CAPE GIRARDEAU'S POPULATION GROWING; ESTIMATES PUT INCREASE AT 2,226 SINCE 1990

Between the 1980 and 1990 censuses, the population of Cape Girardeau barely changed, rising by only 114 people. Since then, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and local officials, its population has grown significantly.

In 1990, the Census Bureau listed Cape Girardeau's population as 34,475. The Census Bureau's last published estimate of Cape Girardeau's population came out in December 1995.

At that time, the Missouri state demographer, Ryan Burson, published a report that listed "Leading Missouri Incorporated Places Ranked by Population Growth." Cape Girardeau was ranked ninth, with a population increase of 1,461 for a July 1, 1994, population of 35,936.

The Census Bureau's 1996 estimate isn't available yet. But Cape Girardeau city planner Kent Bratton's estimate for July 1, 1996, is 36,701, a gain of 1,744 over 1990.

Bratton said he arrived at that figure by multiplying the number of housing units in the city by the average number of people per housing unit from the 1990 Census. He said the Census Bureau's estimate is more accurate because "they use federal income tax returns and all kinds of data I don't have access to."

Martha Hamilton, owner of Coldwell Banker Hamilton Realty, said that Cape Girardeau's growth since 1990 corresponds to increased hiring by some major employers in town, most notably St. Francis Medical Center and Southeast Missouri Hospital.

The growth in employment affects Jackson as well.

Jackson grew significantly between the two censuses and continues to grow. The Census Bureau counted 7,827 people in Jackson in 1980 and 9,256 in 1990, a gain of 1,429, more than 18 percent.

The bureau estimated Jackson's 1994 population at 9,661, a gain of 405.

Jackson City Administrator Steve Wilson said Jackson's growth has accelerated since 1994. He estimates Jackson's 1996 population at 11,000, a gain of 1,744 over 1990.

Hamilton said she expects the two cities to add about the same number of people in the future.

In three of the last four years, Cape Girardeau has added more housing units than Jackson, although Jackson generally adds more new single-family homes. The difference comes from the growth in apartments in Cape Girardeau.

Bratton said that Cape Girardeau added about 500 people through the annexation of Twin Lakes subdivision and a mobile home park off Route W.

Wilson had no similar figure for Jackson. He said that typically Jackson annexes a subdivision before it is populated. The city currently has about 800 platted and unoccupied lots, most of them recently annexed.

Jackson Mayor Paul Sander said Cape Girardeau's growth is good for Jackson because they are both part of the same region. "I'm glad they've started to grow again residentially," Sander said. "They've always been growing commercially."

Hamilton said that right now for homes priced at $100,000 or less, home buyers can get more house for their money in Cape Girardeau than in Jackson. And she said that since Cape Girardeau passed a school bond issue, she expects more young families to look favorably on Cape Girardeau's school system.

Sander said Cape Girardeau has taken steps to improve its infrastructure to cope with growth by passing water and sewer bond issues. He said Jackson will attempt to take the same step with its $10.5 million bond issue for water and sewers in August.

Still Sander wondered whether the figures are accurate. "I think what the Census Bureau says is certainly a guess," he said.