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:
- Allen County, Kansas
- Anderson County, Kansas
- Atchison County, Kansas
- Barber County, Kansas
- Barton County, Kansas
- Bourbon County, Kansas
- Brown County, Kansas
- Butler County, Kansas
- Chase County, Kansas
- Chautauqua County, Kansas
- Cherokee County, Kansas
- Cheyenne County, Kansas
- Clark County, Kansas
- Clay County, Kansas
- Cloud County, Kansas
- Coffey County, Kansas
- Comanche County, Kansas
- Cowley County, Kansas
- Crawford County, Kansas
- Decatur County, Kansas
- Dickinson County, Kansas
- Doniphan County, Kansas
- Douglas County, Kansas
- Edwards County, Kansas
- Elk County, Kansas
- Ellis County, Kansas
- Ellsworth County, Kansas
- Finney County, Kansas
- Ford County, Kansas
- Franklin County, Kansas
- Geary County, Kansas
- Gove County, Kansas
- Graham County, Kansas
- Grant County, Kansas
- Gray County, Kansas
- Greeley County, Kansas
- Greenwood County, Kansas
- Hamilton County, Kansas
- Harper County, Kansas
- Harvey County, Kansas
- Haskell County, Kansas
- Hodgeman County, Kansas
- Jackson County, Kansas
- Jefferson County, Kansas
- Jewell County, Kansas
- Johnson County, Kansas
- Kearny County, Kansas
- Kingman County, Kansas
- Kiowa County, Kansas
- Labette County, Kansas
- Lane County, Kansas
- Leavenworth County, Kansas
- Lincoln County, Kansas
- Linn County, Kansas
- Logan County, Kansas
- Lyon County, Kansas
- Marion County, Kansas
- Marshall County, Kansas
- McPherson County, Kansas
- Meade County, Kansas
- Miami County, Kansas
- Mitchell County, Kansas
- Montgomery County, Kansas
- Morris County, Kansas
- Morton County, Kansas
- Nemaha County, Kansas
- Neosho County, Kansas
- Ness County, Kansas
- Norton County, Kansas
- Osage County, Kansas
- Osborne County, Kansas
- Ottawa County, Kansas
- Pawnee County, Kansas
- Phillips County, Kansas
- Pottawatomie County, Kansas
- Pratt County, Kansas
- Rawlins County, Kansas
- Reno County, Kansas
- Republic County, Kansas
- Rice County, Kansas
- Riley County, Kansas
- Rooks County, Kansas
- Rush County, Kansas
- Russell County, Kansas
- Saline County, Kansas
- Scott County, Kansas
- Sedgwick County, Kansas
- Seward County, Kansas
- Shawnee County, Kansas
- Sheridan County, Kansas
- Sherman County, Kansas
- Smith County, Kansas
- Stafford County, Kansas
- Stanton County, Kansas
- Stevens County, Kansas
- Sumner County, Kansas
- Thomas County, Kansas
- Trego County, Kansas
- Wabaunsee County, Kansas
- Wallace County, Kansas
- Washington County, Kansas
- Wichita County, Kansas
- Wilson County, Kansas
- Woodson County, Kansas
- Wyandotte County, Kansas
