White Castle is widely recognized by culinary historians and industry experts as the oldest hamburger fast-food chain in the United States. Founded in Wichita, Kansas, the company began its operations through food stands in 1916 before formally incorporating in 1921. It revolutionized the American dining landscape by introducing standardized kitchen procedures, high-volume production, low-cost menu items, and a multi-state restaurant supply chain model that paved the way for the modern fast-food industry.