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Panama City Beach, Florida

17 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1943 and the latest in 1988. It stands in the Panama City Beaches census division. It lies in ZIP code area 32407. The Survey maps it on the Panama City Beach quadrangle. 18,094 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 10 feet above sea level.

Panama City Beach within Bay County

Then and now

1943 to 1988

The same ground, surveyed 45 years apart. Drag the handle to wipe between them. Both sheets are United States Geological Survey originals; neither has been altered.

Topographic sheet of Panama City Beach, surveyed 1988
Topographic sheet of Panama City Beach, surveyed 1943

On record in Panama City Beach

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 2 records

Population over time

2 figures

Panama City Beach grew from 12,018 to 18,094 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201012,018
202018,094+6,076 (+51%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

8 surveys from 17 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

114 since 1992

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 114 fires within 5 miles of Panama City Beach between 1992 and 2020, burning about 805 acres in total. 9 started naturally. 14 were recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined27
Misuse of fire by a minor16
Recreation and ceremony16
Arson/incendiarism14
Equipment and vehicle use12
Debris and open burning9
Natural9
Railroad operations and maintenance6
Smoking4
Fireworks1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
8 September 2014Naturalunder an acreFlorida Forest ServiceG MILES INTERIOR (03)
8 September 1996Equipment and vehicle useunder an acreFlorida Forest Servicenot named
20 September 2010Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresFlorida Forest Service03/ PALMETTO TRACE-0542
2 September 2014Recreation and ceremony1.0 acresFlorida Forest ServiceCHURCHWELL (03)
17 September 1995Natural60 acresFlorida Forest Servicenot named
16 September 2000Misuse of fire by a minorunder an acreFlorida Forest Servicenot named
13 September 2011Recreation and ceremonyunder an acreFlorida Forest ServiceFRONT BEACH (3)
12 September 2001Railroad operations and maintenanceunder an acreFlorida Forest Servicenot named

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Bay County

Mines and quarries near this place

1 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 1 working within 5 miles of Panama City Beach: 1 unknown. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Sand. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Baxter's Asphalt and Concreate, I - Panama City Beach MineSandUnknown

Every working recorded in Bay County

Storms near this place

43 since 1994

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Panama City Beach in 43 storm reports between 1994 and 2024: 12 thunderstorm wind, 10 rip current, 5 tornado, 5 lightning. The reports record 12 deaths and 14 injuries. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
July 2003Rip CurrentPanama City Beach2 killedTwo swimmers drowned in rough surf. A dozen swimmers were rescued. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
August 1999LightningPanama City Beach1 killed, 1 hurtA Georgia man and his teenage daughter were struck by lightning while walking along the beach behind the Sugar Sands Motel on Front Beach Rd. The man died from the strike. The girl was treated by EMS personnel and released.
July 2005Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedAn 18-year-old male drowned in heavy surf. Reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
July 2005Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedA 13-year-old female was dragged 600 yards into the Gulf of Mexico and drowned. Reported by the Orlando Sentinel.
May 2004Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedRip currents claimed the life of a 26-year-old man at Panama City Beach. Reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
June 2004Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedRip currents claimed the life of a teenage tourist just east of Panama City Beach. Two swimmers were rescued. Reported by the Tallahassee Democrat.
May 2002Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedA man drowned after he was caught in a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
May 2002Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedA man drowned after he was caught in a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
June 2002Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedA man drowned while attempting to escape a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
July 2002Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedA man drowned while attempting to escape a severe rip current. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
September 2002Rip CurrentPanama City Beach1 killedA man drowned from a severe rip current caused by Tropical Storm Hanna. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
January 1999Tornado (F2)Panama City Beach7 hurt, $4,000,000A tornado initially struck at Panama City Beach damaging several homes and a few hotels within a four-block area surrounded by Sunset Ave-Thomas and Holiday Dr. The tornado again touched down two miles to the north at the Hathaway Bridge (U.S. Highway 98) where a six-car pileup injured seven. Finally, the tornado lifted over St. Andrews Bay and descended about a mile further north into a residential area surrounded by Big Daddy-Marina Dr. and Bay Circle where numerous homes and businesses were damaged. Scattered power outages affected several thousand customers in West Panama City and Panama City Beach.
July 2000LightningPanama City Beach3 hurtThree people were struck by lightning while walking on the beach. All were transported to the Gulf Coast Medical Center and released. Reported by the Panama City News Herald.
October 1997Tornado (F1)Panama City Beach1 hurt, $350,000Waterspout moved ashore. Extensive roof damage to beach front hotel, sewage treatment plant, middle school and convenient store. One minor injury sustained from flying debris.
July 2007LightningPanama City Beach1 hurtLightning struck from a sudden thunderstorm near a teenage girl. The girl was shocked and overcome by the bolt. She was rushed to a local hospital and was reported in good condition.
July 2004LightningPanama City Beach1 hurtA 29-year-old woman suffered minor burns when lightning struck the water on the west end of Panama City Beach.
February 2008FloodPanama City Beach$750,000Flooding began along Beach Drive, Thomas Drive, in the Cove and near the intersection of State Road 77 and 23rd Street, then spread until roads across the county were underwater. By 8 pm CST, county officials reported severe flooding at State Road 79 and Pine Log Road, Joan Avenue and Front Beach Road, and County Road 2301 and Noel Road. The county courthouse and Emergency Operations Center were closed due to severe flooding. Twenty Parker residents were rescued from their apartments on Cherry Lane, where three feet of water had entered. Several homes along 16th Street in Cedar Grove were surrounded by water. Many streets in Springfield were underwater, and 30 to 40 homes in the Robindale subdivision took on water. Schools were closed on February 22. A 50-foot wide portion of John Pitts Road in northern Bay County washed away. The flood gates at the west end of Deer Point Lake's dam were opened to release flood waters into North Bay near Southport.
May 1999Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$500,00060 mph wind gust reported by WJHG-TV. Thunderstorm winds lifted a 40-by-90-foot roof off a local paper mill. The Bay County EMA reported trees down on cars, houses and several city streets.
June 1994TornadoPanama City Beach$500,000A waterspout moved onshore at Panama City Beach and heavily damaged the roof of two motels causing $100,000 damage. Roofing material fell onto parked cars and did mostly superficial damage. The wall of an oil lubrication building collapsed destroying one car and damaging ten others. Numerous power lines were blown down.
August 2006LightningPanama City Beach$350,000Lightning struck a home on the east side of Panama City Beach and caused extensive damage. Reported by the Panama City News Herald.
October 2001Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$125,000Straight-line winds tore off a roof from a townhouse on the 17700 block of Front Beach Road and dumped it across the road into a wooded area behind an office complex. Numerous shingles were blown off the townhouses. Much of the roof was peeled off the Gala Inn. A small boat was flung across the road from the sand dunes and struck three vehicles. Two other vehicles were overturned. Reported by the Panama City News Herald.
October 1997Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$100,000Severe thunderstorm winds downed power lines at residence on Albatross Lane.
March 2001Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$50,000A portion of the roof covering four rooms at the Majestic Motel and Resort was torn off. Some small sheds on the beach were destroyed and a few cars were damaged. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
September 2002Storm Surge/TidePanama City Beach$15,000Storm surge heights of three feet caused minor beach erosion. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
June 2004Tornado (F0)Panama City Beach$10,000The waterspout came ashore as a weak F0 tornado between Front Beach and Cobb Roads on the west end of Panama City Beach. Before it dissipated, it ripped a 9-ton steel-and-wood cement mold from the 16th floor of a condominium under construction. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
November 2004Tornado (F0)Panama City Beach$10,000A waterspout came ashore and caused minor structural damage at a construction site on U.S. Highway 98. Reported by the Bay County EMA.
October 2014Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$3,000Power lines were blown down in several locations around Panama City Beach.
September 2011Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$2,000A trained spotter estimated winds of 60 to 70 mph with power lines blown down. The monetary damage figure provided is a rough estimate.
July 2013Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$1,000WJHG-TV relayed a reported of a large pine tree blown down.
February 2008Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$1,000Downed power lines were reported near Panama City Beach.
November 1995Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$1,000Bay County Sheriff's Office reported a shed knocked down and some windows blown out of a building on Thomas Drive.
February 2014Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach$500A picture was submitted on social media of damage to an awning attached to a house near Panama City Beach.
June 2024Flash FloodPanama City Beach-Numerous roads on the east end of Panama City Beach were underwater due to heavy rain in a short period of time.
December 2023FloodPanama City Beach-Minor flooding was reported along Cabana Blvd.
September 2022Flash FloodPanama City Beach-Water was inside a house in the Panama City area.
June 2022FloodPanama City Beach-Minor flooding was reported along portions of Highway 98.
February 2021Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach-Multiple trees were blown down in Palmetto Trace.
August 2020Flash FloodPanama City Beach-Water was reported over roads in several locations.
August 2020Flash FloodPanama City Beach-The media relayed a report of flooding on Alf Coleman Road between Back Beach and Middle Beach Roads.
February 2016Funnel CloudPanama City Beach-A funnel cloud was visible on the Schooners web cam in Panama City Beach for a brief time.
February 2013Flash FloodPanama City Beach-Water surrounded the building of Arnold High School via a series of pictures from WJHG's facebook page. Heavy rainfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour had occurred over the past couple of hours. Bay County Emergency Management also reported several road closures in the area around Panama City.
September 2011Funnel CloudPanama City Beach-Home video was forwarded to the NWS by the public that showed a funnel cloud near Panama City Beach.
March 2000Thunderstorm WindPanama City Beach-A 61-mph thunderstorm wind gust measured at Surfside Middle School. Reported by Panama City WJHG-7 TV meteorologist.

Every storm recorded in Bay County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
West Panama City Beach0.0 miles17
Long Beach Resort0.2 miles17
Edgewater Gulf Beach1.1 miles17
Gulf Lagoon Beach1.3 miles17
Bahama Beach2.4 miles17
Florida Beach3.0 miles17
Bid-A-Wee3.0 miles17
Biltmore Beach3.4 miles17

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on Panama City BeachAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q1075852The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 308451. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.