Florida

Bay

175,216
2020 population
1920
first census record
11
census records

About Bay

Bay, Florida, first appears in the United States federal census in 1920, when it recorded a population of 11,407. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 175,216.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Econfinah, Florida 1818, Battle of Econfinah River, Salt Works Destruction near St. Andrews Bay, and 12 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020175,216
2010168,852
2000148,217
1990126,994
198097,740
197075,283
196067,131
195042,689
194020,686
193012,091
192011,407
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Bay

Military engagements that took place in Bay, Florida.

Battle of Econfinah, Florida 1818
1818
Battle of Econfinah River
1818
Salt Works Destruction near St. Andrews Bay
1862

Historic places in Bay

National Register of Historic Places listings in Bay, Florida.

Sherman Arcade
Panama City
Schmidt-Godert Farm
Panama City
St. Andrew School
Panama City
McKenzie, Robert L., House
Panama City
Camp Helen Historic District
Panama City Beach
SS Tarpon (Shipwreck)
Panama City
Sapp House
Panama City
Vamar Shipwreck Site
Mexico Beach
Browse all Floridahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Florida

Explore census history and historic records for more Florida counties.

HardeeHendryHernandoHighlandsHillsboroughHolmesIndian RiverJacksonJeffersonLafayetteLakeLeeLeonLevyLibertyMadisonManateeMarionMartinMiami-Dade
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Everything a full report reveals about Bay County, Florida

This page charts the census history of Bay County, Florida. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Bay

When does Bay first appear in the US census?
Bay, Florida first appears in the federal census in 1920, with a recorded population of 11,407.
What is the population of Bay?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Bay had a recorded population of 175,216.
Were any battles fought in Bay?
3 documented military engagements took place in Bay, including Battle of Econfinah, Florida 1818, Battle of Econfinah River, Salt Works Destruction near St. Andrews Bay.
How many historic places are in Bay?
12 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bay, Florida.
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