The town of Panama City Beach (PCB) is located in Bay County Florida, along the beautiful coast of the Gulf of Mexico. The city is in the northwest corner of Florida, less than an hour’s drive from Alabama. The climate is typical for a city that is on the Gulf Coast. Starting with high temperatures around 90 degrees in the summer and low temperatures around 50 degrees in the winter months. The economy of Panama City Beach is gradually increasing. As for politics, the urban areas in Panama usually vote Republic while the surrounding rural areas vote Democratic. It is estimated roughly about 13K residents in Panama City as of 2018. The people that makeup Panama City would consider themselves as an exceptional group with a diversified view of life.
Panama City Beach is a city located in the northwest corner of the state of Florida. “This beach is the perfect vacation spot for families, golfers, fishermen and beachgoers, with world-class dining and shopping. Panama City Beach is an exquisite location in Northwest Florida that boasts 27 miles of sandy white beaches facing West for the perfect sunset every day of the year” (floridarentalsbyowners.com). People often get Panama City Beach confused with Panama City. The difference between the two is that Panama City was founded first in the early 1900s and is the larger, more historic town of the two. Panama City Beach is an internationally recognized tourist destination that came later. The climate is normal, considering its location. “Panama City Beach, Florida gets 60 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year. Panama City Beach averages 0 inches of snow per year. The US average is 28 inches of snow per year. On average, there are 239 sunny days per year in Panama City Beach. The US average is 205 sunny days” (bestplaces.net). The summer months are hot with ninety-degree highs that feel closer to one-hundred degrees. The ocean breeze helps keep you cool when sitting on the shoreline. The best times to visit this beach is during April, October, and November. With the weather not being too hot and the population not overcrowded with people, it is the best time of the year to go.
The economy in Panama is greatly increasing and shows signs of a successful future. “The Panama City Beach Chamber is heavily involved in the economic development of Panama City Beach and the surrounding areas, assisting the City and Tourist Development Council in developing a plan and marketing strategy, and bringing in more business parks and high-tech companies” (pcbeach.org). This will bring more job opportunities. “Panama City Beach has an unemployment rate of 3.9%. The US average is 3.9%. Panama City Beach has seen the job market increase by 2.0% over the last year. Future job growth over the next ten years is predicted to be 34.3%, which is higher than the US average of 33.5%” (bestplaces.net). Most of Panama City Beach’s income is driven by tourists. All the restaurants, stores, surf shops, hotels, and parks are aimed to attract tourists. The money to be made from tourism goes far beyond shopping, dining, and hotel rooms. Income is also generated through, gas, traffic tickets, toll bridges, and parking areas. Needless to say, Panama City Beach’s economy would take a drastic hit if tourism were to decline by just twenty percent. This keeps businesses in Panama City busy coming up with new and innovative ideas to attract more tourists each year.
Exports and imports play a major role in most cities, especially ones that are located in the Gulf. The ports provide jobs for many residents. “In 2015, Port Panama City supported 8,839 jobs in the state of Florida. Of these jobs, 1,256 jobs are directly created by port activities, while another 1,017 induced jobs are generated within the state as the result of local purchases made by those directly employed due to Port activity” (Martin Associates). Some items that are imported from Panama City include the following: steel, copper, stone, wood pellets, containers, and the most obvious, fresh seafood.
The population and people are what make a town. “Panama City Beach, Florida's estimated population is 13,065 according to the most recent United States census estimates. Panama City Beach, Florida is the 148th largest city in Florida based on official 2017 estimates from the US Census Bureau. The population density is 676.96 people/mi² (261.37 people/km²). The overall median age is 43.1 years” (World Population Review). With much of the race being white at 83% of the residents. One day I hope to be a part of this population. It has always been a dream of mine to live at the beach, especially this one.
Religion is a big portion of individuals' everyday lives. No matter the city, state, or country, there will always be some type of faith. There are roughly over 4,000 religions in the world. “41.8% of the people in Panama City Beach are religious: 17.1% are Baptist, 4.7% are Catholic, 5.7% are Methodist, 3.5% are Pentecostal, 1.4% are Church of Jesus Christ, while the other percentage are of other faiths” (bestplaces.net). I personally would fit into the Baptist category. Many church services and weddings in Panama City Beach are held on the beach. I have always dreamed of having a beachside wedding, and I will when the day comes.
I have spent many summers and vacations in Panama City Beach. It is my favorite place to visit because of the people, the food, the ocean, and the sun. I could sit on the beach all day and tan for hours, regardless of what everyone else wants to do. It is the perfect place to relax, swim in the ocean, read a book, people-watch, play volleyball, and tan all in the same place. It is a fantastic getaway and an amazing place to spend time with family and friends. We always book a huge condo that has a balcony overlooking the magnificent ocean. Along with having extra rooms and a fully stocked kitchen. I love to cook, so on the first day of arrival, we head to the grocery store and gather things we would need for the week. Alternating nights of staying in and cooking or going out to enjoy the delicious seafood and atmosphere. I enjoy the time I spend there getting to relax and unwind. So, it is easy for me to say that Panama City Beach holds a special place in my heart because of all the memories I have made there. I look forward to owning a beach condo in Panama City Beach one day.
There are so many amazing things to love about Panama City Beach, the white sand, clear blue waters, and the aroma of the salty ocean air. When watching the never-ending waves crash against the shore, your troubles back home seem to fade away. The palm trees are another favorite of mine, it feels like you are in a different realm at times. Oh, and you certainly cannot forget about the breathtaking sunset sinking behind the ocean ledge. You’ve never seen anything so peaceful, it is a breathtaking sight. It is a location that you will want to revisit each summer. The one drawback when vacationing in Panama City Beach, Florida is that you will never want to leave!