Franklin County Relocation Information

Franklin County is located in Florida’s northwestern Panhandle approximately 80 miles southwest of Tallahassee and 60 miles southeast of Panama City. The county is bound on the north by Liberty County and on the northeast by the Ochlocknee River and Wakulla County. To the west is Gulf County and to the south and east is the Gulf of Mexico.

In area Franklin County is comprised of 545 square miles or 348,800 acres with more than 200 miles of coastal shoreline. The southern barrier islands of St. Vincent, St. George (now split in two parts) and Dog Island are part of the county. Federal land consists of 35,015 acres or 10% of the county. State land consists of 202,180 acres or 58% of the county.

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.

Time Zone Eastern
Area Code 850

Government
www.franklincountyflorida.com
Franklin County has two incorporated cities: Apalachicola (850) 653-9319 and Carrabelle (850) 697-3618. The county courthouse is at 33 Market Street in Apalachicola.
Population County
2002     9,829
1990     8,967
2000     9,829
Apalachicola 2,334
Carrabelle 1,303
Unicorporated 6,192

Projected Population Growth
2005     10,206
2010     10,555
2015     10,910


Taxes
Ad Valorem Millage rate 12.9 mills
Local option Gas Tax $.05

Corporate Income 5.5%

Voter Registration
All Franklin County residents may register to vote with the Supervisor of Elections at the County Courthouse 33 Market Street. Mail-in Florida Voter Registration Application Forms are available.  There is no residency waiting period. Call (850) 653-9520 for more information.

Driver’s License
Driver’s licenses are issued locally on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am-12:00 noon, 1:00 pm-4:00 pm at 731 U S Highway 98 just east of Eastpoint.  Florida law requires new residents to obtain a Florida Driver’s license within 30 days of establishing residency.  Two original or certified proof of identification are required (no photocopies accepted).  Cost is $20.00, renewals $15.00. Call (850) 670-8061 for more information.

Automobile 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. Call (850) 653-9323 for more information.

Public Libraries
Apalachicola Municipal Library - 653-8436
Franklin County Public Library system has branches in Eastpoint (850) 670-8151 & Carrabelle (850) 697-2366 & is served countywide by the Wilderness Coast Public Libraries Bookmobile (850) 926-4571

Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce Education
The Franklin County Public School system includes two pre-kindergarten through sixth grade elementary schools, Chapman in Apalachicola (850) 653-8857 and Browne in Eastpoint (850) 670-8458, Apalachicola High School (850) 653-8811 and a pre-kindergarten through 12th grade school in Carrabelle (850) 697-3815. The Apalachicola Bay Charter School in Apalachicola currently serves grades K-8  (850) 653-1222.

There are two private schools in Apalachicola: Bay Community School (850) 653-4178 and First Baptist Christian School (850) 653-9540.

Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC) of Panama City, Florida, has a satellite Gulf/Franklin County campus (850) 227-9670 fifteen minutes west of Apalachicola. Tallahassee, one hour and forty-five minute drive northeast of Apalachicola, is home to Florida State University (FSU), Florida Agricultural and Manufacturing University (FAMU) and Tallahassee Community College (TCC). 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).

Post Offices
Apalachicola Zip: 32320
P.O. Boxes: 32329
(850) 653-9554
Eastpoint/St. George Island Zip: 32328

Water
Apalachicola 653-9319
Eastpoint 670-8177
St George Island 927-2648