Boone County’s population increased by nearly 1,500 people from 2017 to 2018, according to the data from the U.S. Census Bureau released Thursday.
The data showed that 55 of Missouri’s 114 counties and the city of St. Louis lost population. Statewide, the population increased by 0.3 percent.
Some of the counties’ losses were quite small. Holt County in northwest Missouri, for example, lost just five people, or 0.11 percent of its population of about 4,400. Howell County lost eight people, or 0.02 percent of its population of a little more than 40,000.
Boone and its surrounding counties altogether saw a moderate net population growth of 1,342. However, most of that growth occurred in Boone County, according to the data.
Four of Boone’s seven surrounding counties saw small population declines. The largest of these occurred in Randolph County, which lost 0.68 percent of its population, or 167 people.
Charles Holland, county engagement specialist in community economic development with MU Extension, said he was “at a loss for the decrease in population.”
“I see that the county is getting older and youth is moving out,” he said of Randolph County. “It may come down to quality of living. Infrastructure, schools and broadband play a huge role in where we live today.”
Another contributing factor could be the state of the local economy.
“Boone County is a dominant employment center for this part of the state,” Pat Curry, a community economic specialist with MU Extension, said. “When economies in places like Boone and Cole are not doing well, we tend to see tepid indicators for surrounding counties as well.”
Curry said many of the Missouri counties that lost population have seen little economic growth since the end of the recession.
“Boone and Moniteau counties are the only counties in this area that have more jobs today than they did in 2007,” he said.
“When things slow down here, it doesn’t surprise me that population indicators have all turned south, too,” Curry said. “Since 2010, this is by far the slowest growth we’ve had.”
Holland said that another possible culprit could be the partnership between MU and Moberly Area Community College. The Missourian reported in November that the partnership allows MACC students to live in MU residence halls. It was reported that the program grew from 17 to 186 students between the fall of 2017 and 2018.
The program’s growth could contribute to the population figures if former Randolph County residents reported MU as their place of residence while they study here.
Supervising editor is Scott Swafford.
Original Published April 24, 2019: Here