Most immigrants moved to Florida for employment or retirement. In 1960- 

 1970, retirees, age 65 and over, rose from 11.2% in 1960 to 17.7% in 1980. 

 The national composition was 9% and 11%, respectively. Florida's rapid popu- 

 lation growth has brought about a steady increase in employment in the tourist 

 trade, service, and manufacturing industries. 



SOUTHWEST FLORIDA 



Popul ation Change 



The population of Southwest Florida was 2,352,494 (about 24% of the 

 State's total) in 1980 (Table 1). The percent growth far exceeded that of the 

 State in the past 30 years. Florida's population grew 78.7% in 1950-60, 

 (93.8% for Southwest Florida) 37.2% in 1960-70 (40.5% for Southwest Florida) 

 and 43.4% in 1970-80 (52.5% in Southwest Florida). The population of Pinellas 

 County was the largest (728,409) of the ten counties in the region. Charlotte 

 County grew the fastest (1,279%) and DeSoto County grew the slowest (106%). 

 Overall, Southwest Florida's population growth in 1950-80 was 351%; for the 

 State it was 251%. Some of the reasons behind the region's phenomenal growth 

 will be discussed later in the report. 



Southwest Florida's growth (natural increase and net migration) in 

 1950-1980 are shown in the Data Appendix (Tables POP 2, POP 3, and POP 4). 

 Natural increase is calculated as the number of deaths subtracted from the 

 number of births over a given period. Net migration has been the dominant 

 factor affecting growth for the region and State during the past 30 years. 

 Net in-migration is greater for the region than the State. Between 1970 and 

 1980, net migration accounted for approximately 97% of the region's growth 

 (the remaining 3% was due to natural increase). About 90% of the State's 

 population growth was from net immigration during this same period. Monroe 

 County is the only county where the population growth is not largely attrib- 

 uted to net migration; more than 80% of i1;s growth was from natural increase. 



Population Projections 



Based upon estimates of future population growth over the next 40 years 

 (Table POP 5 in Data Appendix), a continuing increase in population in South- 

 west Florida can be expected, especially in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties 

 (Table 2). Monroe, Charlotte, and DeSoto Counties will probably grow the 

 least. In general. Southwest Florida is heavily populated, urban oriented, 

 and fast growing. The population projections (and current estimates) probably 

 miss a large portion of the illegal alien residents in Florida (including 

 Southwest Florida), many of whom are of Hispanic descent. Assuming that there 

 are seven million illegal aliens in the United States now and that an addi- 

 tional five million immigrants will arrive in the 1980's, the minority popula- 

 tion (including Hispanics) will increase from about 21% to 26% of the total 

 U.S. population by 1990 (Lewis and Russell 1980). Similar trends, if not 

 stronger ones, are predicted for Florida and Southwest Florida. 



Sex, Age, and Racial /Ethnic Characteristics 



The methodology used to compute estimates of population in this report 

 assumes that the change in net effect of migration on the age, race, and sex 



