Some good news on population

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- One thread connects many of St. Joseph's problems. Crime, jobs or schools? Those are big issues, but a deeper look reveals something else.

Since the bogus Census count of 1900, population loss has been a thorn in the community’s side. It’s not just a matter of pride. Growing communities don’t look at closing high schools or starting land banks to revitalize vacant buildings. They don’t have to wish for a Whataburger.

In some ways, the community has effectively papered over this decades-long trend. An out-of-town workforce helps fuel a strong economy. Online commerce makes it easy to overlook gaps in retail options. City taxpayers have done what they can to maintain parks and infrastructure.

But the trend still exists. The 2020 Census showed a 5% population decline in St. Joseph compared to 2010. A 2023 estimate reflected another 2.3% drop, putting St. Joseph’s population at 70,684 – just a hair above the 70,000 threshold.

But now another Census update suggests an encouraging population trend for the largest county in the St. Joseph metropolitan area.

This report revealed that Buchanan County’s population increased by 373 from 2023 to 2024, raising hopes that the city could be on the verge of reversing decades of declining or stagnant population.

But here’s the kicker. The population didn’t increase because births outnumbered deaths. The opposite was true with 996 births and 1,033 deaths in the 12-month period.

Nor did the county see an influx of domestic migration from elsewhere in the country. The census report reveals that eight more people fled the county as opposed to those who moved here.

One factor contributed above all others to population growth: international migration. The census report shows that the number of immigrants from foreign countries increased by 415 from 2023 to 2024. If you take that group away, St. Joseph’s population probably falls below 70,000.

This census report mirrors a national trend and comes at a time when immigration is a politically charged issue. It’s important to remember a couple of points:

--  First, not all foreign-born individuals are in the country illegally.

--  Second, not all immigrants – legal and illegal – are a net drain on society. True, a large migrant population will put added stress on schools and hospitals. But the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy also finds that illegal immigrants paid $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes and $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes in 2022. They will not see the benefit of those payments – but U.S. citizens will.

This issue is more complex and deserves a thoughtful debate, which we’re not getting right now in Washington or Jefferson City. Some state lawmakers even want to allow untrained citizens to collect a bounty on illegal immigrants. (What could possibly go wrong?)

More than anything, policymakers would be wise to stop antagonizing the one demographic group that seems interested in moving to St. Joseph.