Washington County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located in the northwestern part of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Florida Florida ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders the Gulf of Mexico to the west, Alabama to the northwest, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the north, the Atlantic ...

, in the Panhandle. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,318. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is Chipley. Washington County is included in the

Panama City Panama City, also known as Panama, is the capital and largest city of Panama. It has a total population of 1,086,990, with over 2,100,000 in its metropolitan area. The city is located at the Pacific Ocean, Pacific entrance of the Panama Canal, i ...

—

Panama City Beach, Florida Panama City Beach is a resort town in the Florida Panhandle, and principal city of the Panama City Metropolitan Area. It is a popular vacation destination, especially among people in the Southern United States, and is located in the "Emerald C ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Washington County was created in 1825, and was nearly twice the size of the State of Delaware, stretching all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. After a century of boundary shifts, the county, with over of rolling hills covered in thick, stately pines and mixed hardwood forests, now covers a large portion of the central Florida Panhandle. Over a span of more than 150 years, Washington County has seen Native American, Spanish and English cultural influences. The county's historical lore is rich with stories of the exploits of Andrew Jackson. There are numerous Native American mounds and evidence of strong settlements still being discovered. Named after

George Washington George Washington (, 1799) was a Founding Fathers of the United States, Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot (American Revoluti ...

, the first

US president The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed For ...

, the area was first settled by those seeking both economic and political freedom in this frontier land of vast timber and mineral resources. Inland waterway transportation brought about heavy river settlements. The arrival of railroads in the late 1800s boosted economic, social and political developments. Vernon, the geographical center of the county, is named for George Washington's Virginia home, Mt. Vernon. The pioneer town was also the site of a major Indian settlement. The county courthouse was located in Vernon during the early part of this century, until a railroad town in northeastern Washington County, Chipley, became the new and present county seat in 1927. Washington County was once a

dry county In the United States, a dry county is a county whose local government forbids the sale of any kind of alcoholic beverages. Some prohibit off-premises sale, some prohibit on-premises sale, and some prohibit both. The vast majority of counties n ...

, meaning that the sale of

alcoholic beverages Drinks containing alcohol are typically divided into three classes—beers, wines, and spirits—with alcohol content typically between 3% and 50%. Drinks with less than 0.5% are sometimes considered non-alcoholic. Many societies have a di ...

was banned in the county. In January 2022, this restriction was removed following a voter referendum in which about two-thirds of voters supported the removal.

Geography

According to the

U.S. Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (5.4%) is water. The county became part of the Panama City metropolitan area in 2023.

Adjacent counties

Holmes County, Florida Holmes County is a County (United States), county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida, in the Florida Panhandle, Panhandle. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 19,653. Its county seat i ...

- north *

Jackson County, Florida Jackson County is a County (United States), county located in the "Panhandle" of the U.S. state of Florida, on its northwestern border with Alabama. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 47,319. Its county seat i ...

- northeast *

Bay County, Florida Bay County is a county on the Emerald Coast in Northwest Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 175,216. Its county seat is Panama City. Bay County is included in the Panama City, Florida metropolitan area. History On February 1 ...

- south *

Walton County, Florida Walton County is a County (United States), county located on the Emerald Coast in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Florida, with its southern border on the Gulf of Mexico. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the populat ...

- west

Demographics

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 25,318 people, 9,037 households, and 5,945 families residing in the county. As of the

census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...

of 2000, there were 20,973 people, 7,931 households, and 5,646 families residing in the county. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...

was . There were 9,503 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 81.72%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

, 13.69%

Black Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...

African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...

, 1.54% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.06%

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...

, 0.58% from other races, and 2.05% from two or more races. 2.30% of the population were

Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...

or Latino of any race. There were 7,931 households, out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were

married couples Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...

living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 105.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.90 males. The median income for a household in the county was $27,922, and the median income for a family was $33,057. Males had a median income of $26,597 versus $20,198 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...

for the county was $14,980. About 15.40% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 26.90% of those under age 18 and 19.40% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Washington County School District includes: * Kate Smith Elementary School * Vernon Elementary School * Roulhac Middle School * Vernon Middle School * Chipley High School * Vernon High School It is the sole school district in the county.

Washington Public Library System

Washington County Public Library system has four branches: * Washington County Public Library (Chipley Library) * Sam Mitchell Public Library * Wausau Public Library * Sunny Hills Public Library

Media

* ''The Washington County News'' * ''Foster Folly News'' * ''The Chipley Bugle''''The Chipley Bugle''
/ref>

Communities

Washington County Florida Sign FL79 at Ebro looking northward

Cities

* Chipley * Vernon

Towns

* Caryville *

Ebro The Ebro (Spanish and Basque ; , , ) is a river of the north and northeast of the Iberian Peninsula, in Spain. It rises in Cantabria and flows , almost entirely in an east-southeast direction. It flows into the Mediterranean Sea, forming a de ...

* Wausau

Unincorporated communities

* Crow * Five Points * Gilberts Mill * Greenhead * Hinson's Crossroads * Holmes Valley * New Hope * Poplar Head * Red Head * Sunny Hills

Transportation

Airports

* Washington County is served by Tri-County Airport, a general aviation airport 5.3 miles northwest of central Chipley. It has a 5398-foot runway, passenger terminal and two instrument approaches. Washington County appoints three of the nine-member board of directors which governs the airport.

Major highways

* (Interstate 10) * (U.S. Highway 90) * * * * *

Politics

Notes

References

https://www.wjhg.com/2022/01/22/washington-county-dry-no-more/

External links

*
Washington County News
' - newspaper that serves Washington County, Florida available in full-text with images i
Florida Digital Newspaper Library
*
Chipley Banner
' - newspaper that served Washington County, Florida from 1897 to 1900 available in full-text with images i
Florida Digital Newspaper Library

Government links/Constitutional offices

Washington County Board of County Commissioners

Washington County Property Appraiser

Washington County Sheriff's Office

Washington County Tax Collector

Special districts

Washington District School Board

Northwest Florida Water Management District

Judicial branch

Washington County Clerk of Courts

Circuit and County Court for the 14th Judicial Circuit of Florida
serving

Bay A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or another bay. A large bay is usually called a ''gulf'', ''sea'', ''sound'', or ''bight''. A ''cove'' is a small, ci ...

, Calhoun,

Gulf A gulf is a large inlet from an ocean or their seas into a landmass, larger and typically (though not always) with a narrower opening than a bay (geography), bay. The term was used traditionally for large, highly indented navigable bodies of s ...

Holmes Holmes may refer to: People and fictional characters * Holmes (surname), a list of people and fictional characters ** Sherlock Holmes, a fictional detective * Holmes (given name), a list of people * Gordon Holmes, a penname used by Louis Trac ...

, Jackson and Washington counties

Community services

Washington County Council on Aging
- provides senior and elderly services including meals on wheels, case management, respite, workshops and more to residents throughout Washington County
UF IFAS Extension Washington County
- The Cooperative Extension Service is nationwide and was established by the Smith-Lever Act of 1914. It is a partnership between state land grant universities, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the county governments throughout the nation. In Florida, the Cooperative Extension Service is administered by the University of Florida. Thus, the Washington County Extension Service is a partnership between the USDA, the University of Florida and Washington County government. All of these groups share in the planning, financing, and operation of extension programs in the areas of Agriculture, Horticulture, Family and Consumer Sciences and 4H Youth Development.

Tourism links

Washington County Chamber of Commerce

Washington County Tourist Development Council
{{authority control Florida counties 1825 establishments in Florida Territory Populated places established in 1825 North Florida