Missouri Per Capita Income in 2001 and Change from 1991
Missouri per capita income, unadjusted for change in the value of the dollar, increased from $18,514 in 1991 to $28,221 in 2001. To make a comparison of per capita income in constant dollars, it is necessary to calculate how much of the increase is attributable to change in the value of the dollar. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in 1991 was 136.2 (1982-1984=100). The CPI increased to 177.1 in 2001. When per capita income is adjusted for change in the CPI, the 1991 per capita income for Missouri would be $24,068. Therefore, change in real per capita income in Missouri from 1991 to 2001 would be the difference between $28,221 and $24,068 - an increase in "real" dollars of $4,153 as indicated in Table 1.
Source of Per Capita Income Data
The source of per capita income data in this section is the U.S. Department of Commerce Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). That agency has responsibility for generating annual estimates of income and employment for counties in the U.S. As presented in the overview of this section, the BEA reports estimates of total personal income for each county. That estimate includes personal income from all sources including profits of business owners, wages and salaries, income from dividends, interest and rent and transfer payments. Per capita income for each county is obtained by dividing total personal income of the county by the estimated population of the county in that year. These data from the BEA reports in 1991 and in 2001 are the basis for this section of regional profiles.
Distribution of 2001 Per Capita Income Among Counties and Regions
Table 1 shows an increase in Missouri per capita income from $24,068 in 1991 to $28,221 in 2001 - an increase of 17.3 percent. Table 1 also reports per capita income in 1991 and in 2001 for each Missouri county along with change in per capita income for that decade reported in dollars and percent. The table shows that the highest per capita income in 2001 was $41,573 in St. Louis County. That far exceeded other counties. Second highest was Platte County with $35,053, followed by Jackson County with $31,031. Following Jackson there were three counties that were in a virtual tie for 4th highest: Clay $30,535, Cole $30,509 and St. Charles $30,546.
| Map 1 click map for larger version 
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Altogether there were 36 counties in which 2001 per capita income exceeded $22,000. Map 1 shows that those counties, in addition to being concentrated in the Kansas City and St. Louis metro areas, are generally those that have a town with population of 10,000 or more wherever they may be located in the state. Typical are counties like Audrain (Mexico), Adair (Kirksville), Butler (Poplar Bluff), etc.
The map also shows there were 30 counties in which per capita income ranged between $14,700 and $18,600. Twenty-two of those counties are scattered across the Ozarks in southern Missouri. These lower-income counties are about equally divided between east and west Ozarks. The lowest per capita income was in DeKalb County with $14,732. A major reason for low per capita income in DeKalb County is the presence of a state prison there. The prisoners are counted as a part of the population of the county but make little, if any, direct contribution to county total personal income. Other than DeKalb County there was only one other county, Oregon in the Ozarks, with a 2001 per capita income of less than $16,000.
| Map 2 click map for larger version 
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Change in Per Capita Income Among Regions and Counties 1991-2001
Map 2 shows the distribution of 1991-2001 changes in per capita income among the counties. According to the map, there were only nine counties in which per capita income increased by more than $5,000. Four of those counties are located in suburban St. Louis (St. Louis and St. Charles) and suburban Kansas City (Clay and Platte). Others with large increases included Greene County (Springfield), Cole and adjoining Osage County in the Jefferson City area. The other two counties in this top category were Sullivan adjacent to Adair County (Kirksville) and Butler County (Poplar Bluff) in southeast Missouri. Those two counties not only had two of the largest dollar increases in per capita income but also had the two highest percentage increases in the state (32 percent in Sullivan County and 30.1 percent in Butler County).
There were 51 counties in which per capita income increased by between $2,500 and $4,999 from 1991-2001. As indicated on the map, the greatest concentrations of those counties include 14 located within and surrounding the Kansas City metro area, 12 counties following Interstate 44 between St. Louis County and Springfield, and an additional 10 counties following Interstate 55 south of St. Louis. The remaining 15 counties whose per capita income increased by between $2,500 and $4,999 are dispersed throughout the state, although five are concentrated in the southwest corner.
There was one county, Worth, in which per capita income declined from 1991-2001 and 10 counties in which per capita income increased, but by less than $1,000. Eight of those 10 counties are located in rural north Missouri with the other two being Vernon County in West Central and Texas County in South Central.
In assessing change in per capita income, it is important to recall that per capita income can go up if income remains constant but population declines. On the other hand, if income increases but population increases even more, per capita income may increase only slightly even though there may have been significant economic growth. A comparison of St. Louis and St. Charles Counties helps make the point. Median family income is about equal in the two counties but per capita income was more than $41,000 in St. Louis County which had little population increase during the 1990s and was just over $30,000 in St. Charles County which had very significant population growth in the 1990s. Another example could be Christian County, between Springfield and Branson, which had both Missouri's greatest rate of increase in total personal income from 1991-2001 and Missouri's greatest increase in rate of population growth from 1991-2001. Despite those increases, the Christian County increase in per capita income from 1991 to 2001 was only $1,608, far below the statewide increase of $4,153. The population growth in Christian County was so great it had a suppressing effect on the amount of per capita in the county.
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OSEDA Regional Grouping of Counties Many demographic factors vary by region within the state of Missouri. For the convenience of our user community, OSEDA prepares tables using three different regional groupings of counties: Extension, Economic Development and Transportation. For each of these groupings, one table summarizes the indicators by regional total and a second table shows values for each county grouped by region. Users may select the county grouping most helpful for their application and understanding. |
Distribution and Change of Per Capita Income 1991-2001 by Regions
1991-2001 Per Capita Income Changes for University of Missouri Extension Regions
Per capita income in 2001 among the eight Extension Regions ranged from a low of $20,205 in South Central to a high of $33,769 in East Central (Table 2). West Central had the second greatest regional per capita income with $29,453. East Central and West Central are the only two regions having a per capita income above the statewide $28,221.
Although per capita income in the Central Region is the 3rd highest ($24,951) it, along with the remaining regions, had a regional per capita income well below the statewide $28,221. The reason statewide per capita income is well above per capita income in six of the eight regions is because of the income and population dominance of the St. Louis and Kansas City Metro areas. St. Louis County alone accounts for nearly 27 percent of Missouri total personal income. To illustrate the effect, if St. Louis County total personal income and population were not included as a part of the state personal income and population totals, statewide per capita income in 2001 would have declined from $28,221 to $25,452.
The difference between per capita income in the East Central and West Central Regions and the remaining six regions increased from 1991-2001. For example the difference in per capita income between the South Central Region (the lowest in both 1990 and 2000) and the East Central Region was $11,000 in 1991 but about $13,500 in 2001. Regional per capita income increased by $5,269 from 1991 to 2001 in the East Central Region and by $4,604 in the West Central Region. In no other region was the dollar increase in per capita income from 1991 to 2001 greater than $3,500.
1991-2001 Per Capita Income Changes for Missouri Department of Economic Development Regions
Per capita income in 2001 among the thirteen DED Regions ranged from a low of $16,994 in the South Central region to a high of $34,451 in the St. Louis MSA (Table 3). The Kansas City MSA had the second greatest regional per capita income in 2001 with $30,331. The St. Louis MSA and Kansas City MSA regions are the only two having a per capita income above the statewide per capita income of $28,221.
Although per capita income in the Central Region is the 3rd highest at $25,535 it, along with the remaining regions, had a regional per capita income well below the statewide $28,221. The reason statewide per capita income is well above per capita income of eleven of the thirteen regions is because of the income and population dominance of the St. Louis and Kansas City MSAs. St. Louis County alone accounts for nearly 27 percent of Missouri total personal income. To illustrate the effect, if St. Louis County total personal income and population were not included as a part of the state personal income and population totals, statewide per capita income in 2001 would decline from $28,221 to $25,452.
The difference between per capita income in the St. Louis MSA and the Kansas City MSA and the remaining eleven regions increased from 1991-2001. For example the difference in per capita income between the South Central Region (the lowest in both 1991 and 2001) and the St. Louis MSA was $14,200 in 1991 but more than $17,500 in 2001. Regional per capita income increased by $5,458 from 1991 to 2001 in the St. Louis MSA and by $4,822 in the Kansas City MSA. In no other region was the dollar increase in per capita income from 1991 to 2001 greater than $3,657.
Not only did the St. Louis and Kansas City MSAs have the largest dollar increase in per capita income during the 1991-2001 decade, but they also had the two largest percentage increases with 19.3 and 19.8 percent respectively. The DED regions with the lowest percentage increases were the Northeast region with a 10.3 percent increase and Northwest with an increase of 10.9 percent.
1991-2001 Per Capita Income Changes for Missouri Department of Transportation Districts
2001 per capita income among the ten MODOT Districts ranged from a low of $19,661 in the South Central/Willow Springs District to a high of $34,923 in the St. Louis District (Table 4). The Kansas City District had the second highest District per capita income with $29,849. The St. Louis and Kansas City Districts are the only two MODOT Districts having a per capita income above the statewide average of $28,221.
There was relatively little difference in per capita income among the remaining eight districts although the Jefferson City District ($24,795) was $1,300 greater than any of the remaining seven and the Willow Springs District was $1,400 less than any of the others. The reason statewide per capita income is well above per capita income of eight of the ten districts is because of the income and population dominance of the St. Louis and Kansas City Districts. In 2001 St. Louis County alone accounted for nearly 27 percent of Missouri total personal income. To illustrate the effect, if St. Louis County total personal income and population were not included as a part of the state personal income and population totals, statewide per capita income in 2001 would have declined from $28,221 to $25,452.
The difference between per capita income in the St. Louis and Kansas City Districts and the remaining eight districts increased during the 1991-2001 decade. For example the difference in per capita income between the Willow Springs District (the lowest in both 1991 and 2001) and the St. Louis District was $12,600 in 1991 but more than $15,200 in 2001. Regional per capita income increased by $5,600 from 1991 to 2001 in the St. Louis District and by $4,715 in the Kansas City District. In no other District was the dollar increase in per capita income from 1991 to 2001 greater than $3,600.
The St. Louis and Kansas City Districts also had the greatest percent increase in per capita income with 19.7 percent and 19.3 percent respectively.
1991-2001 Per Capita Income Changes for Missouri Regional Planning Commission Areas
Per capita income in 2001 among the 19 RPCs ranged from a low of $16,994 in the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments region to a high of $34,923 in the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council (Table 5). The Mid-American RPC (Kansas City) had the second greatest regional per capita income in 2001 with $30,639. The East-West Gateway Coordinating County and the Mid-America RPC are the only two having a per capita income above the statewide per capita income of $28,221.
Although per capita income in the Mid-Missouri RPC is the 3rd highest at $26,560 it, along with the remaining RPCs, had a regional per capita income well below the statewide $28,221. The reason statewide per capita income is well above per capita income of 17 of the 19 RPCs is because of the income and population dominance of the St. Louis and Kansas City MSAs. St. Louis County alone accounts for nearly 27 percent of Missouri total personal income. To illustrate the effect, if St. Louis County total personal income and population were not included as a part of the state personal income and population totals, statewide per capita income in 2001 would decline from $28,221 to $25,452.
The difference in per capita income between the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and Mid-America RPC and the remaining 17 RPCs increased from 1991-2001. For example, the difference in per capita income between the South Central Ozarks Council of Governments (the lowest in both 1991 and 2001) and the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council was $14,400 in 1991 but more than $18,000 in 2001. Regional per capita income increased by $5,592 from 1991 to 2001 in the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and by $4,894 in the Mid-America RPC. In no other region was the dollar increase in per capita income from 1991 to 2001 greater than $3,948.
Not only did the East-West Gateway Coordinating Council, the Mid-America RPC and the Mid-Missouri RPC have the three highest levels of per capita income in 2001, they also had the largest dollar increase in per capita income during the 1991-2001 decade, and also had the three largest percentage increases with 19.3,19.8 and 20.6 percent respectively.
| Detailed Tables of Per Capita Income | ||
The following links provide detailed tables of Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001. They are available in both HTML and Adobe Acrobat(PDF) formats. All Missouri Counties |
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| Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By County with State Totals | HTML | |
| Regional Tables | ||
| UO/E Regions | ||
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Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By UM Extension Region |
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| Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By County Within UM Extension Region | HTML | |
| DED Regions | ||
| Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By DED Region | HTML | |
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Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By County Within DED Region |
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| MoDOT Regions | ||
| Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By DOT District | HTML | |
| Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By County Within DOT District | HTML | |
| RPC Regions | ||
| Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By RPC | HTML | |
| Per Capita Income in Missouri, 1991-2001 - By County Within RPC | HTML | |
This file last modified Thursday May 07, 2009, 16:03:44
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