Regional Profile

Introduction

Our region is changing as we advance into the 21st century. Along with shifting population, the rising costs of infrastructure, water, energy, and public services call for a reevaluation of current practices. Moving forward, we must protect and maintain our most valued assets and strive for greater livability and social equity, while advancing our position in the nation and the world.

Governance & Collaboration

The St. Louis region is made up of eight counties, nearly 200 municipalities and 2.7 million citizens. The region continues to rank in the top three nationally for overall number of local governments and for the ratio of local governments to population. The average number of units of local governments for the 35 largest metropolitan areas is 379; St. Louis has 884. Numerous reports and surveys completed during this process show that regional fragmentation, municipal competitiveness, and lack of regional coordination are among the top concerns in the St. Louis area.

Economy

The St. Louis region is home to more than 150,000 business establishments, employing over 1.3 million individuals. The Great Recession of 2007-2009 took its toll on the St. Louis region. Although employment has grown fairly steadily over the last three years, with normal seasonal variation, the region still struggles to regain the jobs lost during the recession. An estimated 1,308,564 residents of the region were employed as of August 2013, about 70,000 shy of the employment level in August 2006.

Regional Growth & Communities

St. Louis is a relatively slow growing region; its rate of population growth is about one-third that of the nation as a whole and lags most of its peer regions. Between 1950 and 2012, the population of the region grew by about 50 percent, while the urbanized geographic area grew roughly 400 percent.² While this geographic expansion has brought prosperity to some parts of the region, it has been accompanied by disinvestment and increased segregation in parts of the urban core, as well as development in areas of ecological significance. This pattern of growth also limits accessibility to jobs and quality education relative to affordable housing. While population growth alone is not the most important indicator of long-term economic viability, it often reflects a region’s ability to attract and retain the most talented workforce.

Housing & Social Systems

Among the great assets of the St. Louis region are its distinctive neighborhoods and diverse communities. St. Louis is nationally recognized for offering a distinctive quality of life ranking 13th out of 35 cities on the Vitality Index, which is an index that quantifies elements such as parks, cultural institutions, sense of place, and neighborhoods.⁴ The St. Louis region also is noted for its housing affordability, consistently ranking among the most affordable metropolitan areas. Nearly 85 percent of housing is considered affordable for families earning the median income.

Natural Resources & Environment

Located at the confluence of America’s two great rivers, the St. Louis region is defined by its access to water and its fertile alluvial soil. A healthy environment is the key to maintaining the quality of our local natural resources. These resources include abundant supplies of clean water, clean and healthy air, and our distinctive natural landscapes.

Climate Change & Resiliency

Flooding is one of the key public concerns identified through the OneSTL public engagement process. Between 1993 and 2013, the Mississippi River at St. Louis crested above the major flood stage 11 times. Serious flash floods have also hit the region several times in recent years, including 2008 and 2013.

Transportation

St. Louis citizens depend on and benefit from a diverse transportation network, comprised of highways, public transit, ports, major rail lines, airports and bicycle/pedestrian facilities. As our current infrastructure ages, the demographics of our population change, and transportation dollars become more scarce, thoughtful planning and collaboration among decision makers is needed to improve our air quality, economic productivity and quality of life.

Public Health, Safety & Well-Being

In line with national trends, crime rates in the St. Louis region dropped over the last eight years, with a 17.2 percent reduction in total crime and a 19.8 percent reduction in property crime since 2003.⁸ Violent crimes have fluctuated, with a slight increase since 2003. The perception of safety in the St. Louis region varies greatly by geographic area,but an April 2013 Gallup Survey reports that 74 percent of citizens of the region feel safe walking alone at night in the area where they live. This statistic puts greater St. Louis as the 14th safest metro area on the list of the 50 most populous MSA’s in the country.

Arts, Culture & Education

Education quality at the K-12 level was expressed as a primary concern at all of the community planning area meetings. In the baseline telephone survey conducted in November 2011, education was also mentioned as a top priority by a majority of survey respondents. Nearly all respondents considered it extremely important for all residents of the St. Louis region to have access to high quality public education for kindergarten through 12th grade. When asked to pick a top priority in the field of public services, a majority selected high quality public education as the most important goal.