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Comparing the growth

By Staff | Mar 21, 2001

The 2000 federal census proved that northeast Kansas was a growth area.

Johnson, Wyandotte, Douglas and Leavenworth counties all showed populations increases in the census, and several towns in those counties shared in the growth. Here are the census figures for a sampling of those towns.

Baldwin City

2000 population: 3,400

1990 population: 2,961

While Baldwin City showed a 14.8 percent jump in population from 1990, city and school officials don’t think that’s completely accurate. The census bureau counted 3,400 people in Baldwin in 2000, up from 2,961 in 1990, but the feeling is there may have been a few “noses” missed in the count.

“I think that’s certainly possible,” said James White, superintendent of schools. “I thought we would have been a little higher.”

Baldwin’s biggest growth has occurred in the last two to three years with several housing developments established. City officials are so concerned by the rapid growth that they established a building moratorium late last year to limit the number of new housing starts.

Basehor

2000 population: 2,238

1990 population: 1,677

Basehor showed one of the highest percentage increases in population between the 1990 census and 2000 census in Leavenworth County.

Basehor grew from 1,677 to 2,238. City officials expect that number to grow with the annexation of Falcon Lakes subdivision and golf course northeast of town. The development could add 500 homes, with an average of 1.6 children per household.

Basehor had the second-largest increase in population within Leavenworth County at 25.5 percent.

In Leavenworth County, the population increased 8.26 percent since the 1990 census. Linwood’s population decreased since the 1990 census, falling from 409 to 374 residents. Lansing had the largest increase in the county, growing 28.77 percent to a total population of 9,169.

In Easton, the population decreased from 405 in 1990 to 362 in 2000, a 10.62 percent decline. And Leavenworth’s population showed a decrease of 7.99 percent, from 38,495 in 1990 to 35,420 in 2000. But some Leavenworth city officials have questioned whether a census tract that should have been included in Leavenworth actually was counted in Lansing.

Bonner Springs

2000 population: 6,768

1990 population: 6,413

Bonner Springs saw a 5.5 percent increase in population, adding 355 residents in the past 10 years. Although the increase was slight 6,413 in 1990 and

6,768 in 2000 Bonner Springs remains the largest city in western Wyandotte County, excluding Kansas City, Kan.

DeSoto

2000 population: 4,561

1990 population: 2,291

DeSoto grew by a remarkable 99 percent in the last 10 years, according to new census figures. The city’s 2000 population was 4,561 compared with 2,291 in 1990.

City officials estimated about 700 new residents became part of the city from the annexation of Clearview City and a large 1998 annexation that nearly doubled the size of DeSoto.

Recent developments indicate the population surge is likely to continue. Work is to begin this spring on the 80-home Timber Trails subdivision, and Intervet Inc. announced this spring it would bring 170 new jobs to the area.

Edwardsville

2000 population: 4,146

1990 population: 3,979

Edwardsville’s population has increased 4.19 percent since the 1990 census.

The 2000 census put the city’s population at 4, 146. City officials think the number will increase more rapidly than in the past with a new sewer project opening up the north section of the city.

Eudora

2000 population: 4,307

1990 population: 3,006

The 2000 census showed Eudora had the highest percentage population increase in Douglas County.

Eudora’s population increased from 3,006 in 1990 to 4,307 in 2000, an increase of 43.3 percent.

School officials and city planners expect the growth to continue, and school board members say facility improvements are needed because of the population growth that’s occurred in the last 10 years.