This morning, St. Louis city leaders plan to join members of the Latino community to hoist the Hispanic Heritage flag at City Hall. St. Louis County undertook a similar installation Friday morning.
It’s just one sign of the community’s growing presence in the region. Among the nation’s largest metros, the St. Louis area ranks ninth for Latino population growth in 2024 Census data, says Saint Louis University demographer Ness Sandoval.
Growing up in Florissant, Elisa Bender recalls being the only Hispanic person in her grade school—-and the excitement she felt when a second one enrolled in high school. Now, she says, the signs of growth are all around. Near her home in O’Fallon, Missouri, are two different Catholic churches offering a Spanish mass and she likes that the community is not relegated to any one part of town. “Talking to Hispanics who just moved here, they like the affordable living. And they love that the city’s not too big. They love that there are good schools,” she says. “Yes, there’s not a lot of Hispanics here, but as they’re finding community, they’re really enjoying it and liking it.”…