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People How Many People Quality of Life County Profiles
Calhoun County |
People: County Profiles: Gulf County
In This Section:
Population Facts and Figures | County Information | Community Information
Population Facts and Figures
Total population:
1950: 7,460
2000: 13,332
County size: 555 square miles
Population density, 2000: 24.0 people per square mile (Gulf County), 296.4 people per square mile (Florida)
Population growth rate, 1990-2000: 15.9% (Gulf County), 23.5% (Florida)
Average household size: 2.42 people
Average family size: 2.87 people
Total number of households: 4,931
Females, percent of population: 46.6% (Gulf County), 51% (Florida)
Racial composition
| Gulf County | Florida | |
| White | 79.9 | 78 |
| Black/African-American | 16.9 | 14.6 |
| Other | 3.2 | 7.4 |
Total number of children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools (pre-k through 12) in 2001: 2,218
Racial composition of schoolchildren,
Gulf County, elementary and secondary schools (2001)
| Group | Percentage |
| White | 80.6 |
| Black/African-American | 17.7 |
| Other | 1.7 |
Poverty (percent of residents living below poverty level, 1999)
| Gulf County | Florida | |
| Individuals | 16.7 | 12.5 |
| Families headed by women with children under 5 | 61.4 | 44.6 |
Education (percent of residents age 25 and older, 2000)
| Gulf County | Florida | |
| High school diploma or higher | 72.6 | 79.9 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 10.1 | 22.3 |
Income (1999)
| Gulf County | Florida | |
| Per person | $14,449 | $21,557 |
| Household | $30,276 | $38,819 |
Major Local Employment Sectors
Total number of people employed in Gulf County (2002): 4,421
Unemployment rate (2000): 4.5% (down from 6.1% in 1990)
Major economic sectors:
Government 1,095
Service industries: 970
Manufacturing: 790
Retail trade: 590
Source: Gulf County Economic Development, Inc.; Haas Center; US Census
County Information
County Seat: Port St. Joe
County Government Website: www.gulfcountygovernment.com
 Gulf County courthouse in Port Saint Joe (courtesy Florida Photographic Archives) |
Gulf County Planning Department
(850) 229-8944
Gulf County Cooperative Extension Service
200 North Second Street, Wewahitchka, Florida 32465
(850) 639-3200 or (850) 229-2909 // Fax (850) 639-3201
Gulf County Sheriff's Office
1000 5th Street, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 227-1115
Gulf County Emergency Management
1000 Cecil G. Costin, Sr. Blvd, Room 303, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 229-9110 // Fax (850) 229-9115
Health Services
Gulf County Health Department
2475 Garrison Avenue, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 227-1276
Community Information
Apalachee Regional Planning Council
20776 Central Avenue East, Suite 1, Blountstown, FL 32424
Phone: (850) 674-4571 // Fax (850) 674-4574
www.thearpc.com
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission--Northwest Region
Lt. Col. Louie Roberson, Regional Director
3911 Hwy. 2321, Panama City, FL 32409-1658
(850) 265-3676
24-hour Law Enforcement: (850) 233-5150
Municipalities
Port St. Joe:
Port St. Joe City Hall
305 Cecil Costin Sr. Blvd., Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 229-8261
Port St. Joe Police Department
410 Williams Avenue, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 227-1414
Wewahitchka (population in 2000: 1,722)
Wewahitchka City Hall
117 S. 2nd Street, Wewahitchka, FL 32465
(850) 639-2605
Public Schools
Gulf County School District
150 Middle School Road, Port St. Joe, FL 32456-2261
(850) 229-8256 // Fax (850) 229-6089
School District Data:
www.firn.edu/doe/eias/flmove/county.htm
School Grades:
schoolgrades.fldoe.org/
Port St. Joe Elementary (PK-5)
2201 Long Avenue, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 227-1221 // Fax (850) 227-3422
Port St. Joe Middle School (6-8)
191 Middle School Road, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 227-3211 // Fax (850) 229-9078
Port St. Joe High School (9-12)
100 Shark Drive, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 229-8251 // Fax (850) 227-1803
Wewahitchka Elementary (PK-6)
514 E River Rd., Wewahitchka, FL 32465
(850) 639-2476 // Fax (850) 639-3298
Wewahitchka Middle School (7-8)
190 Alligator Alley, Wewahitchka, FL 32465
(850) 639-6840 // Fax (850) 639-6929
Wewahitchka High School (7-12)
1 Gator Circle, Wewahitchka, FL 32465
(850) 639-2228 // Fax(850) 639-5394
Junior/Community Colleges
Gulf Coast Community College (Panama City)
Adult Schools
Gulf County Adult School
2853 Long Avenue, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
Phone (850) 227-1744 // Fax (850) 229-2724
Libraries
Gulf County Public Library
Highway 71 North, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 229-8879
Charles Whitehead Public Library
314 North Second Street, Wewahitchka, Florida 32465
(850) 639-2419 (voice + TDD)
Chamber of Commerce
Gulf County Chamber of Commerce
104 Fourth Street
Port St. Joe, Florida 32456
Phone: (850) 227-1223
Fax: {850) 227-9684
Website: www.gulfchamber.org
Gulf County Economic Development Council
Gulf County Economic Development Council (G.C.E.D.C.)
P.O. Box 429. Port St. Joe, FL 32457
(850) 229-1901 // Fax (850) 229-1902
Website: www.gulfcountyedc.org
Arts and Culture
The Gulf Alliance for Local Arts, Inc.
1308 Garrison Avenue, Port St. Joe, FL 32456
(850) 227-3745 // Fax (850) 227-9365
Website: www.forgottencoastline.com//art
Festivals: Tupelo Honey Festival (April); Scallop Festival (Labor Day weekend)
Outdoor Recreation Facilities
To find state parks in northwest Florida, see www.floridastateparks.org/northwest/default.asp. For a list of Wildlife Management Areas by area and activity, see the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's recreation website myfwc.com/recreation/.
Boat Ramps: A list of boat ramps by county can be found at www.floridaconservation.org/fishing/ramps/nw-ramps.html
Canoe Trails: See the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's “Florida Trails” website for information on canoe trails in the ARROW region (myfwc.com/fltrails/region1/reg1in.html).
Hunting Areas: A list of public hunting areas in Northwest Florida can be found at wld.fwc.state.fl.us/hunting/wma/Northwest.htm. Florida hunting regulations can be found at wld.fwc.state.fl.us/hunting/default.html.
Aquatic Preserve: The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR, for short) is one of 26 such reserves in the country. These research areas not only help protect sensitive estuarine lands and waters, but they also serve to educate the public and provide study areas for scientists. See www.dep.state.fl.us/coastal/sites/apalachicola/info.htm or NOAA's National Estuarine Research Reserve System website (nerrs.noaa.gov/Apalachicola/welcome.html).
Canoe trails:
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's “Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail” website contains information on canoe and kayak trips along the coast.
myfwc.com/recreation/big_bend/paddling_trail.asp
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's “Florida Trails” website has information on canoe trials (myfwc.com/fltrails/region1/reg1in.html).
Fishing: Dead Lakes State Park and the Apalachicola River are two of Gulf County's well-known fishing spots. There are also many artificial reefs off the coast for saltwater fishing, listed here: myfwc.com/marine/ar/reef_locator.asp.
Camping: Dead Lakes State Recreation Area in Wewahitchka and St. Joseph Peninsula State Park in Port St. Joe offer camping.
Hiking Trails: The Greenways and Trails website lists several hiking trails in the region (www.floridadep.org/gwt/). More trail information is on the Florida Trail Association's website at www.florida-trail.org.
Public lands
| Name | Telephone |
| Apalachicola River Water Management Area | 850-539-5999 |
| Constitution Convention Museum State Park | 850-229-8029 |
| Dead Lakes Park | 850-229-7800 |
| Salinas Park | 850-229-7800 |
| St. Joseph Bay State Buffer Preserve | 850-670-4783; FAX 670-4324 |
| St. Vincent National Wildlife Refuge | 850-653-8808 |
| T. H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park | 850-227-1327; FAX 850-227-1488 |
Note: The content of the website has not been updated since 2005. The site remains online for it's value as legacy content and is unlikely to be updated.
