Politics of Kansas in 1990
Kansas politics in 1990 was characterized by a strong conservative Republican presence. The state’s governor at the time was Mike Hayden, who had been elected in 1986 and re-elected in 1988. Hayden was a strong advocate for lowering taxes and reducing government spending, as well as expanding access to education and healthcare. He was also an outspoken opponent of abortion rights and gun control measures. Republicans had a majority in both the Kansas House of Representatives and the Senate, with Republicans holding 104 of the 125 seats in the House and 28 of 40 seats in the Senate. The state’s congressional delegation also leaned heavily Republican, with five out of six members being Republicans. Kansas residents voted overwhelmingly for George H. W. Bush over Michael Dukakis for President in 1988, reflecting their conservative leanings at that time.
According to anycountyprivateschools, the state saw several major issues come to a head during this period including abortion rights, gun control, education reform and healthcare access. Abortion became a major point of contention as anti-abortion activists sought to pass restrictive legislation while pro-choice advocates sought to protect women’s reproductive freedom. Gun control measures were also hotly debated as groups on both sides sought to influence public opinion on the issue. Education reform efforts focused on increasing funding for public schools while making sure that all students had access to quality educational opportunities regardless of their background or income level. Finally, healthcare access became an important issue with many seeking greater access to affordable health services for all Kansans regardless of their economic status or insurance coverage.
Population of Kansas in 1990
In 1990, Kansas had a population of 2,477,588 people. The majority of the population was concentrated in the eastern and central parts of the state, with the largest cities being Wichita, Kansas City, Topeka and Lawrence. The population was predominantly white (90.7%), with the remaining 9.3% comprising African Americans (3.2%), Hispanics (2.5%) and other minorities (3.6%). The median household income in 1990 was $30,879 and poverty levels were relatively low at 11%. Check prozipcodes for population of Anderson County, Kansas.
The majority of Kansans at this time were native-born citizens who had lived in the state for generations; however, there was also a significant number of immigrants coming from Mexico, Vietnam, Korea and other countries during this period as well. The largest religious groups in Kansas during this time were Protestant denominations such as Baptist and Methodist churches which made up 62% of the population. About 24% identified as Catholic while 6% identified as nonreligious and 8% belonged to other faiths such as Judaism or Islam.
Overall, Kansas in 1990 had a diverse population that was mostly concentrated in cities but also included rural areas as well. There were a variety of different ethnicities represented throughout the state as well as varying religious backgrounds which helped to create an interesting cultural mix that can still be seen today.
Economy of Kansas in 1990
In 1990 the economy of Kansas was largely dependent on agriculture and manufacturing. Agriculture was the state’s largest industry and employed about one-third of the workforce. The principal crops grown in Kansas were wheat, corn, sorghum, soybeans, and hay. Cattle and hogs were also important to the state’s agricultural industry. Manufacturing was another major sector of the economy with aircraft parts, chemicals, processed foods, machinery, paper products, industrial machinery and other products being produced in the state. Check plus-size-tips for economy of Atchison County, Kansas.
The oil and gas industry was also a major contributor to Kansas’ economy during this time period. Oil production increased significantly in the 1980s due to new technology which allowed for more efficient extraction methods at deeper levels. This increase in production led to an increase in jobs as well as revenue for companies operating within this sector of the economy.
The service sector had also grown significantly by 1990 and accounted for almost 25% of all employment within Kansas. Education and healthcare were two of the largest employers within this sector with universities such as Kansas State University providing educational opportunities for students from across the state while hospitals such as Wesley Medical Center provided healthcare services to those living within its catchment area. Retail trade was also an important part of the service sector with stores such as Dillons and Wal-Mart becoming increasingly popular throughout Kansas during this period.
Overall, by 1990 Kansas had a diversified economy that was largely centered around agriculture but also included significant contributions from manufacturing, oil & gas, services and retail trade sectors as well. This diversity helped ensure that even if one sector experienced a downturn there would be other sources of income that could help keep people employed throughout the state.
Events held in Kansas in 1990
In 1990, Kansas hosted a variety of events that attracted both locals and visitors alike. The Kansas State Fair was held in Hutchinson from September 7th to the 16th and featured a variety of attractions such as carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, livestock shows and rodeos. Other popular events included the Wichita River Festival which was held from May 18th to the 27th and featured music performances, parades, food stands and fireworks.
The Great Plains Renaissance Festival was also held in Wichita on June 2nd and 3rd and provided visitors with an opportunity to experience life during the 16th century. Participants could take part in jousting tournaments, theatrical performances or try their hand at archery or fencing.
The Kansas City Blues & Jazz Festival was held on August 11th at Penn Valley Park and attracted visitors from across the state who came out to enjoy music from some of the best blues and jazz musicians in the country. Other popular music festivals included Summer Jamz which took place on July 21st at Hartman Arena in Park City; The Country Stampede which occurred on June 14th-16th at Tuttle Creek State Park; and Rockfest which was held on May 25-27th at Liberty Memorial Park in Kansas City.
Sports fans had plenty of opportunities to watch their favorite teams compete throughout 1990 as well. Baseball season kicked off with spring training games for both the Royals (Kansas City) and Athletics (Oakland) while football fans flocked to Memorial Stadium for home games of the Chiefs (Kansas City). Basketball fans also had plenty of opportunities to cheer on their favorite teams with college teams such as KU (University of Kansas) playing regular season games throughout the year while professional team KC Kings played home games at Kemper Arena during this time period as well.
Overall, 1990 proved to be an exciting year for residents of Kansas with a variety of events taking place throughout the state that catered to all tastes including those interested in sports, music or history.