This article is about the US State. For other Kansases, see Kansas (disambiguation)

Kansas
(In Detail) (Full size)
State nickname: The Sunflower State

Other U.S. States
Capital Topeka
Largest City Wichita
Largest Metropolitan Area Kansas City
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
 - % water
Ranked 13th
213,283 kmē
212,093 kmē
1,190 kmē
0.56%
Population
 - Total (2000)
 - Density
Ranked 32nd
2,688,418
13/kmē
Admittance into Union
 - Order
 - Date

34th
January 29, 1861
Time zone Central : UTC-6/-5
Mountain: UTC-7/-6
counties are Central except for 4 counties on western border
Latitude
Longitude
37°N to 40°N
94°38'W to 102°1'34"W
Width
Length
Elevation
 -Highest
 -Mean
 -Lowest
340 km
645 km
 
1,231 meters
610 meters
207 meters
ISO 3166-2:US-KS

Kansas, derived from the Siouan word Kansa meaning "People of the south wind", is a midwestern state in the United States. The U.S. postal abbreviation for the state is KS and the state flower is the sunflower.

USS Kansas was named in honor of this state.

Table of contents
1 History
2 Law and Government
3 Geography
4 Economy
5 Demographics
6 Important Cities and Towns
7 Education
8 Professional Sports Teams
9 Miscellaneous Information
10 External Links

History

Main Article: History of Kansas

Kansas, as part of the Louisiana Purchase, was annexed to the United States in 1803 as unorganized territory. Kansas then became part of the Missouri Territory until 1821. Then the Kansas-Nebraska Act became law on May 30, 1854 established the US territories of Nebraska and Kansas.

Fort Leavenworth was the first community in the area around 1827. To travellers enroute to Utah, California, or Oregon, Kansas was a waystop and outfitting place. On March 30, 1855 "Border Ruffians" from Missouri invaded Kansas during the territory's first election and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature.

Kansas became the 34th state of the Union on January 29, 1861. Civil War veterans constructed homesteads in Kansas following the war. On February 19, 1861 it became the first U.S. state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages.

Law and Government

The State Capital is Topeka.

The Governor of the State is Kathleen Sebelius (Democrat) and the two U.S. Senators are Sam Brownback (Republican) and Pat Roberts (Republican).

See also: List of Kansas Governors

Geography

Main Article: List of Kansas counties

Kansas is bordered by Oklahoma on the south, Missouri on the east, Nebraska on the north, and Colorado on the west. It is located equidistant from the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. The geographic center of Northamerica is located in Osborne County. This spot is used as the central reference point for all maps produced by the government.

Economy

The 1999 total gross state product of Kansas was $81 billion placing Kansas 31st in the nation. Its Per capita Income is $27,816. The agricultural outputs of the state are cattle, wheat, sorghum, soybeans, hogs and corn. The industrial outputs are transportation equipment, food processing, publishing, chemical products, machinery, apparel, petroleum and mining.

Demographics

The population is 2,688,418, as of 2000. The largest city is Wichita.

Important Cities and Towns

Education

Colleges and Universities

Professional Sports Teams

Miscellaneous Information

There is also a 1970s American rock and roll band named Kansas. See Kansas (band).

External Links