Bay County Map, Florida

Bay County is located in the Northwest Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Panama City, is the administrative hub — home to the courthouse, county commission chambers, tax collector, property appraiser, supervisor of elections, and clerk of the circuit court.

The county spans a total of 1,063 square miles — 758 of land and 305 of water — and operates on Central Time. Federal agencies including the U.S. Census Bureau, USGS, and FEMA reference the county by its FIPS code, 12005, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.

Bay County shares borders with 5 neighboring counties: Washington County, Jackson County, Calhoun County, Gulf County, Walton County. Use the interactive map above to explore where those boundaries meet or jump directly to any neighboring county page for a side-by-side comparison.

Barrier islands, brackish estuaries, and the emerald Gulf coast dominate. Deer Point Lake serves as the primary drinking-water reservoir. The eastern peninsula holds Tyndall AFB.

The county's overall footprint — 758 square miles of land plus 305 square miles of water — places it in the mid-range of Florida's 67 counties by area. Elevation across most of Florida is modest, and land-use, drainage basins, and habitat corridors defined by state and federal agencies (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the Water Management Districts) shape how growth and conservation coexist here.

Tourism concentrated at Panama City Beach anchors the coastal economy, alongside Tyndall Air Force Base, Naval Support Activity Panama City, aerospace, and a growing aviation MRO cluster tied to ECP airport.

Employment, tax base, and land use in Bay County reflect its location in Northwest Florida and its position in the state's middle tier of population. Economic development authorities, chambers of commerce, and the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity publish updated employer and workforce data for the county on their portals.

Carved from Washington and Calhoun counties in 1913, Bay grew as a lumber and paper-mill economy on St. Andrew Bay. The 1970s beach boom transformed Panama City Beach into a major Gulf resort market. Hurricane Michael made landfall as a Category 5 storm in October 2018, causing generational damage.

Established in 1913, Bay County is one of Florida's modern counties. Its boundaries, seat, and government have evolved through territorial, statehood, Reconstruction, and modern eras — a lineage documented by the Florida Historical Society, the State Archives of Florida, and the Bay County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.

St. Andrews State Park, Shell Island, Pier Park, and the Panama City Beach sugar-sand strand are top draws. Deep-sea fishing charters run year-round.

Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Bay County offers a mix of natural, cultural, and community attractions tied to its Northwest Florida identity. For the latest hours, admission fees, and seasonal events, check the county's official tourism development council and the Florida State Parks portal (floridastateparks.org).