Emporia, KS, United States

Capital City

With a population of just 24,139, Emporia is a sleepy Midwestern town that offers little beyond the obligatory state university and annual bicycle race. The median household income sits at a modest $43,481, while nearly 20% of residents live below the poverty line. And those who do call Emporia home must contend with the region's notorious bureaucratic red tape - the city's lone public library has been operating since 1869, a testament to the glacial pace of local government. While the climate is temperate, with average highs in the 80s, the area is prone to extreme weather, as evidenced by the devastating F4 tornado that struck in 1974. Unless you're an avid cyclist or enjoy life in a sleepy backwater, Emporia likely has little to offer.