Demographics of Wichita, Kansas facts for kids
Wichita is the largest city in the US state of Kansas. It's also the main city of the Wichita Metropolitan Area. In 2010, about 382,368 people lived there.
Wichita's Story
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 689 | — | |
| 1880 | 4,911 | 612.8% | |
| 1890 | 23,853 | 385.7% | |
| 1900 | 24,671 | 3.4% | |
| 1910 | 52,450 | 112.6% | |
| 1920 | 72,217 | 37.7% | |
| 1930 | 111,110 | 53.9% | |
| 1940 | 114,966 | 3.5% | |
| 1950 | 168,279 | 46.4% | |
| 1960 | 254,698 | 51.4% | |
| 1970 | 276,554 | 8.6% | |
| 1980 | 279,272 | 1.0% | |
| 1990 | 304,011 | 8.9% | |
| 2000 | 344,284 | 13.2% | |
| 2010 | 382,368 | 11.1% | |
| 2020 | 397,532 | 4.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2010–2020 |
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In the early 1900s, Wichita grew a lot. This was thanks to the new aircraft industry. The city's population grew by 350% between 1900 and 1930. By 1920, Wichita was among the top 100 largest cities in the United States.
Growth slowed down in the 1930s. But after World War II, the city saw another big jump. The population increased by over 120% from 1940 to 1960. By 1960, Wichita was the 59th largest city in the country. The city continues to grow and welcome people from many different backgrounds.
A Look at Wichita Today
In 2020, the city of Wichita had 397,532 people. There were over 154,000 households. The city is home to many different groups of people. This makes Wichita a very diverse place to live.
Who Lives in Wichita?
About 24.6% of the people in Wichita are under 18 years old. This means there are many young people in the city. The average age in Wichita is about 35.3 years old. This shows a good mix of young and older residents.
Many households in Wichita have children. About 26.6% of households include kids under 18. The average household has about 2.5 people. This means many families call Wichita home.
Wichita and Its Neighbors
Wichita is the main city of the Wichita Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). An MSA is a region with a large population center and nearby areas. These areas are closely linked by jobs and daily life.
The Wichita MSA includes four counties: Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey, and Sumner. In 2010, this area had an estimated population of 623,061 people. This made it the 84th largest MSA in the United States.
There's also a larger area called the Wichita-Winfield Combined Statistical Area (CSA). This CSA includes Cowley County too. In 2010, its population was about 659,372.
