TAMPA - Hillsborough County's population, up year over year this decade for a total of 200,000 additional people, hit a wall during the last year and declined by 3,649.

The Hillsborough numbers are consistent with the first decline in the state's population in 63 years, according to figures released today by the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

"It's not a surprise at all, and I have to say – at all," said Robert Hunter, executive director of the Hillsborough County City-County Planning Commission. "We've seen the increases slowly dropping over the years."

Hillsborough dropped from 1,200,541 people on April 1, 2008, to 1,196,892 people on April 1, 2009.

Planning commission records show only population growth dating back to 1970. Older records were not immediately available.

Three other Tampa Bay area counties also lost population. Pinellas went from 938,461 to 931,113, Polk from 585,733 to 584,343 and Sarasota from 393,608 to 389,320.

Pasco County grew slightly, from 438,668 to 439,702, as did Manatee County, from 317,699 to 318,404.

The city of Tampa grew slightly, going from 339,365 to 339, 480. Temple Terrace also grew, from 23,882 to 23,990, but Hillsborough's other incorporated area, Plant City, saw a slight decline – from 33,500 to 33,306.

Florida's population decline was 58,194 people, from 18.8 million to 18.75 million.

Editor Dennis Joyce can be reached at (813) 259-7604.