Gulf County Map, Florida
Explore the definitive interactive map and reference guide to Gulf County, Florida. With a population of 14,192 living across 555 square miles of land, Gulf County is one of 15 counties in the Northwest Florida region. The county seat is Port St. Joe, and the county carries the FIPS identifier 12045 in U.S. Census and USGS datasets.
A small Panhandle county surrounding St. Joseph Bay, Gulf County is famed for the sugar-white sands of Cape San Blas and the productive scallop fishery in the bay.
Gulf County at a glance
A concise reference summary of Gulf County's key statistics — useful for research, real estate, relocation, travel planning, GIS workflows, journalism, and civics education.
- Official name
- Gulf County
- County seat
- Port St. Joe
- FIPS code
- 12045
- Region
- Northwest Florida
- Established
- 1925
- Named for
- The Gulf of Mexico.
- Land area
- 555 sq mi
- Water area
- 209 sq mi
- Total area
- 764 sq mi
- Population (2020)
- 14,192
- Population density
- 26 / sq mi
- Time zone
- Central Time
Where is Gulf County, Florida?
Gulf County is located in the Northwest Florida region of Florida, one of 67 counties that make up the state. Its county seat, Port St. Joe, 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 764 square miles — 555 of land and 209 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, 12045, in datasets, boundary files, and hazard mapping.
Gulf County shares borders with 3 neighboring counties: Bay County, Calhoun County, Franklin 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.
Gulf County geography & landscape
St. Joseph Bay, the Cape San Blas peninsula, the Apalachicola National Forest edge, and the Dead Lakes near Wewahitchka.
The county's overall footprint — 555 square miles of land plus 209 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.
Economy & industry in Gulf County
Tourism (Cape San Blas, St. Joseph Peninsula), forestry, tupelo honey, and a small paper-industry legacy.
Employment, tax base, and land use in Gulf County reflect its location in Northwest Florida and its position as a smaller, more rural county. 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.
History of Gulf County
Established 1925 from Calhoun County. Port St. Joe hosted Florida's 1838 Constitutional Convention. A yellow-fever epidemic and 1841 hurricane devastated the original town.
Established in 1925, Gulf 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 Gulf County Historical Commission or equivalent local body.
Tourism & things to do in Gulf County
St. Joseph Peninsula State Park (routinely ranked among the best U.S. beaches), Cape San Blas Lighthouse, scallop season, and tupelo honey country.
Whether you're planning a weekend trip, a longer stay, or a day drive from a neighboring county, Gulf 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).
Cities, towns & communities in Gulf County
Gulf County contains the following incorporated cities, towns, and notable census-designated places. Each municipality provides local services, zoning, and police protection within the broader county jurisdiction. Use the ZIP code lookupto jump between Florida counties instantly.
Getting to Gulf County
Access routes and regional transportation infrastructure serving Gulf County.
- US-98
- SR-71
- Costin Airport
Gulf County GIS, parcel & boundary data
Gulf County's authoritative boundary lines, parcel data, zoning layers, flood zones, and land-use inventories are maintained by county government and state agencies. Use the official links in the sidebar for parcel lookups, appraiser searches, and record requests. For statewide GIS, the Florida Geographic Data Library (FGDL) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection publish downloadable layers keyed to FIPS 12045.
You can download this county's outline as SVG, PNG, or a printable PDF factsheet using the export tools in the sidebar — perfect for reports, presentations, classroom handouts, or planning documents.
Frequently asked about Gulf County
Population figures reflect the U.S. Census Bureau 2020 decennial count with ACS 5-year updates where noted. Land and water areas come from the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line boundary files. Highway designations use Florida Department of Transportation route inventories. County establishment dates and namesakes are drawn from the Florida Association of Counties and State Archives of Florida. See our methodology page.
Nearby Florida counties
Counties that share a border with Gulf County. Click any to view its map, seat, cities, and full guide.