Picture Show: Images from the Center of the Contiguous United States

During the last presidential election, the phrase "Middle America" was used routinely by both candidates and members of the media. "This constant buzz around 'Middle America' sparked my curiosity in what the literal middle of America actually was," writes the photographer J. Bennett Fitts, "if there was one at all." As it turns out, the center of the contiguous United States is Lebanon, Kansas, a town of about 250 people that has been greatly affected by rural flight.

In the following images, Fitts explores the landscape of Lebanon, which he photographed several times over the last year. He'll soon relocate to Lebanon for a three-month stay, during which he will continue photographing as a means of creating a more intimate portrait of the place and its people.

Here is a collection from J. Bennett Fitts's ongoing project "Images from the Center of the Contiguous United States."\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Land of Ah's

Map of Kansas

Home

Deer shot by arrows

Welcome flag

Community pool

Used car lot #1

Restaurant

Gymnasium

Motel Sign

User car lot #2

Mall

Former playground

Basketball hoop with mural

Car as sculpture

Trash in river

Barn