Wentzville Is Missouri's
Fastest-Growing City
Wentzville gained 3,349 people and grew over 22.9 percent from July 1, 2004 to July 1, 2005, making it the fastest growing city in Missouri, according to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates of 946 Missouri places. The statewide average was an 0.8 percent increase, or a 28 person gain per place.
|
Place |
July 1, 2005 |
July 1, 2004 |
% chg |
|
Wentzville |
17,988 |
14,639 |
22.9 |
|
Lone Jack |
697 |
596 |
16.9 |
|
Oronogo |
1,831 |
1,573 |
16.4 |
|
Battlefield |
3,612 |
3,175 |
13.8 |
|
Wright City |
2,440 |
2,196 |
11.1 |
|
Troy |
9,862 |
8,948 |
10.2 |
|
Cottleville |
2,333 |
2,130 |
9.5 |
|
North Kansas City |
5,388 |
4,920 |
9.5 |
|
Dardenne Prairie |
6,984 |
6,420 |
8.8 |
|
Loma Linda |
601 |
553 |
8.7 |
The Tale of the Suburbs
The fastest growing places by percentage
were entirely suburban, greater metro area or exurban: tiny Lone
Jack, in Jackson County, gained more than 100 people to make it
second at 16.9 percent; Oronogo, outside Joplin, 258 people, 16.4
percent; Battlefield, outside Springfield, 437 people, 13.8
percent.
The fastest growing places in the state by sheer numbers were almost entirely suburban. Wentzville again led the way (3,349), followed by O’Fallon (2,686). Two metro areas were in the top ten, with Columbia falling third in this category, with a gain of 2,011 people; and Kansas City, tenth with a 766 person gain.
|
Place |
July 1, 2005 |
July 1, 2004 |
# chg |
|
Wentzville |
17,988 |
14,639 |
3,349 |
|
O'Fallon |
69,694 |
67,008 |
2,686 |
|
Columbia |
91,814 |
89,803 |
2,011 |
|
Lee's Summit |
80,338 |
78,621 |
1,717 |
|
Nixa |
15,925 |
14,716 |
1,209 |
|
Blue Springs |
53,099 |
51,910 |
1,189 |
|
Raymore |
15,530 |
14,449 |
1,081 |
|
Troy |
9,862 |
8,948 |
914 |
|
St. Charles |
62,304 |
61,450 |
854 |
|
Kansas City |
444,965 |
444,199 |
766 |
All but two of Missouri’s major cities gained in this period, led by Columbia. Jefferson City gained 204 people, St. Joseph gained 59, Joplin 414 and Cape Girardeau 290. Springfield lost 403 individuals, and St. Louis 6,343, an almost 2 percent drop.
While many places in greater metro areas gained population, some inner ring suburbs lost population. Around St. Louis, University City lost 264 persons, Ballwin lost 248, Maryland Heights 222 and Florissant 481. Around Kansas City, Independence lost 758 persons, Grandview 286 and Raytown 411, a 1.4 percent decrease.
Worth County
Grant City, in Worth County, lost 25
people, making it the place with the largest percentage loss, 2.9
percent. All five of the county’s major places, in fact, dropped
population: tiny Denver got tinier by one person, making it the
state’s second largest percentage drop at 2.6 percent when it went
from 38 to 37 people. Worth City lost two people, a 2.3 percent
drop; Allendale lost one person, a 1.96 percent drop; and Sheridan
four people, a 2.27 percent drop.
Worth County as a whole has experienced an estimated 6 percent
decline in population from 1990 to 2004.
U.S.
Nationally, Elk Grove, a new city outside
Sacramento, Calif., had the nation’s fastest growth rate among
places over 100,000 at 11.6 percent. North Las Vegas was second at
11.4 percent, and Port St. Lucie, Fla., third at 11 percent. The top
25 places by percentage was entirely Sun Belt, with one exception:
Joliet, outside Chicago, 4.1 percent.
Phoenix had the largest numerical population increase, 44,456 persons, followed by San Antonio, 21,420, and Forth Worth, 21,000. New York continued to be the most populous U.S. city, at 8.1 million, more than double the size of Los Angeles (second, at 3.8 million). Third was Chicago, at 2.8 million; Houston was fourth at 2.0 million and Philadelphia fifth at 1.5 million. Kansas City was 40th with 444,965 persons; St. Louis City 52nd with 344,362.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau Population Estimates Program.
