Escambia County, Florida is the slowest growing county in the region, according to the latest census estimates that were released yesterday. The county is growing, but only at a snail’s pace—a 0.4 percent, not 40 percent, not 4 percent, only 0.4 percent. Escambia County went from 300,777 to 302,091 in population from July 2009 to July 2010. Since 2000, Escambia County’s population has increased by only 2.6 percent.
Our two neighboring counties have done much better the last decade. Okaloosa County appears to have struggled also and did see a drop from July 2009 to July 2010:
Santa Rosa County – 30.6% growth since 2000
2000 – 117,743
2009 – 151,073
2010 – 153,769
Baldwin County, Ala. – 30.8% growth since 2000
2000 – 140,415
2009 – 182,664
2010 – 183,597
Okaloosa County – 3.2% growth since 2000
2000 – 170,498
2009 – 176,708
2010 – 175,970
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Escambia County, FL – 2.6% growth since 2000
2000 – 294,410
2009 – 300,777
2010 – 302,091