State Project on Kansas

1. State Project on Kansas By RishiKarpur

2. Kansas State Map

3. Kansas State Facts • Kansas was the 34th state in the USA; it became a state on January 29, 1861. • State Abbreviation - KS • State Capital - Topeka • Largest City - Wichita • Area - 82,282 square miles [Kansas is the 15th biggest state in the USA] • Population - 2,871,238 • Name for Residents - Kansans • Major Industries - agriculture (wheat and other grains), aircraft manufacturing, automobile manufacturing

4. Kansas State Facts • Major Rivers - Kansas River, Republican River, Smoky Hill River, Arkansas River, Missouri River • Major Lakes - Tuttle Creek Reservoir, Cheney Reservoir, WacondaLake • Highest Point - Mt. Sunflower - 4,039 feet (1,231 m) above sea level • Lowest Point - Verdigris River - 680 feet (270 m) above sea level • Number of Counties - 105 • Bordering States - Colorado, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma • Origin of the Name Kansas - Kansas was named for the Sioux word meaning people of the south wind • State Nickname - Sunflower State • State Motto - "Ad astra per aspera" - To the stars through difficulties  • State Song - Home on the Range

5. Kansas State Flag /Seal The symbols on the official state seal of Kansas were specified by the first Kansas legislature in 1861 (the year Kansas became one of the United States). The rising sun represents the East; the river and steamboat are symbols of commerce; the cabin, settler and plow horses represent agriculture as the base for the future prosperity of the state of Kansas. In the distance oxen draw a wagon train west, and a herd of buffalo is pursued by two Indians on horseback (the buffalo was adopted as the official state animal of Kansas in 1955. In the sky are thirty-four stars (Kansas was the thirty-fourth state admitted to the Union) with the state motto above: "Ad astra per aspera "(to the stars through difficulties). The state seal is also represented on the state flag of Kansas:

6. Kansas State Bird The western meadowlark was designated the official state bird of Kansas in 1937. The Western Meadowlark is a songbird of open country. In the same family as blackbirds and orioles, adults have a black and white striped head; long, pointed bill; yellow cheeks; bright yellow throat; and a distinctive black "V" on breast. The western meadowlark is often seen perched on fence-posts in grasslands and agricultural areas singing its distinct 7-10 note melody (their flute-like song usually ends with 3 descending notes). Western meadowlarks forage on the ground and beneath soil for insects, grain and weed seeds (their diet consists of beetles, cutworms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, spiders, sow bugs, and snails). They also nest on the ground – constructing a cup of dried grasses and bark woven into the surrounding vegetation. This nest may be open or have a partial or full grass roof, or even a grass entry tunnel several feet long.

7. Kansas State Flower Adopted the Kansas state flower in 1903 Botanical name: Helianthus annuus Kansas is nicknamed "The Sunflower State." Common names: Common sunflower, wild native sunflower Sunflower trivia: Sunflower oil, made from sunflower seeds, is the third most common cooking oil American Indians were using native sunflowers for food over 3,000 years ago. These wild sunflower seeds were only about 5 mm. long. Over hundreds of years and careful husbandry (selecting only the largest seeds for cultivation), the plains Indians began the development of today's large modern sunflower, rich with oil.

8. Kansas State Quarter & License Plate Release Date: August 29, 2005Reverse (tails) Side: Buffalo and SunflowerEngraver: Norman NemethStandard Weight: 5.670gStandard Diameter: 24.26mm (0.955 in)Thickness: 1.75 mmEdge Detail: ReededComposition: Cupro-Nickel Clad  This is the official license plate for the state of Kansas as it has been officially adopted by the state legislature.

9. Agricultural Products • Kansas is an important agricultural state, ranking 7th among the states for total agricultural production. • In terms of revenue generated, Kansas' top five agricultural products are cattle and calves, wheat, corn for grain, soybeans, and hogs. Livestock • The highest agricultural revenue in Kansas is generated by raising cattle and calves. This revenue accounts for about 60% of the state's total agricultural production. • Hogs and dairy products are also important in the state. • Some revenue is generated by chicken eggs and sheep and lambs. Crops • Kansas' largest crop is wheat. It accounts for about 12% of the state's total agricultural production. Kansas is the #1 wheat-producing state, generating about 15% of the nation's total crop. • Corn for grain is another valuable Kansas crop, contributing about 9% to the state's total agricultural revenue. • Soybeans are another valuable crop in Kansas, followed by sorghum grain and hay.

10. Industries Manufacturing • Transportation equipment (light aircraft, military aircraft, missiles, aircraft parts, railroad freight and passenger cars, locomotives) is Kansas' primary manufactured product. • Food processing (flour-milling, animal feed, meat-packing plants) is ranked second in the state. • Printed materials (newspapers, school yearbooks) are also produced in Kansas. Mining • Almost every county in Kansas is involved in some kind of mineral production. • Petroleum and natural gas are the most important mined products in the state. • Other products are gypsum, helium, limestone and salt.

11. Kansas State Landmarks & Attractions Monument Rocks is the first natural landmark chosen by the US Dept. of the Interior as a National Natural Landmark. This limestone was once the floor of a great inland sea, existing some 80 million years ago. The sea dried away over time and the rock was carved by elements of nature to create these formations and stretch up to 70 feet in height Fort Leavenworth at Leavenworth, Kansas is the oldest active Army post west of the Mississippi.  It is known for its role in the expansion of the American frontier and as the only US military maximum security prison.