Springfield's metropolitan statistical area population has grown faster since 2000 than any other MSA in the state, according annual population estimates from the U.S.Census Bureau. Population in the five-county metro area - covering Greene, Christian, Webster, Polk and Dallas counties - was 430,900, up 1.1% since 2008 and 17% since 2000, according to a news release from the Springfield Business Development Corp. That 10-year growth rate surpasses Columbia's 14.1%, Kansas City's 12.6%, Joplin's 10.8% and St. Louis' 4.8% growth. SBJ printed 03/25/2010