State of Kansas
Nicknames: The Sunflower State, The Wheat State
Motto(s): Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties)
Date of Statehood: January 29, 1861 (34th state)
State Song: “Home on the Range”
Kansas Flag History
The flag of Kansas, adopted in 1927, is rich in symbolism and reflects the state’s history and values. The flag features the state seal centered on a field of dark blue. Above the seal is the state crest, a sunflower resting on a twisted blue and gold bar representing the Louisiana Purchase. Below the seal is the word “KANSAS” in capital letters.
The state seal depicted in the flag encapsulates important aspects of Kansas’ identity. The rising sun represents the east; the river and steamboat are symbols of commerce; the cabin and settler with plowing horses represent agriculture as the base for the future prosperity of the state. The Indians hunting bison represent the native people who originally populated the land.
The flag’s sunflower crest is particularly significant. The sunflower is not only the state flower but also a symbol of the frontier and the state’s natural beauty. The bar symbolizes that Kansas was the first state to come out of the Louisiana Purchase, a key event in the nation’s expansion westward. The combination of these elements makes the Kansas flag a vibrant tapestry of state pride, history, and natural beauty.
Kansas Quick Facts
Capital City: Topeka
Abbreviation: KS
Population: Approximately 2.9 million
Region: Midwest
Origin of State Name: Named after the Kansas River, which was named after the Kansa Native American tribe. The name is often said to mean “people of the south wind.”
Sports Teams: While Kansas has no major professional sports teams, it has a strong presence in college sports.
Bordering States: Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado
Area Codes: 316, 620, 785, 913
Highest Point: Mount Sunflower at 4,039 feet (1,231 meters)
Lowest Point: Verdigris River at 679 feet (207 meters)
Geography of Kansas
Area: 82,278 square miles (213,100 square kilometers), 15th largest
Land: 81,759 square miles (211,754 square kilometers), 13th largest
Water: 520 square miles (1,346 square kilometers), 47th largest
Coastline: None (landlocked state)
Shoreline: None (landlocked state)
Largest Cities:
- Wichita
- Overland Park
- Kansas City
- Olathe
- Topeka
- Lawrence
- Shawnee
- Manhattan
- Lenexa
- Salina
- Hutchinson
- Leavenworth
- Leawood
- Dodge City
- Garden City
National Parks:
- Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve
- Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
- Fort Scott National Historic Site
Kansas State Symbols
Living Insignia
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
State Animal: American Bison
State Amphibian: Barred Tiger Salamander
State Butterfly: None
State Fish: Channel Catfish
State Flower: Wild Native Sunflower
State Horse Breed: None
State Insect: Honeybee
State Mammal: American Bison
State Reptile: Ornate Box Turtle
Inanimate Insignia
State Fruit: None
State Gemstone: None
State Soil: Harney silt loam
State Tree: Cottonwood
State Quarter: Issued in 2005 featuring a buffalo and sunflower, symbolizing the state’s history and natural beauty
State Beverage: None
State Colors: None official
State Dance: Square Dance
State Food: None
State Fossil: Pteranodon and Tylosaurus (state marine fossil)
State Mineral: Galena
State Rock: Greenhorn Limestone