Kansas (KS)

KANSAS STATE FLAG

Kansas, located on the American Great Plains, became the 34th state on January 29, 1861. The road to statehood was long and bloody: After the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 opened the two territories to settlement and allowed the new settlers to determine whether the states would be admitted to the union as “free” or “slave”, the North and South fought to send most of the settlers to the region.

This quickly led to violence and the area became known as ‘Bleeding Kansas’. Kansas has long been known as part of America’s agricultural heartland and is home to the major US military installation Fort Leavenworth.

In 1954, it became a battleground for the civil rights movement when the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case was decided in the Supreme Court, ending the “separate but equal” doctrine in public schools.

Kansas is also known for contributing to jazz music, barbecue, and being the setting of L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s book The Wizard of Oz.

Geography

Kansas is a midwestern state located in the Great Plains region of the United States. It is bordered by Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south, and Colorado to the west. The state capital of Kansas is Topeka, and its largest city is Wichita.

Kansas has two distinct geographic regions: The eastern section of Kansas consists of rolling hills and plains, while the western section is characterized by high plains and prairies. The eastern portion of Kansas also contains numerous rivers and streams due to its proximity to the Mississippi River drainage basin.

The highest point in Kansas is Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet above sea level. This peak can be found in Wallace County in western Kansas. The lowest point in Kansas lies along Verdigris River at 679 feet above sea level near Coffeyville in southeastern Kansas.

The climate of Kansas varies widely depending on location and elevation; however, it generally experiences hot summers with moderate rainfall and cold winters with heavy snowfall. Summers are typically hot and humid with temperatures ranging from 70-90 degrees Fahrenheit (21-32 degrees Celsius). Winters are cold with temperatures ranging from 20-40 degrees Fahrenheit (-6°C to 4°C). Rainfall averages around 28 inches (71 cm) per year across all parts of the state, although some areas may receive up to 40 inches (102 cm) or more annually. Snowfall ranges from 10-20 inches (25-51 cm) per year depending on location.

Kansas has a diverse landscape that includes lush grasslands, rolling hillsides, wide open prairies, tallgrass prairies, wetlands, forests, lakes and rivers. There are also several natural attractions throughout the state including Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City; Konza Prairie Biological Station near Manhattan; Monument Rocks National Natural Landmark near Oakley; White Cliffs near Quinter; Cedar Bluff State Park near Ellis; Wilson Lake near Russell; Prairie Dog State Park near Scott City; Lake Kearny State Park near Lakin; El Dorado State Park near El Dorado; Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area near Great Bend; and Cross Timbers State Park located between Emporia and Council Grove.

Overall, Kansas has an interesting geography that includes a variety of landscapes ranging from rolling hillsides to flat open plains as well as numerous natural attractions such as lakes, rivers and forests that make it an ideal spot for outdoor activities like camping or hiking for those looking for a great adventure.

Cities in Kansas

Below are the top 15 cities by population in Kansas. For all cities and towns in the state, please see Kansas cities list.

Kansas City is the largest city in Kansas and the metropolitan area is home to more than 2 million people. It is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage, boasting some of the best museums and entertainment venues in the state. The city is also known for its delicious barbecue, jazz, and blues music scenes. The downtown area has many unique local businesses, including art galleries, restaurants, and shopping centers. Just outside of town lies the Kansas Speedway, where NASCAR fans can enjoy exciting races year-round.

The second-largest city in Kansas is Wichita. This vibrant college town has a large population of students attending Wichita State University as well as other nearby universities and colleges. There are plenty of things to do in Wichita from exploring its many museums and art galleries to enjoying the nightlife at its lively bars and clubs. Wichita also offers some of the best shopping experiences in Kansas with numerous malls and retail stores located throughout the city. In addition to all these attractions, visitors can enjoy outdoor activities like fishing at Cheney State Park or taking a hot air balloon ride over historic Old Town Wichita.

Rank City Population
1 Wichita 394,574
2 Overland Park 195,249
3 Kansas City 155,745
4 Olathe 140,339
5 Topeka 126,802
6 Lawrence 94,745
7 Shawnee 67,021
8 Lenexa 56,755
9 Manhattan 54,794
10 Salina 46,896
11 Hutchinson 40,202
12 Leavenworth 37,216
13 Leawood 33,748
14 Garden City 28,022
15 Dodge City 27,899

Counties in Kansas

The State of Kansas consists of 105 counties. They are:

  1. Allen County, Kansas
  2. Anderson County, Kansas
  3. Atchison County, Kansas
  4. Barber County, Kansas
  5. Barton County, Kansas
  6. Bourbon County, Kansas
  7. Brown County, Kansas
  8. Butler County, Kansas
  9. Chase County, Kansas
  10. Chautauqua County, Kansas
  11. Cherokee County, Kansas
  12. Cheyenne County, Kansas
  13. Clark County, Kansas
  14. Clay County, Kansas
  15. Cloud County, Kansas
  16. Coffey County, Kansas
  17. Comanche County, Kansas
  18. Cowley County, Kansas
  19. Crawford County, Kansas
  20. Decatur County, Kansas
  21. Dickinson County, Kansas
  22. Doniphan County, Kansas
  23. Douglas County, Kansas
  24. Edwards County, Kansas
  25. Elk County, Kansas
  26. Ellis County, Kansas
  27. Ellsworth County, Kansas
  28. Finney County, Kansas
  29. Ford County, Kansas
  30. Franklin County, Kansas
  31. Geary County, Kansas
  32. Gove County, Kansas
  33. Graham County, Kansas
  34. Grant County, Kansas
  35. Gray County, Kansas
  36. Greeley County, Kansas
  37. Greenwood County, Kansas
  38. Hamilton County, Kansas
  39. Harper County, Kansas
  40. Harvey County, Kansas
  41. Haskell County, Kansas
  42. Hodgeman County, Kansas
  43. Jackson County, Kansas
  44. Jefferson County, Kansas
  45. Jewell County, Kansas
  46. Johnson County, Kansas
  47. Kearny County, Kansas
  48. Kingman County, Kansas
  49. Kiowa County, Kansas
  50. Labette County, Kansas
  51. Lane County, Kansas
  52. Leavenworth County, Kansas
  53. Lincoln County, Kansas
  54. Linn County, Kansas
  55. Logan County, Kansas
  56. Lyon County, Kansas
  57. Marion County, Kansas
  58. Marshall County, Kansas
  59. McPherson County, Kansas
  60. Meade County, Kansas
  61. Miami County, Kansas
  62. Mitchell County, Kansas
  63. Montgomery County, Kansas
  64. Morris County, Kansas
  65. Morton County, Kansas
  66. Nemaha County, Kansas
  67. Neosho County, Kansas
  68. Ness County, Kansas
  69. Norton County, Kansas
  70. Osage County, Kansas
  71. Osborne County, Kansas
  72. Ottawa County, Kansas
  73. Pawnee County, Kansas
  74. Phillips County, Kansas
  75. Pottawatomie County, Kansas
  76. Pratt County, Kansas
  77. Rawlins County, Kansas
  78. Reno County, Kansas
  79. Republic County, Kansas
  80. Rice County, Kansas
  81. Riley County, Kansas
  82. Rooks County, Kansas
  83. Rush County, Kansas
  84. Russell County, Kansas
  85. Saline County, Kansas
  86. Scott County, Kansas
  87. Sedgwick County, Kansas
  88. Seward County, Kansas
  89. Shawnee County, Kansas
  90. Sheridan County, Kansas
  91. Sherman County, Kansas
  92. Smith County, Kansas
  93. Stafford County, Kansas
  94. Stanton County, Kansas
  95. Stevens County, Kansas
  96. Sumner County, Kansas
  97. Thomas County, Kansas
  98. Trego County, Kansas
  99. Wabaunsee County, Kansas
  100. Wallace County, Kansas
  101. Washington County, Kansas
  102. Wichita County, Kansas
  103. Wilson County, Kansas
  104. Woodson County, Kansas
  105. Wyandotte County, Kansas

KANSAS STATE FLAG