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Area Facts Spanish explorers first visited the Bay County area between 1516 and 1540. In 1765, British Tories established a settlement in St. Andrew. Panama City, the county seat, was incorporated and merged with St. Andrew and Millville in 1909. Bay County was originally established from Washington County in 1913 and named for St. Andrews Bay. During World War II, Panama City developed as a shipbuilding and industrial center. Bay County is located in the western portion of the Florida Panhandle. It is bordered on the west by Walton County, on the east by Calhoun and Gulf Counties, on the north by Washington and Jackson Counties, and on the south by St. Andrews Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. The county covers some 758 square miles and has 124 square miles of water. Bay county has a moderate climate with an average temperature of 78 degrees and an average water temperature of 72 degrees. The Winters are mild and the Summers are enjoyable; the average January temperature is 53.2 degrees and the average August temperature of 81.9 degrees. Average annual rainfall is 57.86 inches. With its pristine beaches, ideal climate, and low cost of living, Bay County's Panama City Beach is known throughout the Southeast as the perfect vacation destination and the ideal place to live. In 1997, Money Magazine ranked Panama City as the 78th Best Place to Live out of 300 cities! And in 1995, Panama City Beach was voted the number one beach in the world! Economy & Demographics Bay County's 1999 population was 150,119. The population is expected to grow over 151,000 in the year 2000. Approximately two-thirds of the population is below 45 years old. The 1999 per capita income was $22,163. In 1998, taxable sales were $2,000,396,000 and in 1999, 2,463 building permits were issued. Florida's low tax rate and the area's growing popularity have spurred tremendous growth in the area's construction industry. The total Bay County sales tax is 7.5% and the total ad valorem millage rate is 15.8152. The area has twelve banks, 49 bank offices and six credit unions. Total deposits exceed $1,265,285,000. Bay County has five industrial parks occupying over 1,302 acres. In addition to a large airport with jet service, Bay County has a deep-water port (Port Panama City) and extensive railroad services.
The data about Bay County was compiled from the following sources: Bay County Chamber of Commerce; Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce; 1995 Florida County Comparisons; 2000 Florida Statistical Abstract; Tyndall Air Force Base Public Affairs Office; Coastal Systems Station Public Affairs Office; Money Magazine [Area Facts | Economy & Demographics | Private
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