archaeological evidence says that people have lived near the confluence of the arkansas and little arkansas rivers (where wichita is) since 3000 b.c. in 1541, a spanish trip led by explorer francisco vázquez de coronado found the area populated by the quivira (or wichita) people. fighting with the osage in the 1750s forced the wichita people further south. before americans came to live in the region, the area was part of the territory of the kiowa people. the area was part of france as part of louisiana. it was later bought by the united states with the louisiana purchase in 1803. it became part of kansas territory in 1854. it became part of the state of kansas in 1861.