Springfield metro population fastest growing in state

Springfield's metropolitan statistical area population has grown faster since 2000 than any other MSA in the state, according to annual population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.

Population in the five-county metro area - covering Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties - was 430,900, up 1.1 percent since 2008 and 17 percent since 2000, according to a news release from the Springfield Business Development Corp.

That 10-year growth rate surpasses Columbia's 14.1 percent, Kansas City's 12.6 percent, Joplin's 10.8 percent and St. Louis' 4.8 percent growth.

That growth also moved the MSA up 14 spots in the national metro area rankings. Springfield is now 111th largest, up from 125th in 2000.

Among other pertinent information:

• The 50-mile population, defined as the number of people within a 50-mile radius from the center of downtown Springfield, is 662,587.

• The city's population is 156,206, with a daytime population - including those who commute to the city each day - of 210,658.

• The economic-area population, which covers a 27-county federally defined area stretching into northern Arkansas, is 987,734.

• The metro area has an average age of 34.9 years, and the average household has 2.4 people.

The SBDC has more information on its Web site.