Kansas is a Great Plains state in the United States. The state is named after the Kansas River that flows through it, which in turn derived its name from the Siouan word Kansa meaning "People of the south wind."

Located in the heartland of the country, Kansas is home to the geographical center of the contiguous United States. Historically home to large numbers of Native Americans who hunted buffalo there, the state was first settled by white Americans in the 1850s. Beginning in 1854, abolitionists from New England and pro-slavery settlers from neighboring Missouri rushed to the territory to determine if Kansas would become a free state. Known as Bleeding Kansas, the state was a hotbed of violence and chaos in its early days as these forces collided. In 1861 Kansas entered the Union as a free state. After the Civil War, the population of Kansas exploded as wave after wave of immigrants turned the desolate prairie into productive farmland. Today Kansas is one of the most productive agricultural states, leading the nation in wheat production.

Geography

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Kansas is bordered by Nebraska on the north; Missouri on the east; Oklahoma on the south; and Colorado on the west. It is located equidistant from the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. The geodetic center of North America is located in Osborne County. This spot is used as the central reference point for all maps produced by the government. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located in Smith County near Lebanon, Kansas, and the geographic center of Kansas is located in Barton County.

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"Kansas seems to be ground zero for the Republican war on women this year." http://t.co/o7kAlTxa
rikkiends (rikkiends) Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:29 -0000
"Kansas seems to be ground zero for the Republican war on women this year." http://t.co/o7kAlTxa
Will Kansas Legislators Encourage Doctors to Lie and Deny Sick Women Care? http://t.co/C0n6G0XR
mfpenney (Mike Penney) Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:25 -0000
Will Kansas Legislators Encourage Doctors to Lie and Deny Sick Women Care? http://t.co/C0n6G0XR
Sam Brownback is an idiot. http://t.co/Q1fwbqKG
SaraGwin7272 (Sara Gwin) Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:18 -0000
Sam Brownback is an idiot. http://t.co/Q1fwbqKG
Kansas Jayhawks Basketball: The Story Behind One of the Most Prestigious Program http://t.co/nrL9C9G3
RawSCollegeBB (RS CollegeBasketball) Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:18 -0000
Kansas Jayhawks Basketball: The Story Behind One of the Most Prestigious Program http://t.co/nrL9C9G3
Kansas Jayhawks Big Logo Hard Sole Slide Slippers - L: Kansas Jayhawks - Forever Collectibles NCAA Team Slippers... http://t.co/MjbV2kny
Sharrighv (Sharri Schaming) Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:13 -0000
Kansas Jayhawks Big Logo Hard Sole Slide Slippers - L: Kansas Jayhawks - Forever Collectibles NCAA Team Slippers... http://t.co/MjbV2kny
I'm at Terra Management (Kansas City, MO) http://t.co/qY4PyQOE
brittneymona (Brittney) Wed, 16 May 2012 19:10:12 -0000
I'm at Terra Management (Kansas City, MO) http://t.co/qY4PyQOE

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