POPULATION GROWTH, TRENDS, AND SHIFTS 



Although Florida's population growth since 1950 has been a rapid one, 

 annual growth rates have varied considerably. Annual growth was about 5% in 

 the early 1950's, 8% in the late 1950's, 3% in the late 1960's, 5% in the 

 early 1970's, less than 2% in the mid 1970's, and 3% in 1979 (Florida Chamber 

 of Commerce 1979). 



An analysis of the population growth for Southwest Florida (data for 

 1950-60, 1960-70, and 1970-80 are given in Tables POP 2, POP 3, and POP 4) 

 shows that the growth in 1950-60 was high (93.8%) compared to the State as a 

 whole (78.7%). 



A sharp slowdown in the average growth was apparent in the early 1960's. 

 The average growth rate in Southwest Florida fell 53.3% (from 93.8% to 40.5%), 

 whereas the State rate dropped 41.5% (from 78.7% to 37.2%). In the 1970's the 

 average growth rate in Southwest Florida rose 12% (from 40.5 to 52.5%), but 

 the State growth rate changed little (37.2% to 36.1%). 



In summary, the population of Southwest Florida increased rapidly in 

 1950-60, slowed down in 1960-70, and increased in the 1970's. The increase in 

 the 1970's was largely due to the massive influx of senior citizens. 



INCOME CHARACTERISTICS 



INCOME LEVELS 



Per capita income is an excellent measure of an area's economic position. 

 Personal income reflects levels of pay and skill in local industries, un- 

 employment patterns, and participation of residents in the labor force. 

 Southwest Florida lagged behind the State's per capita income from 1950-70 by 

 about $100; but more recently (1978) the gap narrowed (Table 4). Income in 

 Collier, Monroe, Pinellas, and Sarasota Counties (where per capita income 

 exceeds the State average) have the largest incomes which is why the Southwest 

 Florida per capita income is rapidly approaching that of the State. Low per 

 capita income for the other six counties is probably caused by high seasonal 

 unemployment and a growing retirement population. 



The median family income for Southwest Florida was $2,154 in 1950 and 

 $4,322 in 1960, an increase of more than 100% (Table 5). In 1960-69 the medi- 

 an income level increased 73% (from $4,322 to $7,488) and in 1970-79, it rose 

 from $7,488 to $14,000, an 87% increase. These figures match well with the 

 State median family income in 1950-79. For example, the median income in 1950 

 for Southwest Florida was $2,400, but in 1960, the Southwest Florida median 

 income was $4,322, somewhat less than the State median of $4,720. In 1969, 

 the median family income gap between Southwest Florida and the State widened 

 even more. The $7,488 income in Southwest Florida was $773 less than that for 

 the State ($8,261). In 1979, the median family income in Southwest Florida 

 was $14,000 and for the State it was $17,558. 



