Meanwhile, Hillsboro city leaders were pleased to see their population increase.
?To me, this is a great public relations thing for the community because we can say our community is growing?and there is proof of that,? said City Administrator Larry Paine.
?From that aspect, it?s a great piece of news. Not too many communities across the state can say their community is growing.?
Mayor Delores Dalke attributed the growth to the city?s quality of life.
?It?s got to do with our economic environment and our focus on building businesses, both downtown and along the highway,? she said.
?I also think our good schools are playing a big role in this. Not just because people who have children move here, but because it makes Hillsboro stand out by having such good schools.
?We also have good retirement facilities, we?re progressive and we have an attractive business district.?
In addition to Tabor College?s role as the county?s leading employer and the educational, athletic and cultural programs it offers, the college?s role in Hillsboro?s population growth may have a tangible benefit.
Census-takers include residential college students in its count, and Tabor has experienced record enrollment each of the past three years.
?If there are more students here, then more are living here in town,? Dalke said. ?Plus, as Tabor increases its enrollment, more people are needed to work there, so that draws more people to live here, too.?
Deanne Duerksen, registrar at the college, said the school did not receive a final tally of the number of students included by the Census Bureau.
Dalke said the release of the census results over the past two weeks was both encouraging and discouraging for her.
?After I had heard all these things about supposedly Marion County was over 10 percent down, I was really discouraged,? Dalke said. ?Then, when I found (Hillsboro) had grown, I got kind of excited. Then I got kind of disappointed that we hadn?t grown more.?
Dalke said she?s not as disappointed as some people that Marion County didn?t lose enough residents to qualify for tax incentives through Gov. Sam Brownback?s plan for ?rural opportunity zones.?
?I?ve heard people say we?re not going to get those extra goodies that the governor was trying to hand out,? Dalke said. ?Well, I?m sorry, but I would hate to have to say, ?Well, since our population dropped more than 10 percent that?s why we can offer you things.?
?That?s not a positive way to sell our community at all.?
Dalke said she hopes Hills?boro?s growth trend continues.
?I am excited, and with spring coming on, I?m seeing more people being interested in doing things in Hillsboro,? she said. ?I am really excited about the future, even though its encouraging and discouraging for Marion County as a whole.?
