k1007 BC-KS-TopekaPopulation 07-03 0151

Kansas capital's population on the rise

Eds: APNewsNow.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- More people are calling Topeka home than at any time since 1970.

A new estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau puts the Kansas capital's population as of July 2008 at 123,446 -- up by 881 from July 2007.

Topeka had about 125,000 residents in 1970 but saw its population decline until 2005, when the city started growing again.

The next full census will take place in 2010. Census officials say the results will affect federal funding for the city and the state in the following decade.