Kansas - The Sunflower State

Capital City:

Topeka

Nickname:

Sunflower State

Motto:

Ad Astra per Aspera (To the stars through difficulties)

Statehood:

January 29, 1861 (34th)

Origin of State's Name:

From the Sioux Indian for "south wind people."

Largest City:

Wichita

Border States:

Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma

Land Area:

81,823 sq. mi., 13th largest

State Bird:

Western Meadowlark

State Flower:

Sunflower

State Tree:

Cottonwood (populus)

State Song:

Home on the Range

Known as the "Sunflower State," Kansas became the 34th state in 1861. The state's name comes from the Kansa or Kaw Indians and is a Sioux Indian term meaning "south wind people." Within Kansas's borders is the magnetic center mark for all of North America. All land surveys in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico use this as a reference point. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous (connected) states is located in a Kansas pasture. The native sunflower is the state flower and the capital is Topeka.