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Population of St. Louis scores third straight year of growth
Associated Press

ST. LOUIS - After more than five decades of declining population, the city of St. Louis saw growth for the third straight year in 2005.

Mayor Francis Slay announced Friday that the U.S. Census Bureau's population estimate for July 1, 2005, is 352,572. That is up about 1,800 people from the previous year.

The original Census projection for 2005 was lower, but the city successfully challenged it.

For the third straight year, the Census Bureau accepted the city's numbers, Slay said.

It's easy to understand why the city is advertising the good news. For 50 years, the city had an annual average loss of 10,000 residents.

"There's new energy in the city of St. Louis, and people are starting to recognize what we offer in the city -- architecture, diversity of culture and people, entertainment and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods," Slay said.

He said the city has done a better job of processing building permits. Most are granted the same day they are sought. Slay said 20,000 new or rehabilitated homes have been brought onstream in the last five years.

"The building boom in neighborhoods shows no sign of slowing down," he said.