Shawnee County Continues Population Growth, Adding 2,608 Residents Since Start Of Choose Topeka Program
The Greater Topeka Partnership is celebrating another year of population growth following the release of the State of Kansas' annual Certified Population Estimates, which show Shawnee County added 665 residents in 2025, bringing the county's population to 178,607.
The latest figures also show Shawnee County has grown by 2,608 residents (+1.5%) since 2020, when GO Topeka launched the Choose Topeka talent attraction initiative to recruit new residents and support workforce growth.
The annual certified population estimates, prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau and certified by the Kansas Division of the Budget, are used for a variety of state funding and administrative purposes.
Among Kansas' largest counties, Shawnee County continues to compare favorably with many of its regional peers. According to the 2025 certified population estimates, Johnson County led the state with growth of 4,630 residents (+0.7%), followed by Sedgwick County with 2,352 (+0.4%), Wyandotte County with 1,179 (+0.7%), and Shawnee County with 665 (+0.4%). Shawnee County outpaced Riley County, which added 41 residents (+0.1%), while Douglas County experienced a decline of 1,069 residents (-0.9%).
"This is another encouraging sign that the momentum we've been building as a community continues to move in the right direction," said Molly Howey, CEO of the Greater Topeka Partnership. "Population growth doesn't happen by accident. It reflects years of collaboration among our local governments, employers, developers, educational institutions, neighborhood organizations, and countless community partners who have worked together to make Topeka and Shawnee County a place where people want to live, work, and build their future. Every new resident represents another family choosing our community, and that's something worth celebrating."
The continued population gains come as the region is experiencing sustained strength in its housing market. Shawnee County has received growing national recognition as one of the country's most attainable places to achieve the American dream of homeownership, with housing affordability remaining a significant competitive advantage compared to many metropolitan areas across the nation.
"The Choose Topeka program was created with a simple goal: attract talented people who can build their careers and lives here while helping meet the workforce needs of our employers," said Trina Goss, Vice President of Talent Attraction for GO Topeka. "Seeing Shawnee County grow by more than 2,600 residents since the program launched is encouraging and reflects the incredible partnership between our employers, local governments, housing developers, and community organizations. We're proud of the progress, but we know there's still more work ahead as we continue attracting talent and welcoming new residents to our community."
