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Pinellas
County Population
Among Florida’s 67 counties, Pinellas County has the
sixth largest total county population and seventh largest youth
population in Florida. It also has the highest population density of
all Florida counties, over 3,000 people per square mile, placing it
in the top 1% of all counties in the U.S.
The 2000 Census reported Pinellas County’s total
population at 921,482. Pinellas’ 2008 population was estimated at
910,300 by the U.S. Census Bureau and 938,500 by the University of
Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR), a
difference of 3%. The difference between the two estimates reflects
different methods of estimating county population and the 2010
census should reveal which approach is more accurate. The estimates
and projections in the remainder of this section are from BEBR.
Population Estimates and Projections
Each year, BEBR releases detailed population
estimates and projections for all Florida counties by age group,
race and ethnicity. Projections include estimates for the prior year
as well as long-term projections in 5-year increments covering the
2010-2030 period (the Census Bureau does not issue long-term
projections of county population). These estimates and projections
are used by the Florida Legislature’s Office of Economic and
Demographic Research for forecasting economic and social trends that
affect policy making, revenues and appropriations. Based on a review
of the recently released 2009 projections for Pinellas County,
future population growth is projected to be below that expected one
year-ago. The remainder of this section presents the details of
these forecasts.
Historical and Projected Growth of Pinellas County
Population
The chart below shows the historical and projected
growth of Pinellas County’s total and youth population. Please note
the use of two scales - left side of chart for total population and
right side of chart for youth population.
- Between 1970 and 2008, Pinellas County’s total population was
estimated to have increased at an average annual rate of 1.6% to
938,500, a total increase of 80%. During this same period,
Pinellas’ 0-17 youth population is estimated to have grown at an
average annual rate of 1.0% to 176,500, an overall gain of 46%. In
comparison, Florida’s population increased at a more rapid average
annual growth rate of 3.4% and 2.2%, respectively.
- Pinellas County’s total population is projected to increase
only 0.7% between 2008 and 2030. Pinellas’ youth population,
however, is projected to decline 10.5% during the same period. As
shown in the chart below, the growth of Pinellas’ youth population
is projected to be far below Florida as well as selected counties
of comparable size.
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