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AP: Four Kansas counties now minority-majority
Published 5/26/2009 in News
WICHITA (AP) — The U.S. Census Bureau estimates four counties in Kansas have reached "minority-majority" status.
According to figures released May 14, Finney County between 2007 and 2008 joined the counties of Seward, Ford and Wyandotte where non-Hispanic whites were minorities. Grant and Hamilton counties are expected to join them in 2021 if current population growth patterns continue. Their fellow southwestern Kansas counties of Stevens and Stanton will reach that point in the early 2030s, the estimates predicted.
The statewide minority total grew 3.1 percent, faster than the national rate of 2.3 percent. Minorities now make up almost 20 percent of the Kansas population, compared with 34 percent nationwide.
Geary County was the state's fastest-growing county from 2007 to 2008, largely because of an increase in troops based at Fort Riley.
The May 14 figures are the last batch of estimates being released before next year's regular census, which is held every 10 years.
Peter Haxton, the state data center coordinator for Kansas, said the estimates are based on births, deaths and migration figures based on records from the Internal Revenue Service and Medicare.
Overall, the Census Bureau estimates 47 Kansas counties saw population increases during that period, while 58 saw their populations shrink.
Sedgwick County's population grew 1.6 percent last year but remained the state's second-largest county, behind Johnson.
The biggest population drop was seen in Kiowa County, which lost hundreds of homes when a tornado destroyed most of Greensburg.
City Administrator Steve Hewitt estimate Greensburg's population is 400 to 500 less than 1,450 resident who lived there before the tornado. He said many of those residents migrated to Pratt and Dodge City.
It's unknown when the city will get back to its pre-tornado population, he said, but people are requesting building permits every week. Also, the rebuilding of the city's schools and hospital is continuing, he said.
"Those are things that are going to take time," he said. "I think a good measuring stick will be in five years."
Read a CNN story about Finney County becoming a minority-majority community.
Found 1 comment(s)!
Minority-Majority
We've known this for quite some time really. But they're only counting deaths,births, and migration. The minority has reached the top in many areas in our county. That should be made public also. They also have the majority in unemployment, in the penal system, high school dropouts (due to teen pregnancy--17 and younger)on welfare and medicaid, uneducated, and non-English speaking. They're tops in all those areas. It's already a statistic that 48% are children under the age of 5 yrs. Yes, I do know that most work in the feedyards and beef plants and it is hard work and dangerous, and I appreciate their work, but they shouldn't complain. Again, they are the majority of uneducated, and non English speaking. That's what they qualify for. On the upside, they do make a good wage and have health benefits. I believe everyone should have a part of the American Dream, but the key word here is "American". And having a better life is hard, but they need to adapt to the American way of life---learn our language and get some education to get those better jobs. I have been to Mexico a number of times and NOT ONE TIME did they even try to get an interpreter for me. Their attitude was "you're in our country now so deal with it". Everyone deserves a chance for a better life--but not handed to them. They need to work for it just like we have had to do for years. Learn our language, get a good education, and get out there and work hard.
Posted by: C.Jackson on 5/28/2009
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