Wewahitchka is a city in Gulf County, Florida, United States. The population was 2,074 as of the 2020 census. From the creation of Gulf County in 1925 until 1965, it served as the county seat before the county seat was moved to Port St. Joe. The City of Wewahitchka was settled around 1870 and officially founded in 1875.
Geography
Wewahitchka is located in northeastern Gulf County at the junction of Florida State Roads 71 and 22. SR 71 leads north to Blountstown and south to Port St. Joe, while SR 22 leads west to Panama City.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Wewahitchka has a total area of , of which is land and , or 15.80%, is water.
It is located west of the Chipola River, a tributary of the Apalachicola River, and southwest of Dead Lakes. The two "eye-shaped" lakes from which the city takes its Native American names are Lake Julia and Lake Alice. And Lake Shippey is also located at the bottom center of the city limits.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild winters. According to the Köppen climate classification, the City of Wewahitchka has a humid subtropical climate zone (Cfa).
Demographics
Racial and ethnic composition
{| class="wikitable"
|+Wewahitchka racial composition<br> (Hispanics excluded from racial categories)<br> (NH = Non-Hispanic)<br>
!Race
!Pop 2010
!Pop 2020
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|White (NH)
|1,712
|1,772
|86.42%
|85.44%
|-
|Black or African American (NH)
|165
|148
|8.33%
|7.14%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native (NH)
|11
|18
|0.56%
|0.87%
|-
|Asian (NH)
|1
|4
|0.05%
|0.19%
|-
|Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|Some other race (NH)
|1
|1
|0.05%
|0.05%
|-
|Two or more races/Multiracial (NH)
|52
|96
|2.62%
|4.63%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|39
|35
|1.97%
|1.69%
|-
|Total
|1,981
|2,074
|
|
|-
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Wewahitchka had a population of 2,074. The median age was 43.9 years. 22.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 85.4 males age 18 and over.
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
There were 850 households in Wewahitchka, of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 43.6% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 1,981 people, 878 households, and 609 families residing in the city.
2000 census
As of the census The project was delayed as the city changed construction companies.
Education
Wewahitchka is home to two schools of Gulf District Schools: Wewahitchka Elementary School and Wewahitchka High School, whose mascots are the Gators. There is a Head Start program at the old elementary site.
The Northwest Regional Library System operates the Charles Whitehead Public Library.
Tupelo honey
Wewahitchka is the site of one of Florida's largest beekeeping operations, which was the setting for Ulee's Gold, a movie filmed in the area. This honey is produced by placing beehives, known by the beekeepers as "Bee Boxes", in the swamps along the Apalachicola and other area rivers. In some areas the bees are placed on platforms and rafts to keep them above potential floods. Prior to the tupelo bloom, all earlier season honeys are stripped from the bees to avoid contamination with lesser grades produced earlier. Likewise, as soon as bloom is finished, the honey must be removed quickly before the bees have a chance to add other types of nectar.
Wewahitchka has a two-day Tupelo Honey festival each May.
References
External links
- City of Wewahitchka official website