State
County
Land Area
161.7 sq mi
Density
2,420.8/sq mi
2020 Growth Rate
0.18%
Growth Since 2010
2.35%
Rank in State
Rank in Country
Metro Population
645,616
Wichita is a city located in Kansas. With a 2020 population of 391,352, it is the largest city in Kansas and the 50th largest city in the United States. Wichita is currently growing at a rate of 0.18% annually and its population has increased by 2.35% since the most recent census, which recorded a population of 382,368 in 2010. Wichita reached it's highest population of 391,352 in 2021. Spanning over 166 miles, Wichita has a population density of 2,421 people per square mile.
The average household income in Wichita is $71,335 with a poverty rate of 15.90%. The median rental costs in recent years comes to $809 per month, and the median house value is $133,400. The median age in Wichita is 35 years, 34 years for males, and 36 years for females. For every 100 females there are 96.8 males.
Wichita serves as the county seat of Sedgwick County. Wichita is an industrial hub, and it is also a center of trade, media, and culture. The cost of living in Wichita falls well below the national average.
Wichita has seen continuous population growth since its incorporation as a city. By the 1930s, the city had well over 100,000 inhabitants. This number had more than doubled by 1960. At the time of the census taken in 1990, the city’s population had grown to over 300,000. Wichita’s growth has slowed slightly since the last census in 2010, but so far, estimates show that the population has risen by 2%. This indicates that while Wichita may not be growing as rapidly as it once was, it still has much growing left to do.
It is believed that the area that is now Wichita was inhabited as far back as 3000 BC. The Wichita people were inhabiting the area when Europeans arrived in 1541. However, the Wichita people left the area and moved south following a conflict with the Osage people during the 1700s. The area was originally claimed by France but was acquired by the US during the Louisiana Purchase.
During the Civil War, the Wichita people returned and built a settlement. A trading post was also established. When the war ended, the Wichita once again relocated to what is now known as Oklahoma. In 1868, another trading post was established and shortly after that, a house was built that was used as a post office, hotel and community center. The population began to grow as hunters and traders saw business opportunities in the area. In 1870, plats outlining the first streets of Wichita were filed and later that year, Wichita was incorporated as a city.
The city’s role as a cattle drive destination and the railroad coming to the area resulted in further population growth. The city expanded into the 1880s as more immigrants came to the area. During this period, Fairmount College was established, later becoming Wichita State University. Friends University was also opened as Garfield University. Before the 1900s arrived, the city had already established itself as the most populous in the state. However, an economic recession resulted in bankruptcy for many of the original settlers.
The city bounced back after oil and natural gas deposits were discovered in the early 1900s. The city became prosperous with the many refineries opened during the 1910s and 1920s. This economic boom led to investment in the airplane manufacturing industry. It soon became a center of the industry and was known as “Air Capital of the World.” The city continued to expand, and the economy flourished over the next few decades.
During World War II, the population grew again as the city was a major manufacturing center. The 19tha and 20th centuries saw the introduction of other brands and businesses, including Lear Jet Corporation, Coleman camping retailer, and franchises including Pizza Hut.
Through the 1990s and 2000s, the city government has partnered with local organizations to redevelop the downtown area and gaining neighborhoods. Additional businesses have made their homes in Wichita and new developments, such as the Intrust Bank Arena, have been built.
According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Wichita was:
2019 and 2020 population is estimated by projecting the raw 2018 numbers.
Year | Total Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | 645,616 | 2,699 | 0.42% |
2020 | 642,917 | 2,699 | 0.42% |
2019 | 640,218 | 2,699 | 0.42% |
2018 | 637,519 | 8 | 0.00% |
2017 | 637,511 | -142 | -0.02% |
2016 | 637,653 | 2,102 | 0.33% |
2015 | 635,551 | 2,741 | 0.43% |
2014 | 632,810 | 2,445 | 0.39% |
2013 | 630,365 | 2,206 | 0.35% |
2012 | 628,159 | 2,832 | 0.45% |
2011 | 625,327 | 1,440 | 0.23% |
2010 | 623,887 | 0.00% |
Race | Population | Percentage |
---|---|---|
White | 289,703 | 74.31% |
Black or African American | 42,674 | 10.95% |
Asian | 19,804 | 5.08% |
Two or More Races | 17,113 | 4.39% |
Some Other Race | 16,329 | 4.19% |
American Indian and Alaska Native | 4,047 | 1.04% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander | 207 | 0.05% |
Type | Count | Average Size | Owned |
---|---|---|---|
All | 153,279 | 2.51 | 58.8 |
Married | 64,953 | 3.3 | 80.3 |
Non Family | 60,932 | 1.24 | 42.8 |
Female | 19,172 | 3.52 | 40.1 |
Male | 8,222 | 3.37 | 50.2 |
3.25
Average Family Size
2.51
Average Household Size
Education Attained | Count | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Less Than 9th Grade | 11,291 | 4.47% |
9th to 12th Grade | 18,382 | 7.27% |
High School Graduate | 66,693 | 26.38% |
Some College | 60,580 | 23.96% |
Associates Degree | 19,879 | 7.86% |
Bachelors Degree | 48,198 | 19.06% |
Graduate Degree | 27,824 | 11.00% |
Name | Total | High School | Bachelors |
---|---|---|---|
White | 175,302 | 164,134 | 61,549 |
Hispanic | 32,107 | 20,156 | 4,165 |
Black | 25,403 | 22,202 | 3,864 |
Asian | 13,188 | 10,725 | 4,792 |
Other Race | 8,976 | 5,156 | 792 |
Multiple Races | 6,096 | 5,522 | 1,559 |
Native American | 2,523 | 1,752 | 262 |
Islander | 178 | 178 | 87 |
The highest rate of high school graduation is among islander people with a rate of 100.00%.
The highest rate of bachelors degrees is among islander people with a rate of 48.88%.
$37,108
Average Earnings
$44,262
Average Male
$30,313
Average Female
82.62% of Wichita residents speak only English, while 17.38% speak other languages. The non-English language spoken by the largest group is Spanish, which is spoken by 11.61% of the population.
Name | Total | In Poverty | Poverty Rate |
---|---|---|---|
White | 241,039 | 26,487 | 10.99% |
Hispanic | 66,505 | 15,633 | 23.51% |
Black | 41,988 | 13,223 | 31.49% |
Other | 16,166 | 3,828 | 23.68% |
Multiple | 16,873 | 3,738 | 22.15% |
Asian | 19,654 | 2,671 | 13.59% |
Native | 3,946 | 683 | 17.31% |
Islander | 207 | 15 | 7.25% |
15.90%
Overall Poverty Rate
14.60%
Male Poverty Rate
17.16%
Female Poverty Rate
The race most likely to be in poverty in Wichita is Black, with 31.49% below the poverty level.
The race least likely to be in poverty in Wichita is Islander, with 7.25% below the poverty level.
The poverty rate among those that worked full-time for the past 12 months was 3.56%. Among those working part-time, it was 20.93%, and for those that did not work, the poverty rate was 24.15%.
45.6%
Overall Marriage Rate
46.6%
Male Marriage Rate
44.7%
Female Marriage Rate
The age group where males are most likely to be married is Over 65, while the female age group most likely to be married is 35-44.
Name | Veterans | % of Total |
---|---|---|
White | 19,684 | 8.85% |
Black | 2,290 | 7.71% |
Hispanic | 1,176 | 2.92% |
2 or More | 498 | 5.95% |
Asian | 246 | 1.55% |
Indian | 241 | 7.80% |
Other | 218 | 2.02% |
Hawaiian | 21 | 11.80% |
6.74%
Veteran Poverty Rate
29.41%
Veteran Disability Rate
67.1%
Labor Force Participation
63%
Employment Rate
5.6%
Unemployment Rate
Non citizens include legal permanent residents (green card holders), international students, temporary workers, humanitarian migrants, and illegal immigrants.
89.79%
Native Born
10.21%
Foreign Born
5.65%
Non Citizen
4.56%
Naturalized
89.79% of Wichita residents were born in the United States, with 62.70% having been born in Kansas. 5.65% of residents are not US citizens. Of those not born in the United States, the largest percentage are from Latin America.
Year | Population | Growth | Annual Growth Rate |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | 391,352 | 707 | 0.18% |
2020 | 390,645 | 707 | 0.18% |
2019 | 389,938 | 707 | 0.18% |
2018 | 389,231 | -1,046 | -0.27% |
2017 | 390,277 | -242 | -0.06% |
2016 | 390,519 | 1,107 | 0.28% |
2015 | 389,412 | 996 | 0.26% |
2014 | 388,416 | 1,206 | 0.31% |
2013 | 387,210 | 1,459 | 0.38% |
2012 | 385,751 | 1,978 | 0.52% |
2011 | 383,773 | 1,028 | 0.27% |
2010 | 382,745 | 38,461 | 1.06% |
2000 | 344,284 | 40,273 | 1.25% |
1990 | 304,011 | 24,173 | 0.83% |
1980 | 279,838 | 3,284 | 0.12% |
1970 | 276,554 | 21,856 | 0.83% |
1960 | 254,698 | 86,419 | 4.23% |
1950 | 168,279 | 53,313 | 3.88% |
1940 | 114,966 | 3,856 | 0.34% |
1930 | 111,110 | 38,893 | 4.40% |
1920 | 72,217 | 19,767 | 3.25% |
1910 | 52,450 | 27,779 | 7.83% |
1900 | 24,671 | 818 | 0.34% |
1890 | 23,853 | 18,942 | 17.12% |
1880 | 4,911 | 0.00% |