The Market Street Report: Joplin, Five Years Later

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Joplin, Five Years Later

By Ranada Robinson, Research Manager

During this week five years ago, Market Street was on its way to Joplin, Missouri, where on May 22, 2011, a catastrophic EF5-rated tornado wreaked havoc. This deadly tornado wiped out entire areas of the city, affecting residents and businesses alike. To assist with post-tornado business recovery, Market Street provided pro bono assistance to the Joplin Business Recovery and Expansion Initiative. During our time there, we learned from the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce that over 500 businesses were affected in some way; roughly two-thirds of Joplin’s businesses were operating, many in a temporary location; and that the status of over 100 businesses was unknown.

The tornado came on the heels of the Great Recession, which resulted in major challenges for the region. Declining populations in some communities, low average annual wages, high total and youth poverty rates, a relatively larger share of adults with no high school diploma, and the loss of a number of major employers were all issues that the Joplin Region was dealing with.

Five years later, Joplin has emerged as a case study for communities who experience natural disaster. The way the community and its leadership pulled together to overcome this awful circumstance is inspirational. The Joplin Area Chamber and its many partners are to be commended for their steadfast efforts to pull the city out of the debris and focus on its growth and success.

The following charts provide a data profile of the City of Joplin, which is located in Jasper and Newton counties. Because of the timing of the tornado, many of its impacts are not reflected in data until 2012. As the charts and tables will illustrate, Joplin has had slow but steady progress over the five years since the tornado. The city is gaining population and jobs, unemployment is declining, and the number of firms is increasing. However, as is not surprising, there is still a ways to go. Although poverty is decreasing in Newton County, it is increasing in Jasper County. Average annual wages significantly lag behind those of the state and nation, and per capita income has slightly declined.

In the coming weeks, we will to share more insight into Joplin’s post-tornado efforts and highlight the economic development component of their resilience and dedication.

Population