Population inches up along Gulf beaches
     More people are living on Pinellas County's Gulf beach barrier islands than ever, despite a sharp decline in the population of the town of Redington Shores.
     According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the 10 barrier island towns had a combined estimated population of 36,005 in 2004, compared to 35,729 in 2000, the year of the last census. This is an increase of eight-tenths of 1 percent.
     Population increases were credited to seven of the 10 towns: Leading the way was Belleair Beach, where the population rose 7 percent from 1,636 to 1,751. Indian Shores was next with a 5% increase from 1,705 in 2000 to 1,792 in 2005. Also up were:
     --Belleair Shore (76 residents, up 0.1%).
     --Indian Rocks Beach (5,255 residents, up 3.6%).
     --North Redington Beach (1,536 residents, up 3.5%).
     --St. Pete Beach (10,027 residents, up 1%).
     --Treasure Island (7,521 residents, (up 0.9 percent).
     The Census Bureau says Redington Shores lost 307 people, or 13.1 percent of its population from 2000 to 2004. The sale and demolition of the old Parsleys mobile home community appears to have had little to do with the loss because the 2004 figure mirrors the Redington Shores census estimate for 2003. That was months before the Parsleys pending sale was announced and a year before it was completed. The towns that lost population were:
     --Madeira Beach (4,492 residents, down 0.4 percent).
     --Redington Beach (1,534 residents, down 0.3 percent).
     --Redington Shores (2,031 residents, down 13.1 percent).
     The Census Bureau monitors population changes annually with estimates based on a demographic model that includes records of births, deaths, taxes, Medicare, the military, net migration and the American Community Survey.
     The latest figures apply to the middle of 2004. The next set will be available later this year.