Geographic Profile of Population Change 1990-2000: St. Louis Region


	GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF POPULATION CHANGE 1990 TO 2000


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ST. LOUIS REGION

The St. Louis region was organized in 1965 as a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), in accordance with the Federal Highway Act of 1962, for the purpose of providing a mechanism for coordinating the planning, funding and development of major transportation facilities. The concept of coordinated transportation system development is an old one which began at the federal level in 1921 /11 with the design of measures to coordinate the creation of a national highway system. The need to extend coordination to sub-parts of the nation continued to increase with mounting pressures put on national, state and metropolitan area transportation systems from growing population and increased vehicle ownership and travel desire. The cognizant federal and state agencies responded by establishing a network of MPOs with planning and coordinating jurisdiction over specified multi-county regions. Only through the formation and operation of such agencies does federal and state financial assistance for transportation development and improvement continue to be provided. The St. Louis region was delineated to embrace those counties with the bulk of local travel demand generated by the major urban core and surrounding counties.

Population change for the St. Louis region from 1990 to 2000 is depicted in the following series of dot map illustrations (Figures18 through 23 and 25 through 35). As noted in the preceding section on the St. Louis MSA, the St. Louis region experienced a total growth of 93,319 persons. This growth is largely a story of non-white population increase. Significant growth was noted for the Black population as well as for the Asian/Pacific Islander category and the Hispanic ethnic group .

The population distributions in the map illustrations that follow reflect the 2000 racial categories. These categories differ from those of the 1990 Census in that Hawaiian was broken out of the 1990 Asian/Pacific Islander category and multiple race categories were added. However, the combined effect of the Hawaiian breakout and the multiple race categories represent only 1.3 percent of the St. Louis region's population. Hawaiian, in turn is only 1.7 percent of the combined Asian and Hawaiian population. These differences do not invalidate the perceptual patterns presented by the dot map illustrations. For an estimate of the 2000 population by the 1990 racial categories, see the above table in the St. Louis MSA section.

The data are presented by Census Tracts. The St. Louis region comprises 507 tracts, ranging in number per county from 3 for Monroe to 259 for St. Louis.

Masked by the region's net growth are many dynamics of localized population change. Within any given county, some parts lost while other parts gained. Less variation is noted for those counties farther from the urban core but here, also, differential growth and loss for their sub-parts is found.

TOTAL POPULATION

Accounting for the St. Louis region's net growth of 93,319 persons was a gain of 227,445 for some Census Tracts and a loss of 133,658 persons for other tracts. Gains were prominent in the outlying rim of the region while the loss took place in the mid part (See Figure 18).




Figure 18: Population Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

Much of the gains and losses was a redistribution of the region's population. This redistribution is a historical trend, being traced back many decades. Initially, St. Louis County's growth was augmented by redistribution from St. Louis City. Subsequently St. Charles County, to the greater extent, and Franklin and Jefferson counties, to a smaller extent became recipients of population shifts from St. Louis County. In particular, St. Louis County's "inner-ring suburbs" have seen shifts to other parts of the region.

In the region's metro-east area, this shifting has generally been from the older industrialized parts to the newer developing suburbs above the bluffs. Generally the shifts can be attributed to quests for such quality of life improvements as better living environments, improved educational opportunities, the perception of safer neighborhoods, better opportunities for home ownership and many other factors.


	WHITE POPULATION

When 1990 white population is compared with the Census 2000 racial category of white as a single race, a net loss of 11,752 persons is indicated. The Census 2000 racial categories, however, include 31,315 persons in multiple races. Based on national data on race by single category and that category combined with other races, it is estimated that 38.6 percent of the multiple-race population would have been counted in the White category were the multiple-race reporting not an option. This would add 12,088 persons to the White category, giving it a nominal gain of 336 persons.




Figure 19: White Population Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

Stability for the white population relative to growth for the other racial categories reduced the regional white percentage from 80.9 in 1990 to 77.4 for 2000. This is practically the same pattern as noted for the nation which dropped from 80.3 percent for white alone in 1990 to 77.1 percent for white in combination with another race in 2000. This pattern was also borne out by the four regions. Another commonality in the white population trend can be seen in the national dot map illustration (Figure 2), and particularly in the illustration for the Midwest region (Figure 8). Many of the older central cities (such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and even the Twin Cities), similar to St. older central cities (such as Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and even the Twin Cities), similar to St. Louis, experienced white population shifts to outlying counties in the metropolitan area.

BLACK POPULATION

When the 2000 Census Black as a single race category is compared with the 1990 Black population, an addition of 51,993 persons for the St. Louis region is noted. Based on national data (see discussion of White population above), 12.4 percent of the region's 2000 multiple race population would be attributed to the Black category. Accordingly, Black population growth would be 55,886, for a 2000 number of 477,950. This would represent an increase in its share of total regional population from 17.7 percent in 1990 to 19.2 percent in 2000. The magnitude of change exceeds that of the nation as a whole where Blacks increased their share of total from 12.1 percent in1990 to 12.9 percent in 2000.

Nationally, most Black population growth was in metropolitan areas. Where found, losses tend to be scattered among rural areas in Kansas and Missouri and some metro areas near San Francisco and north of Baltimore, MD. For the Midwest alone, Black concentrations resemble those in the West in being either in counties located within metropolitan areas, or in counties with universities or military bases, or both. Metropolitan area concentrations tend to be in central cities (although dispersion has occurred over the past several decades), a pattern clearly shown on the Midwest dot map illustration (Figure10).




	Figure 20: Black Population Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

For the St. Louis region, the central city of St. Louis comprises 37.5 percent of the 2000 Black population, with neighboring St. Louis County constituting 40.8 percent. St. Clair and Madison Counties, in Illinois, account for the next larger percentages. This distribution has resulted from decades of out-migration from the City of St. Louis. The city's Black percentage of its total population, on the other hand, has continually grown from 41 percent in 1970, to 46 percent in 1980, to 47 percent in 1990 and to 51 percent in 2000.

These changes have been accompanied by shifts in the distribution of Black population within the city. In 1980 over 90 percent of the Black population lived north of an axis generally described as OaklandLacledeMarket. In 1990 this had diminished to 84 percent and by 2000, to 68 percent. As can be seen on the St. Louis region dot map illustration (Figure 20), considerable decline in Black population is noted for an area of the north portion of the City of St. Louis and considerable increase in city's south portion as well as substantial growth in far north St. Louis County. This clustering of loss and gain represents net changes for those areas, not necessarily direct movement from losing areas to growing areas. Documentation of the latter would require detailed intra-regional migration data, a resource not generally available.

Applying the multiple-race to single race conversion procedure described above for the White and Black Population and re-including Hawaiian, the Asian population added 18,617 to its 1990 number of 23,550 for a 2000 count of 42,167. At a growth rate of 79.1 percent, the Asian population represented the region's fastest growing racial category. This growth increased the Asian share of total regional population on a more modest scale, however, from 1 percent in 1990 to 1.7 percent in 2000.

ASIAN POPULATION GAIN AND LOSS

Nationwide, the Asian population grew by 3 percent. As the national map shows gains were almost all in metropolitan areas, with only two counties showing losses. Probably not surprising, the only counties with Asian populations over 50 percent were in Hawaii. Only in two non-Hawaiian or Alaskan counties, Santa Clara and San Francisco, did the Asian population represent 25 percent or more of total.

With virtually no exceptions, the Midwest region dot map illustration (Figure 11) reflects the national pattern of growth concentrations in metropolitan areas. Population reporting Asian as a single race was under 4 percent in all of these states, with Illinois being highest, at 3.4 percent. In Missouri 1.1 percent of the population is reported as Asian.

On the St. Louis region dot map illustration (Figure 21), all counties show Asian growth, with St. Louis County reporting the largest actual gain, and St. Louis City the highest percentage increase. Asians represent, at most, only 2 percent of the population of any regional county. In St. Louis County, Asian population for the three adjacent cities of Creve Coeur, Town and Country and Maryland Heights range between 6 and 7.5 percent of total. In St. Louis City, Vietnamese represent the largest of the Asian groups, increasing from 999 in 1990 to 3,199 in 2000. Most of these, at least originally, settled in the south Grand area.




	Figure 21: Asian Population Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

HISPANIC POPULATION

As noted previously, "Hispanic" refers to an ethnic grouping of the population and is not a separate race. Hispanic may be any of the reported races (i.e., White, Black, Indian and Asian or a mixture of these).

Nationwide, the 2000 Hispanic population, 35.3 million, as well as its rate of growth from 1990, 12.5 percent, exceeded these measures for the Black racial category. This marked a first-time occurrence in that regard. The national dot map illustration (Figure 6) shows that although much of the growth was in metropolitan areas, a large number of rural counties also gained. It is expected that much of the non-metropolitan area gain, particularly in the Midwest, is connected to employment in meat processing plants. As the Midwestern map (Figure12) shows, several counties had significant increases. Due to a large surge in the Mexican population, 17.1 percent of Cook County's population is Hispanic, up from 13.6 percent in 1990.




Figure 22: Hispanic Population Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

Hispanic population in the St. Louis region added 12,612 persons to its 1990 count of 25,575 to yield a 2000 count of 38,187. Its 49.3 percent rate of growth was second to the Asian racial category (which may also include the Hispanic ethnic origin). Like Asian, the effect on its regional share was much more modest, raising from 1.1 percent in 1990 to 1.5 percent in 2000. 1.5

As Figure 22 shows, gains were dispersed in almost all counties. St. Louis County experienced the largest increase at 4.9 percent. It also contains the largest amount of 2000 Hispanic population, at 14,577. At the city level, Fairmont City in St. Clair County had by far the highest proportion of Hispanic to total population, at 55 percent. This was up from 28 percent in 1990.


	Figure 23 depicts the region's geographic pattern of its principal races as reported by the 2000 Census. The direction of Black population change noted in Figure 20 has expanded the pattern northward and westward from north St. Louis City and immediate St. Louis County suburbs.




		Figure 23: Population by Major Racial Group 2000 St. Louis Region

	POPULATION 65 AND OVER

The St. Louis region's growth in population 65 and over is described as moderate with an increase of 14,182 persons. This raises its total population in this age category from 305,638 in 1990 to 319,820 in 2000, representing a growth rate of 4.6 percent. As a share of total population, this age category rose very nominally from 12.8 percent in 1990 to 12.9 percent in 2000. At the county level, the largest increase in percent of total was indicated for Jefferson County which rose from 8.3 percent in 1990 to 9.2 percent in 2000. St. Louis City experienced a drop from 16.6 percent in 1990 to 13.7 percent in 2000.




	Figure 24: Population 65 and Over Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

The St. Louis region's growth in the "65 and over" category contrasts with that of the nation, where approximately 35 million (12.4 percent of total population) were reported as 65 and older in the 2000 Census. The 12.4 percent 2000 value is up slightly from the 11.9 percent figure in 1990. Reflecting this pattern of overall aging of the national population, projections in the 2000 Statistical Abstract were 20.3 percent by 2050. Much of the aging of the population is due to the effect of aging "baby boomers." This group is usually considered as those born between 19461964. In actual numbers, 75 million babies were born during those years.


	POPULATION UNDER 18

For the St. Louis region, this category grew by 24,446 persons from a 1990 number of 627,047 to a 2000 value of 651,493. Its proportion of total population dropped to 26.2 percent, continuing a trend over several decades, from 36 percent in 1970 to 29 percent in 1980 to 28 percent in 1990. This trend is noted for all counties where 1970 highs of 41.3 and 40.0 percent were presented by St. Charles and Jefferson counties, respectively. For incorporated places, 2000 values range from lows under 20 percent in older cities in St. Louis County such as Brentwood, Maplewood and Richmond Heights, to highs over 35 percent in cities as demographically diverse as Wellston and Cottleville, Missouri and Alorton, Illinois.




Figure 25: Population Under 18 Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

Nationwide, population under 18 comprised 25.7 percent of 2000 total population. This represented essentially no change from 1990.

As noted on the St. Louis region dot map illustration (Figure 25), geographic shifts are generally consistent with total population shifts. There were slight gains in the outer rim and declines in the older core.




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	HOUSEHOLDS

The region added 62,700 households; 52,100 in Missouri and 10,600 in Illinois. Geographic pattern of household change (Figure 26) was similar to that of population, a loss in the older, inner areas with increase in the more newly developing areas. St. Charles County led in household gain with 27,300 and was followed by St. Louis County which added 24,200. The least household gain, at 1,500, was recorded by St. Clair county. St. Louis City saw a decrease of 17,900.




	Figure 26: Household Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

The St. Louis region saw an increase of 18,200 family households from 1990 to 2000. However, due to a greater growth of non-family households, family household share of total households declined moderately from 69.7 percent to 67.1 percent.


	FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS




	Figure 27: Family Household Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

The overall geographic pattern of change shown on the St. Louis region dot map illustration (Figure 27) resembles that of overall population change (Figure 18), with losses in the older core and gains in the outer rim. Both gains and losses were basically proportional to overall population change. At the county level, 2000 family household share of total households ranged from 52 percent in St. Louis City to highs of approximately 76 percent in Jefferson, St. Charles and Monroe counties. St. Louis County, containing much older suburban households, indicated about 67 percent. Compared to 1990 all county-level family households as a percent of total households either remained relatively stable or declined.


	FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS

Regional-level female-headed household as a proportion of total households was up slightly from 12.7 percent in 1990 to 13.6 percent in 2000. At the county level, St. Louis City (also a county) has the highest proportion of female-headed households: 20.5 percent in 1990, growing slightly to 21.3 percent in 2000. Next highest is St. Clair County with 16.4 percent in 1990 and 17.1 percent in 2000. Very low percentages are found in the more newly developing areas as well as in the less populated. Monroe County is lowest at 6.4 percent in 1990 and 7.3 percent in 2000. The ratio of female-headed to total households increased for all counties from 1990 to 2000, however. Nationwide, family households maintained by women without husbands in 2000 numbered 12.9 million(12.2 percent). This represents an increase from 11.6 percent in 1990.


	Figure 28: Female-Headed Household Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region


	As the regional dot map illustration (Figure 28) shows, the geographic pattern of change is a reduction in number of female-headed households in a north part of St. Louis City, in adjacent St. Louis County suburbs and in the older urban areas in Illinois. Concentrated increases are shown in a south part of St. Louis City and in northern St. Louis County.


	The older developed portions of St. Charles County are also reflecting moderate concentrations. The growth patterns may be related to housing availability at affordable scales in the older, developed portions of the region. Loss patterns may reflect the overall population decline of the effected areas.




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	CHILDREN LIVING WITH GRANDPARENTS

For the St. Louis region, children in grandparents care, an arrangement commonly referred to as "grandparents as parents," increased moderately from 44,458 in 1990 to 49,439 in 2000. The resulting growth rate of 11.2 percent is significantly below that of the nation, at 42.2 percent (from 3.15 million in 1990 to 4.48 million in 2000). Reasons/causes for this increase are somewhat speculative, but undoubtedly such factors as drugs, HIV/AIDS, imprisonment, divorce, teen pregnancy and unemployed parents play roles.

According to the 2000 Census, children living with grandparents in the St. Louis region represent 7.6 percent of the region's population 18 and under. This ratio exceeds the 6.2 percent figure for the nation as well as Missouri and Illinois proportions at 5.5 percent and 6.6 percent respectively. The St. Louis region's countylevel proportions range from a low of 3 percent in St. Charles to a high of 12 percent in St. Louis City.


	Figure 29: Children Living with Grandparents Change1990-2000 St. Louis Region

The St. Louis region dot map illustration (Figure 29) bears some similarity to the female-headed household illustration (Figure 28). Possibly some of the reduction in children living with grandparents is, therefore, due to the reduction in female-headed households. The reduction is also related to overall population decline. Some areas with gains correspond to areas that gained female-headed households but lost total population.

NON-FAMILY HOUSEHOLDS

Non-family households comprise one-person households and unrelated persons living together households. The St. Louis region added 44,501 non-family households raising its 1990 count of 273,752 to a 2000 total of 318,253. As noted above, non-family households increased more than did family-households and now represent 32.9 percent of all households. This proportion is up slightly from 30.2 percent in 1990. The higher rates of non-family household growth, as well as total family growth, were found in the region's St. Charles, Jefferson and Franklin western rim counties. The largest numerical increase was in St. Louis County, with St. Louis City showing a loss, as it did for all households.


	Figure 30: Non-Family Household Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region


	Non-family household change patterns (Figure 30) contrasts with those of family households. Considerable non-family household growth is noted for parts of the older, central areas of the region which experienced family household loss. Non-family household growth also occurred in the region's periphery along with family household growth.

ONE-PERSON HOUSEHOLDS

One-person households comprise the largest part of non-family households. For the St. Louis region one-person households increased by 32,728 from 234,835 in 1990 to 267,563 in 2000, with all counties gaining. This raised the region's proportion of one-person households to total households from 25.9 percent to 27.6 percent. The region's proportion of one-person households exceeded that of the nation for both 1990 and 2000 which was 24.6 percent and 25.8 percent, respectively. For incorporated places of 100,000 or more across the nation, St Louis City's proportion of one-person households, at 40.3 percent of total households, is tied for 7th largest. If the one-person household category were subdivided into oneperson with householder over 65, the city's 32 percent would be second only to Pittsburgh's 34.9 percent.




Figure 31: One-PersonHousehold Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

One of the interesting facts from the Census is that this is the first time, both nationally and for the St. Louis region, that the number of oneperson households exceed that for married couples having own children under 18 (the "traditional" family household). For the nation, one-person households in 2000 numbered 27.2 million with the "traditional" households being 24.8 million . Within the region, in 1990 all counties had more "traditional" than oneperson households, with St. Louis City the exception at 42,879 more one-person than "traditional." In 2000, the city's one-person households exceeded "traditional" households by 43,322 (although the city lost 17,855 total households). Madison, St. Clair and St. Louis counties have seen their one-person households surpass the "traditional" households.

The fastergrowing counties of Monroe, Jefferson, Franklin and St. Charles still have more "traditional" households, but the difference is diminishing, with more oneperson than "traditional" households being added.


The St. Louis region dot map illustration (Figure 31) of geographical shifts shows concentrated reductions in north and south St. Louis City. In north St. Louis City the pattern is consistent with total population shifts but in south city, it is contrary to those shifts (total population grew while one-person households decreased). The latter suggests a replacement of one-person households with larger households. Much of the one-person household increase for St. Louis County is contrary to total population loss for those areas, suggesting the replacement of larger households with one-person households. The patterns for the balance of the region generally are consistent with total population change.



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	HOUSING UNITS


	Housing units change patterns are similar to those for total population change (Compare Figure 32 below with Figure 18 above) and household change (Figure 26).

Gains are seen in the growing outer rim areas with losses in the older core. A major exception is noted for the area of West St. Louis County abutting Interstate Highway 270. Here the addition of units is noted where total population declined. This may be attributed to the acquisition of newly constructed condominium units as well as conventional single-family detached units by one- to two-person households.

Some of the losses, such as in northern St. Charles County, Kinloch and Bridgeton in St. Louis County and in Bethalto in Madison County reflect home buyouts either for airport noise mitigation or for homes damaged after the 1993 flood. Other losses reflect more general demolitions of houses frequently boardedup, as unsafe for habitation.

Figure 32:
Housing Units Change 1990-2000
St. Louis Region


	OWNER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS

The geographic pattern of change for owner-occupied housing units (Figure 33) is similar to that of total housing units change (Figure 32). As percentages, county values for owneroccupied units ranged from the expected lowest in St. Louis City, at 46.9 percent to a high of 83 percent in Jefferson County

Figure 33: Owner-Occupied Housing Units Change 1990-2000
St. Louis Region

RENTER-OCCUPIED HOUSING UNITS


	The prominent feature of geographic change for renter-occupied housing units is the relatively larger loss by the St. Louis City (See Figure 34). A loss may occur by the unit becoming vacant, converted or demolished. The demolitions noted under owneroccupied units also included rental units in St. Louis City and older urban areas like Alton and the East St. Louis area.

Figure 34:
Renter-Occupied Housing Units Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

Renter-housing unit gain was far less significant than loss. Also, gain generally is more geographically dispersed than loss. An area may gain renter-occupied housing units through new construction of multi-family units, conversion of existing units (typically multi-family) or through the rental of previously owner-occupied single family detached units.

VACANT HOUSING UNITS

Concentrations of vacancy increases are noted for part of north and south St. Louis City where substantial Black and White population losses, respectively, occurred. Many of these are expected to be apartment unit vacancies but a number of them no doubt are single-family detached units.


	Figure 35: Vacant Housing Units Change 1990-2000 St. Louis Region

Concentrations of vacant housing loss are noted for St. Louis City and the west part of St. Clair County (See Figure 35). Many of these no doubt represent demolitions although some may include former vacant units that are now occupied. Decreases in the surrounding counties are expected to represent the filling of vacant apartment units.




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GEOGRAPHIC PROFILE OF POPULATION CHANGE
1990 TO 2000

Data Center

East-West Gateway Coordinating Council
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St. Louis, MO 63102
phone: (314) 421-4220 or (618) 274-2750
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last update: Thursday, August 14, 2003