Economic Indicators for North Central Florida

Cynthia Barnett | 4/18/2012

Levy/Dixie Counties

Recovery is slow in these rural coastal counties along Florida's "Nature Coast," with anticipated jobs-generating projects such as Progress Energy's nuclear power plant in southern Levy County and a new hospital in Chiefland stalled. Business and community leaders are working on a new strategic plan for the Nature Coast Business Development Council that will include targeting industries that are a good fit with the region, such as biofuels and manufacturing related to the significant pine trade here.

Levy Population: 42,787
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 1.19%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
17.50%	5.90%	20.64%	35.65%	20.32%
Per Capita Income: $27,628

Dixie Population: 16,663
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 0.69%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
16.07%	4.97%	21.45%	36.61%	20.91%
Per Capita Income: $23,692

Sumter County

The Villages development, spanning three counties, is continuing to grow.. [Photo: The Villages]

Sumter County's fortunes are closely tied to The Villages, the top-selling master-planned community in the United States in both 2011 and 2010. New construction there is helping to keep the county's population growth the highest in the region. But Sumter is also poised to grow outside The Villages, with three development of regional impact projects planned, all around the Wildwood area where Interstate 75 and Florida's Turnpike come together: Landstone, with 8,000 homes; Wildwood Springs, with 3,000; and Southern Oaks, with 1,200 homes, 1,500 condos and an assisted living facility. Officials also are working to grow the logistics/transportation companies that are a natural fit with the crossroads.

Sumter Population: 102,416
Population Growth Rate (2008-12): 1.62%
Population by Age:
0-14	15-19	20-39	40-64	65+
7.15%	2.61%	12.97%	29.16%	48.10%
Per Capita Income: $27,598

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