Open Country Population Growth 1990-2000 Exceeds Rate of Growth of Towns and Cities.
Although 69 percent of Missouri's 2000 population resides within the city limits of one of the state's towns or cities, the population living in the open country (outside city limits) grew more rapidly during the 1990s. The town and city population grew by 289,900 (from 3,572,659 in 1990 to 3,861,559 in 2000) during the 1990s, an increase of 8.1 percent. But the population living in the open country increased by 12.1 percent during the 1990s. The difference in rate of growth caused town and city population to decline from 69.8 percent of state total in 1990 to 69.0 percent in 2000. Correspondingly, open country population increased from 30.2 percent of state total in 1990 to 31.0 percent in 2000.
| Map 1 click map for larger version 
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A more rapid rate of population growth in the open country was a widespread trend throughout Missouri during the 1990s. As shown on Map 1 the number of people living in the open country increased by more than 10 percent in 72 of Missouri's counties. The open country population declined in only 18 counties. Twelve of those 18 counties were located in rural north Missouri and an additional four were located in the agricultural Bootheel. In contrast the town and city population declined in 37 of Missouri's counties. However the rate of population loss of towns and cities was generally small. The loss was less than 3.0 percent in 20 of the 37 counties losing town/city population. (Table 1)
Rate of Town/City and Open Country 1990-2000 Population Change by County and Region
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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. |
These regional data show that in those regions with the greatest overall population growth (Springfield-Branson, Southwest and Central) that growth was equally aggressive in both the towns/cities and open country.
Similarity in the rate of population increase in both town/city and open country is also found in the South Central Region (10.2 percent in towns/cities and 12.0 percent in open country) and in the Kansas City MSA (9.1 percent in towns/cities and 12.6 percent in open country).
There were three regions in which the rate of open country population growth greatly exceeded town/city growth. These Regions include Lake Ozark-Rolla with 10.4 percent town/city growth but 18.7 percent open country. The West Central Region, which is adjacent to the Lake Ozark-Rolla Region, had a much more dramatic differential between town/city (3.4 percent) and open country (23.5 percent). The third region with much greater open country growth is the East Central-Cape Girardeau Region in which town/city population increased by 7.1 percent and open country population increased by 15.0 percent. These three regions have in common an absence of any especially large towns/cities, but a substantial amount of hilly and wooded open country land accessible to recreation opportunities. Little of the open country land in these regions is suitable for intensive agricultural production.
There are four regions in which there was little, if any, population growth in either towns/cities or open country. Those four regions are Bootheel, Northeast, North Central and Northwest. In the Bootheel town/city population declined by 1.5 percent and open country increased by 5.7 percent. In the Northwest town/city increased by 3.9 percent and open country by 2.0 percent. North Central was the only region in the state to have a decline in open country population (-1.5 percent). In these three regions a majority of open country land is devoted to agriculture. An exception is the Northeast region in which town/city population declined (-0.4 percent) but open country population increased by a significant 9.8 percent. A major factor in open country population growth in Northeast is the presence of Clarence Cannon Dam and recreation area. Another contributing factor was the establishment of two prisons in the region during the 1990s. The prisons are located in the open country.
Greatest Concentrations of Open Country Population 2000.
There are 35 Missouri counties in which more than 60 percent of the 2000 county population resided in the open country. There are five counties (Bollinger, Hickory, Ozark, Ripley and Washington) in which more than 80 percent of the population lives outside of any town.
| Map 2 click map for larger version 
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As shown on Map 2, a majority of the counties with a high percentage of open country population are located in the Ozarks, mostly in the southeast half. However there are several clusters in other parts of the state. Seventy percent of the population of two St. Louis Metro Counties, Warren and Lincoln, reside in the open country. Both counties have had significant population growth during the 1990s with a majority of new residents choosing to live in the open country.
Another cluster of nine counties having a high percentage of open country begins at the Lake of the Ozarks to the west and extends east to counties adjoining Jefferson City on the south. These are counties not only having access to the water recreation environment of Lake of the Ozarks and Truman Reservoir but also employment opportunities in Jefferson City, Lebanon, and Rolla.
There is another cluster of high-density open country population counties in the Springfield-Branson Region. Like the cluster in the Lake of the Ozarks and Jefferson City area, the open country in the Springfield-Branson Region affords access to recreation and employment.
The largest concentration of high-density open country population counties is in the Southeast Ozarks. There are 15 adjoining counties in that region in which more than 60 percent of the population resides in the open country. The entire region is densely wooded with most of the counties including at least a portion of the Mark Twain National Forest. In contrast to some of the other clusters, a majority of the population of the Southeast Ozarks has traditionally lived in the open country. The economy of the region is significantly dependent on timber and mining industries. (Table 3)
Implications of Open Country Population Growth
A growing proportion of Missouri's population is choosing to live in the open country, especially in those counties that combine natural resource amenities with proximity to employment and recreation opportunities. That trend has been in existence for the past three decades but gained momentum during the 1990s. It is also clear that an important part of the in-migration during the 1990s has opted for an open country location especially in the lake, recreation and retirement areas. There is little indication at this time that this trend will diminish.
An important implication of the open country trend has been a growing demand for public services. Most rural counties have not had adequate public sewer, water, trash collection, safety, and fire and ambulance services. Many county governments are facing demands for services that are increasing more rapidly than revenues. There will most likely be a growing demand for creation of special districts to meet the needs of open country populations.
| Detailed Tables of Population Change | ||
The following links provide detailed tables of Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000. They are available in both HTML and Adobe Acrobat(PDF) formats. All Missouri Counties |
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| Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000 - By County with State Totals | HTML | |
| Regional Tables | ||
| UO/E Regions | ||
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Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000 - By UM Extension Region |
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| Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000 - By County Within UM Extension Region | HTML | |
| DED Regions | ||
| Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000 - By DED Region | HTML | |
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Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000 - By County Within DED Region |
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| MoDOT Regions | ||
| Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000 - By DOT District | HTML | |
| Open Country Population in Missouri, 1990-2000 - By County Within DOT District | HTML | |
This file last modified Friday May 08, 2009, 14:07:06
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