Counties with the highest number of native residents in Kansas
The confluence of rising prices and a surge in remote work options instigated by the COVID-19 crisis has altered migration trends throughout the United States, the impacts of which are still apparent in 2024, based on the most recent data from the Census Bureau.
During the initial year of the pandemic, emigration from crowded, high-cost metropolises such as New York and San Francisco was particularly pronounced. A considerable number relocated to Sun Belt regions where temperatures are milder and living expenses markedly less.
However, by the second year of the pandemic, it was evident that not everyone moving wished to travel far. A 2022 evaluation of urban migration by Stateline indicated that a substantial number of individuals departing city hubs relocated to nearby suburbs within the same state. For instance, in Texas, the exodus from Houston escalated by 62% during the first month of the pandemic; concurrently, the western suburb of Katy experienced a greater influx of new inhabitants than any other region in the country.
Current statistics from the Census Bureau, published in September 2023, reveal that 53.5% of individuals who relocated in 2022 did so within the same county, while an additional 24.3% stayed within the state, indicating that over three-quarters of those relocating chose to remain close to home.
Particularly, a significant number of young individuals are opting to stay in the state, town, or even residence where they were raised. Prior to the pandemic, there was an increase in young adults cohabiting with their parents, and these trends have persisted. A late 2023 poll from Lending Tree discovered that 57% of millennials and Gen Zers dwell in their hometowns.
Various reasons contribute to individuals choosing not to leave the state in which they were raised—ranging from the desire to be near family, to a lack of resources to relocate, to opting for a lower cost of living.
To ascertain the areas where residents remain in their home state, Stacker has curated a list of counties with the highest proportions of native residents in Kansas, utilizing data from the Census Bureau. The rankings of counties are based on the highest percentage of residents born in the state, according to the latest data, which comprises five-year estimates for 2022. The percentages of residents born in a different state, a U.S. territory, and a foreign nation are also taken into account.
Continue reading to discover the counties that boast the most dedicated Kansas inhabitants.
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#50. Shawnee County
– Population: 178,625
– Born in Kansas: 125,413 (70.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 43,672 (24.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 1,985 (1.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 7,555 (4.2% of population)
#49. Brown County
– Population: 9,486
– Born in Kansas: 6,678 (70.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,676 (28.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 58 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 74 (0.8% of population)
#48. Coffey County
– Population: 8,334
– Born in Kansas: 5,869 (70.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,353 (28.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 39 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 73 (0.9% of population)
#47. Saline County
– Population: 54,160
– Born in Kansas: 38,189 (70.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 12,467 (23.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 819 (1.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 2,685 (5.0% of population)
#46. Mitchell County
– Population: 5,829
– Born in Kansas: 4,127 (70.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,618 (27.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 36 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 48 (0.8% of population)
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#45. Harper County
– Population: 5,457
– Born in Kansas: 3,867 (70.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,477 (27.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 110 (2.0% of population)
#44. Lane County
– Population: 1,528
– Born in Kansas: 1,085 (71.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 332 (21.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 111 (7.3% of population)
#43. Republic County
– Population: 4,686
– Born in Kansas: 3,359 (71.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,294 (27.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 23 (0.5% of population)
#42. Clay County
– Population: 8,088
– Born in Kansas: 5,810 (71.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,107 (26.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 121 (1.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 50 (0.6% of population)
#41. Harvey County
– Population: 33,959
– Born in Kansas: 24,407 (71.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 8,169 (24.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 284 (0.8% of population)
– Born in another country: 1,099 (3.2% of population)
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#40. Pawnee County
– Population: 6,288
– Born in Kansas: 4,521 (71.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,615 (25.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 83 (1.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 69 (1.1% of population)
#39. Washington County
– Population: 5,529
– Born in Kansas: 3,988 (72.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,342 (24.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 189 (3.4% of population)
#38. Pratt County
– Population: 9,175
– Born in Kansas: 6,632 (72.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,352 (25.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 91 (1.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 100 (1.1% of population)
#37. Gove County
– Population: 2,758
– Born in Kansas: 1,994 (72.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 716 (26.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 11 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 37 (1.3% of population)
#36. Barber County
– Population: 4,081
– Born in Kansas: 2,961 (72.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,020 (25.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 22 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 78 (1.9% of population)
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#35. Russell County
– Population: 6,702
– Born in Kansas: 4,865 (72.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,702 (25.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 48 (0.7% of population)
– Born in another country: 87 (1.3% of population)
#34. Sumner County
– Population: 22,517
– Born in Kansas: 16,678 (74.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,433 (24.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 101 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 305 (1.4% of population)
#33. Edwards County
– Population: 2,849
– Born in Kansas: 2,115 (74.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 461 (16.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 4 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 269 (9.4% of population)
#32. Stafford County
– Population: 4,054
– Born in Kansas: 3,011 (74.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 823 (20.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 213 (5.3% of population)
#31. Cloud County
– Population: 9,008
– Born in Kansas: 6,707 (74.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,008 (22.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 20 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 273 (3.0% of population)
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#30. Ellsworth County
– Population: 6,374
– Born in Kansas: 4,752 (74.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,508 (23.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 37 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 77 (1.2% of population)
#29. Jackson County
– Population: 13,274
– Born in Kansas: 9,963 (75.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,842 (21.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 118 (0.9% of population)
– Born in another country: 351 (2.6% of population)
#28. Scott County
– Population: 5,128
– Born in Kansas: 3,864 (75.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 869 (16.9% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 379 (7.4% of population)
#27. Wabaunsee County
– Population: 6,922
– Born in Kansas: 5,228 (75.5% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,500 (21.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 113 (1.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 81 (1.2% of population)
#26. Reno County
– Population: 61,881
– Born in Kansas: 46,767 (75.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 13,265 (21.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 334 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 1,515 (2.4% of population)
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#25. Morris County
– Population: 5,385
– Born in Kansas: 4,076 (75.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,160 (21.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 67 (1.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 82 (1.5% of population)
#24. Chase County
– Population: 2,570
– Born in Kansas: 1,955 (76.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 513 (20.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 9 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 93 (3.6% of population)
#23. Osage County
– Population: 15,787
– Born in Kansas: 12,013 (76.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,545 (22.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 47 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 182 (1.2% of population)
#22. Marshall County
– Population: 10,014
– Born in Kansas: 7,632 (76.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,165 (21.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 84 (0.8% of population)
– Born in another country: 133 (1.3% of population)
#21. Kingman County
– Population: 7,369
– Born in Kansas: 5,617 (76.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,636 (22.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 108 (1.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 8 (0.1% of population)
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#20. Wilson County
– Population: 8,667
– Born in Kansas: 6,611 (76.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,919 (22.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 40 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 97 (1.1% of population)
#19. Ness County
– Population: 2,677
– Born in Kansas: 2,043 (76.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 442 (16.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 179 (6.7% of population)
#18. Lincoln County
– Population: 2,929
– Born in Kansas: 2,238 (76.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 679 (23.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 0 (0.0% of population)
– Born in another country: 12 (0.4% of population)
#17. Barton County
– Population: 25,477
– Born in Kansas: 19,505 (76.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 4,722 (18.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 142 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 1,108 (4.3% of population)
#16. Greenwood County
– Population: 6,001
– Born in Kansas: 4,614 (76.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,311 (21.8% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 55 (0.9% of population)
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#15. Trego County
– Population: 2,798
– Born in Kansas: 2,153 (76.9% of population)
– Born in a different state: 617 (22.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 12 (0.4% of population)
#14. Neosho County
– Population: 15,826
– Born in Kansas: 12,181 (77.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,204 (20.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 103 (0.7% of population)
– Born in another country: 338 (2.1% of population)
#13. Ellis County
– Population: 28,921
– Born in Kansas: 22,287 (77.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 5,689 (19.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 104 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 841 (2.9% of population)
#12. Jefferson County
– Population: 18,387
– Born in Kansas: 14,173 (77.1% of population)
– Born in a different state: 3,961 (21.5% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 89 (0.5% of population)
– Born in another country: 164 (0.9% of population)
#11. Marion County
– Population: 11,867
– Born in Kansas: 9,159 (77.2% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,528 (21.3% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 71 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 109 (0.9% of population)
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#10. Anderson County
– Population: 7,799
– Born in Kansas: 6,034 (77.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,705 (21.9% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 35 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 25 (0.3% of population)
#9. Rooks County
– Population: 4,925
– Born in Kansas: 3,834 (77.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,043 (21.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 21 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 27 (0.5% of population)
#8. Rush County
– Population: 2,939
– Born in Kansas: 2,292 (78.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 606 (20.6% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 3 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 38 (1.3% of population)
#7. Nemaha County
– Population: 10,219
– Born in Kansas: 7,971 (78.0% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,158 (21.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 13 (0.1% of population)
– Born in another country: 77 (0.8% of population)
#6. Osborne County
– Population: 3,493
– Born in Kansas: 2,735 (78.3% of population)
– Born in a different state: 696 (19.9% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 7 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 55 (1.6% of population)
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#5. Allen County
– Population: 12,554
– Born in Kansas: 9,868 (78.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 2,265 (18.0% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 76 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 345 (2.7% of population)
#4. Ottawa County
– Population: 5,768
– Born in Kansas: 4,579 (79.4% of population)
– Born in a different state: 1,103 (19.1% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 16 (0.3% of population)
– Born in another country: 70 (1.2% of population)
#3. Hodgeman County
– Population: 1,770
– Born in Kansas: 1,410 (79.7% of population)
– Born in a different state: 290 (16.4% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 10 (0.6% of population)
– Born in another country: 60 (3.4% of population)
#2. Woodson County
– Population: 3,134
– Born in Kansas: 2,501 (79.8% of population)
– Born in a different state: 602 (19.2% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 14 (0.4% of population)
– Born in another country: 17 (0.5% of population)
#1. Sheridan County
– Population: 2,450
– Born in Kansas: 1,975 (80.6% of population)
– Born in a different state: 384 (15.7% of population)
– Born in U.S. territories: 5 (0.2% of population)
– Born in another country: 86 (3.5% of population)
This article incorporates data reporting by Karim Noorani and is part of a compilation utilizing automated data across 49 states.
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By Stacker
