components of a county's population in 1970-80 was similar to that of 1960-70. 

 Lewis (1980) rationalizes this approach rather than using current symptomatic 

 data. 



Sex composition . The 1950 Census of the ten counties of Southwest Flor- 

 ida showed that females comprised approximately 53% of the population (Table 

 POP 6, Data Appendix). This edge by females probably will hold true for the 

 next 40 years (Tables POP 7, POP 8, and POP 9, Data Appendix). 



Age groups . In Southwest Florida in 1960, residents under age 18, 

 between 18 and 63, and older than 63 consititued 43%, 41%, and 16% of the 

 population, respectively. In 1970 the percentages were 26, 52, and 22. (U.S. 

 Department of Commerce 1963, 1973). In general, the percentage of older 

 people in the population has increased, with the possible exception of Hills- 

 borough County (Florida Statistical Abstract 1980). In short. Southwest Flor- 

 ida has an abundance of older adults (45 years and older) and lesser numbers 

 of young people in the prime working age group (ages 25-44). The five 

 counties in Southwest Florida with high percentages of senior citizens are 

 Charlotte (41.1%), Sarasota (35.3%), Pasco (32%), and Manatee (31.9%). 



Southwest Florida's age structure is different from that of the State for 

 several reasons. Retired people rely heavily on outside income in the form of 

 investments, social security, or welfare payments, i.e., an important part of 

 the income is from Federal transfer payments. Secondly, the age structure 

 influences the level of demand for locally provided services, and thirdly, if 

 an area is to expand economically, there is a need for adequate labor and 

 skills; therefore, emigrating young adults and parents of young children in 

 response to employment opportunities elsewhere could slow down economic expan- 

 sion in Florida. 



RACIAL/ETHNIC COMPOSITION 



Blacks are the predominant minority group in Southwest Florida (Table 3). 

 In 1980, Blacks, American Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, and Asian and Pacific 

 Islanders comprised 10% of the population (compared to 14% in the State). The 

 10% minority composition declined 4% between 1970 and 1980. Exactly what 

 caused the decline is difficult to ascertain because the 1980 data are not yet 

 available. It is safe to say, however, that based upon population estimates 

 during the 1960's (Bowles and Tarver 1965), Hill borough, Lee, and Pinellas 

 Counties received a a majority of the minority immigrants in Southwest Flor- 

 ida. 



The 1980 census for the "White" and "other" racial categories are not 

 comparable to the 1970 census. The explanation stems primarily from the way 

 Hispanics reported their race in the 1980 census. Nationwide, a larger por- 

 tion (40%) of the people of Spanish origin did not report belonging to a 

 specific race and have thus been included in the "other" category. Another 

 56% said they were white (U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census 

 1981). Similar changes are reflected in the reporting by persons of Spanish 

 origin in the categories of "White" and "other" in both the State and South- 

 west Florida. Overall, persons of Spanish origin represent 4.6% of the popu- 

 lation in Southwest Florida, and 8.8% for the State as a whole (Table 3). 



