Posted on Wed, Jul. 01, 2009
BY MARIA BARAN AND JENNIFER A. BOWEN
News-Democrat
While some metro-east communities have seen phenomenal growth or loss since 2000, not much has changed in Madison.
"That makes me feel good, it's stabilized," Madison Mayor John Hamm said.
According to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau, Madison's population of 4,554 is up 15 people, or less than one-third of a percentage point, from 2000 estimates. Neighboring municipalities such as Venice, Brooklyn, Fairmont City, East St. Louis, Washington Park and Granite City have all seen decreases, according to Census estimates.
Hamm said the city tore down about 300 derelict properties during the past several years and encouraged dozens of new residences to be built. "We've done a lot of clean up in that respect," he said.
The Census Bureau today released its 2008 population estimates for every city and county in the nation.
Valmeyer, the small village that was destroyed in the Flood of 1993, was the local community with the biggest increase in its estimated population since the official census in 2000. After it was decimated by the flood, the village moved two miles east and 400 feet higher than the original site and has experienced growth since the move.
In 2000 the village had an estimated population of 616.
In the 2008 estimate, the village population grew by 89 percent to 1,164.
"We were very fortunate during the time before the economy went south that we were enjoying a good rate of growth in the area," said village administrator Dennis Knobeloch. "Things have slowed down quite a bit for us, just like everybody else, but we are expecting that one of these days the economy will turn around and we will start growing again."
Knobeloch said land annexed into the village and a new housing development added significantly to the village's growth.
"We did a special census several years back so that's where the numbers come from," he added.
The annual estimates combine the actual count from the last national census, in 2000, with county birth and death records, housing permits, IRS tax returns and information collected in a national survey.
The estimates showed growth in several metro-east communities:
* Maryville grew by 2,507 people, or 51.3 percent, between 2000 and 2008 for an estimated population of 7,397.
* Smithton increased by 44.2 percent, from 2,370 in 2000 to an estimated 3,418 in 2008.
* Shiloh grew by 29.5 percent, from 8,628 in 2000 to 11,173.
Columbia is another city that saw its population steadily increase. In 2000 census estimates, 7,996 people called Columbia home. In the latest census estimate, that number grew to 9,342, an increase of 16.8 percent.
In Edwardsville the population grew steadily from 22,455 in 2000 to 24,557 in 2008. That's an increase of 9.4 percent.
In the opposite direction, several municipalities estimated a loss in population:
* East St. Louis lost 2,787 people, or nearly 9 percent of its population since 2000. Its population estimate for 2008 was 28,773 residents. It had more than 80,000 residents in 1960 and more than 50,000 in 1980.
* Granite City's population declined to 30,703 in 2008. That's down 3.9 percent from the 2000 estimated population of 31,950.
* Cahokia's population fell to 15,103, a 7.7 percent drop since 2000 when the census estimated the village's population at 16,360.
The estimated census numbers released by the U.S. Census Bureau Wednesday do not include the numbers from any special census counts held by individuals cities, towns or villages.
Sometimes the estimates include data from special censuses, which are requested by cities and performed in collaboration with the federal government. However, special census information is not included in the estimates if only a portion of the city is counted or if the city has annexed land.
Although the latest U.S. Census Bureau population estimates indicated the population of Belleville fell, Mayor Mark Eckert disagrees with the numbers.
In 2000 the census estimated 42,216 residents in Belleville. The estimate for the 2008 population fell by 2.7 percent to 41,097.
Two special censuses conducted by the city in 2004 and 2008 show the city grew by nearly 10 percent, from 41,410 in 2000 to 45,506 in 2008.
Both of Belleville's special censuses measured only the population of selected blocks and the city has annexed thousands of acres since 2000. The federal estimates do not include annexed areas.
"We've gained almost 5,000 people," Eckert said. "We know there's constant change going on, and when the 2010 census is complete we'll prove them wrong. I just don't see the numbers they have being right, but it will remain to be seen once the 2010 census is complete. I don't see any mass losses. We've had two special censuses and both have proved that Belleville has had population increases."
Eckert said the city had builders plot 12 new subdivisions since the 2000 census. Although the housing market is down, builders continue to approach the city about future projects.
The city stands to gain an additional $1 million by 2011 as a result of the partial special census conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2008.
The city is reimbursed $132.45 annually per resident by the state for a combination of income tax, motor fuel tax and state use tax, and the census found an extra 2,569 people since the last special census in 2004. That brings the city's total population to 45,506, and adds more than $340,000 a year to the city's coffers.
Communities count on totals from the official census every 10 years to determine how much revenue they get back from the state and federal governments. While the numbers released Wednesday are estimates, several metro-east communities have paid for a special census in recent years in an attempt to increase their piece of the revenue pie.
In fact, O'Fallon conducted a special census last year. It indicated the city grew to a total population of 29,425, which would make it the third largest community in the metro-east. The city spent $179,895 on the special count, but will see a $807,461 return in income from federal tax reimbursements.
The census estimates released today do not take O'Fallon's special census into account. The estimates showed a 2008 population of 27,540, up 23.5 percent from 22,306 in 2000.
In Belleville, the partial special census only counted residents in 11 areas in Belleville that have grown since 2004. It cost the city an estimated $150,000.
"It was well worth it, considering what we get for per-head tax," Eckert said. "By having the special census, we picked up more revenue for the city and it was a smart business move. We were suspicious about some problems with the 2000 census anyway. We felt some of our people weren't counted."
© 2007 Belleville News-Democrat and wire service sources.