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While the population of the County has been steadily increasing, <br />so has the median age of the resident population. The number of <br />persons age 15-44 is the largest age category. The following <br />table illustrates the percentage of population in the various age <br />groups as of April 1, 1988. <br />Age Group Population _ <br />0-14 <br />15-44 <br />45-64 <br />65+ <br />13,944 <br />32,874 <br />19,992 <br />20,702 <br />15.9 <br />37.6 <br />22.9 <br />23.6 <br />Components of Population Change <br />1980 Census <br />1990 Census <br />Percent Change <br />Components of Change <br />Components of Change <br />Percentage of Change <br />Percentage of Change <br />Source: <br />Industry <br />59,896 <br />90,208 <br />50.0% <br />due to Natural Increase 573 <br />due to Net Migration 29,739 <br />due to Natural Increase 1.89% <br />due to Net Migration 98.11% <br />University of Florida, Bureau of Economic and Business <br />Research. <br />The economy of the County is based upon agriculture (citrus <br />and cattle), tourism, light manufacturing, wholesale and retail <br />trade and commercial fishing. In the 1989-1990 crop year Indian <br />River County had 66,116 acres of citrus which produced 17,000,808 <br />boxes of oranges, grapefruit and specialty fruit. The County was <br />4th among all Florida counties in total citrus production, but <br />2nd in grapefruit production. Part of the citrus fruit is sold to <br />the fresh fruit market, and there are also 21 major packing <br />houses and one citrus juice processing plant located in the <br />County. Approximately 50,000 acres of improved pasture and rangelands <br />are utilized for dairy farming and beef cattle production, while <br />approximately 35,000 acres remain as forest and woodlands. <br />Sun Ag., Inc. has extensive citrus and agriculture interests <br />in the County, employing approximately 750 persons at the peak of <br />the citrus season. Their agricultural properties, including a <br />citrus packing plant, are located west of Fellsmere in the <br />central part of the County. <br />Other industries include lumber and millwork plants, cabinet <br />and millwork plants, machine shops, welding shops, sheet metal <br />fabricators, mattress ticking, construction, architectural and <br />A-3 <br />