LEBANON KANSAS
The 48-State geo-center?

Which just happened be conveniently close to the intersection of 2 roads. This was akin to the 50-state center which stole Lebanon's thunder w/newbie states Alaska and Hawaii. That marker was originally along US85 north of Belle Fourche, SD then transported to the BF Visitor Center in for display in front.When it's post broke, the sign was stored in the basement.

"Could we take a picture of it, we asked the Visitor Center "clerk." "NO, you can't!" was her sharp response. Oh, well...so much for driving all this way for this sort of reception. According to a local brochure we obtained, the actual site was on "Old Hwy 85" a number of miles north. We did find a new metal sign there, but the actual brass survey disk, set in concrete, was over the fence in a field, these details unknown to us then.
[Note: Just inside the front entrance of the BF VC was a formidable concrete MT/WY/SD tri-point stone. What was it doing there, anyway? When we inquired about reaching that tri-point (assuming it was re-stoned), we were told (by the same clerk), "'Nope, can't go there...private land." To which we replied that we were going there, anyway. "Pffft!" But, time constraints on this trip prevented that. Back to Square-1 and repeat $$$ trip to this area for our quests.].

Recently, Belle Foucher's (or whomever) constructed an elaborate, more convenient 50-marker within the city limits. After all, that's where the souvenir shops, restaurants, and motels are located, not 22 miles out of town off a dirt road. Exploiting tourists reigns over geography in South Dakota. Back to 48/Lebanon - not exactly an accurate example of what's happening in the U.S. since prosperity is, for sure, not centered here. But, you can purchase basic souvenirs (bumper sticker shown) at the basic, bare-bones general store. Other than that, there ain't much doin' in dishelved Lebanon, not unlike too many plains towns along historic Kansas Rt 36 which I traveled tri-pointing and geo-extreming back to PA. Big farming has taken it's toll thataway. Good-bye nitty-gritty rural America, at least on this stretch of a past-times, 2-lane road that took us to places also past.

Two thorough reports here:
Click here: Geographic center of the 48 states
Click here: Geographic center of the 50 states