The state of Kansas is located in the Midwestern
region of America and gets its name from the river which winds
its way through it. The region was originally settled by various
nomadic tribes of Native Americans and was then settled by
Europeans in the 1830s. It became the 34th state to enter the
Union when it joined in 1861. Kansas is now the 33rd largest
state by population with about three million people and is the
15th largest by area. Its capital city is Topeka, while Wichita
is the largest. Other major centers include Kansas City,
Lebanon, Topeka, Concordia, Dodge City, Overland Park, Lawrence,
Olathe, Shawnee, Manhattan, Leavenworth, Garden City, and
Junction City.
Kansas is separated into 105 counties and is
basically located right in the middle of the country as it’s the
same distance from both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Most of
the land is located in the country’s great central plain while
the rest of it consists of hills, forests, rivers, historic
sites, and national parks.
Some of the most popular parks include the
California National Historic Trail, the Pony Express Historic
Trail, the Fort Scott Historic Site, the Fort
Larned Historic Site, the Nicodemus Historic Site, the Lewis
and Clark Historic Trail, the Oregon Historic Trail, the
Tallgrass Prairie National, Preserve, and the Santa Fe Historic
Trail.
Kansas basically has three different climate
types, so check on the area you’re going to before leaving. But
generally, the summers are pretty hot and the winters
cold-to-mild. But it can reach extreme heat and cold.
When it comes to sports, most of the franchises
are located in Topeka or Kansas City. However there are a couple
in Wichita. Kansas City is home to the Kansas City Wizards of
Major League Soccer, while Topeka and Wichita house several
minor-league professional hockey, baseball, and football teams.
Many local residents cheer on the major league teams of Kansas
City, Missouri or Denver.
Auto racing is pretty big though, and there are two top-notch
tracks. These are the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, which
features IRL, ARCA, and NASCAR races along with Heartland Park
in Topeka, which showcases the National Hot Rod Association.
Collegiate sports are also popular.
As far as history goes, there are quite a few
interesting places to visit throughout the state. You can check
out the Front Street and Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, the
John Brown museum in Osawatomie, the childhood house of Dwight
D. Eisenhower, along with the library and gravesite in Abilene,
, the famous Wizard of Oz Museum in Wamego, the Kansas
Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, the Kansas Museum of
History in Topeka, Joyland Amusement Park in Wichita, Fort Scott
National Historic Site, the Mine Creek Battlefield located near
Pleasanton, the Fort Larned National Historic Site, and the
Constitution Hall in Lecompton.
As with most states, the interstate road system
makes travelling pretty easy. In fact, it’s got the
second-largest highway system in America. The international
airport is located in Wichita and there are several smaller
regional ones located throughout the state where you can get
domestic flights. If you’re heading to eastern Kansas, you can
also fly into Kansas City International Airport, which is
located in the state of Missouri. And if you’re heading into
western Kansas, you might want to fly into Denver, Colorado.
Lodging is easy to find as there are numerous
types of inns, motels, and hotels available in all price ranges.
You’ll find restaurants serve local dishes and there are a lot
of international establishments around too.
A trip to Kansas will allow people of all ages
to visit numerous interesting historical sites while enjoying
the countryside for outdoor activities and its natural beauty.
About Kansas