As the population grows in Columbia, so does the number of families. The census drew a lot of attention this year. But numbers don’t tell the full story. Missouri Urban Journalism Workshop’s Brittany Downey explores how the community’s growth is affecting newcomers and their children.
As it has grown, Columbia offers more shopping, restaurants, activities
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Kelsey Stoskopf
|Parkway South High School, Manchester, Mo.
With the growth of Columbia reaching more than 100,000, the unemployment line grows as well. While Columbia’s unemployment is still below the national average, it has nearly doubled over the last year making it increasingly harder to find jobs in the city.
Hispanics make transition to mid-Missouri
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Suncoast Community High School, Rivero Beach, Fla.
La comunidad hispana en Columbia Version en Español Hispanic immigration is growing throughout Columbia. One organization — Centro Latino — is celebrating its tenth anniversary. Centro Latino is helping people ease into the local lifestyle. Alan Sadler shows us how.
University, lifestyle, arts draw people to Columbia
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Plano East Senior High School, Plano, Texas
In addition to higher education, health care and insurance are the main industries in the city that bring new residents to town, says Donald Laird, president of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce. The city is also an ideal place for retirees to settle with their saved-up income, he added.
Columbia First Baptist Church is still going strong after 187 years
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Pennington Prepatory School, Pennington, N.J.
During all the changes and growth in Columbia over the last few decades, one thing has remained the same. The First Baptist Church, a 187-year-old church, is still here for the community in the ways it was when it was first built.
Smart growth advocated as way to maintain community character despite changes
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Whitehaven High School, Memphis, Tenn.
Some Columbia residents think certain types of development are better for the environment and for residents who live there. They refer to these types of development as planned development or smart growth.
Demand for animal friends rises as population increases
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Kirkwood High School, Kirkwood, Mo.
With more people coming to Columbia a demand for animal companionship rises. Amanda’s Pet Connection, a locally owned pet store, has seen a 20 percent increase in business according to employee Jessica Hester.
Fútbol en Columbia sigue creciendo
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Suncoast Community High School, Rivero Beach, Fla.
Fernando Gallindo no tenía muchas dificultades encontrando a gente para participar en su liga de fútbol en Columbia, Missouri. “Todo lo que hice fue poner propagandas para la liga por la ciudad, y la gente respondió inmediatamente,” dijo Gallindo. “No sólo personas de otros países, locales también.”
New Catholic high school to be first for Columbia
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Benilde-St.Margaret's School, St. Louis Park, Minn.
Father Augustine Tolton Regional Catholic High School is expected to open in fall 2011. It will offer Columbia area residents a faith-based education option closer to home.
Generation X population decreases
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Maine South High School, Park Ridge, Ill.
Despite Columbia’s growth to become the fifth largest city in Missouri, the 30-44 age group has decreased steadily over the years. This age group, known as Generation X, is part of a time period that stretches from the end of the baby boom to the 1980s. The higher cost of living in Columbia may be one reason why the Xers are leaving.
Band finds bigger audience as city’s population grows
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Metro High School, St. Louis, Mo.
The Cotton Mollies are a different type of music, compared to popular genres of today. Over the last few years is has grown as a band by playing new venues and attracting new fans. The band attributes its growth to the population growth in Columbia since 1990.
Dreaming about the future of Columbia
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Holmes High School, San Antonio, Texas
Water-tube travels, high-speed trains, electric cars and even tramolines proposed as scenes for the future of the city by its citizens.
Columbia arts scene is ‘jumping’
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McCluer North High School, Florissant, Mo.
Interest in the cultural scene on and off the MU campus is growing as the arts expand to meet a variety of tastes in Columbia.
Increasing population might decrease the state of the environment
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Whitehaven High School, Memphis, Tenn.
With the population increase in Columbia, environmental officials are not holding back their concerns of the effect the increasing number of residents could have on the environment of the area.
Soccer in Columbia growing with an international twist
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Suncoast Community High School, Rivero Beach, Fla.
Interest in soccer might be a chicken-and-the-egg issue: Did interest start with the establishment of leagues, or were the leagues a hit because interest was already high? Either way, soccer is a growing sport in Columbia.
Crime rates increase as population tops 100,000 in Columbia
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Keller High School, Keller, Texas
Crime rates climb as population increases, but Columbia Police Department looks at ways to counteract an increase in crimes and keep Columbia safe.
Services expanding for people with disabilities in Columbia
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McCluer North High School, Florissant, Mo.
New services are being created in Columbia for people with disabilities because of the population growth during the past decade.