The St. Louis region’s declining population is getting serious. The entire metro area is now number one for decline in birth rates according to SLU demographer Ness Sandoval.
He says in 20 years, “Schools will ask the question: Where are the children?”
He says this is an historic decline, but the trend actually began in 2008. The only way to reverse it is to convince young people to move here and start families. But despite “affordability,” here’s the other problem: “We’re no longer a major metropolitan region in terms of new housing starts. We’re ranked 58th in the country. Every major region is outperforming our region.”…