Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
Florida County
Calhoun County, Florida
The Apalachicola River's Florida Panhandle heartland - from Blountstown's courthouse on the Apalachicola River bluff to the Three Rivers State Park at the confluence of the Apalachicola, Chipola, and Flint rivers, and one of Florida's most sparsely populated Panhandle counties where the Apalachicola River's extraordinary biodiversity corridor - home to more species of amphibians and reptiles than anywhere else in North America north of Mexico - flows through an essentially undeveloped landscape of bottomland hardwoods, limestone springs, and longleaf pine flatwoods.
Affiliate disclosure: This page contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you use them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial recommendations are independent of these relationships.
What do you need to do?
Tell us your goal and we'll guide you step-by-step to the right office, forms, and official resources.
Office: Calhoun County Emergency Management – (850) 674-5569 | calhouncountyfl.gov
Alert System: Florida FDEM; CodeRED; NOAA Weather Radio
Shelter Info: Blountstown school facilities; contact OEM
FEMA Region: Region 4
Notes: Florida Panhandle rural county on the Apalachicola River; Blountstown is county seat; hurricane risk (Panhandle location – Hurricane Michael 2018 Category 5 caused devastating damage in Calhoun County; was not directly on the coast but still experienced catastrophic wind damage; Michael’s destruction was felt far inland); flooding (Apalachicola River – the primary geological and ecological feature of the county); severe thunderstorms; wildfire risk (Apalachicola National Forest); very rural; one of Florida’s least populous counties
Roads & Utilities
ROADS & TRANSPORTATION
County Roads: Calhoun County Roads – (850) 674-5569
Transit: None; completely auto-dependent; very remote
Notes: SR-20 (east-west through Blountstown); SR-71 (north-south connecting to Panama City south via Blountstown); Marianna (Jackson County) is the nearest regional center (about 20 miles west); Panama City (Bay County) is about 50 miles south via SR-71; Tallahassee is about 65 miles southeast; extremely rural and isolated
Business & Permits
BUILDING & PERMITS
Office: Calhoun County Building – (850) 674-5569
Services: Very basic county permits; Blountstown (separate), Altha, Clarksville small communities
Notes: Very limited development; post-Michael rebuilding was significant; agricultural structures; Apalachicola River corridor development; very rural
Veterans Services
VETERANS SERVICES
Office: Calhoun County Veterans Services – (850) 674-5569
VA Medical: Bay Pines VA Healthcare System; Tallahassee VA CBOC; both distant; telehealth critical
Notes: Remote county; VA access very challenging; telehealth essential; small veteran population
Libraries
LIBRARIES
System: Calhoun County Public Library – (850) 674-2744 | nwrls.com (Northwest Regional Library System)
Address: Blountstown
Services: Books, public computers, Wi-Fi, children’s programs; Apalachicola River heritage; north Florida agricultural history
Notes: Single library; important internet access point; Apalachicola River heritage
Parks & Recreation
PARKS & RECREATION
Key Assets: Apalachicola National Forest (eastern Calhoun County – part of Florida’s largest national forest; vast longleaf pine, slash pine, and flatwood ecosystems; excellent hunting, fishing, camping, OHV trails; significant gopher tortoise and red-cockaded woodpecker habitat); Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area (significant wildlife habitat along the river corridor – alligators, deer, turkey, wading birds); Apalachicola River (canoeing; fishing; one of Florida’s most important river systems ecologically)
Notes: Calhoun County’s position on the Apalachicola River gives it access to one of Florida’s most ecologically significant river systems; the Apalachicola is the primary tributary into Apalachicola Bay, which supports Florida’s most productive oyster fishery; the river is fed by the Chattahoochee and Flint Rivers in Georgia; water allocation disputes between Florida, Alabama, and Georgia (the “water wars”) directly affect the Apalachicola River’s flow and health
GIS & Maps
GIS & MAPS
GIS Portal: Very limited; Florida DEP GIS; USFS Apalachicola NF maps; Apalachicola River flood maps
Notes: Minimal county GIS; USFS and FDEP maintain primary maps
Animal Services
ANIMAL SERVICES
Shelter: Very basic; Calhoun County Sheriff animal control
Notes: Rural agricultural county; cattle; alligators in the Apalachicola River; white-tailed deer; wild turkey; gopher tortoises; Florida black bears; the Apalachicola River corridor has excellent wildlife
Environmental & Waste
ENVIRONMENTAL / WASTE MANAGEMENT
Solid Waste: Calhoun County – very limited; transfer station
Environmental: Florida DEP; Northwest Florida Water Management District; USFS (Apalachicola NF); Apalachicola River and Bay Foundation; Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin interstate compact negotiations
Notes: The Apalachicola River’s water quality and flow is governed by the ACF interstate compact negotiations between Florida, Georgia, and Alabama – this is one of the most contentious water allocation disputes in the southeastern US; Florida argues that Georgia’s water use (Atlanta’s massive growth and agricultural irrigation) reduces Apalachicola River flows, degrading Apalachicola Bay’s oyster fishery (historically the most productive in Florida); the US Supreme Court has heard multiple cases; the Apalachicola National Forest’s prescribed burning program is one of the most extensive in the Southeast – longleaf pine ecosystem restoration requires regular fire
About Calhoun County
Calhoun County is one of Florida’s most rural and least visited counties – a Panhandle community defined by the Apalachicola River corridor and the extraordinary natural biodiversity that has made this river system one of the most biologically significant in the eastern United States.
The Apalachicola River – flowing along Calhoun County’s western border – drains one of the largest river systems in the southeastern US, carrying water from the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers through Georgia before entering Florida. The river basin supports more species of amphibians and reptiles than any other area of comparable size in North America north of Mexico – a biodiversity hotspot driven by the region’s unique geology, hydrology, and climate.
Blountstown (the county seat, population ~2,500) is a quiet river town on the Apalachicola bluffs – the county’s governmental and commercial center serving a sparse agricultural and timber population.
Three Rivers State Park – at the Apalachicola, Chipola, and Flint river confluence near Sneads – provides camping, fishing, and wildlife viewing in a scenic river environment.
All Services
Browse every category and topic available for this county.
The Calhoun County Property Appraiser at 20859 Central Avenue E, Suite 1, Blountstown, FL 32424, phone 850-674-5636, assesses at just value. No FL estate or inheritance tax.
Courts & Legal
Calhoun County Clerk of Court at 20859 Central Avenue E, Blountstown, FL 32424, phone 850-674-4545, handles probate.
Marriage & Vital Records
Marriage licenses, divorce records, and birth & death certificates are handled by the following office(s):
CLERK OF COURTS (Records, Marriage Licenses)
20859 Central Ave. E., Blountstown, FL 32424
(850) 674-4545
Genealogy
County-level record sources
Calhoun County Clerk of the Court (probate/estate case files – see Probate section above).
The Old Calhoun County Courthouse (a predecessor building) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Local societies
No dedicated Calhoun County genealogical society was confirmed in available directories.
Probate & Estate
Losing someone and having to deal with courts and paperwork at the same time is hard. This section won’t make that easier, but it should tell you what to expect, what it costs, and where to go – so at least you’re not walking in blind.
Where to go
Calhoun County Clerk of the Court, Probate Division Calhoun County Courthouse, 20859 Central Avenue, Blountstown, FL 32424 (850) 674-5061 Calhoun County sits in Florida’s 14th Judicial Circuit. Circuit Judge: Hon. Elijah Smiley.
IMPORTANT – a major statewide law change just took effect: Florida’s summary administration threshold DOUBLED from $75,000 to $150,000 effective July 1, 2026, under CS/HB 1337 (Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida). Confirm which threshold applies based on date of death when helping someone (see
Probate filings, estate administration, and guardianship matters are handled by the following office(s):
Public Safety & Arrests
Arrest records, inmate search, and law enforcement services are handled by the following office(s):
SHERIFF
20816 Central Ave. E., Blountstown, FL 32424
(850) 674-5049
Elections & Voting
Voter registration, polling locations, and elections information are handled by the following office(s):
SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS
20859 Central Ave. E., Blountstown, FL 32424
(850) 674-8585
Health & Human Services
Offices & Contacts
Health services, social services, and assistance programs are handled by the following office(s):
FL Dept of Health — Calhoun
19932 E. Central Ave., Blountstown, FL 32424
(850) 674-5645
FL DCF — Calhoun
(850) 674-6500
FL Medicaid
(800) 299-4833
Calhoun-Liberty Hospital
calhounlibertyhospital.com
Public Health Information
PUBLIC HEALTH
Office: Florida DOH in Calhoun County – (850) 674-5645 | calhoun.floridahealth.gov
Services: Basic health department; immunizations; vital records; limited services; post-Michael health recovery
Hospital: Calhoun-Liberty Hospital (Blountstown – (850) 674-5411; small critical access hospital); Panama City and Tallahassee for specialty care
Notes: Very small critical access hospital; post-Michael behavioral health recovery was significant; rural health access challenges; behavioral health in isolated agricultural community
Editorial independence: CountyOffices maintains strict editorial independence from our affiliate partners. Our content is researched from official government sources. Affiliate relationships do not influence our recommendations or the information we publish.
Editorial Trust
5 official sources cited
Reviewed by CountyOffices Editorial Team
Last verified June 2026
County Facts
County Seat: Blountstown
Population: 14,000
Area: 567 sq mi
Established: 1838
Tier: 3
Public Records
TruthFinder
Search public records for Calhoun County residents.
