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Southwest Florida more crowded and more diverse

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Welcome to the younger, more crowded and more diverse Southwest Florida.

Figures published today by the Census Bureau on county population estimates by age, sex, race and Hispanic origin for 2007 show the area’s population keeps growing and diversifying — in age and race.

The median age of Collier County’s 315,839 residents increased from 43.5 in 2006 to 44 in 2007.

Lee County’s 590,564 residents saw a decrease in their population’s median age from 42.7 in 2006 to 42.4 in 2006.

Still, when it comes to the over 65 crowd, Collier was ranked 23rd nationwide out of the 2,434 counties with a population larger than 10,000. With 25.2 percent of the county made up of residents 65 and older, Collier was one of nine Florida counties that made the top 25. Lee County was ranked 56th with 22 percent of its population being 65 and over.

However, both counties’ populations remained younger than they were in 2000. Eight years ago, Collier had a median age of 44.1 and Lee a median age of 45.2.

From 2000 to 2007, Collier County saw a 50.67 percent increase in children between birth and 4 years old, from 13,441 in 2000 to 20,252 in 2007. Lee County had a 59.93 percent increase in the same age group, from 22,970 in 2000 to 36,736 in 2007.

Lee also boasted a 64.96 percent increase in residents between the ages of 25 and 34, from 46,491 in 2000 to 76,691 in 2007. Collier had a 34.04 percent increase in the same age group, from 28,262 in 2000 to 37,560 in 2007.

Today’s numbers also show that Collier and Lee’s Hispanic populations remained the largest minority group in Southwest Florida.

In 2007, the Census estimated that 80,589 Hispanics lived in Collier, a 2.98 percent increase from 2006 and a 63.48 percent increase from 2000.

Meanwhile, as of July 1, 2007, 101,530 Hispanics lived in Lee County, a 12.29 percent increase from 2006 and a 141.5 percent increase from 2000.

In 2007, white non-Hispanics made up 67.3 percent of Collier County’s population with 212,595 residents, a 0.2 percent increase compared with 2006.

Meanwhile, 432,350 white non-Hispanics made up 73.2 percent of Lee County’s population, a 1.4 percent increase.

Southwest Florida’s black community also saw a slight increase in 2007.

Lee County’s black population went from 43,872 in 2006 to 46,685 in 2007, a 6.41 percent increase.

But in Collier, the Census estimated the black population decreased from 18,872 in 2006 to 18,713 in 2007. However, Collier’s black population had a 38.13 percent increase from 2000 to 2007.

Census Bureau demographer Greg Harper said the slight drop in Collier’ black population was a relatively small change.

In addition, Harper said the overall slowdown of Southwest Florida’s growth is on par with that of the state.

Harper said there has been a decrease in inbound migration into several of Florida’s bigger counties including Broward and Miami-Dade.

“We have seen that go down a lot in the past year,” Harper said.

And overall migration into Florida has also dropped.

According to Harper, in 2005, the Census estimated that 270,000 people moved to Florida. That estimate fell to 170,000 in 2006, and dropped to about 35,301 for 2007.

There has also been an increase in outbound migration, said Leonardo Garcia, president of the Southwest Florida Hispanic Chamber.

“What’s affecting all of this is the economy,” Garcia said. “We’ve known that there are people moving to other states and other areas of Florida.”

But Florida’s overall population will continue to increase, just not as fast, said Scott Cody, with the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

Cody said the public has to be careful not to read too much into the year-to-year numbers because they are “estimates.”

“There is a range of error,” he said.

Other report highlights:

-- La Paz County, Ariz., had the country’s oldest population with 32 percent of its population 65 or older on July 1, 2007.

-- Webb County (Laredo), Texas, had the country’s youngest population, with children younger than 5 comprising 12.8 percent.

-- A total of 302 counties, or nearly one in every 10, were “majority-minority,” meaning the county had a population with more than 50 percent minority residents.

For more information on the Census report, visit www.census.gov.

Comments

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"Welcome to the younger, more crowded and more diverse Southwest Florida"

In other words, Miami?

#1 Posted by Jadip811 on August 7, 2008 at 3:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

At least its more diverse..thats whats important.After all hundreds of alien cultures with different agendas who can't understand each other make everything better..right.

#2 Posted by almostdone on August 7, 2008 at 5:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Get rid of the illegal Hispanics and then we would have a diverse population.

#3 Posted by suntan on August 7, 2008 at 6:15 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Haitians and Hookers.

Mexicans and Perverts.

That firehauck really is an Equal Opportunity Offender, isn't he?

But he left out Republicans and Predators, Conservatives and Cadamites, Priests and Pedophiles and oh so many other fun categories.

Why?

#4 Posted by elnuestros on August 7, 2008 at 6:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Someone said the other day that there are even some Democrats living in Naples. There goes the neighborhood

#5 Posted by sunburnt on August 7, 2008 at 7:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Unfortunately mentally challenged liberals as well.

#6 Posted by Sanity on August 7, 2008 at 7:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Cutt: Take a ride in the Renault. Take a few cleansing breaths. Maybe a valium. You seem stressed lately.

#7 Posted by cousinjed on August 7, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Its a shame NDN does an article like this and doesn't acknowledge the amount of illegals in the hispanic amount. Is this paper owned by the new york Times?
Take away the illegals and crime would drop 50% in Naples, and golden gate has a chance of not looking like a mexican border town.
I've been luck the 18 illegals living on both sides of me are gone.
fortunately I have no koolaid drinker close by

#8 Posted by grouper25 on August 7, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Wow Collier County is getting older, gggrrreeeaaattt!

#9 Posted by trehuger on August 7, 2008 at 8:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I call the 25% of the Collier residents 65+,who seem to post here, BOB -Boring - Old - Bigoted.

#10 Posted by cameron58 on August 7, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Hey Firehauck, why don't you move if its so bad. Oh thats right its much easier to sit back, complain and harass every one around you. Betcha we can all round up donations to get you a one way ticket to anywhere but here.

#11 Posted by trehuger on August 7, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)

post #7

I think that is just a vicious rumor.

;-)

#12 Posted by Optipess on August 7, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)

In 2007, the Census estimated that 80,589 Hispanics lived in Collier County out of a total population of 315,839! These figures dont take into account the Illegals and there is no figure for Anchor Babies!

From 2000 to 2007, Collier County saw a 50.67 percent increase in children between birth and 4 years old. Many of the Hispanic families that came to SW Florida were looking for work, they are younger and most have children.

Vote yes for Amendment 5, The constitutional amendment would cut property taxes by a statewide average of 25 percent and increase the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent.

#13 Posted by streetrodder on August 7, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I've said it before, give Naples 10 years and yes it will be Little Miami. Why do some of you people have to believe that all types of people need to co-exist in America. How come you are not beating down the doors to let the Indians back into the population and off the reservations you created.

#14 Posted by theabyss on August 7, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)

More diverse my arse!!

#15 Posted by Brother_n_239 on August 7, 2008 at 9:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)

theabyss,the indians are free to go anywhere they wish,you look like separatist,or racist like grouper and techie ,are you?

#16 Posted by jagv0565 on August 7, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Get rid of the ilegal Russians and europeans too. Believe it or not we have some or those too. And if we can also send some of those white child molesters to any other country, that would be nice too

#17 Posted by ricky369 on August 7, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Census Bureau does not count heads in the slammer. Our almost 3% county wide incarceration rate will play a role in the small drop in some of these minority figures.

#18 Posted by Stugots on August 7, 2008 at 11:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

ricky369,
tired of attacking anyone who isnt hispanic much?

#19 Posted by Elle on August 7, 2008 at 11:27 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Jeez Jag, you ought to go into the crystal ball business.... you have it all figured out.

#20 Posted by theabyss on August 7, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Sunburnt, I'll believe it when I see it! Democrats are as elusive as Bigfoot down here.

#21 Posted by personalj on August 7, 2008 at 11:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

It happened so gradually that we didn’t notice. Now it is too late. Grab you pocket books, because someone has to pay for all this diversity.

#22 Posted by ChangeCollier on August 7, 2008 at 1:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Put this in your "peace pipe" ---> http://news.aol.com/article/us-demogr...

#23 Posted by Brother_n_239 on August 7, 2008 at 2:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Not living down there yet - but we own a condo and will move down once we retire - a few more years to go. Eee gads - more old people moving down there. Look out, here we come!

#24 Posted by geecee827 on August 7, 2008 at 3:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Just a few more years (4) and we're moving out of state. Trade places with ya, geecee.

I grew up in Miami, had enough. Has nothing to do with race, ethnicity at all. Just TOO many people in one place. Doesn't matter to me what language they're speaking...

#25 Posted by lizzyb on August 7, 2008 at 6:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)

GET RID OF ALL THE HISPANICS AND THE BLACKS AND U WILL SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL NAPLES THE WAY IT ONCE WAS!!

#26 Posted by sara231 on August 7, 2008 at 7:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Finally Sara, someone who speaks there mind and is to the point of what they have to say. If you all think this is so right now, why are we in the condition we are, let's hear the excuses. Progress my AR.E!! Hey Cutt, do you want the entire US population to live in harmony, smoke a bong and have free love.... it just won't happen, wake up.

#27 Posted by theabyss on August 7, 2008 at 8:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

#34 Posted by CutthroatIndependant
Question posed to you cutthroat. Did Collier have the crime rate it has now BEFORE all these minorities ?

Seems they are definitely linked, correct?

Minorities doing a majority of the crime?

#28 Posted by Jadip811 on August 8, 2008 at 3:37 a.m. (Suggest removal)

"Black males continue to be incarcerated at an extraordinary rate. Black males make up 35.4 percent of the jail and prison population — even though they make up less than 10 percent of the overall U.S population. Four percent of U.S. black males were in jail or prison last year, compared to 1.7 percent of Hispanic males and .7 percent of white males. In other words, black males were locked up at almost six times the rate of their white counterparts."

June 6th,2008 article

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id...

#29 Posted by Jadip811 on August 8, 2008 at 3:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)

#39

And why is this? Could it be how the laws are constructed to charge others differently?

For example..

1. Convictions for crack cocaine mostly used by minorities were more severe vs. powdered cocaine offenses often used by the more affluent. Cocaine is cocaine so why are the sentences different? This law was recently change.

2. DWB (driving while black.. don't believe it exists? Goggle it..)? It's a proven fact that law enforcement officers have targeted minority drivers and arrest them for petty offenses.

3. Gun accessibility? Its very easy to get a piece so gun play will occur when weapons are so easily obtained.

4. Drugs. Who seriously believes the war on drugs is working in this country? As long as there is a market for drugs they will continue to destroy us. In my opinion the only way to "control" it is to legalize it, tax the hell out of it, and provide support networks for those addicted. Kinda like alcohol prohibition. This is the only way to "control" it because we'll NEVER beat it.

I'm not saying that we (blacks) don't have idiots in our race. Heck yeah we do.. but so does every other race including yours. You need to look deeper into the issues as opposed to just babbling biased statistics homey!

#30 Posted by Brother_n_239 on August 8, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)

this is florida's future

1. 40% of all workers in L. A. County ( L. A. County has 10.2 million people) are working for cash and not paying taxes. This is because they are predominantly illegal immigrants working without a green card.

2. 95% of warrants for murder in Los Angeles are for illegal aliens.

3. 75% of people on the most wanted list in Los Angeles are illegal aliens.

4. Over 2/3 of all births in Los Angeles County are to illegal alien Mexicans on Medi-Cal , whose births were paid for by taxpayers.

5. Nearly 35% of all inmates in California detention centers are Mexican nationals here illegally.

6. Over 300,000 illegal aliens in Los Angeles County are living in garages.

7. The FBI reports half of all gang members in Los Angeles are most likely illegal aliens from south of the border.

8. Nearly 60% of all occupants of HUD properties are illegal.

9. 21 radio stations in L. A. are Spanish speaking.
10. In L. A. County 5.1 million people speak English, 3.9 million speak Spanish.
(There are 10.2 million people in L. A. County. )

(All 10 of the above are from the Los Angeles Times)

Less than 2% of illegal aliens are picking our crops, but 29% are on welfare.
Over 70% of the United States' annual population growth (and over 90% of California, Florida , and New York) results from immigration.
29% of inmates in federal prisons are illegal aliens.
We are a bunch of fools for letting this continue.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Send copies of this letter to at least two other people . 100 would be even better

#31 Posted by grouper25 on August 8, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)



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