A report released by the U.S. Census Bureau recently showed 32 of the 105 Kansas counties saw it’s population grow over the last four years, and Geary County saw the greatest percentage increase.

Between 2010 and 2014 Geary County saw a gain of an estimated 2,351 residents for a 6.84 percent increase.

When asked if that growth could be related to Fort Riley and the military Allen Dinkel, Junction City City Manager said he believe’s it’s related to both the military and the region working together.

“In our region Pottawatomie County was the second fastest growing county in the state and Riley County was the third,” said Dinkel. “So I think it’s a combination of the military, I think it’s a combination of communities working together to grow this portion of the Flint Hills region.”

A further check of the information on this topic in an online report by the Wichita Business Journal also revealed another side of the story. Geary County has sustained population decreases each of the past two years.

According to that report the Geary County totals went down from 38,003 in 2012 to 36,987 in 2013, and down to 36,713 in 2014.