Kansas

The Sunflower State Established 1861, 34th State

Climate

Average Seasonal High and Low Temperatures # Spring: 65/41°F # Summer: 88/64°F # Fall: 67/43°F # Winter: 42/21°F

Geography

A large area of flat grasslands called the Great Plains covers much of Kansas. That does not mean that all of Kansas is flat. The state's elevation slowly rises from lowlands in the east to high plains in the west. The Flint Hills in the southeast have beautiful limestone ridges. In the northeast, rivers have created high bluffs. Chalk beds and unique rock formations are scattered throughout the central part of the state. Kansas has 82,282 square miles (213,109 sq km), making it the 15th largest state.

Resources and Economy

Beef is the state's most valuable farm product, and Kansas is one of the nation's leaders in wheat production. While relying on these traditional industries, the economy has also expanded into other areas. Today, manufacturing is the biggest part of Kansas's economy, and aircraft are its leading manufactured products. Kansas is the nation's number one state in making general aviation aircraft. Wichita is called the Air Capital of the World. Several major aircraft companies have manufacturing facilities in Kansas, including Boeing, one of the largest aircraft manufacturers in the world. It makes commercial jets, military planes, and NASA aircraft. So while Kansas keeps its roots from the past, it is also on the cutting edge of technology.

Population

2,775,997

Government

Capital:
State Abbreviation: KS
Governor: Kathleen Sebelius (Democrat)
U.S. Senators: 2
Sam Brownback (Republican)
Pat Roberts (Republican)
U.S. Representatives: 4
    Republicans: 2
    Democrats 2
State Senators: 40
State Representatives: 125
Counties: 105

Fun Facts

* The world's largest collection of space suits is found at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson. * Dorothy's house from The Wizard of Oz is on display in Liberal. * `Home on the Range` is the Kansas state song. * In 1887, Susanna Salter of Argonia became the nation's first female mayor. * Cawker City claims to have the world's largest ball of twine. The ball has more than 1,325 miles (2,132 km) of twine and weighs close to 17,554 pounds (7,962 kg)! It was started in 1953, and the residents of Cawker City add to it each year. * The word Kansas comes from a Kansa word meaning `people of the south wind.` * Besides the Sunflower State, Kansas is also called the Wheat State, the Cyclone State, and the Jayhawker State. * The first Kansas newspaper was written in the Shawnee language. * The largest hailstone in the United States fell at Coffeyville on 3 September 1970. It was about 18 inches (45 cm) in circumference. * Dan and Frank Carney opened the first Pizza Hut restaurant in Wichita in 1958.