Quick math time: How many cities in Eastern Jackson County are in the state’s 10 biggest cities?
If you said two, you’re safe. But you can make a pretty good case that the real answer is three.
Let’s look at that list, based on data the state released this summer with its annual updates of population estimates, city by city and county by county.
The biggest city remains Kansas City, with 450,375 residents. (That’s Kansas City proper, of course. St. Louis and its surburbs remain substantially larger than Kansas City and its suburbs on both sides of the state line.)
No. 2 is St. Louis (350,759), followed by Springfield (154,777) and Independence (110,704).
But will Independence always be No. 4? It’s hard to say. While Independence has lost population every year this decade and is down 2.3 percent overall since 2000, No. 5 Columbia is at 99,174 and growing quickly. It’s grown 17.3 percent since 2000.
Still, there is some hint that the decline is slowing and might reverse in Independence. The drop accelerated in the middle part of the decade, losing 265 residents in 2002, 486 in 2004 and 728 in 2005 – but it was off 552 in 2006 and just 79 in 2007.
Back to the list: No. 6, Lee’s Summit, is now at an estimated 82,820 and is growing about at quickly as Columbia, 17.1 percent since 2000.
So what is that third Eastern Jackson County city in the top 10? The figures put O’Fallon at No. 7 (74,976), just ahead of No. 8, St. Joseph (73,912). Then it’s St. Charles at No. 9 (63,644) and ... drum roll ... well, St. Peters (55,092) at No. 10.
But wait a minute. Blue Springs is right there at an estimated 55,031, and the math is working in its favor. St. Peters has grown a respectable 7.2 percent since 2000, but Blue Springs has grown 14.5 percent. It’s fair to speculate that sometime in 2008, it will nudge ahead into No. 10.
Grain Valley up and up
Grain Valley has almost doubled in population during this decade, from 5,354 in 2000 to 9,822 in 2007. That’s an eye-popping 83 percent.
Oak Grove, with 6,838 residents, is on a torrid pace too, up 23.5 percent since 2000.
We’re No. 2
Jackson County the state’s second most populous county, with 666,890 residents, behind St. Louis County, with 995,118.
Two other St. Louis area counties, St. Charles, (343,952) and Jefferson (216,078) are in the top half dozen. Green County (Springfield) is No. 4 at 263,980. Clay County is No. 6 at 211,952.
