Relocation Information

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

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.

Population County

Download Demographics Fact Sheet (.pdf)
                               2010                                        
Apalachicola         2,231                             
Carrabelle             2,778
Franklin County   11,549

Taxes

Ad Valorem Millage rates Apalachicola .00596000  Carrabelle .00550000  Eastpoint .00200000  Alligator Point .00190000  Franklin County .7.1249
Local option gas tax $.05
Sales tax $.0Retail sales tax 7%

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 Doris Shiver Gibbs located 47 Avenue F in
Apalachicola, FL 32320 Phone: 850-653-9520 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 at 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 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 (850) 653-4178 and First Baptist Christian School (850) 653-9540.

Gulf Coast Community College (GCCC) 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. Weems Memorial Hospital………we’re here for you!135 Avenue G, Apalachicola  850-653-8853

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  850-229-5600      

Volunteer Opportunities

Franklin County has a wide range of community groups who offer rewarding and interesting volunteer opportunities.

Post Offices

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

Water

Apalachicola (850) 653-9319
Eastpoint (850) 670-8177
St George Island (850) 927-2648