Holmes County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Its county seat is Bonifay, Florida. Holmes County was created in 1848 and was named for Thomas J. Holmes, who came from North Carolina to settle in the area about 1830. Holmes County has a total area of approximately 489 square miles of which 99% is land and 1% water. As of the 2000 census, there were18,564 people, 6,921 households, and 4,893 families residing in Holmes County, FL.