What is driving Jacksonville's population growth? (transplants, real estate, foreclosures)

[TylerJAX]

I was bored and browsing around on wikipedia, and I found that Jacksonville's population has grown 11% the past decade, and was growing the decades before. Who exactly is driving this growth? The median age in J-ville is 33.8 so it can't be retirees, and I know young people aren't exactly lining up to move here. I know northern blacks aren't exactly flocking here like they are to Houston and Atlanta. The job market isn't that strong so it can't be attracting too many transplants/immgrants either. Could high birth rates be the reason? Influx from surrounding rural areas? Inquiring minds wanna know!!

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by TylerJAX

I was bored and browsing around on wikipedia, and I found that Jacksonville's population has grown 11% the past decade, and was growing the decades before. Who exactly is driving this growth? The median age in J-ville is 33.8 so it can't be retirees, and I know young people aren't exactly lining up to move here. I know northern blacks aren't exactly flocking here like they are to Houston and Atlanta. The job market isn't that strong so it can't be attracting too many transplants/immgrants either. Could high birth rates be the reason? Influx from surrounding rural areas? Inquiring minds wanna know!!

LOL Inquiring minds just want to create controversy!!! the answer is simple really there's more babies being born because of SEX..duh! Yes teenage pregnancies are rampant all over, not just in Jax. And yes actually people are flocking here, as evidenced by all the people talking about moving here from other places on C-D. BTW us retirees still have and enjoy sex just as much/probably more than, you young whippersnappes sonnyboi !! LOL

[cricketfan]

From my own experience I have noticed a steady influx of Floridians from further south and even from west. I don't often hear of people moving south from Jacksonville. Of course this doesn't explain the 11% growth.

[TylerJAX]

Originally Posted by madcapmagishion

LOL Inquiring minds just want to create controversy!!! the answer is simple really there's more babies being born because of SEX..duh! Yes teenage pregnancies are rampant all over, not just in Jax. And yes actually people are flocking here, as evidenced by all the people talking about moving here from other places on C-D. BTW us retirees still have and enjoy sex just as much/probably more than, you young whippersnappes sonnyboi !! LOL

lol, I'm not here to create controversy(for once). The Hispanic demographic has been increasing in JAX, but doesn't explain even half of the hefty 11% growth. It's probably an amalgam of different factors, but that is still some rather strong growth considering the state of J-ville's economy. I'm going to do some digging and see if I can find some info on birthrates in J-Ville.

[urbancharlotte]

I think booming St. Johns and Flagler counties are more of a case study than Jax itself.

[projectmaximus]

Originally Posted by TylerJAX

lol, I'm not here to create controversy(for once). The Hispanic demographic has been increasing in JAX, but doesn't explain even half of the hefty 11% growth. It's probably an amalgam of different factors, but that is still some rather strong growth considering the state of J-ville's economy. I'm going to do some digging and see if I can find some info on birthrates in J-Ville.

Umm, people were moving here from all over the country at the turn of the century. It was the economy and low-priced real estate. You're right that the economy is in the tank now, which is why the growth has completely plateaued the last couple years, but prior to that the Jax metro was booming with transplants.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I think booming St. Johns and Flagler counties are more of a case study than Jax itself.

You do? Curiosity compels me to ask, why is that? Because it seems most of northern St. Johns counties growth is from people moving there from Jacksonville for the "superior" schools. And Flagler I don't really pay any attention to. (even though I was born there)

[cricketfan]

Originally Posted by urbancharlotte

I think booming St. Johns and Flagler counties are more of a case study than Jax itself.

I believe you are right. People flocking to northern St Johns Cty are fleeing the cold and the col (without the "d") in the Northeast, NY, NJ, Mass. Winters up there have been brutal lately.

If you drive through WGV you will see so much construction going on you would not think there was a downturn in the housing market. Ironically, new houses are going up right next to foreclosures. So, yes, SJC is growing by bounds.

Not so with desirable Nocatee, which is pretty much at a standstill.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by cricketfan

I believe you are right. People flocking to northern St Johns Cty are fleeing the cold and the col (without the "d") in the Northeast, NY, NJ, Mass. Winters up there have been brutal lately.

If you drive through WGV you will see so much construction going on you would not think there was a downturn in the housing market. Ironically, new houses are going up right next to foreclosures. So, yes, SJC is growing by bounds.

Not so with desirable Nocatee, which is pretty much at a standstill.

So! ... Nocatee needs a couple of golf courses?

[parks71]

Heres and interesting link. Click on Duval county and it shows lines of where people are moving from and going to.

Map: Where Americans Are Moving - Forbes.com

Seems like a lot of people move here from the NE or S Florida. When they leave here, they tend to go out west it appears.

I am assuming they move here for warm weather since most of them are from the NE. Is 11% higher than the national average?