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Region 4 Region 4, the region with the largest geographic area, is located in south-central Kansas. It contains 17 counties, with the Wichita metropol itan area located in the center. Other large cities in the region include Arkansas City, EI Dorado, Emporia, Newton, McPherson, Winfield, and Hutchinson. This region had a population of 659,500 in 1965. Region 4 is an important agricultural area with a large metropol itan center in its midst. The soils and cl imate are favorable for crop farming and diversified' ivestock practices. The population is growing, especially in the larger cities. The region's industry is large and diversified and is oriented towards agricultural crop processing, manufacturing, and assembly. Natural resource production is extensive and important to the economy. Oil and gas, limestone, sand and gravel, salt, and clays are mined in large quantities. Sand and gravel deposits are well located with regard to population and markets, but I imestone deposits are not. The region's population increased nearly 50 percent in the period from 1940 to 1965. Sedgwick County more than doubled its population during this period. Reno and Chase counties also increased in population. The number of people in the remaining 14 counties has either fluctuated or steadily decreased. The region has a large, well-skilled labor force. exceeded one quarter of a million people in 1960. jobs has augmented the natural population increase migration into the region. Employment The availability of by influencing Over one-half of the land is in crops, with small grains including sorghums, legumes, and corn being the most important. The size of the average farm increased from about 275 acres in 1940 to over 500 acres in 1964. The economic trends in Region 4 show the influence of both the metropolitan Wichita area and the varying type of agriculture across the region. The population of the region was 659,500 in 1965 and is forecast to increase to 995,200 by the turn of the century and to 1,415,900 by the end of the forecast period. Interestingly, four of the 17 counties show a continuing decline in population through the year 2000, five counties show little growth and the remaining eight counties account for most of the population expansion in the region. Sedgwick County which accounted for 53 percent of the population in the region in \965, may contain 56 percent of the region's total population by the turn of the century. This particular region is expected to grow s\ ightly faster than the state as a whole. The forecast indicates that as much as 30 percent of the total state population may reside in Region 4 by the end of the forecast period. 40.