What town, city, lake, mtn, etc. is located at the exact center (equally N,S,E,& W) of the continental U.S.?

Question

My guess is a town called Ingleside, Nebraska - but that's just my guess from looking at a map. Anyone know what the exact center would be?

Answer 1

The geographical center of the lower 48 states lies outside of Lebanon, Kansas, in the middle of a hog farm.

The geographical center of all 50 states is located 17 miles west of Castle Rock, South Dakota.

Answer 2

No one really knows.

The geographic center of Lebanon, KS was determined by cutting the shape of the lower 48 states out of a cardboard sheet, and balancing it on a point. At best, it is believed to be accurate only within ten or twenty miles. Also, I wonder if the shape of the 48 states that was used was even accurate. The borders of Michigan extend well out into Lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron. The northern border of Ohio extends halfway out into Lake Erie. The northern border of New York extends out into Lake Ontario. So, if the cutout of the United States was only made at the Great Lake shorelines (instead of the true borders), this would through off the center significantly.

Just a thought...

Answer 3

Around the turn of the twentieth century, they made a giant model of the continental 48, and found the one place it balanced on a pin. That location is just a few miles away from Lebanon, Kansas.

Answer 4

the exact center of the united states is a town in kansas called lebanon. if you throw hawaii and alaska in the mix then the center is near castle rock in south dakota. the population center of the us is near Rolla Missouri

Answer 5

Yes i do agree. Lebanon, KS is what they call "the heart of America" not as in "typical America" but it just means that it's in the very center of the continental US.
It also makes me proud being from there :)

Answer 6

Ken's right.