Johnson County cities, headlined by Overland Park, led the state in population growth this decade, new census estimates show.
Of the 10 cities in Kansas with the most population growth since 2010, six were in Johnson County. The other state’s big-growth cities included Lawrence, Kansas City, Wichita and Manhattan.
The census numbers provide a preview of the upcoming 2020 census, which will shape how legislative and congressional districts will be drawn in the next several years.
Overland Park has recorded the largest population growth in Kansas this decade, increasing by about 19,000 to 192,536, according to an analysis of census data released on Thursday.
It was followed by Olathe, which has grown by about 13,700 since 2010 and Lawrence, which has seen its population grow by about 9,600.
Fourth on the list in population growth was Kansas City, Kan. (7,172), followed by Lenexa (7,104), Wichita (6,887) and Shawnee (3,636), Leawood (2,822), Gardner(2,748) and Manhattan (2,678).
On the other side of the ledger, Topeka has registered the biggest population loss in the state during the decade.
Topeka has seen its population shrink by 1,569 since 2010, the biggest decline in the state in actual numbers since 2010.
Hutchinson saw the next biggest drop of 1,457 followed by Junction City (-1,233), Liberal (-1,030), Salina (-991), Coffeyville (-929), Independence (-885), Parsons (-835), Great Bend (-825) and Arkansas City (-622).
Another analysis showing cities with the biggest percentage increases during the last decade yielded different results.
Here is a look at the Kansas cities that have seen the biggest percentage increases during the last decade along with their current population estimate as of 2018:
St. George, 55%, 989
Bassett , 50%, 21
Maize, 36%, 4,662
Basehor, 34%, 6,194
Huron, 33%, 72
Spring Hill, 28%, 6,967
Bel Aire, 19%, 8,073
Louisville, 16%, 218
Havensville, 16%, 154
Wheaton, 16%, 110
Now a look at the cities with the biggest percentage declines since 2010 along with their current population estimate as of 2018:
Hamlin, 22%, 36
Mildred, 21%, 22
Richfield, 19%, 35
Rolla, 18%, 363
Elkhart City, 18%, 1,819
Chautauqua, 16%, 93
Elk Falls, 14%, 92
Moline, 13%, 321
Grenola, 13%, 187
Longton, 13%, 302
Now a look at other areas of the state with their percentage population change followed by their current population estimate:
Abilene, down 8%, 6,300
Dodge City, down 0.04%, 27,329
Garden City, down 0.42%, 26,546
Pittsburg, down 0.27%, 20,178
Emporia, down 0.61%, 24,765
McPherson, down 0.59%, 13,077
Leavenworth, up 2.3%, 36,062
Hays, up 1.67%, 20,852
El Dorado, down 0.66%, 12,935
Prairie Village, up 4.39%, 22,389
