The players here are hoping the census will be a boon to economic development in the county. If Flagler County has more than 50,000 residents, the county will likely reap a harvest as big chains and franchises move in. That's going to put Flagler County on the map. And arguably, Palm Coast is 70 percent of the county. While Palm Coast already has Staples, Wal-Mart, McDonald's and others, even more national chains are expected to flock to Palm Coast should the new figures bear out a 1999 estimate that put Flagler County within spitting distance of 50,000 people.
Planners certainly have more than faith to pin their hopes on.
Ten years ago, Flagler County was one of the fastest growing places in the country. There were 28,701 people counted in the 1990 census. That's almost twice as many as lived here in 1980 and more than six times as many as lived here in 1970. The Census Bureau estimates a slightly slower growth rate over the past 10 years, but the larger population base means more actual growth since then. The 1999 census estimate put Flagler County at 49,110 people, and claimed the county was adding more than 2,000 residents per year.