Known as the "Sunflower State,"
Kansas became the 34th state in 1861. The state's name comes from
the Kansa or Kaw Indians and is a Sioux Indian term meaning
"south wind people." Within Kansas's borders is the
magnetic center mark for all of North America. All land surveys
in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico use this as a reference point.
The geographic center of the 48 contiguous (connected) states is
located in a Kansas pasture. The native sunflower is the state
flower and the capital is Topeka.
State Flower: Sunflower
State Motto: To the stars through difficulties
State Nickname: Sunflower State; Jayhawk State
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
Land area: 81,823 sq mi. - Length: 400 miles - Width: 210 miles
10 largest cities (1999 est.): Wichita,
335,562; Overland Park, 142,783; Kansas City, 139,971; Topeka,
124,529; Olathe, 88,192; Lawrence, 78,911; Shawnee, 46,364;
Salina, 44,077; Manhattan, 41,499; Lenexa, 40,518; - Persons per square mile (1999): 32.4