Palm Bay census a letdown

PALM BAY — In a 2004 population projection taking the city through 2024, officials figured Palm Bay's population would be around 118,423 by now.

Those predictions, however, didn't reflect three years of nationwide economic turmoil, a weak housing market and massive job losses from coast to coast starting in 2007.

For all those reasons, officials say, their expected numbers didn't pan out. The 2009 population estimate for Palm Bay from the U.S. Census was 100,999, while the city's expectation for that year was 113,336. The city's estimated November 2010 population -- based on active residential electric meter connections reported by FPL -- was 107,223, less than what had been indicated for 2008 in the city's study.

Preliminary population estimates released by the University of Florida in September confirmed the statewide slowdown, but showed promise, too. After declining for the first time since the end of World War II, Florida's population grew once again last year, "a hopeful yet tentative sign that the worst of the recession may have passed," the report said. Florida was estimated to have added more than 21,000 residents between 2009 and 2010 after losing 56,000 people between 2008 and 2009, said Stan Smith, director of UF's Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

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Palm Bay census a letdown - FLORIDATODAY.com - January 2, 2011