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For other uses, see Wichita (disambiguation).

City of Wichita
Flag Seal
Nickname: The Air Capital
Location in the state of Kansas
Coordinates: 37°41′20″N 97°20′10″W / 37.68889, -97.33611
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Sedgwick
Government
- Mayor	Carl Brewer (D)
Area
- Total	138.9 sq mi (359.8 km²)
- Land	135.8 sq mi (351.6 km²)
- Water	3.2 sq mi (8.2 km²)
Elevation	1,299 ft (396 m)
Population
- Total	344,284
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	316
FIPS code	20-79000GR2
GNIS feature ID	0473862GR3
Website: www.wichita.gov

Wichita, also known as the Air Capital of the World, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas, as well as a major aircraft manufacturing hub and cultural center. In July of 2006, CNN/Money and Money magazine ranked Wichita ninth on its list of the 10 best big cities to live in the United States. The city is home to six major aircraft manufacturing companies and McConnell Air Force Base. Wichita is located in South Central Kansas on the Arkansas River, and is the county seat of Sedgwick County. It is also the home of a National Weather Service Forecast Office which serves portions of central, south-central, and southeast Kansas. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... Wichita is the name of: Wichita (tribe), a Native American tribe Wichita language, the language of the tribe Wichita (film), a 1955 American Western movie directed by Jacques Tourneur Wichita Recordings, a London based independent record label A song by the band Soul Coughing A font replicating the hand writing... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Wichita,_Kansas. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 31 KB) Summary http://www. ... EXAMPLE:Laughbox,Blondie,BamBam,Pinkie,etc. ... Image File history File links Sedgwick_County_Kansas_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Wichita_Highlighted. ... Official language(s) English[2] Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... This list of countries, arranged alphabetically, gives an overview of countries of the world. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      The political units and divisions of the United States include: The 50 states... Official language(s) English[2] Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... This is a listing of counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning larger, greater) is the modern title of the highest ranking municipal officer. ... Carl Brewer is the mayor of Wichita, Kansas. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different geographical regions, we list here areas between 1,000 km² and 10,000 km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... Elevation histogram of the surface of the Earth – approximately 71% of the Earths surface is covered with water. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... Timezone and TimeZone redirect here. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... Central Daylight Time or CDT is the Central Time Zone (or CST) during Daylight Savings Time. ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... Area Code 316 is the area code for telephone exchanges in the city of Wichita, Kansas and surrounding communities. ... Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the U.S. Federal government for use by all (non-military) government agencies and by government contractors. ... GNIS (The Geographic Names Information System) contains name and locative information about almost two million physical and cultural features located throughout the United States of America and its Territories. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Official language(s) English[2] Capital Topeka Largest city Wichita Area  Ranked 15th  - Total 82,277 sq mi (213,096 km²)  - Width 211 miles (340 km)  - Length 417 miles (645 km)  - % water 0. ... Flying machine redirects here. ... McConnell Air Force Base (IATA: IAB, ICAO: KIAB) is a United States Air Force base located in Wichita, Kansas. ... The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Sedgwick County (standard abbreviation: SG) is a county located in the U.S. state of Kansas. ... The National Weather Service (NWS) is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States government. ...

Wichita is the 50th largest city in the United States with an estimated population of 354,865 in the year 2005.^[1] The Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encompasses Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, and Sumner counties, has a 2004 estimated population of 584,671 persons residing in 245,159 households, making it the 82nd largest MSA in the United States. The Wichita-Winfield Combined Statistical Area also includes Cowley County and has an estimated population of 618,641. In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... Butler County (standard abbreviation: BU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... Harvey County (standard abbreviation: HV) is a county in the State of Kansas, located in the south central portion of the state, along the Little Arkansas River. ... Sumner County (standard abbreviation: SU) is a county located in the state of Kansas. ... The United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) defines micropolitan and metropolitan statistical areas. ... Cowley County (standard abbreviation: CL) is a county located in south-central Kansas, in the central United States. ...

Geography

Wichita is located at 37°41′20″N, 97°20′10″W (37.688848, -97.336226).^GR1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 138.9 mi² (359.8 km²), of which 135.8 mi² (351.6 km²) is land and 3.2 mi² (8.2 km²), or 2.29%, is water.^GR2 The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ...

The city was founded at the confluence of the Arkansas (pronounced locally as "ahr-KAN-zuhs") and Little Arkansas rivers. The Arkansas River runs on to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where it becomes navigable by large boats. The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... The Little Arkansas River (prounounced ahr-KAN-zez), is a 90 mi (145 km) long river located in South Central Kansas. ... Nickname: Location in the state of Oklahoma Coordinates: , Country State Counties Tulsa, Osage, Wagoner, Rogers Government  - Mayor Kathy Taylor (D) Area  - City  186. ...

Climate

Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of about 20°F (-8°C) in January to an average high of nearly 93°F (34°C) in July. The maximum temperature reaches 90°F (32°C) an average of 64 days per year and reaches 100°F (38°C) an average of 14 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below 32°F (0°C) an average of 108 days per year. Typically the first fall freeze occurs between the second week of October and mid-November, and the last spring freeze occurs between the end of March and the final week of April.

The area receives over 30 inches (760 mm) of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received in May and June—with a combined 21 days of measurable precipitation. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 22 to 40 inches (560 to 1,020 mm). There are on average 88 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall averages almost 17 inches (44 cm), but the median is less than 8 inches (25 cm). Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 11 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on five of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 18 days per year.

The area is vulnerable to severe weather, with often violent thunderstorms occurring mainly during the spring and summer months of March-June. These occasionally bring large hail as well as frequent lightning. Sometimes tornadoes occur. The outskirts of Wichita were affected during the Andover, Kansas Tornado Outbreak on April 26, 1991, which spawned an F5 tornado—the most violent of its kind. During the Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak, on May 3, 1999, an F4 tornado hit the town of Haysville, tracking then north and hitting the southwest edge of Wichita. NOAA scientists observe severe weather using a mobile doppler radar and a helicopter (in the distance) Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous. ... A rolling thundercloud over Enschede, The Netherlands. ... This article is about the precipitation. ... Not to be confused with lighting. ... For other uses of Tornado, see Tornado (disambiguation). ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Fujita scale (F-Scale), or Fujita-Pearson scale, rates a tornados intensity by the damage it inflicts on human-built structures and sometimes on vegetation. ... 1Time from first tornado to last tornado 2Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita Scale The May 3, 1999, Oklahoma Tornado Outbreak was the first stage of a severe weather event that lasted from May 3 to May 6 and brought violent storms to Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Tennessee. ... The Fujita scale (F-Scale), or Fujita-Pearson scale, rates a tornados intensity by the damage it inflicts on human-built structures and sometimes on vegetation. ... Haysville is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. ...

For other uses, see Temperature (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Fahrenheit (disambiguation). ... This article is about precipitation. ... Snow is a type of precipitation in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. ... Sleet is a term used in a variety of ways to describe precipitation intermediate between rain and snow but distinct from hail. ... An inch (plural: inches; symbol or abbreviation: in or, sometimes, ″ - a double prime) is the name of a unit of length in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... In probability theory and statistics, a median is a type of average that is described as the number dividing the higher half of a sample, a population, or a probability distribution, from the lower half. ... In mathematics and statistics, the arithmetic mean (or simply the mean) of a list of numbers is the sum of all the members of the list divided by the number of items in the list. ...

Demographics

Wichita's population was estimated to be 354,865 in the year 2005, an increase of 3467, or +1.0%, over the previous five years.^[1] 1880 US Census The United States Census of 1880 was the tenth United States Census. ... The Eleventh United States Census was taken June 1, 1890. ... 1900 US Census The Twelfth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 76,212,168, an increase of 21. ... The Thirteenth United States Census was taken in 1910. ... The Fourteenth United States Census was taken in 1920. ... The Fifteenth United States Census was taken in 1930. ... The Sixteenth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 132,164,569, an increase of 7. ... The Seventeenth United States Census was taken in 1950. ... The Eighteenth United States Census was taken in 1960. ... The Nineteenth United States Census was taken in 1970. ... The Twentieth United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 226,545,805, an increase of 11. ... The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9. ... 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ...

In 2003 the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area had an estimated population of 582,781, which is an increase of 11,613, or 2.0%, since the year 2000. This includes a natural increase of 13,451 people (that is 29,063 births minus 15,612 deaths) and a decrease due to net migration of 1,508 people out of the metropolitan area. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase of 5,415 people, and migration within the country produced a net loss of 6,923 people.

Census of 2000

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,^GR2 there were 344,284 people, 139,087 households, and 87,763 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,536.1/mi² (979.2/km²). There were 152,119 housing units at an average density of 1,120.6/mi² (432.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 75.20% White, 11.42% Black or African American, 3.96% Asian, 1.16% Native American, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 5.10% from other races, and 3.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.62% of the population. 2000 US Census logo The Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The term white American (often used interchangeably and incorrectly with Caucasian American[2] and within the United States simply white[3]) is an umbrella term that refers to people of European descent residing in the United States. ... African Americans, also known as Afro-Americans or black Americans, are an ethnic group in the United States of America whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Sub-Saharan and West Africa. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... An Asian American is a person of Asian ancestry or origin who was born in or is an immigrant to the United States. ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States. ... // Demographics in 2000 US Census Pacific Islander Americans represent the smallest group counted on the 2000 US Census. ... Actress Halle Berry was born to a white mother of British extraction and a black father of American extraction. ... Hispanic flag, not widely used. ... For the Brazilian pop singer, see Latino (singer). ...

There were 139,087 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.10. Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract, or through civil process. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 27.1% under the age of 18, 10.1% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 75 females there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,939, and the median income for a family was $49,247. Males had a median income of $36,457 versus $25,844 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,647. About 8.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.4% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over. The median household income is commonly used to provide data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of households earning less than the median household income and the other half earning more. ... The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...

Historical trends

The City of Wichita's logo.

Following the incorporation of the city in 1870 rapid immigration resulted in a land boom involving speculation into the late 1880s. Wichita had become the third largest city in the state (behind Kansas City and Topeka) with a population of nearly 24,000 in 1890. After the boom the city suffered from 15 years of comparative depression and slow growth. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 31 KB) Summary http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 31 KB) Summary http://www. ... Nickname: Location in Wyandotte, County in the state of Kansas. ... This article is about the state capital of Kansas. ...

The early 20th century saw a resurgence in growth from the nascent aircraft industry (see below) with the population increasing by 350% between 1900 and 1930. By 1920 Wichita had entered the top 100 largest cities in the United States and by 1930 reached 77th in rank. The depression of the 1930s again brought slow growth with total population only increasing by 3% between 1930 and 1940. The decades during and after World War II saw a growth spurt as the city's population increased by more than 120% between 1940 and 1960. Wichita had become the largest city in the state by 1950 and the 51st largest city in the country by 1960—a ranking it has held to this date. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

The period between 1950 and 1970 saw a major shift in the city's racial makeup, as the proportion of blacks in the population increased significantly. Until 1950, blacks had made up about 5% of the population, with little variation. The black population increased from 8,082 (4.8%) in 1950 to 26,841 (9.7%) in 1970, a 230% increase. This also marked the beginning of the decline of the white majority. Even as the white population has increased from 160,000 in 1950 to about 260,000 in 2000, the percentage of the population has dropped from 95% to 75%.

During the 1970s, the city's population only grew by 1%, but the growth rate accelerated in the following two decades to more than 13% in the 1990s. The growth in minority races is still strong. The black population has grown by a more modest 14% per decade, but the proportion of the other races, including indigenous American and immigrants from Asia and the Pacific Rim, has risen from just 1% to over 10% of the population.

Transportation

Most residents of Wichita travel around the region by car. The Kansas Turnpike (Interstate 35), Interstates 135 and 235, U.S. Route 54/400, and K-96 run through and near the city. Currently the idea of a Northwest Corridor is under discussion, to run from K-96 south from Maize to U.S. 54/400. The Kansas Turnpike is a tolled freeway that lies entirely within the U.S. state of Kansas. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Interstate 35 Interstate 35 (abbreviated I-35) is a north–south interstate highway in the central United States. ... Interstate 135 (I-135) is a 95. ... Interstate 235 in Kansas is a 16. ... U.S. Route 54 is an east-west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles (1,926 km) from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. ... US 400 is an east-west U.S. Highway. ... Kansas State Highway 96 (abbreviated K-96) is a highway in central and southern Kansas. ... Kansas State Highway 96 (abbreviated K-96) is a highway in central and southern Kansas. ... Maize is a city located in Sedgwick County, Kansas. ...

The Wichita Transit Authority operates 51 buses on 18 fixed bus routes within the city.^[2]

The nearest Amtrak station is in Newton (20 miles/32 km to the north), offering service on the Southwest Chief route between Los Angeles and Chicago. The high-speed Acela Express in West Windsor, New Jersey. ... Main Street and E 4th looking north to downtown. ... The Southwest Chief snaking through Apache Canyon, NM The Southwest Chief (formerly the Southwest Limited) is a passenger train operated by Amtrak along a 2256-mile (3631-km) route through the Midwestern and Southwestern United States. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... Nickname: Motto: Urbs in Horto (Latin: City in a Garden), I Will Location in the Chicago metro area and Illinois Coordinates: , Country State Counties Cook, DuPage Settled 1770s Incorporated March 4, 1837 Government  - Mayor Richard M. Daley (D) Area  - City  234. ...

Wichita is home to Wichita Mid-Continent Airport, the largest airport in the state of Kansas (the larger Kansas City International Airport is in Missouri). Flights from Wichita's airport travel to many U.S. airport hubs via 11 commercial carriers. Wichita Mid-Continent Airport (IATA: ICT, ICAO: KICT) is a commercial airport located 5 miles (8 km) southwest of Wichita, in Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA. It is the largest airport in the state of Kansas. ... Airport diagram Airport from the east. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St Louis[1] Area  Ranked 21st  - Total 69,709 sq mi (180,693 km²)  - Width 240 miles (385 km)  - Length 300 miles (480 km)  - % water 1. ...

Cityscape

Downtown Wichita & Century II Convention Center

Wichita has many several recognized areas and neighborhoods. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3680x1232, 688 KB) Summary Wichita, Kansas panorama photo by Hugh Mason Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Wichita, Kansas ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3680x1232, 688 KB) Summary Wichita, Kansas panorama photo by Hugh Mason Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Wichita, Kansas ... The Century II Convention Hall is a 5,244-seat multi-purpose arena in Wichita, Kansas, USA. It hosts locals sporting events and concerts. ...

Residents also make strong distinctions about Wichita's east and west sides. Commercial developments drive many of these impressions. The two shopping malls are called Towne East and Towne West. The largest outdoor shopping plazas are New Market Square on the west side of town and Bradley Fair on the east side of town. Duplicate stores between the two sides promote the "either or" choice for shopping in Wichita. For the traditional meaning of the word mall, see pedestrian street or promenade. ...

The downtown area is generally considered to be east of the Arkansas River, west of I-35, north of Kellogg and south of 13th street. The downtown area contains landmarks such as Century II, the Garvey center, and the Epic Center. Old Town is also part of downtown; this 2-3 square mile area is home to a cluster of night clubs, bars, restaurants, a movie theater, shops, apartments and condominiums, many of which make use of historical warehouse-type spaces. The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... Interstate 35 is an interstate highway in the central United States. ... The Epic Center is a skyscraper located in Wichita, Kansas. ...

The two most notable residential areas of Wichita are Riverside and College Hill. Riverside is northwest of the downtown area, across the Arkansas River, and surrounds the 120-acre riverside park.^[3] College Hill is east of the downtown area, south of Wichita State. College Hill is one of the more historic neighborhoods, along with Delano on the west side. ^[4]

The town of Eastborough, Kansas is east of college hill, entirely engulfed by the city of Wichita. Eastborough is a city in Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States. ...

The northeast region of Wichita is known as Tallgrass. The area northwest of Riverside is referred to as Indian Hills.

Culture

The City of Wichita is home to Botanica, The Wichita Gardens, which boasts 24 themed gardens including the popular Butterfly Garden and the award-winning Sally Stone Sensory Garden. Sedgwick County Extension Arboretum is also located in the city. Botanica, The Wichita Gardens 9. ... The Sedgwick County Extension Arboretum is located in Sedgwick County, Kansas, USA at 7001 W. 21st North Wichita, Kansas. ...

The first complete recording made by jazz musician Charlie "Bird" Parker occurred in 1940 at the Trocadero Ballroom in Wichita. During the 1950s and early 1960s, Wichita had a significant Beat movement.^[5] The Wichita Jazz Festival remains a significant annual event on the national jazz calendar. Charles Bird Parker, Jr. ... The term beat generation was introduced by Jack Kerouac in approximately 1948 to describe his social circle to the novelist John Clellon Holmes (who published an early novel about the beat generation, titled Go, in 1952, along with a manifesto of sorts in the New York Times Magazine: This is...

Wichita is also home to the Wichita River Festival, held each May in the Downtown and Old Town areas of the city. It is one of the longest continuous running festivals in the state of Kansas and features over 70 events, including musical entertainment, sporting events, traveling exhibits, cultural and historical activities, plays, interactive children's events, a flea market, river events, a parade, block party, food court, fireworks and souvenirs for the roughly 370,000+ patrons who attend each year.^[6] This article does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Fireworks (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Souvenir (disambiguation). ...

Blackbear Bosin's The Keeper of the Plains at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers by the Wichita Mid-America All Indian Center

Other major attractions of the city include the Sedgwick County Zoo, home to more than 2,500 animals of nearly 500 different species; the Old Cowtown Museum; McConnell Air Force Base; Exploration Place, a science and discovery center for all ages; the Old Town historical and entertainment district; the Mid-America All-Indian Center and Museum; and the Wichita Art Museum. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1093x1572, 1008 KB) Keeper of the Plains statue in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Taken by Brent Danley on August 10, 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1093x1572, 1008 KB) Keeper of the Plains statue in Wichita, Kansas, USA. Taken by Brent Danley on August 10, 2006. ... Blackbear Bosins most famous work, The Keeper of the Plains in Wichita, Kansas Blackbear Bosin (June 5, 1921-August 9, 1980) was a Comanche-Kiowa artist and painter, also known as Tsate Kongia. ... Keeper of the Plains The Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot steel sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin. ... Confluence of Rhine and Mosel at Koblenz In geography, a confluence describes the point where two rivers meet and become one, usually when a tributary joins a more major river. ... The Arkansas River flows through Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. ... The Little Arkansas River (prounounced ahr-KAN-zez), is a 90 mi (145 km) long river located in South Central Kansas. ... McConnell Air Force Base (IATA: IAB, ICAO: KIAB) is a United States Air Force base located in Wichita, Kansas. ... Exploration Place is a modern science museum, located in the museums on the river district in Wichita, KS. Exhibits include: •The Kids Explore area, which currently houses a three-story castle in which children can play •A Tots Spot play area for toddlers •An exhibit detailing the history of the... The Wichita Art Museum is an Art Museum located in Wichita, Kansas. ...

Other museums and attractions in the metro area:

• Wichita Public Library
• City Repertory Theatre of Wichita, Wichita
• Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology, Wichita
• Joyland Amusement Park
• Kauffman Museum, Bethel College, North Newton
• Mid-America All-Indian Center and The Keeper of the Plains statue, Wichita
• Sedgwick County Fair, Cheney
• Ulrich Museum of Art at Wichita State University, Wichita
• Wichita Art Museum
• Museum of World Treasures
• Great Plains Transportation Museum

Wichita is also home to Kansas' tallest building, the Epic Center The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... Template:Museum The Lowell D. Holmes Museum of Anthropology began in 1966 as the Museum of Man, at the bequest and initiation of Dr. Lowell Holmes, Professor of Anthropology at Wichita State University in Wichita, KS. Over the next 33 years it grew slowly and became known throughout the campus... Joyland Amusement Park opened in Wichita, Kansas, United States on June 12, 1949, and with the exception of a gap between 2003-2006, has been in continuous operation ever since. ... Bethel College is a private college affiliated with Mennonite Church USA. The college is located on the edge of the Flint Hills and vast wheat fields of south central Kansas in the town of North Newton. ... Keeper of the Plains The Keeper of the Plains is a 44-foot steel sculpture by Kiowa-Comanche artist Blackbear Bosin. ... The Sedgwick County Fair has been held in Cheney, Kansas since 1940. ... Wichita State University (WSU) is an American state-supported university located in the middle-size city of Wichita, Kansas, in the south central part of the state. ... The Wichita Art Museum is an Art Museum located in Wichita, Kansas. ... Santa Fe steam and diesel locomotives on display at the grounds of the Great Plains Transportation Museum. ... The Epic Center is a skyscraper located in Wichita, Kansas. ...

Disc golf is a popular activity in Wichita. There are two eighteen hole disc golf courses (with alternate pads) in the city and several in the surrounding area. These courses include: A player putting at Cass Benton Disc Golf Course; Northville, Michigan. ...

• Oak Park, Riverside Area Wichita
• Herman Hill Park, Pawnee and Broadway, Wichita
• Other parks in metro cities listed http://www.kansasdiscgolf.com/coursemap.html

History

First Pizza Hut building at Wichita State University Campus

A thorough history can be found at the external site City of Wichita-History. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1280 × 960 pixel, file size: 1. ...

The site on the two rivers has served as a trading center for nomadic peoples for the last 11,000 years. The area was visited by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, while he was in search of the fabulous "cities of gold." While there, he encountered a group of Indians whom he called Quiviras and who have been identified by archeological and historical studies as Wichita Indians. By 1719 these people had moved south to Oklahoma, where they met French traders. The first permanent settlement in Wichita was a collection of grass houses inhabited by the Wichita Indians in 1863. They had moved back to Wichita from Oklahoma during the Civil War due to their pro-Union sentiments. The city was officially incorporated in 1870. Shortly thereafter it became a railhead destination for cattle drives from Texas and other southwestern points, from whence it has derived its nickname of "Cowtown." It quickly gained a wild reputation, and had numerous well known lawmen pass through, employed to help keep the rowdy cowboys in line. Among those lawmen was Wyatt Earp. Coronado Sets Out to the North, by Frederic Remington, 1861-1909 Francisco Vázquez de Coronado (ca. ... The Wichita Indians formed a loose confederation on the Southern Plains, including such tribes as Panis Piques, Taovayas, Guichitas, Tawakonis, Kichais, and Wacos, and they lived in fixed villages notable for domed-shaped and grass-covered dwellings. ... For other uses, see Oklahoma (disambiguation). ... The Wichita Indians formed a loose confederation on the Southern Plains, including such tribes as Panis Piques, Taovayas, Guichitas, Tawakonis, Kichais, and Wacos, and they lived in fixed villages notable for domed-shaped and grass-covered dwellings. ... Official language(s) No official language See languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Largest metro area Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 261,797 sq mi (678,051 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (March 19, 1848–January 13, 1929) was an American farmer, teamster, sometime buffalo hunter, officer of the law in various Western frontier towns, gambler, saloon-keeper, and miner. ...

Wichita reached national fame in 1900 when Woman's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) member Carrie Nation decided to carry her crusade against alcohol to Wichita. On December 27 of that year she entered the Carey House bar in downtown Wichita and smashed the place with a rock and a pool ball. She had visited all the bars in Wichita the night before and demanded that they close their doors. However, the painting by John Noble of Cleopatra at the Roman Bath in the Carey House had drawn her particular wrath. The Womans Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) is the oldest continuing non-sectarian womens organization in the U.S. and worldwide. ... Temperance advocate Carrie Nation with her bible, and her hatchet. ...

In 1914-1915, oil was discovered nearby and Wichita became a major oil center. The money derived from oil allowed local entrepreneurs to invest in a nascent airplane industry. In 1917, the first plane, the Cessna Comet, was manufactured in Wichita. Forty-three Swallows, the first airplanes made specifically for production, were built in Wichita between 1920 and 1923. This industry, coinciding with Wichita as a test center for new aviation, established Wichita as the "Air Capital." Lloyd Stearman and Walter Beech were employees of the Swallow company, but in January 1925 they left Swallow Aircraft and teamed up with Clyde Cessna to form Travel Air. Lloyd Stearman left the company in 1926 to start Stearman Aircraft in Venice, California. Cessna quit in January 1927 to start Cessna. Stearman would only be gone from Wichita for a year before returning. Pumpjack pumping an oil well near Lubbock, Texas Ignacy Łukasiewicz - creator of the process of refining of kerosene from crude oil. ... Cessna Aircraft Company, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, is a manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, from small two-seat, single-engine aircraft to business jets. ...

Travel Air with Walter Beech at the helm grew to the point of employing over 600 workers and working in a huge factory complex constructed from 1927 to 1929. Employing so many workers at such a large complex and being a few miles outside the city limits it was tagged "Travel Air City" by Wichita residents. The company merged with the huge Curtis Wright Corporation in the Roaring Twenties' heyday of company buyouts and takeovers just two months before the Stock Market crash in 1929. Workers were laid off by the hundreds during 1930 and more so in 1931. By the fall of 1932 all workers were let go in Wichita, equipment was sold and the entire Travel Air plant sat empty. A scene typical of the Follies of Florenz Ziegfeld, the most popular Broadway impresario of the decade. ...

In March 1932 Walter quit Curtis Wright to form Beech Aircraft with his wife Olive Ann and hired Ted Wells as his chief engineer. The first four or five "Beechcraft" were built in the vacant Cessna Aircraft plant which was also closed during the depression. Beech later leased and then bought the Travel Air plant from Curtis Wright and men, machinery, and an airplane or two were moved from the Cessna plant. The first aircraft was the Model 17, later dubbed the "Staggerwing" which was first flown on November 5, 1932. The aircraft that would propel the small company into a huge corporation was the Model 18 "Twin Beech," of which thousands were built from 1937 to 1969. The Staggerwing production ended in 1946 with approximately 750 built and a few more assembled from parts in 1947. The Staggerwing production was replaced by the Beechcraft Bonanza, although there are still nearly 100 Staggerwings in existence, most in usable condition. The Beech Aircraft Corporation, purchased by Raytheon Aircraft on February 8, 1980, and often known as Beechcraft, is a manufacturer of general aviation and military aircraft, ranging from light single engine aircraft to business jets and light military transports. ... Categories: Stub ... The Fork Tailed Doctor Killer. ...

The city experienced a population explosion during World War II when it became a major manufacturing center for airplanes needed in the war effort. By 1945, 4.2 bombers were being produced daily in Wichita. Stearman Aircraft, later purchased by the Boeing Company, was founded in Wichita, as were Beech Aircraft (now called Hawker Beechcraft), Cessna Aircraft, and LearJet (now Bombardier). The city remains a major manufacturing center for the aircraft industry today, with all of these and Airbus still having major centers there, hence its nickname: "The Air Capital." Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Boeing Stearman PT-17 Stearman Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer established by Lloyd Stearman at Wichita, Kansas in 1927. ... The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA, TYO: 7661) is a major aerospace and defense corporation, originally founded by William Edward Boeing. ... Cessna Aircraft Company, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, is a manufacturer of general aviation aircraft, from small two-seat, single-engine aircraft to business jets. ... For other uses, see Bombardier (disambiguation). ... This article is about the airliner manufacturer. ...

Wichita was also a significant entrepreneurial business center during the pre and post-war period, with Coleman, Mentholatum, Pizza Hut, White Castle, and Koch Industries having all been founded in Wichita. Ironically, White Castle closed all of their restaurants in Wichita in 1938 and has not operated in the state of Kansas after a failed revival attempt in the Kansas City area in the early 1990s. The entrepreneurial spirit of Wichita led to the creation one of the first academic centers to study and support entrepreneurship at The Wichita State University, Center for Entrepreneurship. Coleman Company, Inc. ... The Mentholatum Company, Inc. ... Pizza Hut Inc. ... A White Castle Cheeseburger box. ... Koch Industries, Inc. ...

Recent history has seen development downtown and the East and West sides. Sedgwick County Voters recently approved a sales tax raise to build a new arena downtown to replace the aging Kansas Coliseum. This is considered by many a stepping stone to launch new development downtown.

Wichita is also noteworthy for the crimes of BTK killer Dennis Rader, a resident of nearby Park City; crimes which gained national media attention. Dennis Lynn Rader (born March 9, 1945) is an American serial killer who murdered at least 10 people in Sedgwick County (in and around Wichita), Kansas, between 1974 and 1991. ...

An informative collection of historical photographs of the city can be found at Wichita Photo Archives.

Cartoon character Dennis the Menace lived in the outskirts of Wichita, Kansas, on a supposedly fictional, quiet neighborhood on a street named Elm Street. Dennis the Menace denotes either of two cartoon characters. ...

Sister cities

• Cancún, Mexico - 25 November 1975
• Kaifeng, China - 3 December 1985
• Orléans, France - 16 August 1944 through Sister Cities International
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