The metro-east’s population shrank in the last 5 years. One county is bucking trends
.jpg "How has St. Clair County’s population shifted in the last five years? Here’s what the latest U.S. Census Bureau data indicates.")
The metro-east region shrank slightly over the past five years or so and is seeing its population of young people lessen.
That is according to the U.S. Census Bureau, which released the results of the 2024 American Community Survey in January. The survey captures data from 2020 to 2024, meaning it is less a crystal ball and more a highlight reel. There is also room for error, especially in more local data.
While there are some small signs of decline in the region, one county in particular, Bond, is bucking trends. Median income in Bond, however, is rising slower than the inflation rate.
The News-Democrat examined ACS data for Bond, Clinton, Madison, Monroe, Randolph, St. Clair and Washington counties for its analysis.
Metro-east shrank slightly
The population of the metro-east region fell from 662,000 to 650,000 since the 2019 American Community Survey, or 1.7%. That outpaces Illinois’s 0.6% population loss.
Two metro-east counties grew: Bond and Monroe, though Bond’s was practically flat. Monroe County grew by 2.54%, to 868 people.
The metro-east’s population loss is largely driven by Randolph County and St. Clair County, home to Belleville. The former lost about 2,200 people, or 6.9% of its population. St. Clair’s population fell by 8,600, or 3.3%.
Most metro-east counties are aging slightly
All metro-east counties but Bond and Madison counties saw their median age rise, in line with statewide and national trends. Monroe, Randolph and St. Clair each saw their median resident age upped by more than one year.
Clinton County’s median age rose by 0.9 years, exactly in line with statewide trends. The nation’s median age rose by 0.8 years.
Fewer younger people call the metro-east home
The aging of the metro-east is likely in part due to a loss of young people. All counties but Bond saw their under-30 population drop, most significantly in Randolph County. There, the under-30 population fell 11%, and it is now one of two metro-east counties whose under-30 populations make up less than a third of total residents (the other is Washington, which has the highest median age in the metro-east).
Bond County saw its share of young people rise and its total under-30 population rise. With the small size of the under-30 population there, however, there is more room for error.
The 65+ population grew sharply in some metro-east counties
Though most counties saw their share of young people drop, every county saw their share of seniors rise. The increase was most pronounced in Monroe County, whose 65-and-older population rose by 17%. The closest county, Clinton, was at 11%. Illinois’ 65+ population also rose 11%.
Bond County’s senior population rose the least, at about 3%.
Metro-east is growing more diverse, but slower than the state
Already less racially diverse than the state, the metro-east grew more only slightly more so over the past five or so years.
Madison County is diversifying the quickest, with its non-Hispanic white portion of the population falling from 85.1% t0 81.8%, or 3.3 percentage points. Illinois’ non-Hispanic white segment fell 3.2 percentage points, from 61.3% to 58.1%.
In the case of the state and the region, the racial diversification is due to more people identifying as multiracial. That portion of the population grew by nearly 5 points in Madison, St. Clair and Bond counties, and it grew 8.3 points statewide.
The Black-only portion of the population decreased slightly in most metro-east counties and statewide, while the Asian population stagnated. Hispanic identity, which is considered ethnic rather than racial, increased in statewide and in all metro-east counties except Bond.
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