Panama City | History, Facts, & Beaches - Britannica

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience and security. Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos Panama City Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics Images Quizzes Guess the City by Its River Quiz Contents Geography & Travel Cities & Towns Cities & Towns P-S

Panama City Florida, United States Ask the Chatbot a Question More Actions Print Cite verifiedCite While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Select Citation Style MLA APA Chicago Manual of Style Copy Citation Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/place/Panama-City-Florida Feedback External Websites Feedback Corrections? Updates? Omissions? Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Feedback Type Select a type (Required) Factual Correction Spelling/Grammar Correction Link Correction Additional Information Other Your Feedback Submit Feedback Thank you for your feedback

Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.

External Websites

• Official Site of Panama City, Florida, United States

Ask the Chatbot a Question Also known as: Old Town, Saint Andrew Written and fact-checked by Britannica Editors Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Britannica Editors Last updated Oct. 21, 2025 •History Table of Contents Table of Contents Ask the Chatbot

Panama City, city, seat (1913) of Bay county, northwestern Florida, U.S. It is the port of entry on St. Andrew Bay (an arm of the Gulf of Mexico), about 95 miles (150 km) east of Pensacola. The first English settlement (c. 1765), known as Old Town, was a fishing village later called St. Andrew. In 1909 Panama City (named by developer George W. West for Panama City, Panama) merged with St. Andrew and Millville to form the present city. During the American Revolution the area was settled by loyalists, who grew indigo and developed lumbering and naval stores industries. Saltworks and fisheries on St. Andrew Bay, established to serve the Confederacy during the American Civil War, were destroyed by Union raids in 1863. During World War II the city became a shipbuilding and war industrial center, and the population grew rapidly.

Panama City’s landlocked, deepwater harbor is on the Intracoastal Waterway and is linked to the gulf by a channel. The U.S. Navy’s Coastal Systems Station conducts research on warfare, and Tyndall Air Force Base is just southeast of the city. Tourism and the military are the chief economic factors; manufacturing (including paper products and chemicals), fishing, and shipbuilding are also important. The Panama City area is a popular destination for college students on spring vacation. The city is the seat of Gulf Coast Community College (1957) and has a campus of Florida State University. St. Andrews State Recreation Area, known for its beautiful beaches, is just south of the city. Gulf World Marine Park in nearby Panama City Beach includes dolphin and sea lion shows. Inc. 1909. Pop. (2000) 36,417; Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach Metro Area, 148,217; (2010) 36,484; Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach Metro Area, 168,852.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Jeff Wallenfeldt.