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 southwestern coastal region of Florida, which is made up 

 of Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Monroe, Pasco, 

 Pinellas, and Sarasota 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 environmental 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-Slidell Computer Complex 

 1010 Gause Boulevard 

 SI i dell, 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 southwestern 

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

 Washington, D.C. FWS/OBS-83/14. 



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