Panama City Beach, Florida

Panama City Beach, Florida
Panama City Beach's skyline and beach, looking northwest from St. Andrews State Park
Nicknames: 
PCB, Capital of Redneck Riviera, Crystal Sands, Spring Break Capital of The World
Motto: 
The World's Most Beautiful Beaches
Interactive map outlining Panama City Beach
Panama City Beach
Location in Florida
Panama City Beach
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 30°14′12″N 85°52′40″W / 30.23667°N 85.87778°W / 30.23667; -85.87778
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyBay
Incorporated1970
Area
 • Total
19.53 sq mi (50.57 km2)
 • Land19.32 sq mi (50.05 km2)
 • Water0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2)
Elevation
23 ft (7.0 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
18,094
 • Density936.4/sq mi (361.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC– 06:00 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC– 05:00 (CDT)
ZIP
32401, 32407, 32408, 32413, 32417
Area codes850, 448
FIPS code12-54725
GNIS feature ID2404469
Websitewww.pcbgov.com

Panama City Beach is a resort city in the Florida Panhandle, and principal city of the Panama City Metropolitan Area. Being located on the Emerald Coast area of Florida, it is a popular vacation destination. Panama City Beach had a population of 18,094 at the time of the 2020 census, up from 12,018 in 2010. Panama City Beach's slogan is "The World's Most Beautiful Beaches" due to the unique, sugar-white sandy beaches of the Florida Panhandle.

Panama City Beach has dangerous rip currents. Multiple people have drowned at Panama City Beach while struggling against rip currents. Sea conditions are particularly dangerous during periods when lifeguards have put up double red flags, indicating active rip currents. Drowning often occurs when people attempt to swim directly against a rip current. By attempting to directly return to the beach, against the rip current, swimmers get tired-out in the process and drown. Instead, swimmers caught in a rip current should relax, and swim parallel to the beach, until they are naturally carried out of the rip current.