Facts about Wichita
Wichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas. Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World for its aircraft manufacturing industry. The city is also 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. McConnell Air Force Base is also located in Witchita. 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. According to the 2000 census, the city's population was 344,284. According to an estimate,the population of Witchita was 357,698 in 2006 which made it the 50th largest in the United States. The Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), which encompasses Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, and Sumner counties, has an estimated population of 584,671 persons residing in 245,159 households, as of 2004, making it the 82nd largest MSA in the United States. Wichita-Winfield Combined Statistical Area also includes Cowley County and has an estimated population of 618,641.[2004] According to the United States Census Bureau, Witchita has a total area of 138.9 [[squarand 3.2 sq mi (8.2 km²), or 2.29%, is water. [2008-01-31 Over the course of a year, temperatures in Witchita 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 of Witchita 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 in Witchita. 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. Winter snowfall averages almost 17 inches (44 cm) Median of average winter snowfall is less than 8 inches (25 cm). 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. From 2000 to 2006 an increase of 6188, or +1.8%, was seen in witchita's population over the previous six years. 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. As of the U.S. Census in 2000, there were 344,284 people, 139,087 households, and 87,763 families residing in the city. As of 2000 the population density of Witchita was 2,536.1/sq mi (979.2/km²). According to the reports generated by 2000 census, There were 152,119 housing units at an average density of 1,120.6/sq mi (432.7/km²). As of 2000 Census, the racial makeup of the Witchita 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. As of 2000, out of 139,087 household in Wichita, 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them while 47.3% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. As of 2000, 31.2% of all households in Wichita 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. 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, as of 2000 Census. According to 2000 Census, the median age in Wichita was 33 years. As of 2000, for every 100 females there were 97.1 males in Wichita. As of 2000, 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, as of 2000. The median income for a family was $49,247, as of 2000. 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. Wichita had become the third largest city in the state (behind Kansas City and Topeka) with a population of nearly 24,000 in 1890. The area where Wichita now is was visited by Francisco Vásquez de Coronado in 1541, while he was in search of the fabulous "cities of gold." 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. In 1914-1915, oil was discovered nearby and Wichita became a major oil center. In 1917, the first plane, the Cessna Comet, was manufactured in Wichita. 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. Cartoon character Dennis the Menace lived in the outskirts of Wichita, Kansas, on a supposedly fictional, quiet neighborhood on a street named Elm Street. Dan Glickman, former US Congressman, is from Witchita. |
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