photo by: AAA Kansas

News and notes from around town:

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There’s much to count during the holiday season. Blessings, of course, but also pennies — as in how many of them I can save when filling up my gas tank after all this Christmas traveling. If you are that same type of counter, here are a few facts and figures to know on Kansas gas prices before you fire up the Christmas cruiser. All are from AAA Kansas, which provides weekly reports on gasoline prices across the country.

If you are a Lawrence resident, perhaps you don’t want to fill up before you go. On Dec. 24, the average price per gallon in Douglas County was $2.71 for standard gasoline. Most, although not all, of the counties that border Douglas County have a cheaper average.

If you are heading west toward Topeka, you are in luck. (Well from a gas standpoint.) Shawnee County has some of the cheapest gas prices in the area with an average of $2.63 per gallon. If you are heading south toward Ottawa, Franklin County is at $2.66 per gallon. If you are heading east, gas prices are actually higher in Johnson and Wyandotte counties, but they are a bit cheaper in Leavenworth at $2.66 per gallon.

If your travels will take you even deeper into the Sunflower State, here are a few cities to keep in mind:

• Wichita: $2.67 average in Sedgwick County.

• Emporia: $2.56 average in Lyon County, which is an easy stop off from the Kansas Turnpike

• Salina: $2.72 average in Saline County, which is a big stopping point along Interstate 70.

• Hays: $2.77 average in Ellis County, which is a popular place to stop and clean your eyeballs for the extravaganza known as western Kansas and eastern Colorado. If you can wait just a little longer, consider Wakeeney instead. The average price in Trego County, which is next door to Ellis County, is $2.61 per gallon. If you hear complaints from the back seat about this strategy, I have found that a helpful phrase is: “Wakeeney — Worth the wait.” (Well, helpful-ish.)

• Pittsburg: Why not head to the home of the Pitt State Gorillas and pound your chest about some of the cheapest gas prices in the state? The average in Crawford County is $2.59 per gallon.

• If a bargain is what you are looking for, though, there is one ultimate Christmas destination this season: Hutchinson. Reno County currently has the cheapest average gas price in the state at $2.43 per gallon, plus it gives you a chance to ask another question your loved ones will forever remember: Have you ever been to a salt mine on Christmas?

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Of course, it is the people who make the holiday season. Well, America, we should have it made. The U.S. Census Bureau last week released new population estimates for the nation and all its states. The U.S. population grew by nearly 1% in 2024, which was the country’s fastest rate of growth since 2001. As of July 1, the U.S had an estimated population of 340.1 million people, which was up 0.98% from a year earlier. The U.S. had been stuck in a slow growth mode since the Covid pandemic, but it appears that 2024 is the year we broke out of that rut.

Wow, out of those 340 million people, there has to be someone who will pass me the frigging mashed potatoes in a timely manner. Turning to just Kansas, the numbers aren’t quite as optimistic. The latest Census Bureau figures showed Kansas did indeed grow — only Mississippi, Vermont and West Virginia lost population during the year — but the state wasn’t a top grower in the region.

photo by: U.S. Census Bureau

This map shows the various population growth rates for states from July 1, 2023 to July 1, 2024.

Kansas on July 1 had an estimated population of 2,970,606, which was up 0.6% from a year ago. Here’s how Kansas’ population growth compared to neighboring states (and a couple that wish they were our neighbors.)

• Colorado: up 56,154 people, 1.0%

• Nebraska: up 17,601 people, 0.9%

• Oklahoma: up 31,511 people, 0.8%

• Iowa: up 23,074 people, 0.7%

• Missouri: up 37,428 people, 0.6%

• Kansas: up 19,106 people, 0.6%

• Arkansas: up 18,891 people, 0.6%

The Census Bureau also released figures that show the growth rates for the states since 2020. In some ways, those are probably more meaningful as they give us a sense of a true trend. Those numbers don’t look very good for Kansas. Population growth in Kansas is trailing every other state in the region. It is well understood that many of the states in middle America aren’t the fastest growing states in the nation — since 2020, Texas is the leader by number of actual people and Idaho is top in terms of percentage growth — but the topic of why Kansas is significantly trailing others in the region might not receive enough talk. (I’m not suggesting you bring it up at the holiday dinner table, but up to you.) Here’s a look at the numbers since 2020.

• Oklahoma: up 135,988 people, 3.4%

• Colorado: up 182,169 people, 3.2%

• Arkansas: up 76,801 people, 2.6%

• Nebraska: up 43,469 people, 2.2%

• Iowa: up 50,942 people, 1.6%

• Missouri: up 90,612 people, 1.5%

• Kansas: up 32,861 people, 1.1%

One last note about the figures, for years Kansas was the 35th largest state in the nation in terms of population. But it has jumped up to No. 34 (it actually happened last year and we missed it) despite less than stellar growth numbers. Who did we jump? I’ll just say, Move over Mississippi — you have us beat in consonants, but no longer in people.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.