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The largest city in Kansas, Wichita is a national center for the aeronautical industry earning the city the nickname “The Air Capital of the World.” Wichita is the business and cultural center of Sedgwick county, and home to Wichita State University as well as multiple museums, theaters, and festivals.
Wichita is served by the Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport (ICT), the largest airport in Kansas. The city’s satellite cities and suburbs include Bel Aire, Kechi, Park City, Greenwich, Andover Haysville, Oatville, Derby, Peck, and Schulte. Kansas City, Missouri is a three-hour drive to the northeast, while Oklahoma City, Oklahoma lies three hours to the south.
Visitors to Wichita will find plenty to do. Take a day to explore the Sedgwick County Zoo, or lose yourself in the past at the Mid-America All-Indian Center Museum. Shoppers will find bargains and treasures at the Bradley Fair Shopping Center or the Andover Antique Mall. If you’re in town in April and want to experience something a little out of the ordinary, head down to Sedgwick Park for the Great Plains Renaissance and Scottish Festival.
Sports in Wichita focus around collegiate athletics, with the Wichita State University Shockers, the Friends University Falcons, and the Newman University Jets fielding teams across a range of sports, including football, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, and baseball. If you enjoy the rough and tumble of a good hockey game, the ECHL Wichita Thunder take to home ice at the Intrust Bank Arena.
Wichita’s economy centers on manufacturing, with an emphasis on aeronautical manufacturing. Cessna, Bombardier, and Spirit AeroSystems are all based in Wichita. Both Pizza Hut and White Castle got their start in the city. and corporate giants Koch Industries and Cargill have their headquarters in Wichita.
Wichita lies on the Great Plains, and experiences thunderstorms in the spring and summer. Such storms can be extreme, producing large hail and lightning. Summer highs range from 86 to 91 Fahrenheit, while the city’s cold, dry winters see lows averaging 22 to 26 degrees. The city sees 33 inches of precipitation a year, most of which falls as rain in the warmer months.
We understand not every visit to Wichita is for pleasure or business. If you’re seeking medical care, Wichita is home to the Ascension Via Christi St. Francis, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center and Wesley Medical Center, as well as specialized healthcare facilities such as the Kansas Spine & Specialty Hospital.