Below are 5 interesting facts about August 1 in Kansas history:

1. On August 1, 1911, Wichita became the first city in the world to install a true electric meter system for measuring power usage. This innovation set the foundation for modern electric utilities worldwide and allowed for more efficient and accurate billing.

2. The first Native American contestant to win a Miss USA title was born in Kansas on August 1, 1983. Mary Theresa Brunner, a member of the Kaw Nation, competed under the name Crystle Stewart and was crowned Miss USA in 2008.

3. In 1873, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway was granted a charter to build a line through Kansas. The railway company played a significant role in the state's development, connecting communities and fueling economic growth.

4. On August 1, 1955, a massive tornado struck Udall, Kansas, killing 80 people and destroying nearly every building in the town. The disaster remains one of the deadliest tornadoes in US history and led to significant improvements in tornado warning systems.

5. Famous jazz musician and bandleader Count Basie was born on August 1, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. Though not originally from Kansas, Basie settled in Kansas City in the 1930s and became an integral part of the city's jazz scene, helping to define the "Kansas City jazz" sound.