NBC]] affiliate on channel 7
* [[WMBB]], [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate on channel 13 with [[The CW Plus]] on DT2
* [[WECP-LD]], [[CBS]] affiliate on channel 21 with [[MyNetworkTV]] on DT2
* [[WPGX]], [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] affiliate on channel 28
* [[WFSU-TV|WFSG]], [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] affiliate on channel 56 (satellite of WFSU-TV, Tallahassee)
* [[WPCT]] – [[Public-access television]] [[cable TV]]<ref>[http://www.wpct.beachtv.tv] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081025105442/http://www.pcbtv.tv/ |date=2008-10-25 }}</ref>
* [[WGSX]], 104.3 ESPN Northwest Florida, Sports Talk
* [[WASJ]], Bob FM 105.1, 1980s/1990s/2000s
* [[WBPC]], Beach 95.1, Oldies
* [[WFLF-FM]], [[Fox News Radio]]
* [[WFSU-FM|WFSW]], [[public radio]]
* [[WFSY]], [[adult contemporary]]
* [[WILN]], Island 106, [[Contemporary hit radio]]
* [[WKGC-FM]], [[public radio]]
* [[WKNK]], Kick'n Country, [[country music|country]]
* [[WPAP (FM)|WPAP]], [[country music|country]]
* [[WPFM]], [[K-Love]], [[Contemporary Christian music]]
* [[WRBA]], Classic Rock 95.9, [[Classic rock|Classic Rock]]
* [[WYOO]], Talk Radio 101, [[Talk radio|Talk Radio]]
* [[WYYX]], 97X, "Panama City's Rock Station"
* [[WAYT-FM|WAYP-FM]], 88.3 WAY-FM [[Christian Hit Radio]]
{{div col end}}

==Infrastructure==
===Transportation===
==== Major highways ====
* {{Jct|state=FL|US|98|name1=15th Street, 18th Street}}
* {{Jct|state=FL|US|231}}
* {{Jct|state=FL|FL|77|name1=Martin Luther King Jr. Bolevard}}
* {{Jct|state=FL|FL|390|name1=St. Andrews Bolevard}}
* {{Jct|state=FL|FL|368|name1=23rd Street}}

====Roads====
The two main east–west thoroughfares in Panama City proper are [[Florida State Road 368|23rd Street]] and [[U.S. Route 98 in Florida|US 98]]. SR 368 runs east–west across the northern part of the city as a bypass. US 98 runs east–west through the city itself, leading southeast {{convert|24|mi|km}} to [[Mexico Beach, Florida|Mexico Beach]] and west {{convert|10|mi|km}} to [[Panama City Beach, Florida|Panama City Beach]].

The two main north–south thoroughfares in the city are Martin Luther King Boulevard, otherwise known as [[Florida State Road 77|SR 77]] and [[U.S. Route 231 in Florida|US 231]]. SR 77 leads north {{convert|6|mi|km|spell=in}} to the Panama City [[suburb]] of [[Lynn Haven, Florida|Lynn Haven]]. US 231 begins its national journey northward in the city, leading northeast {{convert|83|mi|km}} to [[Dothan, Alabama|Dothan]].

Other more local highways run through the city, including many [[county highway|county roads]].

====Bridges====
Because of the city's position on [[St. Andrews Bay (Florida)|St. Andrews Bay]], bridges are very important to the area, and most directions into or out of the city require the use of one of three large bridges to cross parts of the bay. These are the Bailey Bridge to the north on Hwy 77, the Dupont Bridge to the south on Hwy 98 and the Hathaway Bridge to the west on Hwy 98. The largest of these is the Hathaway Bridge, which is the only direct connection between Panama City and Panama City Beach.

====Rail====
The [[Bay Line Railroad]] has an {{convert|82|mi|adj=on}} rail line running north to [[Dothan, Alabama]], to a connection with [[CSX Transportation]] and [[Norfolk Southern]]. Until some point between 1955 and 1956 the [[Atlanta and St. Andrews Bay Railroad]] ran passenger trains from Panama City to [[Dothan, Alabama]]. Additionally, the A&StA operated sleeping car service to Atlanta from Panama City.<ref>'Official Guide,' September 1955, 678</ref><ref>'Official Guide,' October 1956, 680, freight only</ref>

====Bus transportation====
Local transit is handled by the [[Bay Town Trolley|Bayway]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bay Town Trolley to be rebranded as Bay Way |url=https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/local-news/bay-county/bay-town-trolley-to-be-rebranded-as-bay-way/ |website=WMBB |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref> Service generally runs Monday–Saturday from 6 AM to 7 PM.

====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]], [[Delta Air Lines]], and [[United Airlines]]. In June 2018, ECP also added [[American Airlines]]. In 2020, ECP was ranked the fourth fastest growing airport in the U.S.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bay County has fourth fastest growing airport in the U.S., national publication says |url=https://www.newsherald.com/story/news/local/2021/05/11/bay-county-florida-airport-4th-fastest-growing-us/4987120001/ |website=Panama City News Herald |access-date=31 January 2024}}</ref>

====Port====
The [[Port of Panama City]] is on [[St. Andrews Bay (Florida)|St. Andrews Bay]].

===Hospitals===
The city has two hospitals, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay (known as Bay Medical Sacred Heart until [[Hurricane Michael]] destroyed a large portion of it) and HCA Florida Gulf Coast Medical Center.

==Notable people==
<!--Articles are required to be "notable". Red-linked people have no articles and will be deleted-->
* [[Robert A. Barth]], Naval diver
* [[Mike Campbell (musician)|Mike Campbell]], lead guitarist for [[Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers]]
* [[Jaye Chapman]], former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] pitcher 
* [[Donnie Craft]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] and [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] player
* [[Clint Daniels]], country music artist
* [[Daniel Davidson]], former [[Major League Baseball|MLB]] [[pitcher]]
* [[Neal Dunn]], member of the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jean |first=Tarah |title=Neal Dunn wins U.S. House District 2 race against Yen Bailey, secures his fifth term |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/05/congressman-dunn-wins-against-bailey-in-congressional-district-2-race/75940433007/ |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Javien Elliott]], former [[National Football League|NFL]] and [[Canadian Football League|CFL]] player
* [[Codi Galloway]], member of the [[Idaho House of Representatives]]
* [[Jay Gainer]], former MLB player
* [[Clarence Earl Gideon]], the plaintiff in ''[[Gideon v. Wainwright]]''
* [[David Hart (actor)|David Hart]], actor
* [[Hulon]], famous [[smooth jazz]] saxophonist
* [[David Herndon]], former MLB pitcher with the [[New York Yankees]]
* [[John James (American football)|John James]], former NFL player; 3× [[Pro Bowl]], [[University of Florida Athletic Hall of Fame]]
* [[Alonzo Johnson]], former NFL [[linebacker]]
* [[Brandon Jones (baseball)|Brandon Jones]], former MLB player
* [[Tasha K]], online personality
* [[Eric Kelly (American football)|Eric Kelly]], former NFL player
* [[Greg Kelser]], former [[NBA]] player and commentator
* [[Bob LeBlanc]], former NFL player
* [[Eric Lee (American football)|Eric Lee]], former NFL player
* [[Cy McClairen]], former NFL player
* [[Robert Lee McKenzie]], entrepreneur, real estate developer, first mayor of Panama City, and an important figure in the early history of [[Bob Jones University]]
* [[John Robert Middlemas]], former representative for Florida 
* [[Carolyn Murphy]], model
* [[Chip Myers]], former NFL player and coach
* [[Doug Nettles]], former NFL player
* [[Jimmy Patronis]], U.S. Representative for Florida’s 1st congressional district<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jimmy Patronis - Representative |url=https://www.congress.gov/member/jimmy-patronis/P000622 |access-date=October 20, 2025 |website=[[United States Congress]]}}</ref>
* [[Dan Peek]], member of the soft rock band [[America (band)|America]]
* [[Blake Percival]], [[whistleblower]] who exposed [[USIS (company)|USIS]]
* [[Blood Raw]], [[rapper]] with the group U.S.D.A and [[Young Jeezy]]
* [[Bert Reed]], former NFL player
* [[Jeff Richards (American football coach)|Jeff Richards]], [[American football]] coach who was best known for his tenure as interim head football coach at [[Jacksonville State University]] in 1999. 
* [[Janarius Robinson]], NFL defensive end for the [[Kansas City Chiefs]]
* [[Kenny Saief]], player for the [[United States men's national soccer team]]
* [[Tom Shields]], Olympic [[Swimming (sport)|swimmer]]. He is a two-time [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] gold medalist and the current American [[List of world records in swimming|record-holder]] in the [[Short course (swimming)|short course]] 50-meter butterfly and 200-meter butterfly. 
* [[Anwar Stewart]], former CFL [[defensive lineman]]; two-time [[CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award]] winner, and current Defensive line coach at [[Kentucky Wildcats football|University of Kentucky]]
* [[Jim Still]], former NFL player
* [[Khyri Thornton]], former NFL player
* [[Jay Trumbull]], member of the [[Florida House of Representatives]] 
* [[Thurop Van Orman]], took inspiration from the city when living here as a kid to make [[The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack]]
* [[Jeremiah Warren]], former NFL [[Center (gridiron football)|offensive lineman]]
* [[Jonathan White (admiral)|Jonathan White]], [[U.S. Navy]] [[admiral]] leader of [[Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command]]
* [[Ray Wilson (American football)|Ray Wilson]], former NFL [[defensive back]] for the [[New Orleans Saints]] and [[Green Bay Packers]]
* [[Stacy Wilson]], former captain of the [[Canada women's national ice hockey team]], former [[assistant coach]], author, and former [[head coach]] of the [[Bowdoin College]] women's ice hockey team
* [[William Witherspoon]], former NFL [[linebacker]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Florida}}
*[[Port of St. Andrews]]

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Panama City, Florida}}
{{wikivoyage|Panama City (Florida)|Panama City, Florida}}
* [http://www.pcgov.org/ Panama City official website]
* [http://www.destinationpanamacity.com/ Destination Panama City]
* [http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/panamacity.htm Panama City, Florida's history with tropical systems] from [http://www.hurricanecity.com hurricanecity.com]
* Historic newspapers for Panama City in the [[Florida Digital Newspaper Library]] including the [http://ufdc.ufl.edu/UF00075909/00002 ''Panama City Pilot'']
* {{Gnis|288448}}

{{Geographic Location
| Centre    = Panama City, Florida
| North     = [[Lynn Haven, Florida|Lynn Haven]]
| Northeast = 
| East      = 
| Southeast = [[Mexico Beach, Florida|Mexico Beach]]
| South     = 
| Southwest = 
| West      = [[Panama City Beach, Florida|Panama City Beach]]
| Northwest = 
}}
{{Panama City, Florida}}
{{Bay County, Florida}}
{{Florida county seats}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Panama City, Florida| ]]
[[Category:1909 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Bay County, Florida]]
[[Category:Cities in Florida]]
[[Category:County seats in Florida]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1909]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida]]
[[Category:Port cities and towns of the Florida Gulf coast]]