For the first time in three decades, Montgomery County has decreased in population.

According to preliminary data from the 2020 U.S. Census, the county’s overall population dropped by 914 people over the last decade to 11,322, a seven percent decrease. It’s the first time since 1990 that the population was under 12,000 residents.

In 2010, the population was at 12,236. 1st District Commissioner Dave Teeter said the reason for the decrease is that a lot of residents moved out of the rural parts of the county within the last 10 years.

“The major loss of population in the county was outside of the city limits of towns in our county,” Teeter said. “That’s where people sold the small farms to a bigger farming operation and nobody moved into those houses.”

Out of the nine towns, McKittrick had the biggest increase. Data showed that the town’s population grew by 26 percent, going from a population of 61 people in 2010 to 77 in 2020.
Middletown had a small increase, going from 167 people in 2010 to 171 in 2020. Teeter said with the addition of Hilltop Variety Store – which opened in December – the town will continue to go up in numbers.

“I think once they get all of those businesses up and going, you’re going to see a lot of people going that direction,” Teeter said.

The other seven towns in the county saw a decrease. Wellsville has the biggest drop in population, losing 219 residents from 10 years ago. It went from 1,217 in 2010 to 998, an 18 percent decrease.

New Florence and Bellflower each had a 17 percent drop in population from the last 10 years. New Florence dropped from 769 people in 2010 to 641. Bellflower dropped from 393 people to 325.

Jonesburg and High Hill each lost five percent in population. Jonesburg now has 726 people after having 768 in 2010. High Hill dropped from 195 to 186.

Montgomery City has the largest population in the county with 2,811. It lost just 23 residents from the last 10 years.
Rhineland has lost only three residents since 2010 and has a population of 139.

Teeter said more older people have moved to Montgomery County within the last 10 years.

“Some of the people who moved here aren’t younger and don’t have kids,” Teeter said. “A lot of houses have been bought. Then, people who moved to St. Charles wanted to be in a slower paced environment. They got a little more bang for their buck. That’s where they sold their house and went ahead and bought one here. But they were older. The kids were raised. They didn’t bring in a family. They were two people instead of 5 or 6.”

Montgomery County was founded in 1818. Its largest population was 16,850 in 1890. By the 1950s, the population dropped to 11,500. It stayed around the 11,000 mark until 2000, when it had 12,136 residents.

Bordering counties such as Lincoln and Warren have seen an increase in population.

Warren County’s population increased by nine percent and now has 35,532 residents. Wright City had the biggest increase with 56 percent. It went from 3,119 in 2010 to 4,881.

“They’re in a good spot,” 2nd District Commissioner Doug Lensing said. “They’re closer to the city (St. Louis). They’re closer to Wentzville.”

Lincoln County’s population is now 59,574, an increase of 13 percent. Moscow Mills had the biggest increase with 32 percent. It went from 2,599 in 2010 to 3,317.