Christopher Prener, assistant professor of sociology at St. Louis University, researches urban issues, including population loss. Prener used 2010 census data and 2013-2017 census survey estimates to look at neighborhood population losses in the city.

“We see population growth in downtown St. Louis, in places like Tower Grove East and parts of south city along with the midtown corridor,” Prener said. “And the continuing loss, to varying degrees, in the neighborhoods north of Forest Park and north of downtown.”

It’s hard to say if gains made in suburbia offset the city’s losses, Prener said, because of margin of error. But if the estimates are taken at face value, the answer is a resounding no.

“We are not seeing population growth offset the continued declined in African American population in the city,” Prener said. “It’s tough to know exactly what’s going on, and I think we will have a much better sense come the 2020 Census.”

St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann said he was happy to see his county’s continued population gain. But he shared Krewson’s concern that the population of the overall metro area hasn’t increased.