What's the deal with the United States Plains states?

From the Dakotas to Oklahoma, probably Texas, and a few other midwestern states surrounding it, there is little, if any, interest in Chess. Sure there are a few players, but no real way to connect with those players except by happenstance. No chess cafes, clubs, tournaments, coaches to really speak of. It's a chess dead zone. Why is this? Any ideas how to change it? But mostly, any ideas why this dead zone is here to begin with?

I don't know about the other states, but chess is alive and well in Texas. 

That's good to hear, Blake. It's dead in Kansas for sure. And when I pull up the maps for chess clubs and tutors, there doesn't seem to be much in Oklahoma and Nebraska either. I'll scratch Texas off my list. And I'll narrow it down to the state I'm most familiar with: Why is chess dead in Kansas?

They do have this, which few can claim:

http://www.anatolykarpovchessschool.org/

The World Chess Hall of Fame is in Missouri.

That makes perfect sense!