“People need to see there is a future here.” That was the response from Interim Regional Development Association of East Central Kansas President Lyle Butler during an interview with KVOE News regarding the recent population decline in Emporia and Lyon County as noted by the 2025 Certified Kansas Population by County report.
In the report, as KVOE News noted last week, Emporia’s population declined from 24,534 in 2024 to 24,137 last year, a decline of 0.9 percent with declines also noted in a majority of Lyon County and area communities with some slight increases mixed in. Butler says the decline should be a cause for “disappointment” but not a surprise given the notable hits the local economy has taken over the last few years.
Butler would also note that when it comes to residents in Emporia specifically, the majority truly love the community and their quality of life, which is why there was no “mass migration” in terms of population count. That said, he also stated that in order to see a reverse trend, the community needs to see an “extra effort” from all of its economic leaders, starting with job creation.
To that point, Butler couldn’t offer specifics; however, he did say the RDA has been in conversations with existing businesses looking at potential expansion, saying 80 percent of new job creation tends to begin with existing businesses. On top of that, Butler also stated there have been conversations at the state level with businesses that may look to move into the community and bring with them new opportunities.
When asked if the population decline, though minimal, could, over time, deter certain businesses from wanting to relocate or grow in the community, Butler again stated the need for a stronger push at the local level and also an abundance of “patience,” explaining that economic development is never a task accomplished “overnight.”
Click here to view the full population report and numbers from around the KVOE listening area.
