Charlotte and DeSoto Counties have the lowest median family income in 

 Southwest Florida. The largest income increase over the past 29 years were in 

 Collier County (645%) and in Pasco County (691%) where a high percentage (33%) 

 of elderly citizens in the population was probably a major factor contributing 

 to the increase. 



POVERTY INDEX 



The poverty rate (less than $3,968 income per capita) for Florida and 

 Southwest Florida was 13%. About 17% of the families in the State and 14% in 



Southwest Florida had incomes 

 the largest percentage (25%) 

 whereas only about 6% of the 

 About 77% of the families in 

 per year. 



exceeding $15,000 (Table 6). Collier County had 



of families earning $15,000 or more per annum, 



families in Pasco County earned $15,000 or more. 



Southwest Florida earned about $4,000 to $14,999 



Another indicator of poverty is the number of persons receiving Aid for 

 Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) benefits and food stamps. About 12% 

 of the families receiving AFDC funds in Florida in 1978-79 resided in South- 

 west Florida (Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services 1979). 



Table 6. Percentage of the population in Southwest Florida in different 

 levels of income in 1970 (U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census 

 1972). 



County 



Less than $3,968 



$3,968 to 14,999 



$15,000 or more 



79.0 

 63.7 

 74.4 

 73.2 

 73.1 

 75.6 

 73.6 

 76.7 

 76.6 



10.6 

 25.2 



8.4 

 14.0 

 15.0 

 11.0 

 12.4 



5.8 

 17.0 



Southwest Florida 12.9 



73.2 



13.9 



Florida 



12.7 



70.5 



16.8 



10 



