Population: Florida will soon surpass New York

At some point in 2014 , Florida will surpass New York in population terms , becoming the third most populous U.S. state , after California and Texas.

This turning point illustrates the growing influence of the Florida approach 20 million.

" Florida is a kind of icon of the 21st century with regard to changes in population and the increasing role that Latin America plays in the transformation of the country ," said James Johnson, a business professor at the University of Carolina North . In the 21st century , Florida will be what were California or New York in the 20th century , he predicts .

Florida includes in its territory several strong trends in the United States : the aging of the population , a service-oriented with lots of low-wage economy, and ethnic diversity fueled by the growth of the Hispanic population. As the entire United States, Florida is a destination for migrants and those who want to start a new life .

SLIDER ISLAND Florida

29 Electoral College votes vested in Florida are among the most coveted in the presidential election because Florida is the largest state of the country with no clear political affiliation.

New residents of Florida, as Michael Richards , 47, cited a series of reasons for their decision to settle in this state : climate, no local income tax , the availability of unskilled jobs and proximity to Latin America and Europe .

"We agree to live three months of hell ( summer) for nine months of good weather ," says Richards.

Although Florida is the U.S. state with the most residents over the age of 65, the elderly account for less than 10 percent of the new residents of the state for several years. The majority of newcomers aged 25 to 64 years , according to an analysis of census data conducted by the Associated Press. About 40 percent of the new residents are under the age of 25 years.

The population of New York is not declining, but the population growth in Florida is much faster. More than 537,000 people have settled in Florida last year, and about a tenth of them came from the state of New York.

As of July 2012, two states had a difference of about 98,000 residents : 19.6 million in the State of New York, compared with 19.5 million in Florida, according to census data published earlier this week .