Columbia leaders explain how growth shown in census helps boost economy

The most recent census numbers from the US Census Bureau show Columbia’s population ballooning by 10,068 residents since the 2010 census.

That comes out to about a 9 percent increase, bringing its total estimated population to119,108 people.

This speedy growth put it just behind Kansas City as the fastest growing city in Missouri.

City leaders said Wednesday the growth helps attract new businesses to Columbia.

“As businesses are looking to hire and expand, they know that they have the work force to be able to do so,” said Chamber of Commerce president Matt McCormick. “If you have a shrinking work force its hard to expand and when you’ve got a growing workforce like what we have right now, it makes it easier because you have that work force they’re to be able to hire.”

He said Columbia is quickly becoming known for its entrepreneaural growth and opportunities as well, so that could account for some of those soaring numbers.

“We’ve become a hub especially for mid-Missouri for entrepreneurs and a place to start a business and grow a business,” said McCormick.

The University of Missouri could account for some of that growth. Last year the university saw its student population increase to about 35,000.

This year, that number would be lower since the university has projected lower enrollment.

McCormick said they’re keeping an eye on those numbers so that they aren’t caught unaware when the 2020 census comes out.

“That way we can prepare and say ‘okay this is what the numbers were at the end of 2015, this is what they’re looking at in 2016, and what does that mean for the next four years,'” he said. “When you start taking a look at that down enrollment, that’s not just a one year deal and you know classes are four to five years so what does that mean to that.”

Mark Perry with the United States Census Bureau did confirm Wednesday that college students are included in the local population totals..

He said they use the concept of usual residence and count people where they live or sleep most of the time. For students, that would be at the university or college they attend.

Kansas City only saw a 3 percent growth since the 2010 census despite gaining 5,000 more residents than Columbia.

St. Louis lost 3,600 residents in the past five years, putting their population at about 316,000 people.

Columbia also surpassed Independence with nearly 119,000 people.

Jefferson City added about 90 residents in the five year period since the 2010 census, a modest .5 percent increase.

According to the Census Bureau, Boone County was the second fastest growing county with a 7.5 percent increase in the past five years.

But despite that growth, more Missouri towns lost residents than gained them.