Panama City, Florida

Overview
Located along the United States Highway 98 in Bay County, Panama City, Florida is the biggest metropolis between Pensacola and Tallahassee. According to the 2000 census, its population had grown to 37, 079 as a lot have been attracted not only to the natural beauty of the place where it is identified by its sugar white sands and pristine emerald waters.

Its exact geographical site is within the Florida Panhandle along the Emerald Coast. Its limits encompass 26.7 square miles of land and 6.2 square miles of water. When it was incorporated, it boundaries were 15th Street on the north, Balboa Avenue on the west and Bay Avenue on the east. As for its demography, the racial make- up is 73.64% White, 21.45% African American, 2.91% Latino, 1.55% Asian, 0.63% Native American, 0.08% Pacific Islander and 0.75% from other ethnic groups.

Panama City, Florida has a very booming economy with major companies such as Tyndall Air Force Base, Coastal Systems Station- Naval Surface Warfare Center, Gulf Power, Arizona Chemical, Stone Container and Berg Pipe. The presence of the Gulf Coast Community College and Florida State University not only opens its doors to providing education but as well as with aspirants to belong in the academe. Locals are served by the Panama City- Bay County International Airport.

History
Before proceeding on what consists the featured area, it would be more than good to have a background of its past. It was taken in to account that albeit most of the native Americans often visited Saint Andrew’s Bay, it has not been the similar situation in the 1830’s. The said year was when plenty of landowners from Alabama and Georgia had begun to transfer spending their summer vacation approximately a mile west on what is now called the Panama City, Florida.

During the 1920’s Florida Land Boom, Panama City, Florida was able to experience some expansion. It did not take into effect not until World War II stirred up the government to use it for battle purposes. It was in 1941 that the previously mentioned Tyndall Air Force was established and United States Coast Guard was installed. United Sates Navy Marine Countermeasures Station also followed together with Wainwright Shipyard responsible for building the Liberty Liners. By 1950, the number of inhabitants reached 25, 814 as reported by the R.L. Polk & Co. Publishers.

There was also a period where the mushrooming figures of service men and women working in the different establishments had promised to go back to Saint Andrew’s Bay. They responded well and started to raise their own families. It was also where the popular spot for spring breaks, Panama City Beach, situated directly on the Gulf of Mexico, was developed for tourism and residential.