By Matt Sepic, KWMU.
St. Louis, MO. – New census figures released Thursday confirm recent population trends in the St. Louis area.
The Census Bureau says St. Charles County was among the 100 fastest growing in the country. It ranked 67th in terms of numerical population growth, adding more than 8,500 people between July of 2003 and July of 2004.
Meanwhile, both St. Louis City and County lost people.
David Laslo is with the public policy research center at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.
"There may be a little more momentum showing through both in the outlying counties on the west, in Lincoln and Warren, and I think it's surprising that St. Clair County had a positive population estimate," Laslo said.
Madison County also saw growth, adding more than 1,100 people.
Laslo says that's due in part to a growth in new housing construction in the Metro East.