State Population Tops 14.5 Million Mark, New UF Estimates Show

August 14, 1997

GAINESVILLE — Florida’s population has topped the 14.5 million mark, but gains in the 90s are less than the 70s and 80s because of a slowdown in the growth of the number of retirees, show the latest population estimates from the University of Florida.

The number of state residents reached 14,700,201 in April, an increase of 1,762,130 (13.6 percent) during the past seven years, according to preliminary estimates prepared by UF’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research. The state population last year was 14,411,563.

“Overall, growth in the 90s has been somewhat smaller than during the 70s and 80s, due to a slowdown in the growth of the retiree population and to the declining number of births,” said Stanley K. Smith, director of the bureau’s population program. “But growth has been stronger in the last few years than during the early 90s, when a severe recession slowed migration to the state.”

Four of Florida’s six largest counties grew the most since 1990, each adding more than 100,000 new residents. Broward was tops with 164,178 additional residents, followed by Palm Beach (140,181), Dade (133,379) and Orange (125,897).

Hillsborough County’s population grew by 94,499, while Pinellas County, the state’s fifth largest, gained only 36,482 new residents since the decade began.

Lafayette, Franklin, Holmes and Calhoun counties each added fewer than 2,000 people since 1990, the lowest numbers in the state.

For the first time, Palm Beach County exceeded the 1 million mark during the past year, as did the Jacksonville metropolitan statistical area.

The counties growing at the fastest rate, however, were smaller ones. In the past seven years, Flagler grew by 43.51 percent, followed by Sumter (40.50 percent) and Liberty (36.95 percent).

By contrast, Pinellas, Dade, Putnam and Monroe counties all grew by less than 8 percent since 1990, the lowest rates in the state.

The numbers are preliminary because local officials have until Sept. 15 to review the estimates and return additional data and documentation to support a different estimate. Final figures are scheduled to be released Nov. 1.

The population numbers are the official figures used to determine how much state funding cities and counties receive.