Florida Grows by 2.8 million residents

WASHINGTON – May 10, 2011 – Florida continues to grow. According to the 2010 Census, Florida’s population was 18,801,310 on April 1, 2010, an increase of 2,818,486 since April 1, 2000.

The 2000-2010 period was the fourth consecutive decade to see the Florida population grow by more than 2.8 million residents. Florida’s numeric population increase during the past decade was the third largest of any state, trailing only Texas and California. Its percent increase (17.6 percent) was the eighth largest in the nation.

County trends

Only Monroe and Pinellas counties saw a population decline over the decade, while 65 of Florida’s 67 counties logged an increase. Monroe lost 6,499 residents while Pinellas declined by 4,953.

Twenty-four of Florida’s 67 counties grew by more than 20 percent, and 52 beat the national growth rate of 9.7 percent.

Four counties grew by more than 50 percent – Flagler, Sumter, Osceola and St. Johns – while another eight – St. Lucie, Lake, Lee, Walton, Clay, Pasco, Wakulla and Hernando – grew by 30-50 percent. Growth has no clear geographic border, and Florida’s rapidly expanding counties can be found throughout the state, on both coasts and in the interior.

Only six counties grew by less than 5 percent since 2000: Hardee, Gadsden, Madison, Escambia, Monroe and Pinellas.

More than half of the state’s total population growth occurred in eight counties. In terms of numeric population growth, the largest increases occurred in counties located in central and south Florida. Orange, Miami-Dade, Hillsborough, Palm Beach and Lee each grew by more than 150,000 residents during the decade. Three other counties – Broward, Pasco, and Polk – grew by more than 100,000.

In contrast, thirty counties grew by less than 10,000 residents during the decade.

City trends

Florida is highly urbanized. More than 94 percent of Florida’s population lived in metropolitan areas in 2010, and the state’s population growth over the decade was slightly faster in metro areas. Approximately 55 percent of Florida’s residents currently live in incorporated cities and towns, compared to less than 50 percent in 2000.

Cities and towns show much more variation in population growth rates than counties do. Of the 411 incorporated places in Florida, 16 more than doubled in size between 2000 and 2010; 24 grew by 50-100 percent; 63 grew by 25-50 percent; 165 grew by less than 25 percent; four had no population change; and 130 lost population.

Nine new cities and towns were established during the decade and one (Cedar Grove) lost its official status as an incorporated place.

© 2011 Florida Realtors®