Kansas

Kansas, nicknamed the Sunflower State, is a state in the central 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 lies in the Great Plains and is known for the Flint Hills and remaining tallgrass prairie. The Missouri River forms much of the eastern border, and the Arkansas River runs through the southern part. The geographic center of the contiguous United States lies near Lebanon, Kansas.

Kansas was named after the Kansa (Kaw) Native American people. It was part of the Louisiana Purchase and became the 34th state on January 29, 1861, entering the Union as a free state during the Civil War era.

The state has a population of about 2.9 million. Its largest cities include Wichita, Overland Park, Kansas City, Topeka, and Manhattan. The capital is Topeka. The economy centers on agriculture—producing wheat, corn, and sorghum—and livestock, with significant activity in aviation manufacturing and energy, including oil and wind power. Wichita is known as the Air Capital of the World.

Kansas has a diversified higher education system with institutions such as the University of Kansas (Lawrence), Kansas State University (Manhattan), and Wichita State University, along with numerous community colleges. The climate is continental, featuring hot summers and cold winters, and the state lies within Tornado Alley, making severe storms and droughts part of its weather patterns.

The state operates under a bicameral legislature and a constitution, with a governor and other statewide offices. Kansas has a history of conservative politics in recent decades. Cultural life centers on sports, colleges, and the state’s agricultural heritage.