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Florida Gets A Touch Of Gray

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – We all know that Florida is known for its sun, sand and fun.

The state, however, has also upheld its dubious moniker of being "God's waiting room."

According to the new 2012 U.S. Census released on Thursday Florida has the largest population of seniors, people 65 and older, in the nation.

Just over 18-percent of Florida's population are seniors.   In Sumter County, nearly half of its residents are seniors.  The county, located about 40 miles outside of Orlando, is home to the retirement community The Villages.  It's also considered one of the fastest-growing regions of the state.

The county with the next-highest percentage of seniors in the nation was Charlotte County in southwest Florida, where over a third of the population is over age 65.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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