ALL THAT COUNTS; CENSUS: POPULATION MORE DIVERSE, OLDER

Cape Girardeau's population is slightly older and more diverse than it was in 1980, and the city's households are getting smaller, according to the 1990 U.S. Census Bureau's Profile Report.

The city's population increased only slightly during the decade, from 34,361 to 34,438. But a larger portion, 9.8 percent, of the population now is black, compared with 6.8 percent in 1980.

In 1980, the census reported 32,036 white and 2,039 black residents. But in 1990, 31,065 residents were white and 2,771 were black.

The sex of the city's population has remained essentially constant in the decade, with women losing ground on men by one-tenth of a percent, from 53.2 percent to 53.1 in 1990.

The census also reported that the number of people per household in Cape Girardeau declined slightly from 2.5 persons per household in 1980 to 2.3 in 1990. The percentage of owner-occupied homes also declined from 62.5 percent in 1980 to 52.7 percent in 1990.

City Planner Kent Bratton said he hasn't had an opportunity to closely review the census data. But he said the information is valuable to the city when it comes to designing projects involving community development block grants, neighborhood assistance programs and the city's comprehensive plan.

"We'll use them particularly in project planning," Bratton said. "The data we just received is city-wide, but we will get the same data for every block in the city.

"That's what we used in the early '80s in establishing our block grant program."

Bratton said the census will be an important tool for city planning throughout the decade.

"A lot of it will be fresh data for about five years, but some of it will be of value right up through the next census," he said. "The report really gives us a good grasp on changes in demographics in the city. We used that information the last time, and we will use it again."

Bratton said copies of the report will be available at City Hall and at the Chamber of Commerce office. He said the data can be useful for marketing the city. But Bratton warned against taking the census data too literally.

"Virtually all that is sample data, it's not a total count situation," he said.

The census report includes information on household size, sex and race, marital status, relationship and ages of household members, and types of housing and its value.

In 1980, 54.7 percent of the population was 29 years old or younger, but in 1990, that figure dipped below half at 48.9 percent. Also, a greater proportion of the population 14.6 percent compared to 12.6 percent 10 years earlier is now 65 years or older.

Another trend is a drop in the number of married couples and a corresponding increase in divorce rate.

In 1980, 35 percent of persons 15 years or older were single; 50.3 percent were married; 1.2 percent were separated; 5.6 percent were divorced; and 8 percent widowed.

In 1990, the division changed to 33.3 percent single; 48.5 percent married; 1.5 percent separated; 8.4 percent divorced; and 8.3 percent widowed.

A big increase was in the number of single-parent families. From 1980 to 1990, the number of single-men householders increased 373 percent from 83 to 305, and the number of single-women householders increased 95 percent, from 692 to 1,351.

Household size remained relatively constant in the decade as most homes included one or two persons, with slightly more larger families in 1980. In 1980, 22.1 percent of households had four or more persons, a figure that dropped to 19.2 percent 10 years later.

In 1990, 35.8 percent of white families were married couples with children; 46.6 were married with no children; 14.1 percent were single-women householders; and 3 percent were single-male householders.

As to black families, 33.2 percent were married couples with children, 12.7 were married with no children; 49.3 percent were single-women householders; and 5.4 percent were single-men householders.

Not surprisingly, the cost of housing rose moderately during the decade. In 1980, 44.5 percent of owner-occupied homes were valued at $40,000 to $80,000. In 1990, 50.3 percent of owner-occupied homes were valued at $50,000 to $100,000.

The average value of a white homeowner's home in 1990 was $66,000. The average value of a black homeowner' home was $38,065; an Asian or Pacific Islander's home averaged $101,757.

In 1980, 52.4 percent of rental units could be rented for $100 to $200 per month. But 10 years later, 43.7 percent of rental units rented for $200 to $300.

In 1990, the average rent for white residents was $268; for black residents, $219; and for other races, $284.