According to the 2008 census many are moving to the suburbs and away from Kansas City’s downtown areas. The population of Kansas City, MO. gained approximately 2% since 2000 whereas Spring Hill, KS. was up 92%, Gardner, KS. was up 86%, Olathe, KS. was up 29%, Desoto, KS. was up 19%, Lenexa, KS. was up 16% and Overland Park, KS. was up 15%.
What does all of this mean? My guess is the prospect of a light rail system in the near term is comatose if not dead. As much as the Sprint Center and the Power and Light district have created a reason to go downtown, apparently it is not enough to motivate people to m0ve there.
According to a Kansas City Star article ”…employment in Johnson County exploded 70.7% from 1990 to 2008 compared to Jackson Counties’ scant growth of 2.3% job growth. In the Star article Doug Davidson, president of CERI, said “Johnson County is a desirable place to live and raise a family.” “It has great school systems. Its adult population is one of the most highly educated in the nation. Employers that want highly educated workers are attracted to Johnson County.”