Ellis, Thomas counties shine in retail report
By MIKE CORN
It it weren't for that pesky Pottawatomie County, northwest Kansas could lay claim to the three most vibrant retail trade areas in the state.
Across Kansas, Ellis, Thomas, Pottawatomie, Ness and Johnson counties are -- in order -- the top five counties in the state in terms of pull factor, a measure of the economic strength of a county based on sales tax collections and population figures. The Kansas Revenue Department report covers fiscal year 2008.
Typically, Ellis County is at the top of the list because it draws in people from such a wide area.
Thomas County, however, is up from third place in fiscal year 2007.
"Wow," was all Carolyn Armstrong, Colby city manager for the last 161รขÑ2 years, could muster when told of Thomas County's move from third into second place.
Thomas County has a pull factor of 1.53, suggesting that the community, with an actual population of 7,196, serves a retail population of 10,997. In fiscal year 2007, Thomas County had a pull factor of 1.4.
Ellis County has a pull factor of 1.54, and serves a retail population of 41,865 even though its actual population only numbers 27,141. A year earlier, Ellis County had a pull factor of 1.51.
Ness County, in fourth place, has an actual population of 2,915, but serves a retail trade area of 4,156 with its pull factor of 1.43. A year earlier, its pull factor was 1.35.
Even though the exact reasons for the increase are unclear, Armstrong was elated.
"That's great news," she said. "But I don't know what I can attribute it to."
Colby, however, has been going through something of a building boom over the past couple years, marked with one new implement dealership in operation and another one under construction, and a new truck stop.
Currently, the local farm credit office is building a $3 million office. A motel is going up next to the Wal-Mart and there's rumors that another motel might be coming in short order.
"We have had a lot of building," Armstrong said. "I'm so thankful for what we have."
As well, the farming economy has bounced back over the past two years.
"And when our farmers have a good year, Colby has a great year," she said.
Armstrong said she's also aware that the local Wal-Mart store had a "very, very good Christmas season."