Kansas is a state located in the Midwestern United States. According to the 2020 census, Kansas is the 35th most populous state with 2,937,880 inhabitants and the 15th largest by land area spanning 81,758.72 square miles (211,754.1 km2) of land and 519.64 square miles (1,345.9 km2) of water.[1] Kansas is divided into 105 counties and contains 626 incorporated cities.
Wichita is the most populous city in the state with 397,532 residents, and the biggest in land area, spanning 166.523 square miles (431.29 km2)[2]. The capital and 5th largest city in the state is Topeka, with 126,587 inhabitants[3], while Frederick is the least populous, with 8 inhabitants at the time of the 2020 census[4]. Freeport used to be the smallest city in the state, with 5 residents, before it became unincorporated in 2017.
Incorporation
editAll incorporated communities in Kansas are called cities, unlike in some states where some are called towns or villages. (11 of 50 states only have cities).
Once a city is incorporated in Kansas, it will continue to be a city even after falling below the minimum required to become a city, and even if the minimum is later raised.[5] A city can de-incorporate, but if citizens decide to re-incorporate at a later date, then new minimum requirements must be met.
By State law, cities in Kansas are divided into three classes.
- Cities of the 3rd Class - When a city incorporates, it becomes a city of the 3rd class. To incorporate, a city must generally have either 300 inhabitants or 300 or more platted lots served by water and sewer lines. This minimum requirement has increased since older historical minimum requirements.
- Cities of the 2nd Class - A city may petition to become a city of the 2nd class when its population is more than 2,000 but less than 15,000. A city whose population is between 2,000 and 5,000 may elect to remain a city of the 3rd class, but must become a city of the 2nd class when it reaches 5,000 population.
- Cities of the 1st Class - A city may petition to become a city of the 1st class when its population reaches 15,000. A city whose population is between 15,000 and 25,000 may elect to remain a city of the 2nd class but must become a city of the 1st class when it reaches 25,000 population.
List of cities
editFormer cities
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Kansas Profile". 2020 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Wichita city, Kansas". 2020 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Topeka city, Kansas". 2020 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ "Frederick city, Kansas". 2020 United States Census. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
- ^ Census - Places; census.gov
