MERIC NEWS LETTER

Population Increases in All Missouri Metropolitan Areas


All seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSA) in Missouri had population increases from 2005 to 2006, according to Census Bureau estimates. The total increase for all Missouri MSA's was 52,919.

The Kansas City, MO-KS metro had the largest increase, jumping more than 22,000 and accounting for 42.3 percent of the total increase. The increase ranked the metro 28th among the 361 areas in the nation. St. Louis, MO-IL (44th) also ranked in the top 50 in numerical increase.

The Springfield MSA grew at the fastest rate (2.3 %), followed by Columbia (1.8 %), Joplin (1.6 %) and Kansas City (1.2%).

Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown and Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington experienced Texas-sized growth rates, gaining over 180,000 inhabitants each, more than any other MSA for the period. The largest decrease occurred in the New Orleans-Metairie-Kenner, Louisiana metropolitan.

* Metropolitan Statistical Area April 1, 2000 (Estimate Base) July 1, 2006 Population Estimate July 1, 2005 Population Estimate Change, 
2005 to 2006 		 National Rankings (2005-06 Increase)
Number Percent
Kansas City, MO-KS 1,836,420 1,967,405 1,944,690 22,715 1.2 28
St. Louis, MO-IL 2,698,672 2,796,368 2,782,411 13,957 0.5 44
Springfield, MO 368,374 407,092 397,869 9,223 2.3 67
Columbia, MO 145,666 155,997 153,273 2,724 1.8 154
Joplin, MO 157,322 168,552 165,968 2,584 1.6 161
Jefferson City, MO 140,052 144,958 143,737 1,221 0.8 230
St. Joseph, MO-KS 123,820 122,306 121,811 495 0.4 268

* Metropolitan Statistical Areas are defined as an area with at least one urbanized area of 50,000 or more inhabitants.

The majority of Missouri's Micropolitan Statistical Areas had population growth as 14 of the 20 gained inhabitants.

Branson, MO was the micropolitan area with the most significant increase, adding over 1,500 inhabitants and ranking 40th nationally in numerical increase for micropolitan areas.

**Micropolitan Statistical Area April 1, 2000 (Estimate Base) July 1, 2006 Population Estimate July 1, 2005 Population Estimate Change, 
2005 to 2006		 National Rankings (2005-06 Increase)
Number Percent
Branson, MO 68,361 75,152 73,626 1,526 2.1 40
Lebanon, MO 32,513 35,091 34,413 678 2 124
Farmington, MO 55,641 62,181 61,515 666 1.1 125
Cape Girardeau-Jackson, MO-IL 90,312 92,850 92,248 602 0.7 139
Sedalia, MO 29,403 40,520 40,092 428 1.1 187
West Plains, MO 37,238 38,734 38,415 319 0.8 227
Rolla, MO 39,825 42,289 41,978 311 0.7 231
Poplar Bluff, MO 40,867 41,582 41,338 244 0.6 268
Hannibal, MO 37,915 38,350 38,142 208 0.5 284
Quincy, IL-MO 78,771 77,373 77,193 180 0.2 295
Sikeston, MO 40,412 41,068 40,985 83 0.2 352
Moberly, MO 24,663 25,438 25,360 78 0.3 358
Mexico, MO 25,853 25,739 25,666 73 0.3 360
Warrensburg, MO 48,258 50,646 50,611 35 0.1 384
Kirksville, MO 29,147 28,732 28,740 -8 0 417
Fort Leonard Wood, MO 41,165 44,022 44,050 -28 -0.1 428
Maryville, MO 21,912 21,660 21,712 -52 -0.2 443
Marshall, MO 23,756 22,896 23,018 -122 -0.5 481
Kennett, MO 33,157 32,277 32,435 -158 -0.5 497
Fort Madison-Keokuk, IA-MO 45,468 43,643 43,832 -189 -0.4 511

** Micropolitan Statistical Areas are defined as an area with at least one urban cluster of 10,000 but less than 50,000 inhabitants.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, http://www.census.gov/popest/metro.html


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