Wichita is the largest city in the Kansas state of the U.S., and Sedgwick County county seat. The city's total population is more than 389,000. Wichita is the largest metropolitan area city of Wichita. Located on the Arkansas River in south-central Kansas, Wichita started as a trading post on the Chisholm Trail in the 1860s and was incorporated as a city in 1870. It was a hub for cattle drives that moved north from Texas to Kansas railroads, gaining it the Cowtown nickname. The city has a total area of 163 miles. As a hub of industry, Wichita is a regional center of culture, media, and commerce.