The Gators and the Seminoles both placed in the top 20 of the preseason Associated Press college football poll released earlier this week, but their respective universities also broke another top 20 list released on Tuesday as both schools helped contribute to rapid population growth.
SpareFoot, an online self-storage finder, released an analysis on Tuesday which shows Raleigh, N.C., home of North Carolina State University as well as the capitol of the Tarheel State, grew 46 percent between 2000 and 2010. SpareFoot defined college towns with populations of more than 20,000 and with major universities as a pivotal part of the local economy.
This new survey also ranks Gainesville and Tallahassee as two of fastest growing college towns in the nation. No other cities in Florida made the list.
College towns are so appealing because they combine the charm and livability of a small city with the sophistication and amenities of a much larger metropolitan area, Bert Sperling, a researcher who founded BestPlaces.net, said on Tuesday.
Sperling added that the economic downtown which hurt the nation in the first decade of the 21st century could explain the population boom in college towns.
Cities with colleges and universities are healthier financially, because the local school provides a stable economic base when recessions hit, Sperling said. In fact, enrollment often increases when the job market tightens.
In North Central Florida, Gainesville, home of the University of Florida, grew by almost a third from 2000 to 2010 with a population growth of 30 percent during that period. That growth places Gainesville fourth on SpareFoots list.
Over on the Big Bend, Tallahassee, the state capitol, grew almost 20.5 percent from 2000 to 2010 placing it 13th on SpareFoots list. Tallahassee is home to Florida State University and Florida A&M University.
Other cities in the top 10 are: College Station, Texas; Las Cruces, N.M.; San Marcos, Texas; Columbia, Mo.; Fayetteville, Ark.; Flagstaff, Ariz.; Auburn, Ala.; and College Park, Md. Besides Tallahassee, also making the list were Fort Collins, Colo.; Pullman, Wash.; Austin, Texas; Champaign, Ill.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Stillwater, Okla.; Manhattan, Kan.; Fargo, N.D.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com.
