Wichita

Extracted Attributes

• State

  Kansas

• Country

  United States

• Nicknames

  Cowtown, The Air Capital of the World

• Population

  397,532 (2020 Census)

• Coordinates

  37.688888888, -97.336111111

• County Seat

  Sedgwick County

• Major Airport

  Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport

• Inception Date

  1868-01-01

• Primary Waterway

  Arkansas River

• Incorporation Date

  1870-01-01

• Military Installation

  McConnell Air Force Base

Timeline

• Wichita established as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1860-01-01

• Official inception date of the settlement. (Source: Wikidata)

  1868-01-01

• Wichita incorporated as a city. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1870-01-01

• Wyatt Earp begins serving as a police officer in Wichita. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1875-01-01

• Mentholatum discovered in Wichita. (Source: Web Search (choosewichita.com))

  1894-01-01

• White Castle restaurant founded in Wichita. (Source: Web Search (choosewichita.com))

  1921-01-01

• Beginning of the city's evolution into the 'Air Capital of the World' with the establishment of aircraft manufacturers. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1920-01-01

• Pizza Hut founded in Wichita. (Source: Web Search (choosewichita.com))

  1958-01-01

• Dockum Drug Store sit-in occurs to protest segregation. (Source: Web Search (choosewichita.com))

  1958-07-01

• U.S. Census records Wichita's population at 397,532. (Source: Wikipedia)

  2020-04-01

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita ( , WITCH-ih-taw) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 397,532, and the Wichita metropolitan area had a population of 647,610. It is located in south-central Kansas along the Arkansas River. Wichita began as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail in the 1860s and was incorporated as a city in 1870. It became a destination for cattle drives traveling north from Texas to Kansas railroads, earning it the nickname "Cowtown". In 1875, Wyatt Earp served as a police officer in Wichita for about one year before going to Dodge City. In the 1920s and 1930s, businessmen and aeronautical engineers established aircraft manufacturing companies in Wichita, including Beechcraft, Cessna, and Stearman Aircraft. The city became an aircraft production hub known as "The Air Capital of the World". Textron Aviation, Learjet, Airbus, and Boeing/Spirit AeroSystems continue to operate design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita, and the city remains a major center of the American aircraft industry. Several airports located within the city of Wichita include McConnell Air Force Base, Colonel James Jabara Airport, and Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport, the largest airport in Kansas. As an industrial hub, Wichita is a regional center of culture, media, and trade. It hosts several universities, large museums, theaters, parks, shopping centers, and entertainment venues, most notably Intrust Bank Arena and Century II. The city's Old Cowtown Museum maintains historical artifacts and exhibits the city's early history. Wichita State University (WSU) is the third-largest post-secondary institution in the state.

Web Search Results

• 50 Fun Facts | Play | Choose Wichita

  Wichita, known as the "Air Capital of the World,” is home to many world-class aviation manufacturers. Wichita is the largest city in Kansas by population. The Keeper of the Plains, a 44-foot steel sculpture by Native American artist Blackbear Bosin, stands at the confluence of the Arkansas and Little Arkansas Rivers in Wichita. Wichita began as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail. The city's name, "Wichita," comes from the original Native American tribe. Wichita is home to the Sedgwick County Zoo, one of the largest in the U.S. Bill Lear, inventor of the Learjet, founded Learjet Corporation in Wichita in the early 1960s, revolutionizing aviation with innovative designs. Pizza Hut, one of the largest pizza chains, was founded in Wichita in 1958. [...] White Castle restaurant was founded in Wichita in 1921. Mentholatum was discovered in Wichita in 1894, in a building that now houses The Spice Merchant & Company. Exploration Place, a science and discovery center, is along the Arkansas River in Wichita. In the 1880s, Wichita was the fastest-growing city in the U.S. Wichita hosted the first organized sit-in at the Dockum Drug Store in 1958 to end segregation. Wichita hosts the annual Riverfest, a nine-day festival with concerts, food vendors, and activities. Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport is Kansas' largest airport. Wichita State University is the third-largest university in Kansas. The Old Town district features historic brick buildings converted into restaurants, shops, and entertainment venues. [...] Wichita is known for its vibrant mural art scene with many murals adorning buildings. The Wichita Public Library system offers numerous resources and programs across its branches. The Mid-America All-Indian Center showcases the history and culture of Native American tribes in the region. Barry Sanders, born in Wichita, is a former NFL running back considered one of the greatest, winning the Heisman Trophy during college. Wichita's Douglas Avenue is part of historic U.S. Route 66, featuring nostalgic landmarks and attractions. The Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita is a living history museum depicting 19th-century life. Wichita hosts several professional sports teams, including the Wichita Wind Surge baseball team and the Wichita Force indoor football team.

• Wichita, Kansas - Wikipedia

  Wichita has an extensive history of attracting immigrants. Starting in 1895, a population of Lebanese Americans moved to the city, many of whom were Orthodox Christians. A second wave of Lebanese migrants moved to Wichita to flee the Civil War in their homeland. Thousands of immigrants from Vietnam moved to Wichita in the aftermath of the Vietnam War. Wichita, Kansas – Racial and ethnic composition Note: the US census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. [...] Wichita Ice Arena, just west of downtown, is a public ice-skating rink used for ice-skating competitions. Century II has been used for professional wrestling tournaments, gardening shows, sporting-goods exhibitions, and other recreational activities. The WSU campus includes two major venues: Eck Stadium, a medium-sized stadium with a full-sized baseball field that is home to the WSU Shocker baseball team, and Charles Koch Arena, a medium-sized, dome-roofed circular arena with a collegiate basketball court that hosts the WSU Shocker basketball team. Koch Arena is also used extensively for citywide and regional high school athletic events, concerts, and other entertainments. Just north of the city is 81 Motor Speedway, an oval motor-vehicle racetrack used extensively for a wide range of [...] Under state statute, Wichita is a city of the first class. Since 1917, it has had a council–manager form of government. The city council consists of seven members popularly elected every four years with staggered terms in office. For representative purposes, the city is divided into six districts with one council member elected from each. The mayor is the seventh council member, elected at large. The council sets policy for the city, enacts laws and ordinances, levies taxes, approves the city budget, and appoints members to citizen commission and advisory boards. It meets each Tuesday. The city manager is the city's chief executive, responsible for administering city operations and personnel, submitting the annual city budget, advising the city council, preparing the council's agenda, and

• About the city of Wichita

  As the largest festival in Kansas, Riverfest brings multiple stages of live music, energetic activities like zip lines, helicopter rides, eating contests and river exploration and the ever-popular food court. Wichita features more than 10 distinct shopping, dining and entertainment districts, each with their own vibe and flair. Go clubbing in Old Town. Shop for new looks in Douglas Design District boutiques. Meet up with friends in Delano. INTRUST Bank Arena is a modern, state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue, perfect for concerts and conventions alike. Open Streets ICT is a FREE community-building event that closes a usually busy street to traffic and opens it for biking, walking, running, dancing, yoga, and more! [...] Old Town is an outdoor museum of centuries old architecture and a myriad of murals by locally sourced artists. In Wichita, Old Town is synonymous with Fun, Food, Family and spectacular Nightlife. Old Town is nestled right in the heart of Wichita, Kansas. Among the brick-lined streets and historic lampposts are a collection of converted brick warehouses dating back to the mid 1800s. Built with brick and native limestone accents, these distinctive architectural features define the character of Old Town. The Pop-Up Urban Park transformed and activated an eyesore in the urban core of Wichita into a thriving public space where the community can interact and connect. Enjoy a bright, thriving environment as you revel in delicious fare prepared by local food trucks serving at the Pop-Up Park. [...] ## A center of innovation and industry Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World, a nod to its large aircraft industry—but we have a long history of entrepreneurial spirit and business success. Some of the world's most innovative companies are proud to call Wichita home — including some located right on WSU's campus. The city's size and thriving business community give Shockers endless opportunities for experiential learning and creative collisions with entrepreneurs, dreamers and experts from all disciplines who are working for positive change in the world. WSU logo WSU Foundation and Alumni Engagement logo Shocker Store Logo Age Friendly University logo © 2026 Wichita State University footer-lbbgogo

• Downtown Wichita

  Press Releases Blog Search Downtown Wichita Interactive Map # Visit Downtown Wichita Downtown Wichita is home to a diverse and exciting community. Home to a strong arts & culture scene, dozens of tasty local restaurants, and host to countless popular year-round events. Plan your visit now and discover the many great things Wichita’s downtown has to offer. ## Commerce and Culture at the Core of Downtown Wichita [...] In the News + Overview + Downtown Wichita Expands Clean Team Program Under Block by Block Management + Downtown Wichita Window Wonderland Winners Announced + 2nd Annual Downtown Wichita Window Wonderland Contest + Downtown Wichita to Showcase Vibrant Activations During Global TBEX Conference + Downtown Wichita Action Plan Final Planning Open House Announced + Downtown Wichita Launches Clean Team Pilot Program + Wichitans Lead the Way in Defining Downtown’s Next Decade + New Market Research Indicates Strong Opportunities for Growth in Downtown Wichita + Downtown Wichita Clean-Up Scheduled for April 26 + Downtown Wichita Unveils “Bouncing through Downtown: Art & Basketball” + Downtown Wichita Announces Kickoff of Downtown Wichita Action Plan [...] + Wichita Downtown Development Corporation receives 2014 Pinnacle Award by the International Downtown Association + Knight Foundation’s Carol Coletta to kick off Fuel the Fire Speaker Series on Aug. 28 + Final Designs For Douglas Ave Underpass To Be Unveiled At Public Open House + Community Organizations Announce Fuel the Fire Speaker Series + Project Downtown: The Master Plan For Wichita Updated Residential Market Analysis Shows Increased Potential For Downtown + Date Set For First Douglas Avenue Underpass Public Input Meeting + Knight Foundation Fund pledges nearly $120,000 in grants for Wichita + Race For The Cure Special 25Th Anniversary Announcement! + Ribbon Cutting Celebrates Completed Projects in Downtown Wichita’s Block One

• Departments/Services | Wichita, KS

  As a regional economic leader, Wichita continuously invests in industries that allow businesses to bring creative products and services to market locally, regionally, and globally. The mission of the Wichita Fire Department is to provide excellent, proactive fire and life safety services through prevention, education, and protection. The Housing and Community Services Department is funded with federal and state funds to provide housing and related services to benefit the citizens and neighborhoods of Wichita. The department uses these funds to provide direct services and to contract with community service providers. All services are provided to persons who meet the income limit qualifications and are otherwise eligible for assistance. [...] ### Helpful Links ### Site Links ### About Us The City of Wichita is a leading-edge organization serving a dynamic community. As an exceptionally well-run city, we will keep Wichita safe, grow our economy, build dependable infrastructure, and provide conditions for living well. Social ads are paid for by the City of Wichita. Wichita KS Home Page Wichita KS Home Page Link to our Facebook page Link to the our X page Link to our Instagram page Link to our YouTube channel Link to our Nextdoor page Link to our Linkedin page Link to our Tiktok page ## Loading [...] ### Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more. Wichita KS Home Page Link to our Facebook page Link to the our X page Link to our Instagram page Link to our YouTube channel Link to our Nextdoor page Link to our Linkedin page Link to our Tiktok page Search # Departments/Services ### Share Share Welcome to ICT: Travel adventure starts here. The Division of Arts & Cultural Services manages the City's public art collection, integrating artwork in Wichita's community spaces. Explore the City Clerk's department. Meet Wichita's City Manager. ​Wichita Kansas, is home to unrivaled opportunity. This is where businesses and families come to put down roots, grow and thrive.

• Image

  

• Country

  United States

• Located In

  Sedgwick County

• Instance Of

  Q1093829

• Population

  397,532

• Coordinates

  Lat: 37.688888888, Lon: -97.336111111

• Headquarters

  Wichita

• Inception Date

  1/1/1868