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Highlands Today

Highlands Has 2nd Oldest Population

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

From left: Mary Pickruhn, 68, and Eva Schminkey,, 80, enjoy the pool Thursday at Buttonwood Bay. Both of the woman moved to Highlands County because they liked the slower-paced environment.

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By DOUG CARMAN

Highlands Today

Published: August 8, 2008

Updated:

Highlands County's residents probably have more gray hair than any other county in the state, the Census would suggest.

The latest 2007 estimates released Thursday indicate that Highlands County surpassed Charlotte County to have the highest percentage of elderly residents in Florida, and the second-oldest in the nation. About 31.4 percent of Highlands County's residents are 65 or older, which is actually a drop percentage-wise from 2000 when 33 percent were that old. However, Charlotte fell further, from 34.7 to 30.3, to drop to fourth place nationally. La Paz County, Ariz., is the only county older than Highlands at 32 percent.

That fact didn't surprise Louise Bohrer, 78.

"That explains why we have so many doctors, eye specialists and hearing aid people ... because we're here," she said as she ate lunch at the Farmer's Market Buffet in Sebring.

Demographer Scott Cody from the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research was not sure why so many senior citizens flock here.

"I don't know if it's just cheaper to retire into Highlands or because some of those recent hurricanes made it more desirable to leave the water," Cody said.

The seniors approached by Highlands Today all said it was what they thought was the area's slow and easy-going environment.

Eva Schminkey moved to Buttonwood Bay from Fort Lauderdale 16 years ago. She said a friend suggested the RV and mobile home park to her while she tried to get away from the hurricanes and the crowds of South Florida.

"Mainly, I like Highlands County because there are not so many people, it's a small-town atmosphere," the 80-year-old Schminkey said.

Irving Bishop gave a similar reason for moving here from the Keys 13 years ago.

"The atmosphere (is) very laid back," he said. "That's what brought us up here ... very laid-back people."

That atmosphere, along with Lake Placid's tower, drew Michael Stoney to Sun 'n Lakes South 15 years ago, according to his son Richard, who will celebrate Michael's 100th birthday today.

Mary Pickruhn, 68, was a bit more specific. Her husband is a fisherman and when they retired, they drove through here and found that the traffic was light, the lakes were plenty and the health costs were good for them.

"My husband saw 87 fresh water lakes and said "I have come home,'" she said as she was swimming in a pool during a hot Thursday morning.

According to Central Florida News 13 in Orlando, seven Florida counties ranked among the 20 oldest counties, including Highlands and Charlotte. None of those other counties are in the Heartland area.

Doug Carman can be reached at 386-5838 or dcarman@highlandstoday.com

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