What Is There To Know About The State Of Kansas?

The French named the Kansas River, using a combination of Indian words, “KaNze” which means “south wind.” The state has many nicknames, such as the Jayhawk State, the Midway State, Sunflower State, and the Wheat State. It is situated in the plains and prairies of America, considered the country’s breadbasket because of the amount of wheat grown here.

100s upon 100s arrived here by way of the Santa Fe Trail in 1822 by wagon and it was in 1861 when it joined the union. The façade of the state would change from plains and prairies as cattle drives and railroads made their way through here. It was the passing of famous likes of Bat Masterson, Wild Bill Hickok, and Wyatt Earp that would put Kansas on the map of history though.

Kansas is the geographic center of the continued States and is often referred to as “Midway, U.S.A.” The name “The Central State” is another moniker for Kansas because it’s location The weather that comes through here has also given it the nickname of The Cyclone State because of the cyclones, such as that in the movie “The Wizard of Oz.” However, the honor of having the most tornadoes goes to Oklahoma, not Kansas.

When the Rocky Mountain Locusts swept through Kansas in the summer of 1874 and destroyed the lush landscape, the nickname The Grasshopper State was bestowed upon the state. Kansans being strong people stood with their state, and it survived.

Kansas was the 34th state to join the union in 1861 after a long and bloody battle. Two territories would open in after the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, giving settlers a choice for the states to join the union or not. It was this violent time that gave the state another nickname: “Bleeding Kansas.”