The Capital-Journal Editorial Board
According to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau, Topeka’s population fell for the fifth straight year in 2016. While the census is conducted every decade, the Census Bureau provides annual population estimates for cities, counties and states across the country. When the last census was released in 2010, Topeka had a population of 127,473 — a number that has fallen to 126,808 if the Census Bureau’s estimate is accurate. The 2015-2016 decrease (457 people) was larger than any of the preceding four years.
A static or shrinking population can have harmful effects on a community. In September 2016, Market Street Services Inc. completed a community assessment that “examines the competitive issues facing Topeka-Shawnee County” for the Topeka-Shawnee County Holistic Economic Development Strategy steering committee...