Where is the geographic center of the US?
Quick answer
The geographic center of the contiguous (lower 48) United States is near Lebanon, Kansas, in Smith County. When Alaska and Hawaii are included, the center of all 50 states moves north to near Belle Fourche, South Dakota.
Two different centers
| Area measured | Center | Determined |
|---|---|---|
| Contiguous 48 states | About 2.6 miles northwest of Lebanon, Kansas | 1918, US Coast and Geodetic Survey |
| All 50 states | About 20 miles north of Belle Fourche, South Dakota | 1959, after Alaska and Hawaii joined |
A small stone monument and a tiny chapel mark the Kansas site, which sits on a farm road. Belle Fourche has a visitor center and monument too, though the actual spot is on private ranch land.
How it was found
In 1918, the Coast and Geodetic Survey used a simple but clever method: they cut out a cardboard map of the US and found the point where it balanced on a pin. Modern methods using computers give similar results.
Not to be confused with…
- The geodetic center: Meades Ranch, Kansas, was used from 1901 to 1983 as the reference point for all land surveys in North America.
- The population center: the point where the US population would balance, which has moved steadily west and south over time. After the 2020 census, it was near Hartville, Missouri.
Why it shifted north in 1959
Adding Alaska, the largest state by far, pulled the center north and west. Hawaii had little effect because it’s small. See the last state to join the US.
For other US geography facts, see the longest river in the United States and the Mile High City.
Still curious?
Jump to a random question from the archive.