ST. LOUIS, Mo. (First Alert 4) - St. Louis is at a demographic crossroads, according to new federal census data.

The metro area’s foreign-born population dropped 2.1 percent — one of the steepest declines among the nation’s 50 largest metro areas. That essentially means immigrants have left the region. Just one year ago, St. Louis led the country in foreign-born growth.

Area demographer Ness Sandoval told First Alert 4, the 2024 ACS data present a mixed picture, offering both encouragement and caution.

Race and ethnicity trends

Across the St. Louis region, the white population grew from 2023 to 2024, reaching nearly 2 million. Black residents declined slightly, dropping from about 467,000 to 463,000.

By contrast, Asian and Latino communities are driving growth. The Asian population ro

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