Springfield ranks No. 7 in population growth in MO

Springfield's population grew by about 0.7 percent 2010-11, ranking it as the seventh-fastest-growing city in the state, according to the Missouri Economic Research & Information Center.

As of July 1, 2011, the city's population was 160,660, up from 159,509  in April 2010, when the latest U.S. Census was posted.

Springfield ranked as the third largest city in the state as of July 2011, behind Kansas City, with a population of 463,202, and St. Louis at 318,069, according to recently released Census data.

Columbia, which is Missouri's fifth largest city, ranked No. 1 in 2010-11 growth at 1.8 percent. The city grew by 1,938 to 110,438 from 108,500. Other cities ahead of Springfield in growth were St. Peters, with a 1.8 percent increase; O'Fallon, 1.3 percent; St. Charles, 1.3 percent; Joplin, 0.8 percent; and Kansas City, 0.7 percent.

According to the data, Springfield was the 497th fastest growing city nationwide year-to-year and ranked No. 146 on the list of the largest cities in the U.S.[[In-content Ad]]