MO population grows but some areas shrink

A University of Missouri report says the state’s population grew by 11-thousand people from 2019 to 2020. 

It says the Springfield area and some of the suburban areas of St. Louis and Kansas City experienced strong population growth, but many rural Missouri counties, St. Louis City and St. Louis County are losing residents. 

Mark White, a professor at MU’s Truman School of Public Affairs, says a growing area that attracts retirees or second home buyers—like around the Lake of the Ozarks—may face challenges if they cannot attract or retain working-age people to keep pace with its population growth. 

He says the increasing popularity of remote work creates opportunities for some communities to attract new residents or retain existing ones, but only if there is sufficient infrastructure, including broadband internet access.