Coronado came to Kansas in 1561 in search of gold. 300 years would pass before the now more familiar names of John Brown, Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickok would influence Kansas. The Wild West began here in such places as Abiline, Wichita and infamous Dodge City. Now quite peaceful and prosperous, these cities, as well as the rest of Kansas still retain the spirit of their histories. Today the gold to be found in the great harvests of wheat and corn. The endless fields can be seen almost everywhere - primarily in the western part of the state. Kansas, perhaps more than any state, can be easily called the breadbasket of the nation.
Capital: Topeka
Population: 2, 477, 574
Area: 82, 282 square miles
Time: Central Time
Geography: The state is bordered in the east by Missouri, to the south by Oklahoma, Colorado in the west and Nebraska in the north. Kansas is relatively flat with undulating hills found primarily in the eastern end of the state.
Climate
Summers are hot and breezy. Winters are cold and windy. This may be somewhat of an oversimplification, but its on target. The spring and fall are delightful in Kansas as the weather plays a fine host. |
