Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Wichita, Kansas
State Kansas
City Wichita
County1 Sedgwick
City Population (2005)2 354,582 13.3% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) 48 (of top 50 in U.S.)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 48 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Mid
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Topeka
State Population (2005)2 2,662,616
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Carlos Mayans
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.wichita.gov/Government/
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 316-268-4331
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Republican
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, April 10, 2007
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  No
State Governor Name Kathleen Sebelius
State/Governor Website http://www.accesskansas.org/
State/Governor Contact Information 785-296-3232
State/Governor Party Affiliation Democrat
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
«Back to Map     Top↑
Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.23    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 15.0%    
     Disability Status 15.3% 38  
     Emphysema 1.18% 36  
     Cardiovascular Disease 23.74% 34  
     Diabetes 5.00% 35  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.49% 22  
     Adult Asthma 7.59% 21  
     Adult Obesity 21.0%   31
     People Without Health Insurance 10.9%   8
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.6% 43  
     Age: 65 years and over 12.2% 56  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 16.0% 17  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 15.5% 45  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 42.2% 38  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 8.1% 36  
     Individuals Below Poverty 12.2% 15  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 14.4% 15  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 54.9% 33  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 15.0% 35  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 3.0    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 27.1 (of 51) 27  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 50,244,583 pounds   30
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 50,661,791 pounds 27
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 19,774,328 pounds 39
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 309,576,660 pounds 25
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 219,982,714 pounds 24
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 46.8 grams 29
Number of Superfund Sites in County 1 site 16  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 1.879 tons per person 50
Recycling Rate (1997) 11.0% 45
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 3,729,900 tons 21
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 1.4 tons/person 32
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 710,000 tons 29
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 19.0% 30
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.1% 34
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) -25.5% 3
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) 72.7% 2
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    2.2***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 129,800 tons   28
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 95,000 tons   34
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 45,039,400 tons   28
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 2,040.0 pounds   30
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 2.0 days 21  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.3 PM2.5 8  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 11.1 PM2.5 22  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 1.0 days 15  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.3 PM2.5 10  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 10.9 PM2.5 22  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) 3 ppm 16  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.010 ppm 7  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 26 ug/m3 24  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) 15 days 34  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    3.5***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Little Arkansas ---  
# of Units in Watershed 31 units 43  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 29 units 34  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 29 units 38  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 100.0% 56  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 6.5% 25  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 29.33 inches 47  
Water Area Total, square miles 459 square miles 58  
Water Area Inland, square miles 459 square miles 52  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Wichita ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 45 years 51  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 86 days 49  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Wichita ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 45 years 53  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 15.7 inches 33  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 5,240,000,000 gallons/day 50  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 2,040,000,000 gallons/day 13  
Ground water, gallons/day 3,510,000,000 gallons/day 20  
Surface water, gallons/day 1,720,000,000 gallons/day 58  
Irrigation, gallons/day 3,380,000,000 gallons/day 31  
Public Supply, gallons/day 384,000,000 gallons/day 55  
Industrial, gallons/day 77,000,000 gallons/day 59  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 1,260,000,000 gallons/day 47  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 3,620,000,000 gallons/day 24  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier City of Wichita Water Supply ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 362,876 people 47  
Year(s) Included in Summary (Not Available) ---  
Total Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water (Not Available) ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested (Not Available) (Not Available)  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 2 violations 53  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 1 violation 51  
Reporting Violations 1 violation 63  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.9***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,536.1 people per square mile 47  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 1,120.6 housing units per square mile 45  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 18.1 minutes 9  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 17.2 minutes 8  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 10.2% 67  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 0.8% 68  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 1.6% 69  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.3% 52  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 94.7 7  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 86.9 MV registrations   33
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 15.3%   5
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 31.3 MV registrations   3
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.16 MV registrations   23
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 135,012 miles   48
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.375%   24
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 7.8%   47
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.07 miles   46
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 58.35 miles   48
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $1,891,000,000   32
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $14,006 per mile   11
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 85.6%   43
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $38,811 36  
Median Household Income (2000) $39,939 24  
Per capita income (2004) $21,910 38  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $20,647 38  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 7.5% 7  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 11.2% 13  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 12.2% 15  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 3.1% 19  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 14.4% 15  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 15,092 people 24  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 5.6% 41  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 8.1% 36  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 3.6% 21  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 5.3% 19  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 35.8% 58  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 34.6% 59  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Lower Than Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $2.65 per hour 63  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 63,212 kids (2.4% of total pop.) 49  
Largest School District Enrollment 48,228 kids (1.8% of total pop.) 43  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 54.9% 33  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 57.8% 31  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 84.5% 28  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 24.0% 53  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 16% 17  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Middle of the Road   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade C   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Incomplete   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Incomplete   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 143,460 units 48  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 33.0% 72  
Cost of Living: Housing 47.3 6  
Cost of Living: Utilities 106.0 44  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 99.8 39  
Cost of Living: Overall 80.4 7  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 64.17%   25
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 46.60%   33
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 59.50%   22
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 37.9%   8
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 6,873.5 incidents per 100,000 people 43  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 808.0 incidents per 100,000 people 37  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 6,065.5 incidents per 100,000 people 46  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 6,143.9 incidents per 100,000 people 30  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    4.1***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile 0.8 parks per square mile 28  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile 32.3 park acres per city square mile 27  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area 5.0% 42  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 0.3% 61  
Total City Urbanized Area % 64.2% 46  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score)    2.8***    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.49% 22
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 7.59% 21
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.03% 24
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.18% 36
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 23.74% 34
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.00% 35  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 21.0% 31
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) (Not Available) (Not Available)
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 11.0% 25
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 7.1% 27
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 188.6 18
Cost of Living: Health 99.2 22  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 11.0% 11
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 10.9% 8
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -0.9% 21
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 -0.1% 22
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 5 farms 49
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 3 markets 55
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 0 grocery stores 54
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 1 other source 45
Cost of Living: Food 97.2 17
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 76.9% 40
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 42.9% 42
«Back to Map     Top↑
(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.4***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 0 programs   32
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 0 kW   41
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 0 kW   40
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries No   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems No   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Exercises Tax credit/exemption and/or grant supporting ethanol use   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes State Codes with ECPA Compliance   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes 1999 ASHRAE or Later (ECPA Compliant)   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 0.8%   46
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 39 years 53
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 62% 16
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 12.2 mph 5
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 12 mph 7
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 11.3 mph 3
Heating Degree Days 4,791 days 30
Cooling Degree Days 1,628 days 45
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 45 years 11
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 80% 26
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 56% 20
Elevation, feet 1,299 feet 61
 
«Back to Map     Top↑

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 354,582 48 (of 72 in EDN study) 13.3% of state population
City Population (2000) 344,284 49 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 2,662,616 33 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region Midwest ---  
EPA Region 7 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 136.0 square miles 32 0.2% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 81,823 square miles 13  
Watershed Name Little Arkansas ---  
Elevation, feet 1,299 ft. (395.1 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 30.2°F (-1.0°C) 47
Average Daily Temperature - July 81.0°F (27.2°C) 51  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 35.4 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 74.1% 37  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 12.2% 16  
Under 5 years of age 26,239 kids (7.6% of total pop.) 43  
One Race-White % (2005) 73.8% 19  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 26.2% 54  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 12.1% 34  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 15.0% 38  
Largest School District Name Wichita ---  
 
«Back to Map     Top↑
 
1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
«Back to Map 
© 2006 Earth Day Network