Wichita Kansas
Wichita is the largest city in the state as well as a major aircraft manufacturing hub and cultural center. It is located on the banks of the Arkansas River and was first settled in the late 1860's. [read more...]

A visit to Wichita offers an opportunity to view outstanding museums and galleries, to enjoy the symphony or live theater, to cheer for one of the numerous sports teams, to experience a wide range of dining possibilities, and to shop in local stores. The streets are easy to navigate, and the city is fun to visit for the entire family.

Wichita is home to Botanica, The Wichita Gardens which boasts 24 themed gardens including the popular Butterfly Garden and the award-winning Sally Stone Sensory Garden. Wichita is also home to the Wichita River Festival, held each May in the Downtown and Old Town areas of the city. It is one of the longest continuous running festivals in the state of Kansas and features over 70 events, including musical entertainment, sporting events, traveling exhibits, cultural and historical activities, plays, interactive children's events, a flea market, river events, a parade, block party, food court, and fireworks display.
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Wichita ranks first in the world in production of general aviation aircraft and is also an important centre for military aircraft manufacture.
Learjet, now owned by Bombardier, Beech Aircraft, now owned by Raytheon, and Cessna, now a Textron company, remains in Wichita because of their large manufacturing equipment investments and a skilled labor pool. About two-thirds of Wichita's manufacuturing base is made up of airplane building, employing about 44,000 people. [more business info...]

Breaking News...

Three hurt in south Wichita house fire (The Wichita Eagle)
09/08/2008
Three people were injured -- one of them a firefighter -- after a fire erupted in a south Wichita home late Sunday night. A neighbor noticed smoke coming from a house in the 3100 block of South Davidson at about 10:40 p.m., Wichita Fire Lt. Stuart Bevis said. It didn't take long to douse the small fire in a bedroom of the house, he said, but firefighters found two women in another bedroom. ...

A stormy Monday for Wichita? (The Wichita Eagle)
09/08/2008
The weather could turn stormy in the Wichita area later today -- including hail, strong winds and heavy rains -- as a strong cold front surges through the region. While forecasters do not anticipate widespread severe weather, a few storms could produce large hail and downbursts. Highs should reach the low 80s in the Wichita metropolitan area before the front moves through, forecasters say. ...

Kansas Preparedness Day asks 'Are you ready?' (The Wichita Eagle)
09/08/2008
A day of activities at the Kansas State Fair today will mark Kansas Preparedness Day. Displays and information will be featured just south of the administration building on the fairgrounds from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., designed to encourage residents to prepare themselves for a disaster -- whether it's an act of nature or terrorism. "Preparedness is a basic necessity in today's world," Col. Terry ...