Kansans

Kansans are residents of Kansas, a U.S. state in the Midwest and Great Plains. The demonym Kansan (plural Kansans) is used for people from the state. The state capital is Topeka and the largest city is Wichita. Kansas is nicknamed the Sunflower State, a reference to the state flower, and its motto is Ad astra per aspera, which appears on the state seal.

Located on the Great Plains, Kansas features a mix of prairies, rolling hills in the east known as the Flint Hills, and high plains in the west. The geographic center of the contiguous United States lies in Kansas near the community of Lebanon. The Kansas Territory became a flashpoint in the mid-19th century debates over slavery, culminating in statehood on January 29, 1861 as the 34th state.

With a population around 2.9 million, Kansans live in both urban centers and rural communities. The state has a strong agricultural base, producing wheat, corn, and cattle, and a diversified economy that includes manufacturing and aerospace. Wichita has long been known as the Air Capital of the World for its aviation industry.

Education plays a prominent role, with institutions such as the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas State University in Manhattan, and Wichita State University. Kansans participate in cultural events across the state, drawing on a heritage that includes Native American histories, pioneer settlement, and agricultural development.