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Kansas

This articleaboutUS State. For other Kansases, see Kansas (disambiguation)

Kansas
Image:us-ks.gif Image:Kansasstateseal.png
(In Detail) (Full size)
State nickname: The Sunflower State
Image:Map_of_USA_highlighting_Kansas.png
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

countiesCentral except4 counties on western border




Latitude

Longitude                  

37°N40°N

 94°38'W102°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 fromSiouan word Kansa meaning "People ofsouth wind",  ismidwestern state inUnited States. The U.S. postal abbreviation forstateKS andstate flower issunflower.

USS Kansas was namedhonorthis state.

		


Tablecontents 







1 History

2 LawGovernment

3 Geography

4 Economy

5 Demographics

6 Important CitiesTowns

7 Education


8 Professional Sports Teams

9 Miscellaneous Information

10 External Links




History

Main Article: HistoryKansas

Kansas, as part ofLouisiana Purchase, was  annexed toUnited States1803 as unorganized territory. Kansas then became part ofMissouri Territory until 1821.  ThenKansas-Nebraska Act became law on May 30, 1854 establishedUS territoriesNebraskaKansas.  

Fort Leavenworth wasfirst community inarea around 1827. To travellers enrouteUtah, California, or Oregon, Kansas waswaystopoutfitting place. On March 30, 1855 "Border Ruffians" from Missouri invaded Kansas duringterritory's first electionforcedelection ofpro-slavery legislature.

Kansas became34th state ofUnion on January 29, 1861. Civil War veterans constructed homesteadsKansas followingwar. On February 19, 1861becamefirst U.S. stateprohibit all alcoholic beverages.


LawGovernment

The State CapitalTopeka.

The Governor ofStateKathleen Sebelius (Democrat) andtwo U.S. SenatorsSam Brownback (Republican)Pat Roberts (Republican).

See also: ListKansas Governors


Geography

Main Article: ListKansas counties

Kansasbordered by Oklahoma onsouth, Missouri oneast, Nebraska onnorth,Colorado onwest. Itlocated equidistant fromPacific andAtlantic Ocean. The geographic centerNorthamericalocatedOsborne County. This spotused ascentral reference pointall maps produced bygovernment.


Economy

The 1999 total gross state productKansas was $81 billion placing Kansas 31st innation. Its Per capita Income$27,816. The agricultural outputs ofstatecattle, wheat, sorghum, soybeans, hogscorn. The industrial outputstransportation equipment, food processing, publishing, chemical products, machinery, apparel, petroleummining.


Demographics

The population2,688,418, as2000.  The largest cityWichita.


Important CitiesTowns







Education


CollegesUniversities







Professional Sports Teams





Miscellaneous Information

Therealso1970s American rockroll band named Kansas.  See Kansas (band).


External Links





                
        
        
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