The “sunflower” State- Kansas

The State of Kansas in the United States is named after a river with the same name, which flows through it. It has also been called “Midway” or Central State because of its geographic location in the United States. Though there are several nicknames given to this state, the most notable one is the “Sunflower” State because of the presence of a large number of sunflower plantations all across the state. Moreover, the sunflower is also the state’s official flower and is the floral emblem of the state. History Historically, this area was the first home to large groups of nomadic Native Americans who used to hunt the bison, which is now the state animal. In 1822, hundreds of wagons came on the Santa Fe Trail to Kansas. With many such settlers coming in, the population grew. It was declared a state in 1861 when it joined the union. Geography The state lies in the middle of the nation and can be easily spotted on the map, being the geographic center of the country. Two rivers flow through the state; Kansas, which is the main river, and Missouri, which flows along the north-east border. It has been divided into 105 counties and has 628 cities and is equidistant from both the East and the West coasts. The highest point in the state is Mount Sunflower, which is about 1,200m ASL. The capital of the state is Topeka, though Wichita is the largest city here. This state is one of the most agriculturally productive states and one of the leading states in the production of wheat and sunflower. Demography The state has an estimated population of over 2.5 million as of 2007 and has a large immigrant population, numbering 15, 0000. These immigrants are from varied backgrounds and nationalities and form a formidable part of the cultural setup of the state. Economy The state is primarily agricultural and contributes immensely to the grain production of the country. The eastern part of the state is also part of the nation’s Grain Belt. The agricultural output of the state comprises: *cattle *corn *cotton *hogs *salt *sheep *sorghum *soybean *wheat The Industrial Output Comprises: *apparel *chemical products *commercial and private aircraft *food processing *machinery *mining *petroleum *publishing *transportation equipment The state ranks 32nd in GDP and eighth in the production of oil and natural gas. The economy of the state is also heavily influenced by the aircraft industry, as large corporations, such as Boeing and Learjet, among others, have manufacturing units here. Tourism Kansas carries a long and old heritage in the form of the famous Santa Fe Trail and the civil war-related historic forts. The Tourism Department of the state invests a lot in the welfare of tourists. Hunting is also a favored sport here, and the government organizes training camps for the same. The other places to watch here are the museums, such as the award winning Kansas Museum of History; Kansas National Historic Landmarks, such as the Hollenberg Pony Express Station, have great historical significance history and are worth watching for somebody on a visit to this state.

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