Wichita, Kansas
Wichita is one of the most important cities in the state of Kansas and also the county seat of Sedgwick County. Wichita holds the distinction of being the largest city in Kansas and spans over an area of about 165.9 square miles in south central Kansas over the Arkansas River. Wichita is a principal city of the metro area and is well known as the "Air Capital of the World" and is the home for airplane manufacturers such as Boeing, Cessna, Beechcraft and other aircraft corporations.
Apart from being an industrial hub of the United States responsible for making some appreciable contributions to the country's economy, it is also an ideal place for good education, enjoying rich art and culture and entertainment.
Wichita has its own share of events and attractions which lure tourists from all over the country. Wichita River Festival alone attracts more than 370,000 patrons each year. The museums of science, art and history are treasure troves of knowledge and are popular attractions along with various theaters and art galleries in and around the city. Wichita has a lot to offer, and has come a long way from being a small settlement during the Civil War period.
Wichita is an attractive city for both local residents as well as tourists. The city also has a bustling nightlife, various places to eat, places to see and can also offer you a great shopping experience. Many businesses in the city also thrive.
Wichita History
The place where the city of Wichita is located today was the site where nomadic and Native Indians gathered eleven thousand years ago. According to archeological findings, there have been people living in this region in around 3,000 B.C. It was only in 1541, that a Spanish explorer named Francisco Vasquez de Coronado found the area when he was looking for the mystical "City of Gold". Coronado came face to face with the Native Indians called Wichita Indians living in the region that today is the site for the city. These Indians were the first to make their settlements in the city of Wichita with grass houses, and they moved out of and again into Wichita during the Civil war because of the terms in the pro-union settlements.
The city of Wichita was incorporated as a city in 1870. The city's location in the way of the Chishols Trails that was used as a cattle drive helped the city prosper in its early years. During this time the city got the nickname of "Cowtown", since it became a valuable site for cattle drives between southwestern points and Texas. The city during this time developed a reputation for itself as a wild town.
The city also saw fast immigration into the area, leading to a land boom that continued till the 1880s. According to population records of 1890, the city had become Kansas state's third most populated city with a population of 24,000 after Kansas City and Topeka. This short period of boom was followed by 15 years of depression.
During the 20th century, the beginning of airplane projects by Walter Beech and Clyde Cessna led to the city gaining the title of the "Air Capital of the Word". Corporations such as Beech, Mooney, Cessna and Stearman were all founded in the city which gave the city its next period of rapid growth. During the World War II, the city increased rapidly in population when the city's manufacturing facilities became in demand for fighter planes for the war. Till today the city remains a major airplane manufacturing destination with companies such as Boeing, Airbus, Cessna, Bombardier and Hawer Beechcraft having manufacturing centers in town.
The town also became famous because of the Pizza Hut, Taco TIco, White Castle and many other global franchises that began from this town and quickly spread to the rest of the World.
About Wichita, Kansas
The city of Wichita is a very prosperous city of the state of Kansas. The city is located at the junction of the little and big Arkansas Rivers. The city is the largest city in Kansas and has a population of around 380K people according to the 2010 census. The city serves as the principal capital of the affluent Wichita Metropolitan area.
The city became prosperous because of the businessmen coming in to trade with the native Indian traders early during its history. The city till today is a big exporter of oil and wheat. The city's downtown area is boosted by the presence of many sculptures and public art pieces. The city has a heavy presence of aircraft manufacturers, which till today is the largest economic contributor to the region.
The town has become a popular tourist destination with numerous attractions and events held throughout the year. The riverfront of the Arkansas Rivers, which passes through the city has gone through heavy renovations, which have beautified the city's downtown district. The riverfront has a host of shopping destinations, restaurants and many museums that have become a popular tourist and local hangout area. The city is also dotted with numerous historic buildings such as the Old City Halls, a two century old building that has beautiful arches, elaborate burets and stone architecture. The city also witnesses numerous events held annually such as the McConnell Air Force Base and the Mid-America All Indian Inter-Tribal Powwow.
Some of the must see tourist attractions in the town of Wichita are the Gravesite of Buffalo Bill and the Monument of Buffalo Bill. Another tourist favorite is the Great Plains Nature Center of Wichita that showcases the region's rivers, woodlands, lakes, wetlands and streams, along with an aquarium that has an interesting collection of fish. Wichita Botanical Gardens are famous landscaped gardens that bring together many rare collections of specimens. Indian Center gives visitors a clear idea about the lived of Native Indians who lived here with a variety of exhibits. Other must see museums in this city include the Old Town Museum and the Kansas Aviation museum.
The city also has a good number of accommodation options that are suited for every budget and taste. Most hotels are located along the Arkansas River and offer views of the river.
About Sedgwick County, Kansas
Wichita is located in the Sedgwick County, Kansas. It is the largest city of the county and also acts as the county seat. The county was named after General John Sedgwick.
The county was officially formed in the year 1867 and was named after a Union Army General, John Sedgwick, who fought in the American Civil War. The construction of the Nebraska, Kansas and Chicago railway line in 1887 led the creation of a branch in the county from Caldwell to Herington. This railway line simultaneously was extended to reach the other towns of the Sedgwick County, such as Aulne, Marions, Loncolnville and others and came to be known as the "Rock Island". The other towns that make up the county are Derby, Sedgwick, Kechi, Haysville, Park City, Bel Aire, Maize, Viola, Bently, Andale, Eastborough, Garden Plain, Mount Hope, Colwich, Cheney, Valley Center, Goddard and Mulvane.
The population of the county has been growing steadily ever since its formation. According to the 2000 census, there were more than 452,800 people in the county. According to the 2000 statistics, 176,400 of these were households and 117,7000 were families. The racial makeup of the county is made up of a majority of white people at 79.38%, followed by African Americans at 9.13% and about 8% Hispanic or Latino. The county is also famous to have numerous towns that have been abandoned today such as Davidson, Huckle, Wichita Heights, Oatville, Marshall, Jamesburg and Hatfield. These ghost towns are popular among tourist hikers.
Some of the popular tourism attractions in Sedgwick county are the Sedgwick County Zoo, Exploration Place, Lake Afton Park, INTRUST Bank Arema, Kansas African American Museum, Sedgwick Conty Park, and many others. The county has numerous school districts such as the Wichita, Derby, Valley Center and many others that serve the individual cities of the county. The county also organizes special events such as the Sedgwick County Fair that bring together people from all over the county together.