Even among increasingly popular college towns, Columbia’s growth stands out.
According to recent U.S. Census data, Columbia's metropolitan area grew by 1.17 percent, or just over 2,000 people, from 2015 to 2016. As a percentage, the growth is the highest in Missouri, and ranks tenth among other metropolitan areas in the Midwest.
Bernie Andrews, vice president of Regional Economic Development, Inc., partially attributed the increase to local colleges, which often attract students who stay in town after graduating, and to a strong business community.
"In addition to the long-standing employment opportunities in education, health care and insurance, there are now some major employers in financial services, life sciences, IT and the online advertising space that did not exist 20 years ago," Andrews said in an email.
The growth from 2015 to 2016 is indicative of a larger trend in Columbia over the past several years. Since 2010, Columbia’s population has grown by 8.21 percent, which ranks first in Missouri and eighth in the Midwest.
Jolyn Sattizahn, the Chamber of Commerce’s vice president of community affairs, said a wide range of jobs, from manufacturing to technology, makes Columbia an attractive destination for lots of people.
"Once we hit that 100,000 mark, we started to grow a little faster," she said. "I think we’ll continue see an uptick in the future."