How many Brits in Florida ?

[floridapete]

I had another one of those TV production companies on the phone to me again today. Apparently this one will be doing a 'living in paradise' kinda thing for Sky in the next few months intended to air some time next year.

As always they wanted to know 'how many British people are there in Florida ?". I told them, as always, that so far as I know there are no statistics to answer that question. Nobody has ever had the interest to find out how many Brits are in Florida because, I would imagine, most of them don't have a vote - so who cares about them anyway ? (Governmental answer)

I well remember when we first got involved in this Florida thing back in 1989 some expat newspaper published the figure of "50,000 Brits in Florida". But I really don't know where that figure came from, and whether it was just resident Brits or was based on vacation homeowners too (who don't actually live there).

I could only quote him the figure which is well-established that as of Dec. 1999 (Webber College Report) there were 12,500 British owned vacation homes in the Four Corners area. Since there has been a LOT more purchased since then, my best guess would now be about 20,000 Brit owned vacation homes in that area - but they are not "Brits living in Florida". There are also all the other areas of Florida popular with the British to be considered.

But does anybody have any idea of the answer - just for the fun of it ?

I figure that the US Census should give a handle on where each person was born - and should give some ethnic breakdown of their origins. I wonder if "Britain" is one of their appropriate categorisations ?

[chris]

I guess thats a conservative figure these days. I think what would be very important is how much those Brits actually pump into the Florida economy byway of investment and jobs. Now that would be interesting.

[Richard]

On the web sites that I frequently use to get demographics etc. that are supposed to be compiled from the census, the only breakdown I have seen is into ethnic groups, not country of origin.

[JulieC]

According to the article in the Washington Post on June 10th 2006 on E2, the British consul in Miami has estimated there are 200,000 British nationals and dual nationals living in Florida.

[Susie]

Hi Julie



Do you have the link for this article and would you be able to post it here?

Hi Peter

I think it is correct to say, as brits do not have a vote then who cares.

I would be interested to find out how many British holiday makers come to the USA each year, say going back to pre 911. Do you know of any web sites or way to get this information?

[floridapete]

According to the article in the Washington Post on June 10th 2006 on E2, the British consul in Miami has estimated there are 200,000 British nationals and dual nationals living in Florida.

Er, well that's not quite what the British Consulate in Miami's website says:

"It is my pleasure to extend a very warm welcome to the Sunshine State of Florida. The Sunshine State is home to at least 100,000 British nationals and a favourite holiday destination for nearly 3 million British tourists each year."

[chris]

Peter says we don't have a vote so who cares? Well I think it's important to remind folks now and again that the americans employed by the Brits in full time jobs under the various visa criteria's DO have a vote.
I don't think we make enough of that fact.
If there are 100,000 Brits and say 60% employ at least 2 Americans, that's 120,000 votes. Who says we can't influence?

[JulieC]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/09/AR2006060901680.html


At least 100,000. Thats all they know about anyway, LOL! I reckon there are that many in the Orlando area.

[Grumpy]

Hi

I wish they would do a TV program on all the problems legals have and invite Senators and congressmen to attend

[Wendy]

i guess at least 25,000

[Emmalee25]

A T.V program would be great, Like a 'Senators Question Time' can yopu imagine how smug they would be when they started, rolling off all these visa facts and figures from a book, and then we would be let loose on them.....would be fab!!! can i come??? can i can i????

Emma x

[Grumpy]

Hi Em,

Could not agree more, so long as you wear a short top and low cut blouse then there would ne millions of viewers

We do need to all pull together and know that sometimes we may disagree but we must not let this affect our aims

[Emmalee25]

Grumpy!
How did you know I look good in a short skirt and low cut blouse :p I could even die my hair blonde and make a play for the senetor......that would get us loads of publicity hahahahaha.
This forum has been a great find for me, we were beginning to think we were alone in all this.....I agree we all need to stick together. Its nice to have differing views though, makes for a meatier forum :o
Em x

[Susie]

A T.V program would be great, Like a 'Senators Question Time' can yopu imagine how smug they would be when they started, rolling off all these visa facts and figures from a book, and then we would be let loose on them.....would be fab!!! can i come??? can i can i????

Emma x


Hi Em

Lets see what we can arrange. Maybe in the pipeline, hmm

Might be a good idea if Grumpy came too, he could sit between us and really give him what for, he he

[Allan Oakley]

Don't forget the reason residents of the UK are exempted from the "Green Card Lottery" is due to one fact.Over 50,000 move to America from the UK each year. I'd bet not too many move to Iowa.....

[peter gold]

The artice in the Washington Post in June 2006 stated since its inception in 1952 a total of 28,290 E2'have been issued.3170 were isued in 2005
The British Consul in Miami claims 200,000 Brits live here.
I was featured in the article and gave the author much of the information, and she as I expected distorted many of the facts.
I am working on her doing a follow up about the plight of E2 visa holders and applicants but fear it is too political for the WP