| # | Florida's rapid rate of population growth has been primarily a result of in-migration and immigration. Until 1930 | Florida's rate of naturalÊincrease was at least as high as that of the nation | but in the last sixty years | with the influx of retirees | Florida's rate of natural increase has been markedly lower than the average for the nation. Today several counties on the Gulf coast have higher deathÊrates than birthÊrates.
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| 1 | National prosperity after World War II meant more people were able to retire in Florida | creating jobs in construction and services for younger people. The destination of the majority of new residents has always been the peninsula. Population growth was also stimulated by tourism. Following World War II American families had more discretionaryÊincome | and many sought recreational opportunities within Florida | generating jobs. Manufacturing also grew in importance | particularly after 1970. |
| 2 | In the 1950s the highest rates of increase were along the east coast | from Brevard County south | and on the SunÊCoast | where retirees made up a large share of the in-migrants. Growth rates in counties within the western panhandle were high | primarily because of the arrival of Navy and Air Force personnel and their dependents. Many north Florida counties lost population during the decade. |
| 3 | During the 1960s growth in Brevard County was particularly rapid | resulting from the opening of the nation's Space Center. The three counties north of St. Petersburg and the southwestern coastal counties also attracted many people | mostly retirees. In the 1970s intense growth continued in the three counties to the north of St. Petersburg | in the southwestern coastal counties | and around | but not in | Orlando. The latter area's growth was largely due to the opening of Disney World. During the 1980s population growth slowed markedly in the southeastern counties of Dade and Broward. Between 1980 and 1990 rates of growth was slowest in Dade | but increased steadily northward to Martin and Indian River counties.
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