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Economic Conditions The most recent data regarding per capita income in the county are for 1993 and are provided by BEBR. This information indicates that the county's 1993 per capita income was $26,798.00. The 1990 Census indicates that, in 1989, the county's median household income was $28,961.00. According to BEBR, the county's median family income was 37,700.00 in 1995, and is $40,400.00 for 1996. The 1990 Census also indicated that, in 1989, 9.0% of the county's population and 5.9% of its families had incomes below the poverty level. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Indian River County's average annual employment level, in 1994, was 34,800, or about 34% of the county's population. In 1995, the county's average annual unemployment rate was approximately 9.8%; the state's was 5.5%. Current BLS data indicate that the services sector once again employs more Indian River County residents than any other sector. In 1994, 30.2% of employees worked in service related industries. The retail trade and agriculture sectors' employment rounded out the top three employment sectors in 1994. These sectors had 22.2% and 11.7%, respectively, of all cou=y employment. ANALMS OF DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC CHANGES DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES Actual Growth The population of Indian River County increased from 90,208 people in 1990 to 100,261 in 1995, an increase of 11%. In 1995, the State of Florida's population was estimated to be 14,162,331, an increase of 9.5% since 1990. Indian River County's growth rate outpaced the state's rate by nearly 1.5 percentage points. These population changes indicate that the county is a growing, dynamic area. Proiected Growth Despite the county's relatively high growth rate, the comprehensive plan, based on BEBR projections, had overestimated the amount of population growth that the county would experience between 1990 and 1995. While the plan had projected that the county's 1995 population would be 107,300, the county's actual 1995 population was 100,261. One factor that contributed to the county's slower than projected population growth was the unexpected economic recession in 1990-1992. That recession appears to have affected all of the of BEBR's population projections. This is illustrated by the fact that BEBR's 1994 projection of the county's 2010 population is 5.5% less than the 1987 projection of the county's 2010 population. Conclusions From the growth that has occurred since plan adoption, the following conclusions can be drawn: The average age of the population is increasing. The median age of the population increased from 39.6 in 1980 to 44 in 1990. Additionally, census data indicate that the percentage of the county's population that is 65 years or older has increased from 20.4 in 1980 to 27.3 in 1990. 7 NOVEMBER 5, 1996 BOOK