Recent data from East-West Gateway Council of Governments, the reginal Metropolitan Planning Organization, shows the St. Louis region is leading the state’s economy in a number of categories. For the study, East-West Gateway examined the five Missouri counties within the organization’s (MPO) service area – Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, St. Louis, and St. Louis City.
The data shows St. Louis’s role in Missouri’s economy is not due only to its larger population. While making up 33% of the Missouri population, St. Louis has represented a much larger percentage of the state’s economic activity. The St. Louis region contributes 48% of the income taxes in the state – almost half – with only one-third of the population. When speaking with your elected officials about transit and funding, make sure to stress the fact that St. Louis, Kansas City and the other urban areas are paying in a large portion of this state’s budget and in return would like to see a greater emphasis on their priorities including transportation.
Check below to see how the St. Louis region ranked in each of the 11 categories:
Category St. Louis Share (%) of the Missouri Total
Population 33%
Personal Income 40%
Employment by place-of-work 39%
Wages & Salaries distributed 45%
Businesses 38%
Annual Business Payroll 49%
Taxable sales (sales & use tax) 36%
Federal Income Tax 51%
Individual Income Tax 48%
Gross County Product 43%
Foreign Exports 48%
For East-West Gateway’s full report and a bunch of nifty pie charts, click here.