Steady Growth for Indain River County

Indian River continues slow but steady population growth for 2006

By CHARLIE REED AND JEREMY ASHTON
staff writers March 22, 2007

The Treasure Coast is now home to 522,217 people, 15,608 more than previously the Census. Mirroring years of relatively slow but steady growth, Indian River the latest data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
The county welcomed 2,743 new residents during that time, raising its population to 130,100 although the growth rate dropped slightly from 2.3 the year before, according to the Census estimates.
"We've been running pretty steady the past few years," said IndianRiver County Commission Chairman Gary Wheeler.
Compared to the state's 1.8 average growth rate, Indian River is "almost middle of the road," Wheeler said. "It's like golf, the lower the score, the better."
But sandwiched between St. Lucie County and Brevard counties, which grew by 12,754 and 5,719 residents, respectively, Indian River is not immune to growing pains, Wheeler said.
"Where we're getting cramped is at our county lines," he said. "Between the water supply and roads, we're going to feel a tremendous impact from those communities."
While growth rates along the Treasure Coast fell across the board during 2005-06, the region's 3.1 percent growth average is well about the 1.8 state average. St. Lucie County dropped from 5.8 percent to 5.3 percent and Martin County fell slightly from 1.2 to 0.1. Okeechobee County also dropped slightly from 1.8 to 1.7 percent.
The declining growth rates are linked to a cooling housing market and a relatively small retiree population, said Lance deHaven-Smith, a public policy professor at Florida State University.
"Right now our retirement population is the fairly small generation in-between the World War II generation and the baby boomers, people born in the 1930s," he said. "But when the first baby boomers start retiring in two years, the growth is going to be enormous."

Those 65 and older now account for 18 percent of Florida's 17 million residents, but by 2025 they will make up 26 percent of the population, deHaven said.
"It's an avalanche waiting to happen," he said.
Until then, the Treasure Coast likely will not come to a standstill. The region is now home to 522,217 people, 15,608 more than previously recorded by the Census.
However, the latest batch of year-to-year comparisons released by the Census do not necessarily indicate an overall slow-growth trend in the region, said Greg Vaday, economic development coordinator with the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council.
"You can't call a trend based on a couple of data points. Population migration is not always on a completely upward trajectory. Sometimes it flattens, sometimes it dips. It can't just keep going up and up," he said. "What we're probably seeing is a reflection of the overall economic condition of the country and certainly the slow down in the housing market."
But with a growing economy and coastal living appeal, the Treasure Coast is sure to continue attracting a steady stream of new residents, most of whom come here for a new job or to retire, he said.
charlie.reed@scripps.com jeremy.ashton@scripps.com
"Right now our retirement population is the fairly small generation in-between the World War II generation and the baby boomers, people born in the 1930s. But when the first baby boomers start retiring in two years, the growth is going to be enormous. It's an avalanche waiting to happen."
Lance deHaven-Smith, public policy professor at Florida State University
"We definitely need an opportunity to catch our breath. We got behind in providing the services that we're supposed to be providing such as schools, public transportation, libraries and roads. The growth came so quickly in the past few years we just weren't able to make those things happen as quickly as we could have or should have."
Some interesting notes from the 2006 population estimates released by the U.S. Census Bureau:
St. Lucie County Commission Chairman Chris Craft
• The Treasure Coast is home to 13,419 more people than the state of Wyoming.
• Florida boasts 12 of the 100 fastest-growing counties in the United States. Only Georgia and Texas have more on the list.
• St. Lucie County went from the 13th fastest-growing county in the United States in 2005 to 43rd in 2006.
• Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach rank eighth, 15th and 29th, respectively, on the list of the nation's largest counties.