Southwest Florida rose from 1,459,866 in 1970 to 2,206,231 in 1980 (U.S. 

 Department of Commerce 1981a). Despite the rapid growth in population, the 

 percent increase in housing construction was even greater. In 1970-80, the 

 number of housing units in Southwest Florida rose to almost 1.2 million, an 

 increase of 88%. The demand for housing may be even greater in the 1980' s. 



The demand for housing is especially important when considering the 

 potential development of OCS oil and gas resources and its onshore effects. 

 In this section, the characteristics of residential development are reviewed 

 and housing demands are predicted. 



GENERAL HOUSING TRENDS 



Southwest Florida's share of housing units in the State has steadily 

 increased since 1960. The share was 22% in 1950 and 1960, 25% in 1970, and 

 27% in 1980 (Table 1). The increase in the number of housing units was 

 221,000 in 1950-60, 197,000 in 1960-70, and 550,000 in 1970-80. The 1970-80 

 increase occurred during a relatively slow period of housing construction 

 throughout most of the United States. 



Table 1. The number (thousands) of housing units in Florida and Southwest 

 Florida in 1950, 1960, 1970, and 1980 and the numerical increases in 1950-60, 

 1960-70, and 1970-80 (U.S. Department of Commerce, 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981a). 



In 1950, Pinellas and Hillsborough County accounted for over 71% of all 

 the housing units in Southwest Florida (38% in Hillsborough and 33% in 

 Pinellas County), but by 1980 it decreased to only 54%. The decrease has been 

 continuing since 1950 in Hillsborough County, but only since 1970 in Pinellas 

 County. In the 1970' s, the relative percent of housing units increased most 

 significantly in Pasco and Lee Counties. The percentage increase for Pasco 

 County is due, in large part, to the overflow of the Tampa/St. Petersburg 

 urban area, whereas the increase for Lee County was more likely caused by new 

 retirement and vacation home construction. Collier, Sarasota, Charlotte, and 

 Manatee Counties showed somewhat less gain in their share of housing units in 

 the region from 1970 to 1980. The decline of the percentage of housing units 

 in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties and the increase of the other counties 

 is shown in Table 2. 



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