News-Leader: Springfield metro area is fastest growing in Missouri

The Springfield News-Leader reported on Saturday, March 27 that the Springfield, Missouri MSA remains the one part of the state that continues to expand in terms of population. It is an underlying economic strength that is often overlooked here, but it bodes well for quicker and more complete economic recovery in the area, particularly in the area of residential and commercial construction. Among those interviewed for the article was Matt Morrow, CEO of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield.

Springfield metro area is fastest growing in Missouri
March 27, 2010

By: Cory de Vera
News-Leader

The Springfield area is the fastest growing metro in the state, according to data released by the U.S. Census this week.

The five-county metropolitan area grew by an estimated 4,756 residents between July 2008 and July 2009, the Census reported. That number represents a 1.1 percent growth rate for one year, but it makes for a 17 percent growth rate since 2000.

"An increase in population is good for commerce, and it is generally a sign of a healthy community," said state demographer Matt Hesser. "Areas with decreasing population usually have a declining tax base."

The data isn't really a surprise to area leaders who watch population trends.

Matt Morrow of the Home Builder's Association of Springfield said the Census growth is consistent with the data his organization tracks.

"What we measure is not population growth, but home sales and housing starts," he said. " For the last year and a half we've been closing sales on new homes at twice the rate we've been starting new homes."

In areas where population is declining, it can be very tough to make a living as a homebuilder, said Morrow.

The federal government considers Springfield's metropolitan area to include Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties.

Schools see more students

In Christian County, Nixa Superintendent Stephen Kleinsmith said his school district's pre-K through grade 12 population stands at 5,535, which is 60 more students than at the same time last year.

"Our growth in Christian County has slowed down, but as the economy gets better, vacant housing will fill up," he said.

Kleinsmith said his district's long range plan calls for a bond issue in 2011 that would finance construction of a second junior high.

At some time in the future the district expects to have to expand the high school from its current capacity of 1,800 to 2,300, he added.

"We'll probably hit our max capacity at the high school next year," he said.

This April, several area schools are seeking voter approval for building projects, including Marshfield, Conway, Spokane, and Clever.

Sabrina Drackert, a marketing manager with the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, said people move to the area for its educational opportunities, hospitals and the variety of businesses in the area.

While the newly released census data isn't specific enough to indicate reasons for population growth, Drackert said the Chamber does track some statistics that show the increase in employment from area hospitals, as well as enrollment in area colleges.

For instance, in 2001 at Missouri State University -- then called Southwest Missouri State -- enrollment was 18,468; in 2009 that jumped to 20,842.

"It isn't just at Missouri State. Drury has grown, Evangel has grown, and of course (Ozarks Technical Community College) has grown," said Drackert.

Now ranked 111th

The newly released census data also indicated the 2009 estimated population of 430,900 in the Springfield area earned it a rank as the 111th most populous city in the United States. In 2000 the city ranked 125th.

Drackert said breaking into the top 100 most populous cities would be exciting for the city.

"Once you break 100, you are on the radar for other businesses to move here," she said. "They are kind of looking for the top 100 metro areas."

Hesser said the U.S. Census compiles its population estimates each year by starting with the 2000 census data, each year adding birth and death records from the state's vital records office.

The bureau is able to track migration in and out of an area by tracking addresses and Social Security numbers people use when filing tax forms, or by Medicaid enrollment records for those over age 65, the demographer explained.

Additional Facts


Census preview
Census data, recently released by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce, shows each city's percentage of population growth between 2000 and 2009, its estimated 2009 population, and where each metropolitan area ranks among the nation's most populated areas.
- Springfield 17% 430,900 111
- Columbia 14.1% 166,234 242
- Kansas City 12.6 % 2,067,585 29
- Joplin 10.8% 174,300 233
- St. Louis 4.8% 2,828,990 18

HBA Remodelers Staff KY3's "Ask An Expert" Panel

On Wednesday, March 24, several members of the HBA Remodelors™ Council answered phones and responded to on-line questions from the public about remodeling projects. KY3's Cara Restelli also reported on the EPA's upcoming April 22 deadline for lead safety renovation training. This rule applies to projects, including window replacement, which disturb a lead painted surface of a certain size. To see a transcript of the story on KY3's website, click here.

The "Ask An Expert" Panel fielded phone calls and on-line questions through two KY3 newscasts from 5 to 6:30 pm. To see the transcript of the chat with the HBA's remodeling experts, click here.

KOLR: Small business, builders, share healthcare fears with Blunt

U.S. Congressman Roy Blunt (R-MO 7th), who is running for Missouri's U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Kit Bond, visited Beaman Electric in Springfield Friday. Former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman joined Blunt for a small business roundtable that gathered input from, among others, a number of members of the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield. Chief among their concerns was the potentially harmful impact pending healthcare reform legislation could have on the economy generally and on small businesses in particular.

KOLR-10's Kevin Schwaller covered the event and this story appeared on the evening newscasts Friday, March 19. Lee Beaman, president of Beaman Electric, is interviewed in the story. Beaman is a member of the board of directors of the HBA of Greater Springfield.

KY3: Building codes for new homes require better life-saving smoke alarms

Contact KY3's Cara Restelli reported on Tuesday (March 16, 2010) that a fatal house fire on Monday morning has some wondering about fire protection in their own homes. Modern fire codes for new homes require at least one smoke detector in each bedroom and on each floor. They must be interconnected so, when one sounds, they all sound, and they must be hard-wired with a battery backup. Thousands of older homes aren't required to meet these new guidelines, putting families at risk.

Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield President Rusty MacLachlan is interviewed in the story and discusses the improved fire protection in newer homes due to modern building codes and smoke detectors.