Initial data returns from the 2020 Census were not quite what local leaders were hoping for, however, they’re confident it will provide key insight on how to help improve the local community moving forward.
According to initial data released late Thursday, Lyon County’s overall population count was down by 4.49 percent from 2010. Emporia’s population was down by 3.12 percent from 2010.
Emporia Mayor and Kansas Counts Committee Member Rob Gilligan says the returns are disappointing, however, not extremely surprising.
Some of those factors, according to Gilligan, include shifts in local employers, new job opportunities and shifts in education over the past decade.
Gilligan says conversations are already underway on how the city and county can improve the population count over the next decade. He says one area he believes holds great potential for bringing new residents to the community is remote employment.
Emporia saw its population decline from 24,916 to 24,139, a drop of 3.1 percent.
Other towns:
*Admire’s population went from 156 in 2010 to 130 this year, a decline of almost 17 percent.
*Allen’s population declined from 177 to 160, a 9.6-percent drop.
*Americus’ population dipped from 894 to 776, a drop of over 13 percent.
*Bushong’s population went from 34 to 27, declining 20.6 percent
*Hartford’s population went from 371 to 355, down 4.3 percent.
*Neosho Rapids’ population declined from 265 to 229, down 13.6 percent
*Olpe saw its population go from 546 to 519, down 5 percent
*Reading had its population go from 231 to 181, down 21.7 percent.
The declines at the city level forced Lyon County’s total population down from 33,690 in 2010 to 32,179 this year, a drop of 4.5 percent. The Lyon County drop was indicative of population drops across the KVOE listening area:
*Chase County’s 2020 population: 2,572, down 7.8 percent from 2020
*Coffey County’s 2020 population: 8,360, down 2.8 percent
*Greenwood County’s 2020 population: 6,016, down 10.1 percent
*Morris County’s 2020 population: 5,386, down 9.1 percent
*Osage County’s 2020 population: 15,766, down 3.3 percent
*Wabaunsee County’s 2020 population: 6,877, down 2.5 percent
Rural counties lost population in the Census, while metro areas gained. The data was released as the Kansas Legislature and others across the country begin formal work on redistricting.
Additional data, including specific demographic information, will be released in the coming weeks. You can find a full breakdown of Lyon County’s initial population data by clicking the link below.
KVOE News Director Chuck Samples contributed to this report.
