There is so much interesting history in Kansas! From agriculture to warfare, meteorites to weather, we’ve got it all here. We have collected some of the weirdest facts about the state of sunflowers to share with you. Check these out:
1. No other US state produces as much wheat as Kansas.
The Sunflower State typically harvests between 280 and 460 million bushes of wheat annually. About one-fifth of all wheat grown in the United States is harvested in Kansas. The state’s annual harvest is enough to produce about 36 billion loaves of bread!
2. Dodge City is windier than Chicago.
Chicago may be dubbed the Windy City, but it’s actually not among the windiest cities in the United States. While the rankings vary depending on whether you’re measuring wind gusts or average wind speed, several Kansas cities typically rank higher than Chicago for windiness. Dodge City is among the windiest cities in Kansas, with average wind speeds typically around 13 miles per hour. Chicago is only about 10.5 miles per hour.
3. As a percentage of all citizens, Kansas had one of the highest casualty rates during the Civil War.
Kansas had a massive internal division over the slavery issue that caused immense infighting, even in the years before the Civil War began.
4. Many meteorites are found in Kansas.
Kansas has an unusually high percentage of all meteorites found in the United States. About 10% of the meteorites found in this country are in the sunflower state. Thanks to Kansas’ dry climate, especially western Kansas, meteorites don’t disintegrate quickly here. Plus, the state’s wide open spaces make it much easier to spot foreign objects like meteorites than somewhere more forested.
5. Wichita is home to the largest grain elevator in the world.
This might be a bit controversial! Hutchinson, Kansas claims to be home to the largest grain elevator in the world. Theirs is 2,573 feet long and contains 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 Records.
6. Icee was invented in Kansas.
You might think Icee was invented somewhere tropical, but no, this savory summer treat has its roots right here in Kansas! In 1958, the owner of a Dairy Queen in Coffeyville was struck with a flash of inspiration when his ice cream machine broke down. He started storing soda bottles in the freezer, then sold them before they froze. He teamed up with a manufacturer to make a machine and patented the drink – the rest is history.
7. The largest hand-dug well in the world is located in Kansas. The largest hand-dug well in the world 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 isn’t 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 in the top five flattest states! We are home to the lovely Flint Hills and Smoky Hills, among many other mountain ranges. The highest point in Kansas is Mount Sunflower, which sits 4,039 feet above sea level.
How many of these strange facts about Kansas did you know?
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