Like about 4% of the citizens of Kansas - NYT Crossword Clue

Introduction

Today's clue, "Like about 4% of the citizens of Kansas," is a fantastic example of how a crossword can blend geography, demographics, and wordplay into a single challenge. It asks solvers to identify a specific group of people within Kansas based on a population statistic, leading to a demonym (a word for a resident of a place).

Clue Analysis

The clue is phrased as a description: "Like about 4% of the citizens of Kansas." This points to an adjective or a noun describing a person. The key pieces of information are:

1. Kansas: The location is clearly defined.
2. About 4%: This is a specific demographic clue. It suggests we're looking for a city whose population is roughly 4% of the total state population.

To solve this, one would need to identify a major Kansas city and its corresponding demonym that fits the puzzle's grid. The percentage is a clever bit of misdirection; you don't need to be a statistician, but you do need to know your Kansas cities.

Thinking Approaches

A solver might approach this clue in a few ways:

1. The Geography-First Approach: Start by listing the most populous cities in Kansas. Wichita is the largest, followed by Overland Park, Kansas City, and then Topeka. A quick mental calculation would suggest Wichita's population is too large to be just 4% of the state's total. This process of elimination would lead you to consider other major cities.

2. The Demonym-First Approach: Think about the demonyms for Kansas cities. Wichitan, Kansan (for Kansas City), and so on. The answer, TOPEKAN, has a common structure for a demonym.

3. Relying on Crossings: This is often the most practical method. If you don't know Kansas demographics offhand, you'd wait for some crossing letters. For example, if you had T_P_K_N, the answer would become much more apparent, and you could then work backward to confirm that Topeka's population makes sense for the clue.

As of recent estimates, the population of Kansas is about 2.94 million, and the population of Topeka is about 126,000. A quick calculation (126,000 / 2,940,000) gives us approximately 4.3%, making the clue statistically sound.

Background Context

Topeka is the capital city of Kansas and the seat of Shawnee County. While it's the state capital, it's the fifth-most populous city in the state. Topeka is perhaps most famous for being the namesake of the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, which declared state-sponsored segregation in public schools to be unconstitutional.

The name "Topeka" is a Kansa-Osage word that means "a good place to dig potatoes," a nod to the area's agricultural roots.

Conclusion

This clue is a well-crafted piece of trivia that rewards general knowledge. By using a specific percentage instead of a more direct descriptor like "From the Kansas capital," the puzzle constructor adds a satisfying layer of challenge. It forces the solver to think critically about the state's geography or, failing that, to be resourceful with their use of crossing letters.

Hints

1. Hint 1: The answer describes a resident of a particular city in Kansas.
2. Hint 2: The city in question is the state's capital.
3. Hint 3: This city was the namesake of the landmark 1954 Supreme Court case, Brown v. Board of Education.
4. Hint 4: The answer is the demonym for the fourth-largest city in Kansas.

Answer: TOPEKAN