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Comprehensive Plan Introductory Element Seasonal and Functional Population To accurately determine demand for services and to comply with state law, the comprehensive plan estimates not only the resident population of the county, but also the functional (or effective) population of the county. The functional population is the resident population plus the seasonal population. This population is utilized as needed within the comprehensive plan. In some instances, the county has utilized the permanent population rather than the functional population. For example, the establishment of some level of service standards requires the use of permanent population, while the establishment of other level of service standards requires use of both resident and seasonal population. The seasonal population is composed of those persons who visit or reside in the county for a period of less than 6 months. This group includes tourists, migrant farm workers and other short-term and long-term visitors. The seasonal population used in the development of the comprehensive plan is not intended to provide an enumeration or total count of persons who visit Indian River County throughout any given year, but rather to provide an estimate of the potential peak seasonal population The seasonal population figures presented in this document are intended to provide the maximum one day potential that is likely to occur during the high season winter months. In the past, Indian River County has accommodated a significant seasonal population that is expected to increase in the future. Factors that contribute to the seasonal population growth include the mild climate and natural resources that are a result of the south Florida coastal location and a wide variety of recreational and social activities. While not developed as a major tourist area, Indian River County can be expected to have an increasing number of tourists in the coming years. Some of the factors contributing to the growth of tourism are the ideal winter climate; access to beaches, water facilities and other recreation facilities; and proximity to other major attractions in the state. Agriculture has been a keycomponent of the local economy. The seasonal nature of citrus production has required the use of migrant labor during the peak harvesting season. The balance of the seasonal population is the short-term and long-term visitor/resident drawn to the county for many of the same reasons as tourists. Many of these people are of retirement age, and can be expected to increase as this segment of the U.S. population increases. Community Development Department Indian River County Supplement #_; Ordinance 2005- 21