Growth of Pinellas over the decades
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By SUZETTE PORTER
| Article published on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012 |
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| Population figures from U.S. Census Bureau show tremendous growth through much of Pinellas County’s history. |
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Results of the 2010 census made Pinellas County record books. It is the first time since 1890 that population actually declined.
In fact, over the past 120 years, population has increased 152,403 percent, from 601 in 1890 to 916,542 in 2010.
Prior to Pinellas becoming its own county, growth was rapid with a 328 percent jump recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau in the first 10 years, followed by 213 percent growth spurt in the second decade. A big population spurt of 164 percent came between 1910 and 1912 – the year Pinellas officially became the state’s 48th county.
The population continued to more-than-double each decade until the Depression years and the end of the county’s real estate boom. In the year 1920, the population was split about 50 percent between urban and rural dwellers.
Between 1930 and 1940, growth slowed to only 48 percent. People started moving to urban areas, leaving only 17 percent living in rural areas.
People started moving to the county in greater numbers again with a 73 percent growth between 1940 and 1950. By 1950, only 13.5 percent lived in rural areas.
The last population boon happened between 1950 and 1960 with growth of 135 percent. Nearly 9 percent lived in rural areas.
The next two decades showed a modest population growth of 39 percent for 1960 to 1970 and 1970 to 1980. Less than one percent made their homes in the dwindling rural area. Growth continued at a slower pace, only 14 percent, from 1980 to 1990 and 8.2 percent from 1990 to 2000. Of the 921,495 residents in 2000, only 964 lived outside urban areas.
Finally, the growth stopped, with population figures showing a half-percent decline from 2000 to 2010.
U.S. Census population figures by the decades
1890: 601
1900: 2,572, up 1,971, 328 percent
1910: 8,057, up 5,485 - 213 percent
1912: 13,193, up 5,136 - 164 percent
1920: 28,265, up 15,042, 114 percent
1930: 62,149, up 33,844, 120 percent
1940: 91,852, up 29,703, 48 percent
1950: 159,249, up 67,397, 73 percent
1960: 374,665, up 215,416, 135 percent
1970: 522,329, up 147,664, 39 percent
1980: 728,531, up 206,202, 39 percent
1990: 851,659, up 123,122, 14 percent
2000: 921,482, up 69,823, 8.2 percent
2010: 916,542, down 4,940, negative .5 percent
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Article published on Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2012
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