United States > U.S. Cities > Profiles of the 50 Largest Cities of the United States

Wichita, Kans.

Mayor: Carlos Mayans (to April 2007)

City Manager: George Kolb

2000 census population (rank): 344,284 (50); % change: 13.2; Male: 169,604 (49.3%); Female: 174,680 (50.7%); White: 258,900 (75.2%); Black: 39,325 (11.4%); American Indian and Alaska Native: 3,986 (1.2%); Asian: 13,647 (4.0%); Other race: 17,566 (5.1%); Two or more races: 10,662 (3.1%); Hispanic/Latino: 33,112 (9.6%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 72.9%; 65 and over: 11.9%; Median age: 33.4.

2004 population estimate (rank): 353,823 (51)

See additional census data

Land area: 136 sq mi. (352 sq km);

Alt.: 1,333 ft.

Avg. daily temp.: Jan., 29.5° F; July, 81.4° F

Churches: Protestant, 512; Roman Catholic, 20; Jewish, 2; other, 66;

City parks: 110 (4,388 ac.);

Radio stations: 22;

Television stations: 7

Civilian Labor Force (MSA) March 2005: 288,300;

Unemployed: 17,800,

Percent: 6.2;

Per capita personal income (MSA) 2003 $30,060

Chamber of Commerce: Wichita Chamber of Commerce, 350 W. Douglas, Wichita, KA 67202

Wichita is the largest city in Kansas and the seat of Sedgwick County. It is located in the south-central part of the state, at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas rivers. Incorporated as a city in 1870, Wichita is the chief commercial and industrial center of southern Kansas.

More or less uninhabited at the time of Kansas's entry into the Union in 1861, the area was first settled by Wichita Indians, who came north from Texas and Oklahoma during the Civil War. At about the same time (during the mid-1860s) a number of trading posts were established at or near the river junction. One of the traders, Jesse Chisholm, pioneered the Chisholm Trail, which passed through Wichita and was the main cattle-drive route from Texas to the railroad in Abilene. After the railroad was extended to Wichita in 1872, the city boomed first as a cow town and then later as the trading center in an agricultural and livestock region. Although the city experienced an economic slump at the end of the 19th century, oil was discovered nearby in 1915, and subsequently the population almost doubled.

Aircraft manufacturing began in the 1920s, and Wichita remains a center of the aircraft industry today. In addition, the city also has flour mills, meatpacking plants, and oil refineries. Major manufactures include camping equipment, heaters and air conditioners, and electronics. Wichita has a number of art and historical museums, a zoo, and a planetarium. It is the site of several universities, including Wichita State University (1895). McConnell Air Force Base is nearby.

See also Encyclopedia: Wichita.

Selected famous natives and residents:

Kirstie Alley actress;
Alan Fudge actor;
Dan Glickman former congressman and U.S. secretary of agriculture;
Laurel Goodwin actress;
Stan Kenton musician;
Jim Lehrer news anchor;
Fred, Thomas, and Edwin McConnell WWII pilots;
Hattie McDaniel actress;
Barry Sanders football player;
Gale Sayers football player;
Arlen Specter U.S. senator from Pennsylvania;
Ron Wyden U.S. senator from Oregon.

Washington, DC

Profiles of the 50 Largest Cities of the United States

- Cite
- Print

More on Kans Wichita from Fact Monster:

Wichita Falls - Wichita Falls Wichita Falls , city (1990 pop. 96,259), seat of Wichita co., N Tex., on the Wichita ...
Wichita, city, United States - Wichita Wichita , city (1990 pop. 304,011), seat of Sedgwick co., S central Kans., at the ...
Wichita Area Technical College - Wichita Area Technical College enrollment statistics and tuition information
Wichita State University - Wichita State University enrollment statistics and tuition information
University of Phoenix–Wichita Campus - University of Phoenix–Wichita Campus enrollment statistics and tuition information