Florida's Changing Tides

At the beginning of March, I had the pleasure of delivering the keynote address at the St. Lucie Economic Development Council’s (EDC) partnership luncheon. I was humbled and honored when Pete Tesch, the president of the St. Lucie EDC, reached out and invited me to speak. The event was extremely well-attended and brought together public and private business executives from across the region along with local government leaders.

As I considered topics for my luncheon address, I reflected on the economic development growth Florida had seen over the years — and what that has meant to businesses. I also thought of FLORIDA TREND as we had just recently celebrated our 65th anniversary.

FLORIDA TREND'S growth and success stems not only from a continually strong and growing economy, but also from an amazing workforce of dedicated experts in their craft. Their drive and commitment ensure that every product we produce is done with the utmost editorial integrity, professionalism and quality. That defines us, sets us apart from others in our industry and makes us the trusted resource that our readers have come to rely on.

In preparing my keynote address, I turned to our 65th anniversary issue. It looked back at the watershed moments that helped define and shape Florida. It also dove into the demographic, economic and political changes transforming our Sunshine State. All of it is valuable food for thought as we ponder Florida’s growth and future.

Consider a few of Florida’s defining moments over the past 65 years. In 1958, Cuba’s president resigned and fled, ushering in a Communist dictatorship that transformed Miami’s cultural, political and economic future. In 1961, NASA purchased 12 square miles of land in Brevard County to stage manned missions to the moon, sparking an aerospace industry that’s still going strong. In 1971, Disney’s Magic Kingdom opened to a crowd of 10,000 visitors — with admission of $3.50 for adults and $1 for children — marking the start of Florida’s transformation into a global tourism hub.

In more recent decades, calamities ranging from Hurricane Andrew to the Great Recession to the COVID-19 pandemic have tested and proved our state’s resilience.

Key data points illustrate the state’s dramatic transformation. Consider that in 1958, Florida had 4.5 million people and today is home to more than 22.6 million. The state’s economic output has jumped from $14 billion to more than $1.4 trillion. Rents have jumped too — from $71 a month to $2,448 in three of the state’s largest metro areas.

Along the way, Florida has become more diverse. In 1958, the state’s foreign-born population made up 5.5% of the populace — versus 21% today. And Florida’s political stripes have changed. In 1958, the state’s governor, both U.S. senators, the Florida Senate President and Florida House Speaker were all Democrats. Today, all are Republican.

Considering those marked shifts, I can’t help but wonder what the next 65 years will bring, but I am sure of this: As our state continues to evolve, change and continually reshape itself, you can rest assured that FLORIDA TREND will be there to help you understand, decipher and make sense of it all.

— David G. Denor, Publisher ddenor@floridatrend.com

Tags: Publisher's column