Kansas was admitted to the Union as a free state on January 29, 1861, making it the 34th state to join the United States.
Origin of Name: from a Sioux word meaning “people of the south wind”
State Capital: Topeka
State Nickname: Sunflower State also called The Wheat State and The JayHawker State
State Motto: Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties)
State Bird: Western Meadowlark
Highest Elevation: Mt. Sunflower (4,039 ft)
State Flower: Wild Sunflower
State Song: “Home on the Range”
Counties: 105
State Parks: 24
State Tree: Cottonwood
State Animal: American bison
State Reptile: Ornate Box Turtle
State Amphibian: Barred tiger salamander
State Fossils: Pteranodon and Tylosaurus