Moving to Wichita? Here Are a Few Interesting Things to Know About the Air Capital of the World

Located on the banks of the Arkansas River in Southern Kansas, Wichita is the largest and most impressive city in the state. According to the latest US Census data, the city has a population of more than 389,000, and an estimated population of 650,000 in the metropolitan area.

If you’re planning to relocate to Wichita and you’re wondering what the housing market looks like, you’re in for a treat. According to RentCafe, the average rent for an apartment is $665, significantly under the national average, and lower than other big cities. If you’re interested in renting a self storage unit in Wichita, the street rate stands at no more than $79 a month for a standard 10×10 unit — lower than the national average of $112 in June 2020.

Whether you want to move, you’re planning a trip, or you want to learn more about Kansas’ most interesting city, we’ve compiled a list of some fun and little known facts about Wichita. These facts will give you a deeper insight into what living there is like, and what to expect when visiting:

1. The sky’s the limit for Wichita’s aviation industry

After the Wright Brother’s first flight in 1903, aviation became a major interest among US citizens, with more and more people wanting to join in on the action. Due to the flat nature of the land in Wichita, many aviation entrepreneurs found their way to Kansas’ largest city in hopes of becoming the kings of the sky. In 1920, Wichita-based E.M. Laird Airplane Manufacturing Co. became the first manufacturer of commercial airplanes in the United States, and ever since Wichita has had a long-standing partnership with the aviation industry.

The city is the birthplace of some of the most famous aircraft manufacturing companies, including Beechcraft, Cessna, and Stearman Aircraft – a division of the Boeing Company – giving Wichita the nickname ‘Air Capital of the World.’ To this day, Wichita builds leading piston aircraft, advanced business jets, and major aircraft components, and continues to have aviation as its main export.

2. It has a temperate and healthy climate

Wichita is in a humid subtropical climate, typically characterized by hot summers and cool winters. Located on the Great Plains, away from any significant moderating influences such as mountains or large bodies of water, Wichita often experiences severe weather – with frequent thunderstorms during the spring and summer months.

The city has 225 days of sunshine per year, with a high temperature reaching or exceeding 90 °F for an average of 62 days a year and 100 °F for an average of 12 days a year. The minimum temperature falls to or below 10 °F on an average of only 8.5 days a year.

When it comes to air quality, the index in Wichita is 21% better than the national average, and the pollution index is 95% better than the national average.

3. You can visit one of the largest Zoos in the country

Wichita is the proud home of the 7th largest zoo in the United States – also housing the third-largest elephant exhibit. The Sedgwick County Zoo is home to 3,000 individual animals of nearly 400 species. It has received national and international awards for its support of field conservation programs and successful breeding of rare and endangered species. The zoo exhibits are designed to immerse guests in the animal’s world. These immersive exhibits create an empathetic learning experience while providing maximum opportunity to witness the animals’ natural behaviors.

The Sedgwick County Zoo, covering 247 acres, opened in 1971 and has quickly become one of the city’s most popular attractions. Today, the zoo has over 650,000 visitors a year – no doubt because of its unique exhibits, including the Gorilla Forest, the Pride of the Plains, Penguin Cover, Tiger Trek, and See Eye to Eye with Giraffes.

4. It is the birthplace of Pizza Hut

In 1958, brothers Dan and Frank Carney opened the first Pizza Hut on the campus of Wichita State University. Six months later, they opened a second outlet, and within a year they had six Pizza Hut restaurants. Sixty years later, the franchise has over 18,000 locations in 100 countries and $12 billion in sales, which makes it the largest and most profitable pizza chain in the world. Not only did the founders create one of the most well-known restaurant chains in the world, but they also successfully implemented the revolutionary idea of pizza delivery years before their competitors.

5. It is home of the Keeper of the Plains

The most iconic symbol of Wichita is a 44-foot-tall, 5-ton steel sculpture called the Keeper of the Plains. It is a stylized sculpture representing an Indian Chief in a headdress wielding a tomahawk. Designed by Native American artist Blackbear Bosin and constructed by Tom Washburn in 1974, the statue was raised an additional 30 feet in 2006 to the top of a rock promontory and is surrounded by displays that document the tribes that used to call the area home.

The Keeper of the Plains can be visited by crossing pedestrian suspension bridges from the far shore of the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers. Stop by at night, and you can see the statues illuminated by fire pits — giving the impression that a “ring of fire” surrounds the statues.

6. Dennis the Menace lives in Wichita

The internationally recognized comic strip began in 1951, leaping off onto the big screen for multiple films and TV series over the years. The ‘5 an’ a half’ year-old star is smart, imaginative, inquisitive, and like most children his age, quite a handful. Dennis considers his neighbor his best adult friend, but the feeling is not mutual as Mr. Wilson is often annoyed by Dennis’ actions. Since he always manages to get himself into trouble, the little boy is portrayed as the menace himself. It is a little known fact that Dennis Mitchell, his family, and friends come from none other than Wichita, Kansas.

The cartoon’s creator, Hank Ketcham, claims that Dennis the Menace is a comic to which any reader can relate, which is why he waited 40 years before announcing that the character is from Wichita. Ketcham had never visited Wichita before but was enchanted by stories he had heard of the city.

7. You can absorb the culture at the Museum of World Treasures

If you want to uncover the secrets of ancient civilizations, enter the battlefields of the World Wars, or be amazed by Egyptian mummies, visit the Museum of World Treasures in Wichita. For those fascinated by dinosaurs, the museum proudly features one of the most complete T. Rex skeletons ever discovered — known as ‘Ivan.’ Currently displayed at the World Treasures Museum, the specimen hails from South Dakota, and over 60% of its bones have been unearthed. For movie lovers, the museum also possesses a prop pitchfork that appeared in MGM’s The Wizard of Oz in 1939.

With so many attractions, Wichita is an undiscovered gem that’s worth a visit. Since it’s founding, Wichita has evolved into a vibrant, multicultural city that attracts tourists and pleases its residents.