While Florida had it's lowest population growth ever, 17.6% from 2000 to 2010; the U.S. Census data shows that northeast Florida counties had some of the highest growth rates. Other strong growth counties were in the panhandle, central and southwest Florida.
Two counties lost population, and they couldn't be more different in character. They are Pinellas County, which contains the city of St. Petersburg; and Monroe county, which is the Keys and the area between the Everglades and the coast of southwest Florida.
Florida's total population, according to the 2010 census, is 18, 801, 310. The 2000 census tallied just under 16-million Floridians.
Florida's great growth in the last century was from 1950 to 1960, a jump of 78.7% .
Florida's growth is consistent with the South, with analysis from the Associated Press showing Black Americans heading into the suburbs, giving up inner-city life. Census data they've seen shows that they're rapidly integrating large metro areas that were historically divided between inner-city blacks and suburban whites.
Census estimates also show that Hispanic population growth for the first time outpaced black and whites in most of the South.
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