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Preface

This is the 9th edition of the Hernando County Statistical Abstract. The data herein has been collected by different entities both private and public, from local, state, and federal levels. Monthly updates and portions of this annual publication are now available online. (http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/plan/)

Hernando County projected to be #1 in nation over span of 25 years:

According to "Regional Economic Growth in the United States: Projections for 1997-2025" by NPA Data Services of Washington D.C., Hernando County will lead the top 25 fastest-growing counties by annual growth rate. Four of the top five counties are projected to be from Florida with Hernando County's annual growth rate over 25 years expected to be 5.36% per year. (http://www.npadata.com)

Closer to home, the Gainesville-based Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR) writes "Flagler, St. Johns, Glades, Osceola, and Hernando will be the fastest growing county economies in Florida for the next fifteen years. Their average annual job growth will exceed 3.8%. Four of the top five counties are part of the suburban fringe [include Hernando] around a more densely settled urbanized county. Much of their job growth is accounted for by retailing and consumer services to meet the demands of new residential developments."  The BEBR forecast is based upon official population projections and a national forecast purchased from DRI/McGraw-Hill. Of 67 Florida counties, Hernando ranks #5 or higher in the anticipated population percent growth rate, employment percent growth rate, and real income percent growth rate for the 2000-2005, and 2005-2010 periods. (1997 Florida Long-term Economic Forecast)

From April 1990 to April 1999 the net population growth in Hernando County averaged 2,920 per year. The County population was just 17,004 in 1970. It rose to 101,115 in 1990, a six-fold increase in just 20 years. Based upon recent housing completion data from the County, the local estimated population as of April 30, 2000 was 130,390 .

Suncoast Parkway construction continues:

The Turnpike District of the Florida Department of Transportation began construction of the 42-mile Suncoast Parkway in the summer of 1998 and will "complete construction on the entire project from the Veterans Expressway [Northwest Hillsborough County] to U.S. 98 [Northern Hernando County] in early 2001." (Project Newsletter #8, July 1997) Interchanges have been constructed in Hernando County at County Line Road, Spring Hill Drive, SR 50, and U.S. 98. Adjacent to the expressway, the Turnpike District has developed the Suncoast Parkway Trail, a paved recreational trail 12 feet in width. A Public Information Office for the Suncoast Parkway is located on SR 52 in Pasco County about 4.5 miles west of U.S. 41. (727/856-4488 or http://www.flroads.com, or http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/plan/)   Toll information is available at:  http://www.sunpass.com

Hernando County is part of the 9-County "Nature Coast":

The vision for the Hernando County community includes a distinctive effort to capitalize on the "Close to Home, Room to Roam" aspects of this transitional rural and suburban county. More than 27% of Hernando County lands are in conservation land-use including the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge, three tracts of the Withlacoochee State Forest, and the recently purchased Weeki Wachee Preserve, Annuteliga Hammock, and "PK Ranch" by the State of Florida as part of the 10-year "Preservation 2000" program. At the local level, in 1988 voters said yes to the Environmentally Sensitive Lands program (ESL) to purchase additional "lands and habitats for endangered species, threatened species, and species of special concern."

Hernando County is part of the 4-county Tampa Bay MSA:

According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Hernando County is part of the 4-county Tampa-St.Petersburg-Clearwater Metropolitan Statistical Area. (MSA) The Tampa Bay MSA checked in with a 1999 estimated population of 2,320,181 up from 820,443 in 1960. [Table 1.02A] The Tampa Bay MSA ranked as the 21st largest metro area in the nation at the time of the 1990 Census. Hernando County's rate of growth was even faster for that time period--a jump of 1037% from 1960 to 1999. [Table 1.02A]

Hernando County has an Urbanized Area:

The U.S. Census Bureau has designated Spring Hill as an Urbanized Area. Urbanized Areas require a minimum population of 50,000 people as well as densities exceeding 500 per square mile. As an unincorporated community located in the southwest part of the County, Spring Hill was officially listed with 52,056 people as of April 1, 1990. Based upon additional growth estimates, as of April 30, 2000 the Spring Hill Urbanized area is now a community of 68,279 people. The Federal Highway Administration has also defined the Spring Hill area with slightly more inclusive boundaries. A population estimate as of March 31, 2000 corresponding to those boundaries is 77,070.

Hernando County growth is due to In-migration:

In recent years, 100% of the County's population growth has been attributed to those moving in--since the number of deaths continues to exceed the number of births. [Table 1.08A] That trend is also occurring in the Florida counties of Charlotte, Citrus, Flagler, Franklin, Glades, Highlands, Indian River, Lake, Manatee, Martin, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Sumter, Suwanee, Union, and Volusia. The migration from other states into Florida can be tracked via the 1998 Florida motor vehicle registrations. In order, the five leading exit states into Florida were Georgia-57,281; New York-51,622; New Jersey-28,290; Alabama-28,279; and Ohio-27,426.

New maps and tables to this 9th Edition of the Statistical Abstract are shown with an asterisk (*) in the Table of Contents. Further information is available at the back of this abstract under "For Further Reference".  The Planning Department homepage can be found at: http://www.co.hernando.fl.us/plan/