Images courtesy of Jeffrey Onsted; data by Google Earth, Pete Harlem and Pablo Ruiz.
Adrian Suarez-Avila/ Staff Writer
Reports show that sometime this year, Florida will surpass New York in population, becoming the nation’s third-most populous state.
“The more, the merrier,” said Esther Franco, sophomore psychology major, upon receiving news that later this year Florida will outstrip New York of its title. “Although the state population is growing, I can imagine that the elderly are causing the increase in size, so I don’t feel pressure in terms of job prospects in Miami.”
However, two-fifths of new arrivals are under the age of 25, creating competition for jobs and resources for students.
The growth has been steady.
In July of 2000, Florida’s population reached approximately 16.05 million, and the figure increased by about 18.17 million in 2006, according to public data provided by Google.
As of July of 2012, New York boasted a population of about 19.57 million residents, while Florida boasted one around 19.32 million.
Miami’s population stood at a staggering 363,177 in July of 2000; 412,460 in July 2006, and increased by 1,432 residents in July 2012.
Despite Franco’s and other students’ perceptions about the major role senior citizens play in the state’s growing population, those over the age of 65 are not causing the rise.
And other students didn’t share Franco’s relaxed disposition.
“The fact that Florida is growing so rapidly is alarming,” said Gustavo Restrepo, freshman computer science major. [pullquote]“I think this will put a lot of pressure on students who are trying to be competitive job applicants.”[/pullquote]
In fall 1981, the University had over 11,000 enrolled students. By fall 2000, that number stood at 31,458 and climbed to 50,394 in fall 2012 — making it the second largest university in the state.
If becoming a marketable job applicant is an issue, the University thinks it can help.
“One of the things that I think will be most beneficial is an internship in areas of interest,” said Darren Gregory, assistant director of Career Services. “Students can also take part in the professional development workshops offered by the department.”
However, a state population on the rise presents issues beyond those concerning career development for students.
A larger population generally means a greater need for water and land use, which may exhaust the state’s environmental resources, according to Gail Hollander, associate professor of geography, and Jeffrey Onsted, assistant professor of geography.
“Sea-level rise can be an issue,” said Hollander. “As water levels rise, higher levels of salt water may seep into the [state’s aquifer system], making it harder to barricade the saltwater from the freshwater that’s needed.”
Loss of farmland to potential housing developments is something else to watch out for, and flooding may also pose an issue.
“The greatest change in terms of land use is the loss of farmland to further urban development,” said Onsted. “Another thing is that we may see some areas inundated because of the rising saltwater.”
According to Onsted, rising sea levels may leave parts of the state flooded, thereby reducing the amount of land available for housing.
“Florida is a very large state,” said Hollander. “The government needs to have a smart geographic strategy of how to divide the resources for large schools like FIU to use.”
Yet, even in light of the negative aspects of Florida’s rising population, some can’t help but look at the possibilities for positive outcomes.
“I believe students at FIU will play a big role in terms of where Florida goes,” said Hollander. “I think the students are motivated and are interested in bringing ideas to the table to create solutions.”
Additional reporting by Associated Press.
– news@fiusm.com
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