8 Quirky Facts About Kansas That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate
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Lisa Sammons
Author
There’s so much interesting history in Kansas! From agriculture to wars, meteorites to weather, we’ve got it all here. We’ve gathered up a few of the weirdest facts about the Sunflower State to share with you. Check out these weird facts about Kansas:
1. No other U.S. state produces as much wheat as Kansas.
The Sunflower State typically harvests between 280-460 million bushes of wheat yearly. About one-fifth of all wheat grown in the United States is harvested in Kansas. The state's annual harvest is enough to make about 36 billion loaves of bread!
2. Dodge City is windier than Chicago.
Chicago may be nicknamed the Windy City, but it actually is not among the windiest cities in the United States. While rankings vary depending on whether you're measuring wind bursts or average wind speed, several cities in Kansas typically rank higher than Chicago for windiness. Dodge City is among the windiest cities in Kansas, with an average wind speed typically around 13 miles per hour. Chicago's is only around 10.5 miles per hour.
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3. As a percentage of total citizens, Kansas had one of the highest casualty rates in the Civil War.
Kansas had a massive internal division over the issue of slavery that caused immense infighting, even in the years prior to the start of the Civil War.
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4. A lot of meteorites are found in Kansas.
Kansas has an unusually high percentage of all meteorites found in the United States. About 10% of meteorites found in this country are found in the Sunflower State. Thanks to the dry climate in Kansas, particularly western Kansas, meteorites don't disintegrate quickly here. Also, the state's wide open spaces make spotting foreign objects like meteorites much easier than it would be somewhere more forested.
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5. Wichita is home to the largest grain elevator in the world.
This one might be a bit contentious! Hutchinson, Kansas claims to house the world's largest grain elevator. Theirs is 2,573 feet long and holds 18.2 million bushels of grain. However, the DeBruce grain elevator in Wichita is 2,657 feet long and holds 22.4 million bushels of grain. The Wichita elevator is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records.
6. The Icee was invented in Kansas.
You may think the Icee was invented somewhere tropical, but nope, this tasty summer treat has its roots right here in Kansas! In 1958, the owner of a Dairy Queen in Coffeyville was hit with a flash of inspiration when his ice cream machine broke down. He started storing bottles of soda in the freezer, then sold them before they froze solid. He partnered with a manufacturer to make a machine and patented the drink - the rest is history.
7. The world's largest hand-dug well is in Kansas.
The world's largest hand-dug well was built in 1888 in Greensburg, Kansas. The well measures 109 feet deep and 32 feet wide! The site is now home to a fascinating museum.
8. Kansas is not even in the top five for flattest states in the country.
Kansas may have a reputation for being flat, but it's actually not even among the top five flattest states! We are home to the lovely rolling Flint Hills and Smoky Hills, among several other hill ranges. The highest point in Kansas is Mount Sunflower, which is 4,039 feet above sea level.
How many of these weird facts about Kansas did you know? Share your thoughts with us below! And, if you’re feeling proud to hail from Kansas, check out this unique apparel collection from Wear Your Roots.
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