The preliminary numbers of the U.S. Census have been released and while the overall population of Kansas rose by just over 60,000, the population in Southeast Kansas has dropped dramatically with three counties in the top 10 of population loss.

 

According to State Senator Virgil Peck, Montgomery County and Labette County both lost a sizable portion of their population.

 

The other SEK county that was in the top 10 is Cherokee County which lost just over 1,600 which equated a 7.7% loss. Wilson County lost 884, Neosho lost 505 and Chautauqua lost 419.

 

Peck said that due to Johnson and Sedgwick counties each gaining 58,000 and 18,000 people respectively, it means that rural Kansans will have less representation.

 

Peck said each senate district is going to have about 73,000 people with the new population numbers. Redistricting committees will meet at 14 locations around the state including Chanute and Pittsburg at a date to be determined.

 

The entire interview Sen. Peck can be found here.