Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos

Kansas: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

The Information Architects maintain a master list of the topics included in the corpus of  Encyclopædia Britannica, and create and manage the relationships between them.
The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Last updated

News •

Napping driver whose truck accelerated on Kansas soccer field, killing 2, won't be charged • Nov. 13, 2026, 2:53 PM ET (AP)
Democrat Cindy Holscher is elected Kansas' next governor, extending her party's wave of victories • Nov. 12, 2026, 6:26 PM ET (AP)
Champions Classic: No. 2 Duke meets No. 5 Michigan State, No. 15 Kansas faces No. 24 Kentucky • Nov. 10, 2026, 6:00 AM ET (AP)
Trump rallies in Iowa and Kansas as Republicans fight to keep Senate and House control • Nov. 1, 2026, 11:25 PM ET (AP)
As early voting surges, Trump reshuffles his schedule to add back rallies in Iowa and Kansas • Oct. 30, 2026, 4:57 PM ET (AP)

Facts

Also Known As Sunflower State
Capital Topeka
Population1 (2020) 2,937,880; (2025 est.) 2,977,220
Governor Laura Kelly (Democrat)
Date Of Admission January 29, 1861
U.S. Senators Roger Marshall (Republican) • Jerry Moran (Republican)
State Nickname Sunflower State • Jayhawker State
State Motto "Ad Astra Per Aspera (To the Stars Through Difficulties)"
State Bird western meadowlark
State Flower common sunflower
State Song “Home on the Range”
Seats In U.S. House Of Representatives 4 (of 435)
Time Zone Mountain (GMT − 7 hours) • Central (GMT − 6 hours)
Total Area (Sq Km) 213,100
Total Area (Sq Mi) 82,278
1Excluding military abroad.

Photos and Videos

Kansas: flag
The Great Seal of the State of Kansas features a sunrise over mountains, a river with a steamboat, a settler plowing a field with horses, a log cabin, and covered wagons, with Native Americans hunting bison in the background. The motto Ad Astra Per Aspera appears above, and the outer ring reads Great Seal of the State of Kansas, January 29, 1861.
The western meadowlark is the state bird of Kansas.
The state flower of Kansas is the wild sunflower.
Political map of Kansas showing state and county boundaries, major cities, county seats, and the state capital, Topeka. Surrounding states-Nebraska, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Colorado-are labeled at the borders. An inset locator map at the bottom left highlights Kansas within the central United States.
Small farm buildings and fenced enclosures sit amid wide, rolling grasslands under a blue sky in Kansas.
Map of the United States highlighting the state of Kansas in orange at the center of the country, with the capital city Topeka labeled. Surrounding states and major geographic features such as the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Mexico, Canada, and Washington, D.C. are also shown for context.
Map of Kansas showing major physical features, including rivers, lakes, and reservoirs such as the Arkansas, Kansas, and Smoky Hill rivers, as well as Milford Lake, Perry Lake, and Cheney Reservoir. The map highlights Mt. Sunflower, the state's highest point, and marks Kansas's borders with Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Oklahoma. An inset locator map shows Kansas's position within the United States.
Map of the Midwestern United States showing state boundaries, major cities, state capitals, rivers, lakes, and notable physical features such as the Black Hills, Badlands, Sand Hills, Ozark Plateau, and Flint Hills. The map covers states including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio, with the Great Lakes and major rivers labeled. An inset in the upper right highlights the Midwest region on a map of the entire U
Aerial view of the Arkansas River flowing through downtown Wichita, Kansas, with city buildings and a baseball stadium in the foreground.
Monarch Butterfly Migration Explained
See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Sam Brownback
Sam Brownback
American politician
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
French missionary
Alfred M. Landon
Alf Landon
American politician
default image
John Saint John
American politician
Walker, Robert J.
Robert J. Walker
American statesman

Related Places

United States
United States
country, North America
default image
Lindsborg
Kansas, United States
Wichita: Old Sedgwick County Courthouse
Wichita
Kansas, United States
default image
Kansas City
city, Kansas, United States
Topeka: State House
Topeka
Kansas, United States
Abilene, Kansas: home of Dwight D. Eisenhower
Abilene
Kansas, United States
Leavenworth: United States Penitentiary
Leavenworth
Kansas, United States
Dodge City: Front Street
Dodge City
Kansas, United States
Lawrence: University of Kansas
Lawrence
Kansas, United States
Council Grove: Madonna of the Trail Monument
Council Grove
Kansas, United States
Medicine Lodge, Kansas
Medicine Lodge
Kansas, United States
Riley County Courthouse, Manhattan, Kan.
Manhattan
Kansas, United States
Great Bend: Barton County Courthouse
Great Bend
Kansas, United States
Emporia: William Allen White House
Emporia
Kansas, United States
default image
Osawatomie
Kansas, United States

Related Quizzes

Close-up of a weathered, old American flag of the United States of America, used as a patriotic decoration on Fourth of July (Independence Day), Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and other national holidays.
U.S. State Nicknames Quiz
Texas State Capitol building in Austin, Texas. United States
U.S. State Capitals Quiz
State capitol building in Austin, Texas.
USA Capitals and Nicknames Quiz
USA, United States watercolor map Illustration in rainbow colors
50 States, 50 Fun Facts Quiz
Extruded map of the United States of America with states borders on national flag background. (3-d rendering)
Guess the U.S. State by Its Neighbors