[….]

Missouri’s longer-term growth is below average, but largely consistent with the rest of the Midwest

Examining population trends over the past decade offers stronger insight into the long-term population trends shaping Missouri. Since 2010, many of Missouri’s metro and nonmetro areas have not kept pace with many other parts of the country. As a whole, Missouri’s metro counties grew at a slower pace than the nation and in aggregate the state’s nonmetro counties declined a faster rate than nonmetro counties nationwide. Only 11 of the Missouri’s 114 counties and 1 independent city, grew faster than the nation’s annual growth rate. 78 of Missouri’s 114 counties and 1 independent city (68%) had fewer residents in 2020 than they had in 2010; 64 of those counties were in nonmetro areas. The most substantial losses occurred in St. Louis City and St. Louis County, and in the Missouri Bootheel.

Two primary factors—migration (domestic and international) and natural change (births minus deaths)—drive population growth and decline. Overall, the state’s 11,000 net new residents in 2020 marked the smallest annual increase in the past ten years. At the beginning of the decade, Missouri averaged 18,000 to 20,000 more births than deaths, while the state averaged only 10,000 to 12,000 more births than deaths over the second half of the decade. During this latter part of the decade, the diminished rate of natural increase was offset, in part, by positive gains from international migration. Although improving, Missouri experienced net domestic out-migration throughout the decade.

[….]

From time to time a right wingnut concern troll will try to leave a comment here. Our system defaults to automatic moderation – that is, comments have to be approved. We don’t allow such comments to be linked to the original post, but on occasion, when we see fit, we’ll mock these attempts.

We see fit.

An attempted comment to a post on Eric Schmitt (r) clearing the room at CPAC:

Obviously you are a tree hugging woke liberal journalist
I live in Missouri we are in debt up to are ears people are not leaving in droves like blue states but you go ahead and think socialism is the way to go. I will live free without the government telling me what to do

“…Although improving, Missouri experienced net domestic out-migration throughout the decade…”

“…During this latter part of the decade, the diminished rate of natural increase was offset, in part, by positive gains from international migration…”

Heh. Bet that one really chaps Eric Schmitt’s (r) ass.

Define “woke”. WWJD?

“Are” or “our”?

Because libertarians are just republicans who want to blow dope.

Today, a day on the road in central Missouri:

Socialism on I-70 in Missouri:

Libertarians and other right wingnut ideological purists will continue to wade and swim across the Missouri River as they’ve always done.

…I will live free without the government telling me what to do

By the way, when anyone posts a comment here on Show Me Progress the system records their email and IP addresses.