Geographic Center of the Contiguous United States
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The Geographic Center of the Contiguous (or Conterminous) United States is pinpointed by a historical marker that is located within a small park near the town of Lebanon, Kansas. In actuality, the measured center is about 1/2 to 3/4 mile away on a private farm, but the owner did not want tourists trudging through his field, so the marker was placed as close as possible. There is generally an American flag flying on the pole exiting the top of the monument. Just to the south of the monument, yards away, exists a covered picnic area and small four-pew chapel where a couple can take wedding vows if they wish.
The reality of the monument is probably a little more fiction than fact. In 1918, the Coast and Geodetic Survey found this "center" by balancing on a point a cardboard cutout shaped like the U.S. Thus, measured in this manner, the actual "center" of the U.S. could be located twenty or more miles from this point, but still might not pinpoint the true "center" at all as an official measurement would have to be defined by an agreed upon standard which does not exist.
[edit] The plaque's inscription
The GEOGRAPHIC CENTER of the UNITED STATES
LAT 39'50" LONG 98'35"
Located by L.T. Hagadorn of Paulette & Wilson Engineering and L.A. Beardglee, County Engineer, from data furnished by U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Sponsored by Lebanon Hub Club. Lebanon, Kansas. April 25, 1940.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links and references
- Kansas Travel article
- Center for Land Use Interpretation article about the origins and accuracy of the marker
- Roadside America article
- USGS information
- A Trip to the Geographic Center of the 50 States
- Kansas Photo Tour
