Port Richey to become a haven for Hollywood celebrities, and the Great Depression had a devastating effect on the town. By 1938 the town had lost its Tarpon Springs Branch passenger train connection to the Seaboard Air Line Railway network, a significant loss in the era before Interstates and jet airplanes. Beginning in the late 1960s, western Pasco County began a decades-long period of rapid population growth, although the population of New Port Richey has not increased much because of the small area which makes up the city. Most of the population of western Pasco County is in unincorporated areas. Pasco-Hernando State College began offering classes in New Port Richey in 1972, and completed construction of a campus in 1976. Gulf View Square shopping mall opened in 1980. In 1995, New Port Richey became sister cities with Cavalaire-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. Cavalaire Square in downtown was named in honor of that relationship. In 2004 President George W. Bush, campaigning for re-election, spoke to supporters in Sims Park. Geography New Port Richey is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (1.53%) is water. The Pithlachascotee River flows through the downtown area on its way to the Gulf of Mexico. Demographics As of the census of 2011, there were 14,903 people, 6,756 households, and 3,962 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 8,693 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 88.9% White, 3.0% African American, 0.5% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.46% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11.2% of the population. There were 6,756 households, out of which 17.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.2% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.76. In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.1% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 28.3% who were