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SUNNY HILLS COUNTY
PROFILE
Sunny Hills is fast becoming the property to own in Florida.
If you love golf, beautiful lakes and a quiet place to own
a home, then you should look at Sunny Hills as your next
place to live. This area would also make a fantastic investment
for the future. Real Estate prices have continued to rise
while other investments are barely keeping pace with inflation.
NOW, is the time to buy because the next time you view this
site lot prices will be higher and/or the lot you wanted
will be already sold.
Community Profile
Sunny Hills Community with its main entrance located on
State Road 77, is located in the southeast corner of Washington
County. It is approximately 40 miles north of the Gulf of
Mexico, 30 miles north of Panama City, and 17 miles south
of Interstate 10 and the county seat of Chipley, Florida.
The community was developed and formally opened in June
1971, encompassing some 18,000 acres of beautiful land with
thousands of acres to remain in a natural state as green
belt areas. The elevation range is 70 to 300 feet and includes
9 major lakes, the largest of which is 525 acre Gap Lake.
Sunny Hills has it's own "swimming hole" at Boat
Lake with white sandy beach areas, making it a delight for
young and old. Sunny Hills is in every sense to the word
a wonderful place to live.
County Profile
Washington County was created in 1825 and now covers over
382,000 acres, which is a vast portion of the central Florida
Panhandle. Named after George Washington, the county has
seen Spanish, English, and Indian influences, with historical
lore rich in stories of the exploits of Andrew Jackson.
The area grew with the Railroad, around forestry industries,
and agri-business, as has most of Florida.
Located in the heart of the Florida Panhandle, Washington
County encompasses 580 square miles and has easy access
on Interstate 10 to Tallahassee and Pensacola and on Highw
ay 231 to Panama City and Dothan, AL. Shopping hubs, airports,
medical facilities, rail transportation and shipping ports
are all within a short drive.
The county has begun construction on Hwy
77, which will be four laned from Chipley to Panama City.
This will make traveling to beach a breeze. There is also
talk to a new airport in North Bay which is only a few miles
from Sunny Hills. This area is growing but will remain a
quiet place to retire or raise a family.
The topography is unique to the State: mixed
hardwood forests, rolling hills, rich agricultural lands,
acres of timberland, and four-season climate. These geographic
features provide a wide selection of environments to enjoy.
The county's six largest communities — Chipley, Vernon,
Wausau, Sunny Hills, Ebro, and Caryville — are located
within easy access to major roadways and the interstate.
Several recent developements in the area have the Panhandle
buzzing about what is going to take place in the coming
months and years. We have heard that a major theme park
has purchased land close by and that major growth is coming.
With the new airport being built, the four laning of Hwy
77, and the growth north from Panama City, Sunny Hills is
the perfect place to invest for the future. Don't be caught
saying " I wish I would have bought six months ago".
Education
The Washington County Public School District oversees 2
high schools (Chipley & Vernon), 2 middle schools (Chipley
& Vernon) and 2 elementary schools (Chipley & Vernon),
as well as the Washington-Holmes Technical Center (Chipley).
Access to institutions of higher education is within easy
reach: Chipola Jr. College (Marianna), Florida State University
(Panama City Campus), and Gulf Coast Community College (Panama
City).
Educational excellence is of paramount importance in Washington
County and the County can boast of a 81.8% graduation rate
with 59.7% of students going on to higher education studies.
The Panhandle Area Education Consortium is headquartered
in Washington County. PAEC provides excellent teacher training
and plans for a state-of-the-art teaching academy are underway.
Area Churches
Sunny Hills has three churches within the community: Catholic,
Presbyterian and First Baptist. There are various denominations
represented throughout Washington County.
This spiritual presence in our communities provides fellowship
to all and is the cornerstone for neighbor-helping-neighbor
in times of need.
Medical Facilities
Northwest Florida Community Hospital, affiliated with Sacred
Heart Hospital in Pensacola, FL, is an 81-bed community
hospital located in Chipley, FL. The hospital is fully accredited
by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
and licensed by the State of Florida. It is certified by
Medicare and Medicaid. The hospital offers a broad range
of services: Medical & Surgical in-patient care, 24-Hour
Physician staffed Emergency Room, full-service Imaging Department,
Out-patient Surgery, Rural Health Clinics, Women's Health
Services, Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy, Respiratory
Therapy, Cardio-Pulmonary services, Laboratory services,
Dialysis Unit, Short- and Long-term Care facilities, and
Home Health services.
Washington County Convalescent Center, located in Chipley,
is a 180-bed long-term care facility which provides 24-hour
skilled nursing care. This full service nursing home provides
therapy services as well as a full schedule of social activities.
Nearby Mariner Health Care (Bonifay) is a 180-bed skilled
nursing care facility.
Lifestyles
Sunny Hills and Washington County are a vacation paradise
for residents as well as visitors of the area. Our clear
lakes and waterways provide a great location for fishing,
swimming, boating, and water-skiing.
If Golf is your game, Sunny Hills is the place to be. The
sport is enjoyed year-round by local residents, visitors
from all surrounding counties, tourists from Canada, and
many other countries. The 27 hole championship course has
a clubhouse, pro-shop, and casual restaurant.
Falling Waters State Park, just north 19 miles, is a favorite
spot for hiking, picnics, and sightseeing. Panama City,
just 30 miles south, boasts the "World's Most Beautiful
Beaches" and is one of the most visited tourist areas
in the State of Florida.
Shopping
Chipley, the county seat just north of Sunny Hills, has
supermarkets and all of the usual and necessary shops. Panama
City to the south sports a huge Regional Mall with over
100 shops, in addition to the countless other business places
in the city.
Recreation & Social Activities
The Civic Association building in Sunny Hills is the meeting
place for many social groups. To mention a few:
• Sunny Hills Civic Association
• Volunteer Fire Department Functions
• AARP
• Country Square Dancing
• Garden Club
• Bingo
• Sportmen's Club
Many other clubs are active in the community as well as
those mentioned above.
In addition to fishing, swimming, and golfing, there are
tennis courts, shuffleboard courts, and a playground area
set aside for children. Walking and bicycling are a common
scene throughout our neighborhood.
If you are a hunter, an abundance of deer, quail, dove,
and turkey will challenge the hunter's patience and abilities
in the State's forest areas in surrounding areas.
Whether you enjoy a lazy day, the thrill of sports, or an
outing into Panama City for shopping and cultural enjoyment...
Sunny Hills has the best of both worlds!
Highways & Transportation
Sunny Hills is accessed from the north by Interstate 10
to Highway 77, and from the south by Highway 20 or Highway
98 to Highway 77.
Panama City/Bay County International Airport has scheduled
daily flight service. The airport is served by limousine
and major car rental agencies.
Greyhound/Trailways provide cross-country service with stations
in both Panama City and Chipley on regular schedules. CSX
and Amtrak, both stationed in Chipley, also provide cross-country
transportation.
Economic Development
Washington County is proof that you can have the best of
both worlds. Washington County is one of the few counties
to successfully blend a rural quality of life with state-of-the-art
business amenities.
Progressive county and town governments have embraced one-stop
permitting, property tax abatement, partial waiver of occupational
licenses, Enterprise Zone and Hub Zone Empowerment Program
designations.
Quality businesses and industries are welcome. The Economic
Development Council for Washington County works hard to
ease the way for relocating or startup businesses.
The Chipley Industrial Park offers full service sites for
manufacturers and light industry. A second industrial park
site of 220 acres is under development.
Chipley Industrial Park
156 acres, 60% of which is occupied, in the southwest corner
of the City of Chipley. Park expansion plans are presently
being developed. A second industrial park site of 220 acres
is under development. The Chipley Industrial Park is within
designated State Enterprise Zone. Property Tax Exemptions
for qualified manufacturing projects and distribution facilities
are available.
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