Located in Florida’s northwestern Panhandle Franklin County is approximately 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee and 60 miles southeast of Panama City. Comprised of 545 square miles with more than 200 miles of coastal shoreline 87% of the county is held in state or federal lands, forests, and preserves.
U.S. route 98/319, along the coast, is the main transportation into and across Franklin County. State route 65 and county road 67 provide alternate routes to and from the north. State road 300 provides access to St. George Island and county route 370 accesses Alligator Point from U.S. 98.
Climate
The average temperature for the year is a comfortable 68.4 degrees (F). January averages 53.6 degrees and July averages 81.4 degrees. Franklin County normally receives approximately 58 inches of rain a year. Apalachicola has the most sunniest days per year than any other Florida city.
Time Zone: Eastern
Area Code: (850)
Post Offices
Apalachicola Post Office: (850) 653-9554
Apalachicola Zip: 32320
P.O. Boxes Zip: 32329
Eastpoint/St. George Island Zip: 32328
Government
Franklin County has two incorporated cities of Apalachicola (850) 653-9319 and Carrabelle (850) 697-3618.
The county courthouse is at 33 Market Street in Apalachicola (850) 653-8861.
Real Estate
Looking to relocate or buy your piece of paradise? Check out or local Real Estate Professionals.
Starting a Business
If you are interested in starting or relocating a business in Franklin County, Apalachicola, Eastpoint or St. George Island we can help. Call (850) 653-9419 or email us. Also, checkout our publication How To Start a Business in Apalachicola.
Visit the Florida Virtual Entrepreneur Center or the Small Business Development Center
Population County 2013
Franklin County: 11,598
Apalachicola: 2,231 Eastpoint: 7,491 Carrabelle: 1,900
Median Household Income $37,017
Mean Household Income $51,840
Per Capita Income $21,009
For more demographic data or for US Census data here.
Taxes
Ad Valorem Millage rates:
Apalachicola .00900900
Carrabelle .0087000
Eastpoint .00200000
Franklin County .00596370
Local option gas tax $.05
Local option sales tax $.01
Retail sales tax 7%
Tourist development tax 2%
Corporate income 5.5%
Property Appraiser's Office
Franklin County Tax Collector's Office
Voter Registration
All Franklin County residents may register to vote with the Supervisor of Elections located 47 Avenue F in Apalachicola, FL 32320
Phone: 850-653-9520
Email: pinki@votefranklin.com
www.votefranklin.com
Automobile License & Tags
Automobile license plates are available from the Franklin County Tax Collector’s Office in the County Courthouse, 33 Market Street, Apalachicola. Proof of ownership and insurance is required. Vehicle titles must be changed before you get your Florida driver’s license.
You can obtain a driver licenses, renewal, reinstatement, ID cards, driving record searchers, temp permit and replacements in Port St. Joe at the Gulf County Court House/Gulf County Tax Collector's Office located at 1000 Cecil G. Costin Sr Blvd, Port St. Joe, FL 32456. Monday - Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm EST for more information call (850) 229-5353
Public Libraries
Apalachicola Municipal Library (850) 653-8436
Franklin County Public Library system has branches in Eastpoint (850) 670-8151 & Carrabelle (850) 697-2366 & is served county wide by the Wilderness Coast Public Libraries Bookmobile (850) 926-4571
Education
The Franklin County Public School system includes a kindergarten through high school newly built, state of the art, county-wide campus just completed in Eastpoint http://www.franklincountyschools.org The Franklin County Learning Center, also located in Eastpoint houses pre-kindergarten and alternative education programs. We also have a public charter school, Apalachicola Bay Charter School, in Apalachicola currently serves grades K-8 (850) 653-1222.
There are two private schools in Apalachicola: Bay Community School for day care and pre-k (850) 653-4178 and First Baptist Christian School (850) 653-9540.
Gulf Coast State College (GCSC) of Panama City, Florida, has the satellite Gulf/Franklin Center campus (850) 227-9670 fifteen minutes west of Apalachicola. Florida State University has a campus in Panama City and in Tallahassee. Florida Agricultural and Manufacturing University (FAMU) and Tallahassee Community College (TCC) are also in Tallahassee. The University of Florida is four and a half hours east in Gainesville.
The Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR) (850) 653-8063 provides educational programs at its visitor center as one of its major activities in support of its sponsors the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Healthcare
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital
George E. Weems Memorial Hospital (WMH), affiliated with Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare, is a 25-bed critical access hospital that offers 24-hour service to our community and its visitors. Our hospital is fully staffed with a warm, caring and professional team, 365 days during the year. WMH offers 24 hour emergency services, in-patient acute care services and a swing-bed program. We offer diagnostic imaging to include: x-ray, CT scan and screening mammography. Our on-site laboratory provides service to our in-patients, as well as out-patients. Our ambulatory services include colonoscopy and endoscopy exams and procedures, cardiology out-patient surgery, podiatry out-patient surgery, and more to come! Any time, day or night, you will find our medical staff ready to assist you when you need it the most!! When life-saving, rapid transport for higher level medical services are required, a helipad is located on site.
135 Avenue G, Apalachicola, Florida (850) 653-8853
info@weemsmemorial.com
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Gulf is a new 25-bed community hospital featuring 24-Hour Emergency Services In-Patient Acute Care Services Outpatient Infusion Services Diagnostic & Imaging Services CT Scanner Ultrasound Laboratory Services Rehabilitation Services Surgical Services Helipad for Rapid Transport Fluoroscopy X-ray, Pulmonary Function and Testing, Coming Fall 2010: Sacred Heart Medical Office Building, the Medical Office Building adjacent to the hospital will feature: Women’s Diagnostics & Imaging Services, Digital Mammography, Ultrasound Services Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Speech Therapy Physical Therapy Occupational Therapy Primary Care & Specialty Physicians and DaVita Dialysis Services.
3801 East Highway 98, Port St. Joe, Florida (850) 229-5600
Volunteer Opportunities
Franklin County has a wide range of community groups who offer rewarding and interesting volunteer opportunities.
Water
Apalachicola (850) 653-9319
Eastpoint (850) 670-8177
St George Island (850) 927-2648
Cable/Satelite
Media Com (800) 239-8411
Direct TV or Dish Network
