Census: Polk more populated, younger

Monday, June 15, 2009

WINTER HAVEN| The population in Polk County is not only growing, but it is becoming younger and more diverse, indicate recent numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau.

“Polk County is following state and national trends which reveals a growing population,” said Jim DeGennaro, senior business marketing manager for the Central Florida Economic Development Council. “What this means is that we have a more diverse community and workfoce, which is good for a growing community that is in the center of 19 million people.”

According to Census Bureau figures, the population in Polk County increased from 483,924 in 2000 to 580,594 in July 2008, an increase of 96,670 people, or 20 percent. And this population is getting younger. The median age has dropped from 38.6 to 37.9, which means that half of the population in the county is older than 37.9 and half is younger. The median age statewide is 40.2 years.

The number of residents age 5 and younger increased from 31,186 in 2000 to 41,444 in 2008, a 33.3 percent increase. Theycurretnly make up 7.1 percent of the population, up from 6.4 percent in 2000.

Non-Hispanic whites increased from 385,099, or 79.6 percent, in 2000 to 477,133, or 82.4 percent in 2008 while the number of blacks increased from 65, 545, or 13.5 percent, to 83,531, 14.4 percent of the population.

The Hispanic population nearly doubled from 45,933, or 9.5 percent of the population, in 2000 to 94,144, or 15.6 percent in 2008.

The number of Asian residents also increased from 4,515 or .9 percent, in 2000 to 8,985, or 1.5 percent last year.

DeGennaro said these population changes are brought on by a population that is motivated by different factors than that of a generation ago.

“In my generation — the baby boomers — we basically had to go where the jobs are,” he said. “Young people today wnat to live where there is diversity, arts and culture,a good education system and parks and recreation. Quality of life has risen to be the top economic driver.”

And this bodes well for Polk County, he said.

“The younger and more diverse population puts Polk County in an advantageous position in the highly competitive arena of economic development,” DeGennaro added.

According to DeGennaro, about 70 percent of the county’s growth comes form people moving here from other parts of Florida.

“We are very attractive to people from South Florida and large metropolitan areas who are looking for a better cost of living opportunity. People find that our community is a great place to live and raise a family.” DeGennaro said.

For more information click here or contact Donna Kelly