6.
Friday, April 19, 1974
University Daily Kansan
University Influences Lawrence Economy, Population
By BUNNY MILLER
Kansas Staff Reporter
For University of Kansas students it's often easy to forget they aren't the only people living in Lawrence. But there really are non-student people living here—almost
Ironically, the city of Lawrence can't afford to forget the students. The University, with an annual operating budget of nearly $70 million, is the city's major business enterprise. KU students swell the university's student body, 46,988, according to the 1790 U.S. Census.
Between 1960 and 1970, not only did the population increase by 30.1 per cent but land
MOST OF THIS EXHISPATION has been in the west and southwest sectors of Lawrence. The city has yet to begin to develop a mini-town, but it is according to city manager Buford Watson.
The largest concentration of residents is between the central business district and the University. There are a number of fraternities and sororites in this area.
"We know the city is moving west," said Dick McClanathan, Lawrence-Douglas County planning director. "But we don't seem to have that many vacant housing."
Between 1960 and 1970 there was a 47.3 per cent increase in the total number of dwelling units. A total of 40.6 per cent of the population were living in structures built prior to 1950 and 37.6 per cent in structures built between 1960 and 1970. The number of private housing building permits jumped from 590 in 1960 to 694 in 1970.
MULTIPLE-FAMILY dwelling units have monopolized residential construction in the past decade, and apartment units dominate the landscape to the south and west of the University. According to the 1970 census statistics, 21 per cent of the housing units in Lawrence are in structures of 10 or more units.
The Chamber of Commerce figures set total Lawrence employment in 1973 at 24,950. In 1960 the figure was only 9,775. Of the 1950 figure an estimated 1,850 persons filled faculty and civil service positions at last. Last year the figure was estimated at 3,000.
Lawrence's unemployment rate rose from 2.8 per cent in 1960 to 3.6 per cent in 1970, according to census figures. The rate fell sharply and had dropped to about 2.2 per cent this year.
MCALEXANDER CITED Carson, Burger and Weekly, Inc.; Cooperative Farm Chemicals Assoc.; Lawrence Paper Co. and Turtle Creek Fabricators that bad recently added personnel.
McAlexander said he thought that more kinds of "high-class" jobs had been brought in to the city. His study compared income figures in 1960, median income was $5,427; in 1970 it was $9,365. More than 45 per cent of Lawrence citizens had been employed for only about 13 per cent compared to only about 13 per cent in 1960.
There appear to be three major factors in Lawrence's population and business expansion. First, the University not only adds its student population to the total Lawrence community, it attracts teaching and civil service jobs, but also attracts research industries to the city.
MIKE BUCHANÄN, president of Interpretation Systems, Inc., which specializes in custom development of electronic systems, said his company came previence because it was associated with the research activities at KU'S research center.
Watson said he thought the violence associated with KU in 1970 had hurt Lawrence's image somewhat and might have scared some prospective residents off.
"Any time a city has firebombings, buildings being burned and killings in the streets are part of the story. We get a lot of citizens working to develop a program of understanding with the student community, and there were some improvement made in the police community."
In 1971, Lawrence received an honorable mention for the All America City Award, sponsored by the National Municipal League and the Saturday Evening Post.
The second major factor in Lawrence's expansion is its available labor force.
"We located here because our major needs were employable people, not raw material," said Robert Bowlne, personnel manager for Bowline, Inc., which employs about 1,000 persons.
ACCORDING TO 1970 U.S. Department of Labor Manpower Administration statistics, civilian employment in the area totaled 18,186 with 16,933 whites at work, 776 blacks, 410 other races and 251 Spanish-Americans. About per cent of civilian employees were male.
Federal, state and local governments employed 7,125 persons in non-agricultural jobs. -39.2 per cent of the total employed in the area.
About 32,890 were in the prime working age group, 16 to 64 years old. The median age of the total population was 21.9 years old.
Persons more than 18 years old not in the armed forces, not at work and not looking for work totaled 16,888. Of these almost 60 per cent were enrolled in school.
THE THIRD MAJOR factor in Lawrence's expansion is its location. Located about 42 miles west of Kansas City and 25 miles east of Topeka and surrounded by a network of highways, Lawrence is in a "natural growth center," Alexander
"Our company has got to be in a position to ship out our product to the customers and Lawrence is surrounded by a fine highway system," he said.
Petty said that Fleetwood Homes located Lawrence also because it was near large parking lots.
These factors combine to give Lawrence a stable economy. Watson said.
"We have our ups and downs, but not to the extent of a city like Wichita," he said. However, the city fathers expect to see a decrease in the rate of population growth, due mainly to an expected drop in the student population, McClanathan said.
A PROJECTION made by the city-county planning department estimated that in 1975 the non-student population would be 33,101 and the total student population living in Lawrence would be 18,099; in 1985 there were 42,214 non-students and 20,068 students.
However, these figures have been revised for the city by Kenneth E. Anderson, professor of education. Anderson estimates that the population will be 33,202 but that the student population will be only 17,006; in 1985 there will be only 37,750 non-students and 12,002 students.
Anderson said he based his estimates on the declining birth rate and elementary and secondary school enrollment statistics. Anderson said he also assumed a "growing population" and that there was less assessed importance of a college degree" and "an apparent growing willingness to
defer a college education to a later date."
"We can't take enrollment for granted," Anderson said. "If the city continues to increase job opportunities, then the city will hold up its end of the population."
"THEIR NEED to be pessimistic," he said. "As long as it keeps up a viable industrial situation here, the city will continue to grow."
McAlexander said the city's "primary priority" was to continue to build a diverse
"We've been trying to diversify the economy so that if KU enrollment does decrease, the quality of life in Lawrence won't decline," he said.
Such diversification efforts include an emphasis on attracting clean, "low-profile" industries such as research industries, McAlexander said. He said the need for research parks has been increased "research park." Such areas are usually established close to universities, he said.
Last summer the Lawrence Development Co., Inc., an affiliate of the Chamber of Commerce, opened a 13-acre industrial tract adjacent to the East Lawrence
Turniple entrance. The first industry to occupy the tract was Carson, Burger and
ALTHOUGH THE BOND issue to improve the Lawrence airport failed, the chamber, with the support of the Lawrence University department, develop an airport development master plan.
The chamber also initiated an agriculture economy development tour and several awards to encourage young farmers and establish a manufacturers' relations council to help manufacturers share technical knowledge.
McAlexander, McClanathan and Watson all indicated they thought that Lawrence had taken significant direct and indirect steps to bolster the city's economy with increased job opportunities and with more and improved housing to accommodate its present residents and to attract even more people to Lawrence.
By the year 2000, Anderson estimated,
Lawrence will have a total probable
population of 61,400. Also 13,695 will be
student residents, a decrease of 1,324 from
the actual 1790 figure of 15,019 students
living in Lawrence.
What Ever Happened To The Class of '51?
Gone are the skinny ties, the starched shirts, narrow lace and the stove pipe pans. White shoes and penny loafers are gone too.
But Look At Today!
The University Shop has seen the styles change in its 23 year existence, starting in 1951.
On campus to know the lastes of the students, the class of '51 was right in style. Yes, styles have changed, but the personable ones were better served at the University Shop haven'! Ask the class of '74.
Styles will probably change again, from the bright and colorful shirts of today. When they do be the same, again a shop be the University Shop.
University Shop
At the west end of campus
1420 Crescent Rd.
843-4633
Watch the Exciting University Division 440 Yard Relay
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