Real Estate Directory - Kansas

Population: 2,735,502 (2004)
Capital city/population: Topeka (122,008) (2005)
Largest cities/population:

  • Wichita - 354,617
  • Overland Park - 160,368
  • Kansas City - 145,757
  • Topeka - 122,008

(all 2005 data)

Kansas is the 15th largest state, with a total area of 82,282 square miles. It achieved statehood on January 29, 1861. Because of its landlocked position, Kansas has a continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. Annual precipitation amounts range from 16” – 40”. The growing season varies from 150 – 200 days, depending upon latitude. Kansas also experiences droughts and tornadoes. Helium was discovered in 1905 at the University of Kansas, and Liberal, Kansas boasts the Wizard of Oz Museum, which features Dorothy’s house, a recreation of the house featured in the film, The Wizard of Oz.

HOUSING

Wichita – Home buyers are finding many choices of homes in a wide range of prices. For November, agents report over 100 homes sold, with an average price of $117,953; homes remained on the market for an average of 91 days.

Overland Park – Homes for sale range in price from $100,000 to $2,000,000. The community has a strong economic base, which keeps the value of homes on an upward trend. Home buyers prefer new residences; older homes in very good condition are selling well. The community also boasts several beautiful parks and shopping areas.

Kansas City – Home prices remain reasonable, with property values increasing at a decent pace. Home buyers have a wide range of choices available, with home values below $300,000 increasing 5% - 8% since 2004. Values are increasing much slower for properties priced above this mark. A single-family home is selling for an average price of $200,000, with an average of 45 days on the market. Kansas City is known for its barbecue/jazz clubs.

Topeka – The city has over 36,879 housing units, with 61% of them being owner-occupied and 32% being rental units. Rental vacancy stands at 7%. Average home price is $100,648.

BUSINESS/ECONOMY

Principal industries include manufacturing, finance, insurance, and real estate services. Important manufactured goods include transportation equipment, machinery, computer equipment, food, printing, and publishing. The agricultural economy is dominated by wheat, sorghum, corn, hay, soybeans, and sunflowers. The total gross state product for 2003 was $93 billion, with a per capita income of $29,438.

SCHOOLS

The Accountability Report, mandated by the legislature, includes assessment results, trends, graduation/attendance rates, school violence rates, and percentages of students passing advanced math and science courses. The Assessment Report reviews performance of state assessments for the most recently completed school year. It reviews socioeconomic status, English proficiency, gender, and migrant status. In the public sector, the 1994 student-teacher ratio was 15:1, with an average 1994 teachers’ salary of $35,518.

The largest university is the University of Kansas – Lawrence, with the University of Kansas Medical Center – Kansas City. Other state-supported schools include Kansas State University – Manhattan, Wichita State University, and three other universities at Emporia, Pittsburgh, and Fort Hays.

HISTORY

French traders and Native Americans had much contact during the majority of the 18th century. The United States bought this land from France with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The region remained uncharted until the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Arkansas River travels of Zebulon Pike.

Kansas was organized as a territory in 1854. Settlement was spurred mainly by the desire of proslavery and antislavery factions to earn a majority population in the territory; the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 attempted a compromise on the extension of slavery, while it repealed the Missouri Compromise and brought about more debate on the issue of slavery.

Later, President James Buchanan recommended that Congress approve statehood for the territory; Congress returned it for another territorial vote. Proslavery activists boycotted the election, which resulted in the rejection of the Constitution. Kansas became a state in 1861, with Topeka as its capital.

Agriculture dominated the landscape with the emergence of the railroad, which allowed crops to move to market much easier. Agricultural methods improved, and machinery increased crop yield.

Kansas has become industrialized; this production has surpassed farm production in importance. Along with Nebraska, Oklahoma, Iowa, and North and South Dakota, Kansas is experiencing falling population. Almost 90% of the total cities in these states have fewer than 3,000 people. Between 1996 and 2004, almost 500,000 residents left these states, coining the phrase “rural flight.”

RELIGION (2004)

  • Christian – 82%
    • Protestant – 60%
      • Methodist – 14%
      • Baptist – 14%
      • Lutheran – 4%
      • Presbyterian – 3%
      • Church of Christ – 3%
      • Mennonite/Pietist – 1%
      • Other Protestant – 21%
    • Roman Catholic – 20%
    • Other Christian – 2%
  • Other Religions – 1%
  • Non-Religious – 17%

DEMOGRAPHICS (2004)

Wikipedia

Census year:

2000

1990

White

86.1%

90.1%

Black

5.7%

5.8%

Asian

1.7%

1.3%

Native American

0.9%

0.9%

Other race

3.4%

2.0%

Mixed race

2.1%

*

White, non-Hispanic

83.1%

88.4%

Hispanic‡

7.0%

3.8%