The Strength Index: A Measure of Prosperity in Kansas

David L. Darling

CD Economist

And Sreedhar Upendram

Department of Agricultural Economics

Kansas State University

Manhattan, Kansas

Introduction

The purpose of this Strength Index is to measure the prosperity of people in all 105 counties in Kansas.

Strength Index is a composite index made up of three indices measuring wealth, income and employment.

Strength Index is used to perform a cross sectional analysis of comparing counties with neighboring counties, or a larger county with a regional trade center.

Strength Index is also used to perform a longitudinal analysis of creating a progress report for individual or groups of counties over time.

Wealth Index

Wealth Index is a measure of the relative wealth of the residents of each county.

The county per capita wealth is estimated by summing the appraised values of residential property, mobile homes and motor vehicles used in Kansas and dividing it by the adjusted population.

The county Wealth Index is the ratio of the county’s per capita over the state per capita wealth. The wealth Index ranges from 0.38 to 1.89. The 105 county average is 0.67.

The top five counties in Kansas and their indices are: Johnson (1.89), Miami (1.40), Douglas (1.21), Leavenworth (1.06), and Saline (0.99). The bottom five counties and their indices are: Jewell (0.38), Chautauqua (0.41), Comanche (0.45), Elk (0.47) and Barber (0.50).

Allen

Anderson

Atchison

0.66

Barber

Barton

Bourbon

Brown

Chautauqua Cherokee

Cheyenne

Clark

Clay

0. 62

Cloud0. 55

Coffey

ComancheCowley

Crawford

0. 65

Decatur

Dickinson

0. 72

Douglas

1.21

Edwards

0.51

Elk

0. 47

Ellis

Ellsworth

0. 61

Finney

Ford

0.60

Franklin

Geary0. 55Gove

Graham

Grant

Gray

0.77

Greeley

Greenwood

0.54

Hamilton

Harper

Hodgeman

0.53

Jackson

0. 702Jefferson

0. 96

Johnson

1.89

Kearny

Kingman

0. 72

Kiowa

0. 51

Labette

Lane

Leavenworth

1.06Lincoln

0. 53

Linn

LyonMarion

Marshall

Meade

Miami

Mitchell

0. 73

MontgomeryMorton

Nemaha

Neosho

0. 57

Norton

Osage

Osborne

Ottawa

0. 74

Pawnee

0. 59

Phillips

Pottawatomie

0. 84

Pratt

0. 65

Rawlins

Reno

0.81

Riley

0. 78

Rooks

Rush

0. 52

RussellSaline

0.99

Scott

Sedgwick

0.91

Seward

Shawnee

0.98

SheridanSherman

Stafford

0. 48

Stanton

StevensSumner

Thomas

Trego Wabaunsee

0.88

Wallace

Washington

Wichita

Wilson

0.52

Woodson

Chase

Smith Jewell Republic

Wyandotte0.66

Rice

Butler

0. 93

Harvey

0. 84

Haskell

Logan

Ness

Doniphan

Morris

0. 76

McPherson

105 County Average = 0.67

Maximum Value = 1.89

Minimum = 0.37

MAP-1

Wealth Index

2003

David L. Darling

Sreedhar Upendram

April 2004

0. 67 0. 53 0. 58 0. 60 0. 50 0. 48 0. 38 0. 57 0. 45 0. 58 0. 68 0. 59 0. 56

0.69 0. 73 0.69 0.52 0. 50 0.44

0. 53 0. 92 0.68 0. 69 0. 66

0.85 0. 81 1.40

0. 77 0. 71 0. 82

0. 54 0.52 0. 58

0. 61 0.71 0. 54 0.54 0. 52 0. 45 0. 50 0. 57 0. 68 0. 64 0. 41 0.59 0. 54 0. 62

0.61 0.68 0.65

0.56 0.60 0. 65

0.63 0.59 0.82 0.54 0.56 0. 63

0. 56 0. 65 0.56 0. 63 0.96 0. 65

Data Source: Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Property Valuation, 2003 Report

K –State Research and Extension.

LegendTop 20% :Red

Bottom 20%: Blue

Personal Income Index

Personal Income Index measures the relative level of income in each county.

The Index is a simple ratio of county over State per capita incomes.

The Personal Income Index ranges from 0.60 to 1.52. The 105 county average is 0.82.

The top five counties and their indices are: Johnson (1.52), Sedgwick (1.07), Shawnee (1.06), Saline (0.99) and Marshall (0.99). The bottom five counties and their indices are: Woodson (0.60), Kearny (0.64), Linn (0.65), Marion (0.66) and Anderson (0.67).

Allen

Anderson

Atchison

0. 79

Barber

Barton

Bourbon

Brown

Chautauqua Cherokee

Cheyenne

Clark

Clay

0. 86

Cloud0.75

Coffey

ComancheCowley

Crawford

0. 81

Decatur

Dickinson

0. 75

Douglas

0. 85

Edwards

0.79

Elk

0. 71

Ellis

Ellsworth

0.79

Finney

Ford

0. 75

Franklin

Geary0. 98Gove

Graham

Grant

Gray

0.77

Greeley

Greenwood

0. 71

Hamilton

Harper

Hodgeman

0. 71

Jackson

0. 89Jefferson

0. 77

Johnson

1. 52

Kearny

Kingman

0. 79

Kiowa

0. 82

Labette

Lane

Leavenworth

0. 83Lincoln

0. 68

Linn

LyonMarion

Marshall

Meade

Miami

Mitchell

0.84

MontgomeryMorton

Nemaha

Neosho

0.79

Norton

Osage

Osborne

Ottawa

0. 69

Pawnee

0. 81

Phillips

Pottawatomie

0. 87

Pratt

0. 86

Rawlins

Reno

0. 87

Riley

0. 86

Rooks

Rush

0. 84

RussellSaline

0.99

Scott

Sedgwick

1. 07

Seward

Shawnee

1. 06

SheridanSherman

Stafford

0.81

Stanton

StevensSumner

Thomas

Trego Wabaunsee

0.76

Wallace

Washington

Wichita

Wilson

0.74

Woodson

Chase

Smith Jewell Republic

Wyandotte0.77

Rice

Butler

0. 88

Harvey

0. 97

Haskell

Logan

Ness

Doniphan

Morris

0. 73

McPherson

105 County Average = 0. 82

Maximum Value = 1. 52

Minimum =0.60

MAP-2

Personal Income Index (PII)

2003

David L. Darling

Sreedhar Upendram

April 2004

0. 73 0. 84 0. 86 0. 82 0. 90 0. 80 0. 74 0. 79 0. 70 0. 99 0.83 0. 82 0. 75

0. 89 0. 80 0. 87 0.90 0. 81 0.80

0. 68 0. 91 0.66 0. 81 0. 77

0.72 0. 78 0. 78

0. 86 0. 67 0. 65

0. 60 0. 79 0.87

0. 82 0.80 0. 77 0.76 0.92 0.80 0. 84 0. 77 0. 85 0. 82 0. 75 0. 79 0. 74 0. 75

0.76 0. 79 0.71

0.78 0. 64 0. 70

0.86 0.78 0.90 0.89 0. 97 0. 89

0. 76 0. 82 0.82 0. 77 0. 95 0. 85

Data Source: The Governor’s Economic and Demographic Report 2003-2004

K –State Research and Extension.

LegendTop 20% :Red

Bottom 20% : Blue

Employment Index

Employment Index measures the proportion of the population actively participating in the labor force.

The county’s employment is divided by the State-wide value of employment to arrive at the Employment Index. The Employment Index ranges from 0.68 to 1.41. The 105 county average is 1.00.

The top five counties with the indices are: Sherman (1.41), Jackson (1.38), Ellis (1.27), Pottawatomie (1.18) and Jewell (1.17). The bottom five counties with the indices are : Linn (0.68), Doniphan (0.78), Greenwood (0.78), Chautauqua (0.79) and Elk (0.80).

The Fort Riley total active duty employment of 11,616 was allocated across the adjacent counties of Clay (350), Dickinson (350), Geary (5458) and Riley (5458). Fort Leavenworth active duty military was allocated to Leavenworth (3,226) and McConnell Air Force active duty military was allocated to Sedgwick (2,940).

Allen

0.92

Anderson

Atchison

0.95

Barber

Barton

Bourbon

0.88

Brown

Chautauqua Cherokee

Cheyenne

Clark

Clay

1.11

Cloud

0.94

Coffey

ComancheCowley

Crawford

Decatur

Dickinson

1.05

Douglas

1.07

Edwards

0.89

Elk

Ellis

Ellsworth

Finney

Ford

Franklin

1.10

Geary1.15

Gove

Graham

Grant

Gray

Greeley

Greenwood

0.78

Hamilton

Harper

Hodgeman

0.91

Jackson

1.38

Jefferson

1.08

Johnson

1.11

Kearny

Kingman

0.94

Kiowa

0.99

Labette

Lane

Leavenworth

0.89Lincoln

0.93

Linn

LyonMarion

Marshall

Meade

Miami

0.96

Mitchell

1.09

MontgomeryMorton

Nemaha

Neosho

Norton

Osage

0.90

Osborne

Ottawa

Pawnee

Phillips

Pottawatomie

1.18

Pratt

1.05

Rawlins

Reno

Riley

1.15

Rooks

Rush

Russell

Saline

1.09

Scott

Sedgwick

Seward

Shawnee

1.02

SheridanSherman

Stafford

Stanton

StevensSumner

Thomas

Trego

Wabaunsee

1.08

Wallace

Washington

Wichita

Wilson

Woodson

Chase

Smith Jewell

Republic

1.08

Wyandotte0.87

Rice

Butler

Harvey

0.95

Haskell

Logan

Ness

Doniphan

Morris

McPherson

0.84 0.93 0.68

0.80

1.030. 95

1.00

0. 96

0.98

1.08

1.00 0.987

0. 97 0. 81 0. 85

David L. Darling

Sreedhar Upendram

April 2004

105 County Average = 1.00

Maximum Value = 1.40 Minimum Value = 0. 60

MAP-3

Employment Index 2003

0.94 0.98 0.96 1.16 1.08 1.08 1.171.03 1.15 1.05 0.99 0.78

0.85 1.10 1.00 0.97 1.07

0.83

0.96 0.941.04 1.02 0. 94

1.41 1.15 1.06 1.03 1.11 1.06

0.98 1.03 1.00 1.13 1.27 0.88

1.07 0.95 1.04 1.08 1.09

1.14 0.950.84 0.89 0.98

0.93 0.96 0.90 0. 94 1.10 0.96 0.91 0.92 1.03 1.00 0.79 0.91 0.93 0.84

Data Source: Kansas Department of Human Resources, Labor Market

Information Services Annual Report for 2003

Index prepared by K –State Research and Extension.

LegendTop 20% : Red

Bottom 20%: Blue

Strength Index

The three components of Strength Index are given equal weight, and the Strength Index is the sum of the Wealth Index, Personal Income Index and Employment Index.

The Strength Index ranges from 1.94 to 4.53. The 105 county average is 2.48.

The top five counties with the indices are: Johnson (4.53), Ellis (3.17), Miami (3.15), Douglas (3.13) and Saline (3.07).The bottom five counties with the indices are: Chautauqua (1.94), Elk (1.98), Woodson (1.98), Greenwood (2.02), and Kearney (2.06).

Allen

Anderson

Atchison

2.41

Barber

Barton

Bourbon

Brown

Chautauqua Cherokee

Cheyenne

Clark

Clay

2.59

Cloud

2.25

Coffey

ComancheCowley

Crawford

2.40

Decatur

Dickinson

2.52

Douglas

3.13

Edwards

2.19

Elk

1.98

Ellis

Ellsworth

2.35

Finney

Ford

2.30

Franklin

Geary2.69Gove

Graham

Grant

Gray

2.67

Greeley

Greenwood

2.02

Hamilton

Harper

Hodgeman

2.15

Jackson

3.00Jefferson

2.82

Johnson

4.53

Kearny

Kingman

2.45

Kiowa

2.36

Labette

Lane

Leavenworth

2.78Lincoln

2.15

Linn

LyonMarion

Marshall

Meade

Miami

Mitchell

2.66

MontgomeryMorton

Nemaha

Neosho

2.38

Norton

Osage

Osborne

Ottawa

2.43

Pawnee

2.48

Phillips

Pottawatomie

2.89

Pratt

2.56

Rawlins

Reno

2.67

Riley

2.79

Rooks

Rush

2.36

RussellSaline

3.07

Scott

Sedgwick

2.94

Seward

Shawnee

3.04

SheridanSherman

Stafford

2.26

Stanton

StevensSumner

Thomas

Trego Wabaunsee

2.73

Wallace

Washington

Wichita

Wilson

2.29

Woodson

Chase

Smith Jewell Republic

Wyandotte2.31

Rice

Butler

2. 75

Harvey

2. 76

Haskell

Logan

Ness

Doniphan

Morris

2.53

McPherson

105 County Average = 2.48

Maximum Value = 4.53

Minimum = 1.94

MAP-4

Strength Index

2003

David L. Darling

Sreedhar Upendram

April 2004

2.35 2.34 2.43 2.53 2.89 2.36 2.29 2.44 2.18 2.71 2.56 2.40 2.07

2.99 2.67 2.61 2.44 2.42 2.30

2.06 2.93 2.34 2.47 2.50

2.46 2.70 3.15

2.48 2.31 2.08

1.98 2.24 2.33

2.36 2.47 2.22 2.24 2.53 2.23 2.25 2.26 2.55 2.46 1.94 2.30 2.22 2.21

2.21 2.36 2.34

2.31 2.06 2.20

2.57 2.34 2.76 2.57 2. 61 2.50

2.30 2.49 2.37 2.52 3.17 2.37

Index prepared by K–State Research and Extension, April 2004Legend

Top 20%: RedBottom 20%: Blue

Data Sources

The data on the 2002 population is from the US Census Bureau estimates for July 1, 2002. The numbers were adjusted downward to account for institutionalized people.

Data used in creating Wealth Index was obtained from 2003 property assessments provided by the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Property Valuation.

Data used in creating Employment Index comes from Kansas Department of Human Resources, Labor Market Information Services

The Public Affairs Office at the three military installations provide military employment data for FY 2003.

Data Sources

The data to create Personal Income Index comes from the Governor’s Economic and Demographic Report published in January 2004.

The full report, “2002-2003 Strength Index, A Measure of the Prosperity of Kansans” by Upendram and Darling can be found on the following web site:

–www.agecon.ksu.edu/ddarling

Longitudinal Analysis

Jackson County in NE Region is ranked 7th (3.00) up from 38th (2.66) in 1997 to 2003. Relative improvement is not only in rank but also in overall strength compared to the State.

Ellis County in NW Region is ranked 2nd but its strength Index decreased from 1997 to 2003.

Atchison County in NE Region is ranked 55th (2.42) up from 80th (2.36) in 1997 to 2003. Relative improvement is not only in rank but also in overall strength compared to the State.

The Tupelo Model

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

ORGANIZATION DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

ECONOMICDEVELOPMENT