There were 1,314,826 children under age 18 in 1990, down more than 200,000 from 1970. During this time, the number living in single-parent families increased to 256,615, up more than 100,000 from 1970. All 114 counties and St. Louis City had increases in the number of one-parent households with children. Only nine counties and St. Louis City had proportions of one-parent families greater than the state average, in 1980, of 18.5 percent. By 1990, the state average had increased to 24 percent and 54 counties and St. Louis City were above the 18.5 percent level.
Children growing up in many one-parent families face multiple challenges.
Clearly, poverty undermines children's healthy physical, social, and intellectual development.