St. Louis Loses People to Exurbs

St. Louis is reeling from the news that it lost 29,000 residents, or 8%, of its population since 2000. Bi-annual population estimates had led many to believe the city had finally turned a corner. Meanwhile, exurban counties posted 30+ percent growth.

1 minute read

February 27, 2011, 9:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur


News of the loss was especially disappointing as the Census's biannual

Angie Schmitt writes:

"News of the loss was especially disappointing as the Census's biannual population estimates had shown a slight uptick in city population, leading many to believe St. Louis had turned a corner."

Schmitt looks at a recent New Geography article, which argues that this is actually evidence that St. Louis is flourishing.

"St. Louis County lost two percent of its population, dipping below 1 million residents, as a result of population declines in the inner-ring suburbs. Meanwhile, suburban St. Charles County overtook the population of the city of St. Louis in the last decade."

Thanks to Angie Schmitt

Friday, February 25, 2011 in Streetsblog Network

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