Fall Forum Seeks to Reverse Worth County Population Decline

A fall forum will be held Monday, October 26th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Grant City Golf Clubhouse. Discussion will be held on ways to reverse the county's population decline, which has been ongoing since 1900, when the population was at around 9,600. 

The discussion will include findings from the recent Maximize Northwest Missouri survey, which focused on why people choose to stay, why people choose to leave, and why people choose to return to Northwest Missouri. 

Hosted by Worth County Extension and Maximize Northwest Missouri, the forum will give participants an opportunity to review local data, share experiences, and help identify priorities for future community action. 

The forum is free and open to the public. 

One in Five People Considering Leaving Worth County in 5 Years

Maximize Northwest Missouri recently released its survey results for the area. Since Worth County had enough responses, it was able to collect data specifically for the county.

The Northwest Missouri region is projected to have a population of 247,000 in 2025, reflecting an 0.9% decline in residents since 2020. Missouri’s population grew by 1.8% during the same period.

Group 2, of which Worth County is a part, has a population of 38,000, which is 1.4% lower than 2020. However, it has 17,000 jobs, which is a 5.7% increase over 2020.

The survey received 1,082 responses. Of them, there were 419 in Group 2, which is home to Maryville. There were 338 in Group 1, which includes St. Joseph. There were 67 from Group 4, which includes Trenton. There were 258 from Group 3, which includes Chillicothe.

Of the respondents, 46% are stayers, who grew up in Northwest Missouri and have always stayed here. 23% are returners, who grew up, moved away, then came back. 26% are migrants, who did not grow up here, but live here now. This is different from immigrants, who moved to the US from other countries. 5% are leavers, who grew up here but have left.

Job opportunities continue to be the most likely reason people move into or out of Northwest Missouri. 38% of Migrants moved here because of job opportunities. 63% of returners did so because of job opportunities.

For Worth County, nearly half of respondents said that relationships with friends and family were the best thing about living in Worth County. That number was almost 50%, and almost three times as high as the next highest response.

However, around one in five Worth County residents are Somewhat or Extremely Likely to move in the next five years. While ties to the area, healthcare, supporting the local economy, and the quality of schools are important factors, broadband or high-speed Internet access and access to hardware, grocery, and other stores are sharply higher factors for Worth County residents than among other respondents in the survey. If people follow through on moving from the county, that could mean a decline of 400 residents to 1,600 in future years.

Family changes, such as retirement or children relocating, were the top reason for moving given by Worth County residents. Job changes were the second most likely reason, but less so than the regional average, since a higher share of residents are retired. Health changes and cost of living increases are more important factors for Worth County respondents compared to the overall region.

Trust and belonging are felt by over three in four Worth County respondents as they trust their neighbors, are willing to help their neighbors, and feel like they belong.

In response to what efforts people would support in the community, most respondents said they would support new businesses as well as support local fundraising. Both are supported at higher levels than the overall region. The third and fourth highest responses were supporting stronger youth organizations and supporting local taxes for local initiatives.

The 2025 alumni and resident survey was initiated by the Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri and its Maximize Northwest initiative. The survey was conducted over a four month period from mid-June to mid-October, and covered 18 counties. Out of the 419 responses in Group 2, 51% were from Worth County.

Worth County’s population has declined from 1,968 residents in 2020 to an estimated 1,878 people in 2025, a decline of 4.6%. Around 36.3% of the population is 60 or over. The county has bucked the trend in job growth; while regional, state, and national job growth has all gone up, Worth County has fewer jobs, 591, in 2025 than it did in 2020, when it had 666.

Most Worth County respondents were 60 or older. Around 65% were employed, a lower share than the regional average of 74%. One in three Worth County respondents are retired.

Most Worth County respondents lived in households with two or more adults.  Nearly two in three lived in the same zip code for more than 20 years.

The three most important things people liked about Worth County were relationships with friends and family, the cost of living, and safety. Other responses that a majority of respondents checked were the size of the town and community pride. Worth County residents valued these factors more than the overall region respondents.

When pushed to narrow their responses to one, most Worth County respondents mentioned relationships with friends and family by more than three times over the next highest category.

For stayers for the entire region, eight in 10 said they were staying because they wanted to be near family and friends. Four in 10 wanted their kids to grow up as they did. Around two in 10 always wanted to stay or that community engagement, job opportunities, or spouse support were reasons.

For returners, job opportunities were the top reason for leaving for 63% of returners, up from 57% in 2020. Educational opportunities were noted by 40%. Spouse support was a reason for 14%. For returners for the whole region, reasons for coming back included being near family and friends (80%), wanting kids to grow up like they did (33%), and job opportunities (29%). When pushed to narrow it to one category, 53% said they came back because they wanted to be near family and friends.

For migrants throughout the region, 38% moved in to the region because of job opportunities. 34% said they wanted to be near family and friends, significantly lower than in 2020 (54%). Spouse support was the third most common reason, with 31%.

For leavers throughout the region, 63% left because of job opportunities. The second highest response was educational opportunities at 33%.

For Worth County residents, ties to the area, local school quality, and store access were listed as very important factors about where they will live in the next five years. Other factors which drew a majority of responses were access to broadband and access to healthcare.  When asked for the most important factor for where to live, most Worth County residents said that ties to the area was the most important factor. Healthcare was second, followed by a strong or growing economy. Quality of local schools was next, followed by access to broadband and access to hardware, grocery, and other stores.

When asked what influences people to move or stay, most Worth County residents said that family changes were most important, followed by job changes. Health changes were third, and more Worth County respondents were likely to cite this than the overall region. Rising cost of living was fourth and more likely to be checked by Worth County residents than the region.

When asked about specifically about job influences, salary growth was the most important factor for Worth County residents, followed by a low cost of living and easy commuting. More Worth County residents were retired compared to the overall region, so they were generally less concerned with working factors.

When asked about what community activities Worth County residents did, 90% said they voted and socialized with neighbors. Other responses that got a majority of responses were donating money, volunteering, and fundraising. Around 56% said they would try a new activity if asked.

Around four in five Worth County residents trust and are willing to help their neighbors and feel like they belong. Three in five feel that people respect their values and work together. Worth County residents generally indicate a higher sense of community trust and belonging compared to the overall region.

Around 94% of Worth County residents felt that voting locations and adequate hours were available. Over 60% felt there were places to meet with friends and neighbors. A majority of respondents also felt there were ways to invest or give back to the community and access public information and lifelong learning resources.

When asked about changes that excited them about the future, 40% of Worth County residents said that economic gains such as jobs or businesses would excite them. Community improvements were mentioned by one in four respondents, but less than in the region.

When asked about what changes worry them the most, 37% of Worth County residents said they were worried about population or business loss. This is higher than in the region. 19% said they were worried about the political climate, including mistrust of the government. This is lower than the region.

 

 

 

 

 

25% Considering Moving in Next Few Years

A new Maximize NWMO survey of 1,082 Northwest Missouri residents released Tuesday found that 25% are considering a move over the next few years. The regional population declined by 0.9% overall since 2020. While some areas experienced modest gains, other counties experienced double digit losses.

Job growth was up 1.6% over the last five years, but that figure trails the state growth of 9% during the same period.

On the positive side, residents expressed willingness to support new businesses, youth organizations, and leadership. Volunteer support for community development efforts increased across most categories.

The survey drew 1,082 responses from individuals who grew up and stayed in Northwest Missouri, people who left the area and returned, moved to the region without prior ties, or left and have not returned.

Their takeaway from the survey was that there was no one solution to reverse the trend, but that small everyday actions, such as welcoming and involving a newcomer, supporting local businesses, mentoring a young person, volunteering, or serving on a board, can create momentum over time. They said that the future of Northwest Missouri will be shaped by neighbors who choose to invest in where they live.

 

Jackie Spainhower Recognized by Maximize NWMO

Maximize Northwest Missouri’s Navigation Team recognized three individuals on September 24, 2025, at their 4th Annual Celebration Luncheon and Regional Roundtable Discussion held at The Comfort Inn & Suites in Chillicothe, MO. Mary Hinde, president/CEO of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri was chosen to receive the Maximize NWMO Vision Award. As a fourth generation regional resident (Buchanan and Daviess Counties), Hinde’s wisdom and words of support provided to the Community Foundation’s regional vitality initiative, Maximize NWMO since its inception in 2012, have been essential to the progress made toward the vision of a more connected region where communities and counties work together to maximize the shared potential as an exceptional place to live, learn, work, and play. Past Vision Award honorees include Lowell Kruse (Buchanan and Daviess Counties) in 2023 and Steve Wenger (Clay County) in 2024.

Jackie Spainhower (Worth County) received the Maximize NWMO Regional Navigator Award for her longtime commitment to improving the quality of life in Northwest Missouri through several professional roles and personal volunteerism. Spainhower currently serves as a community development specialist with the University of Missouri Extension, is the chairperson of Leadership Northwest Missouri, a board officer for Roots & Rounds, and is a member of Maximize NWMO’s Navigation Team and Regional Partner Council. Past Regional Navigator Award honorees include Max Summers (Buchanan County) in 2023 and Rachel Kagay (DeKalb County) in 2024.

“We are grateful for how Jackie sees the big picture, helps people connect, and asks questions that lead to improved processes and results,” said Maximize NWMO Director Christel Gollnick.

Caitlin Silver (DeKalb County) was presented with the Maximize NWMO Community Navigator Award. As an entrepreneur and volunteer, she uplifts the importance of small businesses and leadership development in her community and surrounding counties. Silver was a founding member of the Maysville Area Improvement Network [M.A.I.N.], is the vice president of the Maysville Area Chamber of Commerce, and is the current president of North Central Missouri Business Facilitation. Former Community Navigator honorees include Linda Place, Maximize Albany (Gentry County), in 2023, and Joe Gagnon, The Clinton County Initiative (Clinton County), in 2024.

Sandra Pottoff, Ph.D., who traveled from her home in Nisswa, MN as the national Communities of Resilience and Excellence, formerly Communities of Excellence 2026, mentor to Maximize NWMO, also received special recognition.

More than 315 community leaders were listed as participants in Maximize NWMO’s regional CollaborACTION Network across 18 counties. Several dozen luncheon attendees participated in a roundtable discussion to brainstorm a list of ideas that individuals can easily do to increase a sense of belonging – the key indicator of what determines a resident’s decision to make a place their home.

Interested individuals can register at www.MaximizeNWMO.org to receive Maximize NWMO’s eNewsletter. Information about events and community development leadership programs, and regional data helpful for decision-making can also be found on the website and Facebook. The next “Reaching Common Goals Faster” program is scheduled for October 29, 2025.

The key benefit of Maximize NWMO’s programs is learning how to shift from a project-based mindset where success lives and dies on the shoulders of very few people to a much more sustainable big picture approach that includes many voices with responsibilities shared among a larger group.

Maximize NWMO serves the region by providing administrative, communications, data access, and coaching support on systems-thinking and community wealth building for individuals, communities and the region. The initiative’s Navigation Team supports leaders and communities who want to dream big, decide wisely, and maximize our region’s potential by growing together.

Maximize NWMO is the regional vitality initiative of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri. It has been made possible over the last decade through partnerships with Communities of Resilience & Excellence (formerly Communities of Excellence 2026), Patterson Family Foundation, the United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD), University of Missouri Extension, Missouri Department of Economic Development, and several other donors. www.maximizenwmo.org and together@maximizenwmo.org

Maximize Northwest MO Doing Economic Development Survey

A short survey has been launched to capture what people love and value about the 18-county region. Community leaders in northwest Missouri are asking why people choose to live in the area and what they feel would make life even better in this primarily rural place. The survey is designed to listen to people who grew up here, have strong ties here, moved away, and/or have chosen to live here. The goal is to gather input representative of all perspectives in the region to help in prioritizing and coordinating efforts that can further strengthen and enhance our towns as great places to live, learn, work, play, and raise children.

All residents, and especially those who have earned a high school diploma, skilled training certificate, or higher education diploma within the region are encouraged to participate. The survey is only a few minutes in length and can be easily accessed by visiting www.maximizenwmo.org or through links posted on the Maximize NWMO Facebook page. The direct link is: http://muext.us/NWMOsurvey.

“Maximize NWMO provides a path for how to align and expand the many things that are going right in communities and how to be more effective at resiliency, seeing and considering the big picture, and stretching limited resources. This 5-year comparison survey with what we learned in 2020 will help leaders make data-informed decisions about what happens next in this place,” said Christel Gollnick, Maximize NWMO director. “We’ve already had state, city, and community leaders call to ask for the results. We’d love to hear from as many people as possible so we can share statistically valid information with everyone.”

Maximize NWMO serves the region in a non-partisan role providing administrative, communications, data access, and coaching support on leadership, systems-thinking, resilient collaborACTION, and community wealth building for individuals, communities and the region. The initiative’s Guiding Coalition of partners from many sectors supports leaders and teams who want to dream big, decide wisely, and maximize our region’s potential by growing together.

Maximize NWMO is the regional vitality initiative of The Community Foundation of Northwest Missouri. It is made possible through partnerships with Communities of Excellence 2026, the United States Department of Agriculture – Rural Development (USDA-RD), University of Missouri Extension, Patterson Family Foundation, Evergy, and many private cash and in-kind donors to the Maximize NWMO Fund.

The counties served include Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Clinton, Davies, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Putnam, Sullivan, and Worth.