CENSUS IS INDICATOR OF A COMMUNITY'S HEALTH

States, counties and cities eagerly anticipate the release of census data every 10 years, and the anticipation was perhaps even stronger this year with the U.S. Census Bureau saying the 2000 census was the most accurate count in history.

The population figures and socio-economic data derived from the census are the ideal guidepost for how a community is doing. If the figures go up, city leaders know they're heading in the right direction. Population gains usually indicate a community offers something people want, whether it's good schools, dependable city services or a healthy business community.

And sometimes growth is even simpler to explain than that. Census officials say cities with warm weather year-around are growing the fastest.

The news was mixed for the Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois areas when the Missouri and Illinois figures were released last week.

Illinois data came first, and we learned Pulaski County lost a little population, 2.3 percent, while Union County gained 3.8 percent.

Alexander County was the most moved-away-from county in Illinois, measured by percentage. The county's population has decreased 9.7 percent since 1990. In the same period, more than a quarter of the residents of Cairo, the Alexander County seat, have departed.

Cairo Mayor James Wilson accepted the figures. "We anticipated a very big drop," he said. Later, he pointed out that the city's goal was to improve the quality of life for the people left instead of focusing on a number.

Missouri figures were released the next day. It was no surprise that Jackson was the fastest-growing city in Southeast Missouri. Crowded school hallways were an early indicator of the 29.1 percent growth.

But Cape Girardeau didn't fare as well in the count. The 2000 census showed only a gain of 874 people, or 2.5 percent. The 1999 estimate had predicted a gain of 1,758 people.

Granted, the estimate and the actual count were unusually far apart. And, as they did in the 1990 census, city leaders will be looking for an error on the Census Bureau's part. (The bureau eventually added 500 to the 1990 count.)

But is it so hard to believe that Cape Girardeau County's impressive 11.5 percent growth to 68,693 was mostly outside the city limits? Bureau officials say it's primarily immigrants and those who don't speak English who ignore their census forms. Cape Girardeau doesn't have many of either. What other factor would have prevented an accurate count here?

While steps should be taken to be sure the count was accurate, the city would do well to focus on the future and ensure even more growth before 2010.