The city of St. Louis' population decreased by 1,225 or 0.4 percent from 2010 to 2011 according to an On Numbers analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
As reported today by the St. Louis Business Journal, St. Louis is not alone in having a population drop, as nearly three-fifths of the cities in the study group of 12 midwestern states lost population. Chicago saw the biggest increase in population in the Midwest, followed by Columbus and Indianapolis. Detroit suffered the largest decline, losing more than 7,000 people. Cleveland and Toledo also experienced losses.
In other news, the state of Missouri was also recently ranked the 15th most polluted state in the country for exposure to toxic air pollution from coal-fired power plants, according to the National Resources Defense Council.
Missouri's electric industry emitted more than 5.1 million pounds of harmful chemicals in 2010. Missouri ranked worst in industrial mercury emissions, ranking fourth among all states. However, the numbers are going down. Nationally, the report found a 19 percent decrease in all air toxins emitted from power plants in 2010.
