Data: University City Population Declined in 10 Years Following 2000 Census

While Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch is awaiting access to data for its cities, information released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates that at least one nearby city experienced a population decline between 2000 and 2010.

University City dropped from being the No. 16 most populous incorporated place in Missouri to No. 18 between 2000 and 2010, a table produced by the Census Bureau states. That represents a decline of 2,057 people, or 5.5 percent.

Overall, St. Louis County's population has declined by 1.7 percent since 2000, the Census Bureau stated Thursday in a news release.

St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley will be commenting on the census data for the county once he and his staff are able to review the figures, spokesman Mac Scott said Thursday afternoon. The executive's office is in Clayton.

"We really haven't had a chance to sit down with him and kind of go over these numbers," Scott said. While a population decline of less than 2 percent is within the margin of error, Scott said, it's a figure that still must be looked at. And he said an even larger population decline in St. Louis City is of concern to the county.

Meanwhile, Florissant fell from No. 10 to No. 12 in that category despite gaining roughly 1,600 residents between 2000 and 2010. That represents growth of 3.3 percent.

Chesterfield also fell, from No. 12 to No. 14. It gained nearly 700 residents between 2000 and 2010,  an increase of 1.5 percent.

Clayton-Richmond Heights Patch will post more information from the Census Bureau as it becomes available. Additional data are expected to be posted to the American FactFinder Web site by Friday afternoon.