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The cost of living index for Bay County, Florida, is approximately 95.4, indicating it is 4.6% lower than the U.S. average and 7.5% lower than average for the state of Florida.
Bay County Unemployment Rate
Income and Salaries for Bay County
Tax Rates for Bay County
For Emergency Assistance please contact the Tyndall AFB Contingency Hotline: 850-283-CARE (850-283-2273) and listen to the menu options to be directly connected to the helping agency. You may also call agencies directly.
Emergency & 24/7 Crisis Support:
Health & Wellness:
Family & Youth Services
Please Contact Below Agencies Directly:
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Download the “Air Force Connect Mobile App” then add (325th Fighter Wing) to receive up to date information on Weather Events, Installation Entry Gate Closures, Road Closures, Facility Closures, and Upcoming Events.
Hurricane Season Information:
Child Care for PCS (Sponsored by the Air & Space Forces Aid Society)
Eligible members will apply through the AFAS Member Portal and receive funding directly into designated bank account via Zelle or ACH to pay for the allowable child care.
AFAS will provide $200 per dependent child up to age 12 (not to exceed $1000 per family) to eligible members utilizing childcare at:
Welcome to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Home of the Checkertails!
Mission: Project unrivaled combat airpower for America!
Vision: Checkertail Warriors - delivering lethal, agile, and ready global airpower. Anywhere. Anytime.
Mission Overview
The primary mission of Tyndall Air Force Base is to project unrivaled combat airpower, sustain agile combat support, and provide battle-ready Airmen capable of executing national defense strategies across contested environments.
Historical Timeline
The installation was officially established in December 1941 as Tyndall Field, named in honor of 1st Lieutenant Frank Benjamin Tyndall, a World War I fighter pilot, Silver Star recipient, and native of Lake Wales, Florida. Operating as an Army Air Forces Flexible Gunnery School during World War II, the base trained tens of thousands of gunners on aerial turrets mounted on B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bombers before deploying them to the European and Pacific theaters.
Following the creation of the independent United States Air Force in 1947, the installation was formally designated Tyndall Air Force Base. From 1957 to 1991, Tyndall served as the focal point for continental air defense tactics through the Air Defense Weapons Center, hosting legendary Century-series interceptors such as the F-101 Voodoo, F-102 Delta Dagger, and F-106 Delta Dart. Beginning in 1954, it also became the historic home of the biennial USAF William Tell worldwide air-to-air weapons meet, testing elite fighter squadrons in live-missile deployment over the Gulf of Mexico.
During the post-Cold War era, the 325th Fighter Wing assumed responsibility as the primary pilot training pipeline for the McDonnell Douglas F-15C/D Eagle air superiority fighter. In 2003, Tyndall ushered in fifth-generation fighter operations by becoming the world’s first and primary training location for the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, eventually expanding to host an operational combat-coded Raptor squadron.
On October 10, 2018, Category 5 Hurricane Michael made direct landfall near Tyndall AFB with sustained winds exceeding 160 mph, severely damaging over 90% of the base's structural assets. In response, Congress and the Air Force committed over $5 billion to reconstruct the site as the "Installation of the Future." This rebuild incorporates 100-year flood storm surge planning, 180-mph wind-resistant construction, microgrid electrical resilience, and smart-base digital architectures. In August 2023, the arrival of operational F-35A Lightning II aircraft signaled Tyndall's full transition into a premier fifth-generation combat wing.
Tyndall Air Force Base stands as a benchmark for resilience and military modernization. Through its cutting-edge fifth-generation fighter fleet, unmatched access to expansive Gulf of Mexico airspace, and hardened smart infrastructure, Tyndall continues to play an indispensable role in safeguarding national air defense and maintaining global power projection.
Updated Website: https://www.tyndall.af.mil/About/
Population:
Total population: 16,317
Bay County's population in 2026 is estimated at 208,816, reflecting a 2.12% growth rate over the past year
Bay County is the 30th largest county in Florida.
Population Type
The installation is located in Bay County on the Gulf of Mexico in the Florida Panhandle, 12 miles east of Panama City. The Panama City area, best known for its sugar-white sand, emerald green waters and a popular tourist destination.
The host unit, the 325th Fighter Wing, develops resourceful and resilient airmen trained to project unrivaled combat air power on behalf of the United States of America. The wing is at the forefront of combat aviation, spearheading air dominance with a formidable fleet of F-35A Lightning II aircraft. It also serves as a vital cornerstone for mission success by hosting numerous tenant organizations integral to national defense.
In 2018, the base sustained a direct hit from Hurricane Michael. Construction is now underway to rebuild the base and shape it into the Air Force’s first 21st century "Installation of the Future."
Tyndall Air Force Base is located on the Gulf of Mexico, in the Florida panhandle, 12 miles east of Panama City on Highway 98 or locally known as Tyndall Parkway. Tyndall can also be reached via I-10, exit highway 231 South to Panama City, then exit left on Transmitter Road to Highway 98, then left on Highway 98 and drive 6 miles to Tyndall AFB. The Panama City area is best known for its sugar white sand and emerald green waters and is a popular tourist destination.
From the Airport
The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport is located at 6300 West Bay Parkway, Panama City, FL 32409 and is approximately 32 miles from the base. If your sponsor is unable to meet you, transportation can be arranged through a commercial taxi, ride-share or shuttle service. The Bay Town Trolley does not go to the base.
By Car
Highway access is via U.S. Highways 98 and 231, as well as State Routes 20, 22, 77, and 79. Interstate 10 is approximately 45 miles north of Panama City. U.S. Highway 98 is the only highway to and from the base. If arriving via U.S. Highway 231 from the north, you must access East US Highway 98. Tyndall is about 13 miles east of Panama City and 20 miles west of Port St. Joe.
Taxi services are not available on Tyndall AFB.
Tyndall AFB does not support a daily Shuttle Bus service. Shuttle Buses are used for base wide events throughout the year.
There is not a Base Operator for Tyndall AFB.