Wathena, Kansas

Wathena is located at 39°45′44″N 94°56′53″W / 39.76222°N 94.94806°W / 39.76222; -94.94806 (39.762161, -94.948117).[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.31 square miles (5.98 km2), of which 2.28 square miles (5.91 km2) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,364 people, 550 households, and 365 families residing in the city. The population density was 598.2 inhabitants per square mile (231.0/km2). There were 587 housing units at an average density of 257.5 per square mile (99.4/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.6% White, 1.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 550 households of which 32.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 33.6% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

Wellington, Kansas

Wellington was first surveyed in 1871 and named for the Duke of Wellington.[7] It was designated as the permanent seat of Sumner County in 1872, winning out over competitor Sumner City.[citation needed] Trading with the cattle herds coming up the Chisholm Trail was an important factor in the early economy of the town.[8]

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a branch line north-south from Herington through Wellington to Caldwell.[10] It foreclosed in 1891 and was taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

Wellington is located at 37°16′2″N 97°24′0″W / 37.26722°N 97.40000°W / 37.26722; -97.40000 (37.267289, -97.400061),[11] at an elevation of 1230 feet.[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.19 square miles (21.21 km2), of which, 7.61 square miles (19.71 km2) is land and 0.58 square miles (1.50 km2) is water.[1]

Wellsville, Kansas

On January 9, 1894[11], baseball star Charlie Bennett went hunting with pitcher John Clarkson. Bennett got off the train in Wellsville to speak to an acquaintance; when he tried to reboard, he slipped and fell under the train's wheels. Bennett lost both legs in the accident. He was fitted with artificial limbs but his baseball career was over; he lived until 1927.

Wellsville is located at 38°43′11″N 95°4′53″W / 38.71972°N 95.08139°W / 38.71972; -95.08139 (38.719694, -95.081358).[12] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.40 square miles (3.63 km2), of which 1.39 square miles (3.60 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,857 people, 722 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,336.0 inhabitants per square mile (515.8/km2). There were 780 housing units at an average density of 561.2 per square mile (216.7/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.6% White, 0.7% African American, 0.6% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population.

Weskan, Kansas

Weskan is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Wallace County, Kansas, United States. Weskan is located along U.S. Route 40, 11.5 miles (18.5 km) west-southwest of Sharon Springs. Weskan has a post office with ZIP code 67762 and there is one high school located within the community.[2] The post office in Weskan was established in August 1887.[3]

Westmoreland, Kansas

Westmoreland is located at 39°23′41″N 96°24′51″W / 39.39472°N 96.41417°W / 39.39472; -96.41417 (39.394770, -96.414154).[10] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.52 square miles (1.35 km2), all of it land.[1]

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 778 people, 301 households, and 192 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,496.2 inhabitants per square mile (577.7/km2). There were 337 housing units at an average density of 648.1 per square mile (250.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.4% African American, 0.9% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 0.9% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.4% of the population.

There were 301 households of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.

Whitewater, Kansas

For many millennia, the Great Plains of North America was inhabited by nomadic Native Americans. From the 16th century to 18th century, the Kingdom of France claimed ownership of large parts of North America. In 1762, after the French and Indian War, France secretly ceded New France to Spain, per the Treaty of Fontainebleau.

In 1802, Spain returned most of the land to France. In 1803, most of the land for modern day Kansas was acquired by the United States from France as part of the 828,000 square mile Louisiana Purchase for 2.83 cents per acre.

In 1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state. In 1855, Butler County was established within the Kansas Territory, which included the land for modern day Whitewater.

Wichita, Kansas

Wichita (/ˈwɪtʃɪtɔː/ WITCH-i-taw)[8] is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.[9][5] Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area[3][5][10] whose estimated population in 2015 was 644,610.[11] As of 2017, the city of Wichita had an estimated population of 391,586.[6]

The city began as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail in the 1860s and was incorporated in 1870. It subsequently became a destination for cattle drives north from Texas to railroads, earning it the nickname "Cowtown".[12][13] In the 1920s and 1930s, businessmen and aeronautical engineers established aircraft manufacturing companies in Wichita including Beechcraft, Cessna, and Stearman Aircraft. The city transformed into a hub of U.S. aircraft production and became known as "The Air Capital of the World".[14]Textron Aviation, Learjet, Airbus and Spirit AeroSystems continue to operate design and manufacturing facilities in Wichita, and the city remains a major center of the U.S. aircraft industry. Wichita is also home to McConnell Air Force Base.[15][16]

As an industrial hub and the largest city in the state, Wichita is an area center of culture, media, and trade. It hosts several large museums, theaters, parks, and entertainment venues, notably Intrust Bank Arena. Wichita State University is the third largest in the state. Wichita is also home to the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center and Kansas's largest airport, Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport.

Turon, Kansas

In 1887, the Chicago, Kansas and Nebraska Railway built a main line from Herington through Turon to Pratt.[8] In 1888, this line was extended to Liberal. Later, it was extended to Tucumcari, New Mexico and El Paso, Texas. It foreclosed in 1891 and taken over by Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railway, which shut down in 1980 and reorganized as Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas Railroad, merged in 1988 with Missouri Pacific Railroad, merged in 1997 with Union Pacific Railroad. Most locals still refer to this railroad as the "Rock Island".

Turon is located at 37°48′27″N 98°25′37″W / 37.80750°N 98.42694°W / 37.80750; -98.42694 (37.807415, -98.427061).[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.46 square miles (1.19 km2), all of it land.[1]

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Turon has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[10]

Wilson, Kansas

Wilson is a city in Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States. The community promotes itself as the "Czech Capital of Kansas" due to the role of Czech immigrant settlers in its early history.[7][8] As of the 2010 census, the population of the city was 781.[9]

The Butterfield Overland Despatch built a stagecoach station one-half mile south of present-day Wilson in 1865.[8] Three years later, the Kansas Pacific Railway built Wilson Station, named after the surrounding township, at the modern town site. In 1871, The National Land Company surveyed and planned the first town there, naming it Bosland in the hopes of attracting the cattle trade.[10] Settlers from Pennsylvania, including some Pennsylvania Dutch, arrived over the following year. The settlement never became a center of the cattle trade, however, and continued to be known as Wilson, a name the U.S. Post Office officially codified in 1873.[8][10]

Wilson is located at 38°49′32″N 98°28′29″W / 38.82556°N 98.47472°W / 38.82556; -98.47472 (38.825619, -98.474748) at an elevation of 1,683 feet (513 m).[6][12] Located in north-central Kansas 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south of the intersection of Interstate 70 and Kansas Highway 232 (K-232), Wilson is 95 miles (153 km) northwest of Wichita, 205 miles (330 km) west of Kansas City, and 15 miles (24 km) northwest of Ellsworth, the county seat.[13][14]

Udall, Kansas

The first post office at Udall was established in September, 1879.[7] J.M. Napier and P.W. Smith purchased ten acre tract from I.N Nelson in 1879.[8] Udall was laid out in 1881 by Napier and Smith. It was named after English author Cornelius Udall.[9][10] D.C. Green built the first house in Udall and opened a store.

On May 25, 1955, the deadliest tornado to ever hit the state of Kansas struck Udall at 10:35 p.m.[11][12] The town was demolished by an 1,300 yd (0.74 mi) wide F5 tornado, no building within the city limits was untouched, including the grain elevator, water tower, old grade school, new high school, city hall, three churches. The water tower had been knocked over and the streets were flooded. Vehicles were thrown hundreds of yards and mangled beyond recognition, including a pickup truck that was wrapped around a tree and stripped of everything but its frame and tires. 77 people died and 270 were injured, 192 buildings (170 homes) were destroyed. Around 50% of families lost one or more members of their families.[13]

Before striking Udall, there were no warnings issued by the Weather Bureau. Unknown to them, the same tornado-producing thunderstorm had just laid waste to the city of Blackwell, Oklahoma, where 20 died and 250 were injured.[14][15]