Washington County is a county in Florida, United States, in the northwestern Panhandle between Holmes and Bay counties. It had a population of 25,318 at the 2020 census and covers 616 square miles (1,595 km2), centred near 30°37′N 85°40′W.
Chipley is the county seat, and its postal code is 32428. The county has two incorporated cities, three incorporated towns, and a number of unincorporated communities. Washington County observes Central time and joined the Panama City metropolitan area in 2023.
Towns & Villages in Washington County
Washington County has five incorporated municipalities — two cities and three towns — plus a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities and rural settlements across its 583 square miles of land. The table below lists the county’s places; Unincorp. denotes an unincorporated community with no municipal government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chipley | City · seat | — | 32428 |
| Vernon | City | — | 32462 |
| Caryville | Town | — | 32427 |
| Ebro | Town | — | 32437 |
| Wausau | Town | — | 32463 |
| Greenhead | Unincorp. | — | 32428 |
| Five Points | Unincorp. | — | 32428 |
| Bahoma | Unincorp. | — | 32428 |
| Bells Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bradford | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brock Crossroad | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bunker Donation | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crystal Lake | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dixonville | Unincorp. | — | 32428 |
| Gilberts Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grantham | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hinsons Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holmes Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hulaw | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Johnson Crossroad | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Live Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Macom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Millers Ferry | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Norum | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Poplar Head | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Red Head | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sylvania | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Whitehead Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
Chipley is home to roughly three in four county residents and anchors the county’s retail and government functions; the remaining places are small crossroads communities scattered through the pine flatwoods and along the Choctawhatchee River drainage.
ZIP Codes
- 32428 — Chipley (also serves Greenhead, Five Points, Bahoma and Dixonville)
- 32462 — Vernon
- 32427 — Caryville
- 32437 — Ebro
- 32463 — Wausau
The remaining rural communities have no standalone ZIP code and use the nearest incorporated town’s postal code.
Geography
Washington County sits in the western Florida Panhandle across gently rolling pine flatwoods, sandhills, and the floodplain of the Choctawhatchee River, which forms much of the county’s eastern edge. Falling Waters State Park, home to the state’s tallest waterfall, lies just south of Chipley. Of the county’s 616 square miles, 583 square miles are land and 33 square miles are water.
Washington County borders Holmes County to the north, Jackson County to the northeast, Bay County to the south, and Walton County to the west. Only Jackson County currently has a live page on this site; Holmes, Bay, and Walton counties are named here without a link.
Demographics
Washington County had 25,318 residents at the 2020 census, making Chipley and Vernon its two largest communities. Median household income in the county runs below the Florida median of $73,311, reflecting the county’s rural, timber- and agriculture-based economy. With 583 square miles of land, the county’s population density is about 43 residents per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Forestry, agriculture, and government employment anchor the local economy, with Chipley serving as the county seat and commercial hub. Washington County was long a dry county; after a January 2022 referendum in which roughly two-thirds of voters backed repeal, the sale of alcoholic beverages became legal countywide for the first time since the county’s founding.
History
Washington County was established on December 9, 1825, and named for George Washington. At its creation it spanned roughly double the area of Delaware, stretching all the way to the Gulf of Mexico before later boundary adjustments carved out neighboring counties. Vernon served as the original county seat until Chipley took over the role in 1927. In 2023, Washington County was added to the Panama City metropolitan statistical area.
Getting There
U.S. Route 90 and Interstate 10 both cross Washington County east–west, linking Chipley to the rest of the Panhandle.
- Marianna — 25 miles northeast
- Panama City — 35 miles south
- DeFuniak Springs — 30 miles west
- Tallahassee — 80 miles east
The nearest commercial airport is Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), roughly 40 miles south near Panama City.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Washington County, Florida?
It is in the northwestern Florida Panhandle, bordered by Holmes, Jackson, Bay, and Walton counties.
What is the population of Washington County?
25,318 residents, according to the 2020 census.
How big is Washington County?
616 square miles total, of which 583 square miles are land and 33 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Washington County?
Chipley is the county seat.
How many towns and cities are in Washington County?
Five incorporated municipalities — the cities of Chipley and Vernon, and the towns of Caryville, Ebro, and Wausau — plus numerous unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Washington County?
32428 (Chipley), 32462 (Vernon), 32427 (Caryville), 32437 (Ebro), and 32463 (Wausau).
Is Washington County a dry county?
No longer. Voters ended the county’s dry status in a January 2022 referendum, legalizing alcohol sales countywide.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Florida.