PREFACE 



The purpose of this socioeconomic characterization study is to compile and 

 synthesize information from existing sources about the social and economic 

 characteristics of the northwestern coastal region of Florida, which is made up 

 of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay, Gulf, and Franklin Counties. 

 This report and the data appendix should prove useful for coastal planning and 

 management; it is one in a series of characterizations of coastal socioeconomic 

 systems produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The series describes 

 the components and interrelationships among complex processes that include 

 population and demographic characteristics, mineral production, multiple-use 

 conflicts, recreation and tourism, agricultural production, sport and commercial 

 fishing, transportation, industrial and residential development, and environ- 

 mental issues and regulations. 



This study originally was under contract with the NANEX Systems Corporation, 

 Crestview, Florida. The corporation is responsible for the compilations and 

 accuracy of the Data Appendices and their lists of references. Most of the 

 first drafts of the various chapters were prepared in 1980. Only a few of the 

 sections of some of the reports have since been updated. 



This project was conducted under Contract FWS 14-16-0009-074. Funding was 

 provided by the Minerals Management Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service, 

 U.S. Department of the Interior. Questions or requests for this publication 

 should be directed to: 



Information Transfer Specialist 

 National Coastal Ecosystems Team 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 NASA-SI idell Computer Complex 

 1010 Gause Boulevard 

 SI idell , Louisiana 70458 



This report should be cited: 



French, Carolyn 0., and John W. Parsons (editors). 1983. Florida coastal 

 ecological characterization: a socioeconomic study of the northwestern 

 region. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Division of Biological Services, 

 Washington, D.C. FWS/OBS-83/15. 



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