Lawrence named one of smartest cities in America

Forbes.com named the Kansas college town as one of the smartest cities in recent rank of 25 U.S. cities

By Rustin Dodd

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Welcome to Lawrence, Kansas...err...uh, make that geniusville.

Believe it or not, Kansas students might be going to college in a town full of eggheads – at least, if you believe the rankings released by Forbes.com on Feb. 7.

Forbes.com, the online version of the popular business magazine, ranked Lawrence as the seventh smartest city the U.S. in its 2008 “America’s Smartest Cities” rankings.

Judy Billings, director of the Lawrence Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the city is in good company.

“There are a lots of other college towns that didn’t make that list,” Billings said.

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Bryan Marvin

Photo illustration

The Forbes.com rankings, based on the education of residents, looked at each metro area’s percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree, the percentage with a doctoral degree, the percentage with a professional degree and the percentage with at least a high school diploma.

“That’s awesome,” Edward Fensholt, Olathe freshman, said. After all, Fensholt knows intelligence. He earned a perfect score on the ACT in high school.

“It finally gives us the prestige I think we deserve,” Fensholt said.

Boulder, Colo., home of the University of Colorado, checked in at No. 1 in the rankings, and like Boulder and Lawrence, every other city on the 25-city list was a college town.

Former Lawrence mayor and member of the city council Dennis “Boog” Highberger said he wasn’t surprised that college towns dominated the list.

“I think a university town like ours attracts people who are dedicated to education,” Highberger said. “There are a lot of people here who are here because of education.”

According to the rankings, 43.5 percent of Lawrence residents above the age of 25 have at least a bachelor’s degree, while 3.8 percent of residents have a doctoral degree, 2.9 percent have a professional degree and 92.8 percent have a high school diploma.

If University students need another way to compare themselves with their traditional rivals from the University of Missouri, the Forbes.com rankings might make them smile. Columbia, Mo., was ranked below Lawrence as the 11th smartest city.

“Hey, It makes sense,” David Tafreshi, Overland Park junior, said. “You can start with education. It’s obviously a lot better here than over there. KU cranks out some smart kids.”

Lawrence also ranked ahead of Cambridge, Mass., home of Harvard University, and Iowa City, Iowa, the home of the University of Iowa.

“I think it shows there might not be that much difference between Ivy League schools and state schools,” Fensholt said.

Billings also said the visitors bureau was pleased with the rankings.

“I think we are in really good companyThere are a lots of other college towns that didn’t make that list,” Billings said. “We’re very proud to be a college town and it’s very much a part of who we are and what we promote.”

— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld

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