Population
In the early 1900s, the populations of east coast cities grew, and tourism became an important industry.
"After Flagler's time, you still had a lot of people coming from nearby Southern states but you also had an equal number of people coming from the Northeast especially places like New York and Pennsylvania, but also the Midwest. . .like Ohio. And that changed the culture of the state from sort of the deep South culture to a more complex culture."
- Dr. Thomas Graham, Professor of History Emeritus at Flagler College
"Working-class men and women also benefited from the economic impact of the railroads and the new resorts, in part because Flagler and Plant offered relatively decent wages . . . As a direct result of Flagler's and Plant's railroads and hotels, late 19th century Florida experienced a boom in population, real estates values, and jobs. Today, tourism remains Florida's most important industry, with many visitors still seeking a version of the escapist Eden promoted during the Gilded Age and once again cultivated at many contemporary resort hotels and planned communities in Florida."
- The Architecture of Leisure by Susan R. Braden