Kansas

Kansas is known as "The Sunflower State because of the numerous sunflowers growing in the prairie.^[1] The state covers an area of 82,278 square miles, making it the 15th largest state in the U.S. by size.^[2] As of 2020, the population of Kansas was approximately 2.94 million.^[2] The state’s population has been growing at a rate of 0.57% annually.^[2]

Kansas’ economy ranks 33rd in size among states and Washington, DC.^[3] The state’s economy grew by 9.7% in the third quarter of 2023.^[4] Kansas is a leader in wheat, grain sorghum, and beef production.^[5] It is the leading producer of wheat in the United States.^[6] The state is also known for its manufacturing industry.^[7]

Kansas is home to several attractive features and landmarks. Some of the top tourist attractions in the state include the Botanica Wichita Gardens, the Kansas State Capitol in Topeka, the Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum, and Boyhood Home in Abilene, and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve. The state is also known for its contributions to jazz music, barbecue, and as the setting of L. Frank Baum’s classic children’s book The Wizard of Oz.^[6]

History of Kansas

FiThe first contact between Indigenous communities and European communities in Kansas began in 1541 with the arrival of Spanish explorers led by Coronado.^[8] The French followed about 200 years later, entering the state from the east and forming an alliance with the Kansa, or Kaw, Indians.^[8] The region was explored by Spanish conquistadores in the 16th century, and later by French fur trappers who traded with the Native Americans.^[9]

Kansas, situated on the American Great Plains, became the 34th state on January 29, 1861.^[10] Its path to statehood was long and bloody, with the territory becoming known as “Bleeding Kansas” due to the violence that erupted over whether the state would be admitted to the union as a free or slave state.^[10] The admittance of Kansas as a state sparked great unrest, as four Union states had been admitted with no slave states to balance the power in Washington.^[11]

Kansas, admitted to the union just months before the Civil War broke out, had fewer than 30,000 men of military age, but 20,000 served in the Union armies.^[12] The state was a major battleground for pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces, leading to violent conflict.^[13]

In the late 19th century, Kansas transitioned from primarily an extractive-based economy to an urban service and knowledge-based economy. The emerging national market for cattle brought new opportunity to towns like Ellsworth, but it also tied their fates to distant economic forces beyond their control.^[14]

The first decades of the 20th century were tumultuous in Kansas as the state endured drought, war, intolerance, and economic depression.^[15] Fueled by the continued growth of industries, especially the railroads, stockyards, and garment district, Kansas City’s population and economy exploded from 163,000 in 1900 to over 399,000 by 1930.^[16] In recent years, a new state incentive program called APEX facilitated significant economic development.^[17]

Demographics of Kansas

The demographic distribution of Kansas population is as follows:[1]

White: 81.4%
Two or more races: 6.12%
Black or African American: 5.64%
Other race: 3.03%
Asian: 3%
Native American: 0.74%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.07%

Most common surnames in Kansas

The demographic distribution of [state] surnames is as follows:^[18]

Surname	Incidence	Frequency
Smith	26,037	1:115
Johnson	18,781	1:159
Brown	15,476	1:193
Miller	15,242	1:196
Jones	13,899	1:215
Williams	12,645	1:236
Davis	11,788	1:253
Wilson	10,072	1:296
Anderson	9,739	1:306
Martin	7,804	1:382

Researching family history in Kansas

The National Archives at Kansas City maintains extensive collections of records from Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska. The National Orphan Train Complex helps find foster children between 1853 and 1930 who rode trains from New York City, Boston, or Chicago to new homes in other states or Canada. The Kansas State Historical Society was established in 1875 and is headquartered in Topeka. The society operates as “the trustee of the state” for the purpose of maintaining the state’s history. The Kansas State Library has extensive online sources that can help with family history research. The Kansas Council of Genealogical Societies lists many other county and local resources for family history.

Kansas county list

There are 105 counties in Kansas.


Allen	Anderson	Atchison	Barber
Barton	Bourbon	Brown	Butler
Chase	Chautauqua	Cherokee	Cheyenne
Clark	Clay	Cloud	Coffey
Comanche	Cowley	Crawford	Decatur
Dickinson	Doniphan	Douglas	Edwards
Elk	Ellis	Ellsworth	Finney
Ford	Franklin	Geary	Gove
Graham	Grant	Gray	Greeley
Greenwood	Hamilton	Harper	Harvey
Haskell	Hodgeman	Jackson	Jefferson
Jewell	Johnson	Kearny	Kingman
Kiowa	Labette	Lane	Leavenworth
Lincoln	Linn	Logan	Lyon
Marion	Marshall	McPherson	Meade
Miami	Mitchell	Montgomery	Morris
Morton	Nemaha	Neosho	Ness
Norton	Osage	Osborne	Ottawa
Pawnee	Phillips	Pottawatomie	Pratt
Rawlins	Reno	Republic	Rice
Riley	Rooks	Rush	Russell
Saline	Scott	Sedgwick	Seward
Shawnee	Sheridan	Sherman	Smith
Stafford	Stanton	Stevens	Sumner
Thomas	Trego	Wabaunsee	Wallace
Washington	Wichita	Wilson	Woodson
Wyandotte

Explore more about Kansas

MyHeritage.com has 28 collections of valuable genealogical records from Kansas. These include 1925 Kansas State Census, 1915 Kansas State Census, 1905 Kansas State Census, Kansas Newspapers, 1869-2009. There are also many helpful additional records in the Kansas Collection Catalog.

References

[1] Kansas State Nickname | The Sunflower State

[:0-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 Kansas Population 2024 (Demographics, Maps, Graphs)

[3] “Economy of Kansas Statistics and Data Trends: GDP Ranking, Unemployment Rate, and Economic Growth | USAFacts.”

[4] Kansas leads the nation in economic growth

[5] Agriculture

[:1-6] 6.0 ^6.1 Kansas

[7] List of Products Made in Kansas - AllAmerican.org

[:2-8] 8.0 ^8.1 Kansas Archeology - Kansapedia - Kansas Historical Society

[9] Spanish Exploration of the Great Plains - Fort Larned National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)

[:3-10] 10.0 ^10.1 Kansas enters the Union | January 29, 1861

[11] When Kansas Became a State - Kansas Historical Society

[12] Kansas and the Centennial of the Civil War - Kansas Historical Society

[13] Bleeding Kansas - Summary, Causes & John Brown's Role

[14] What 19th-Century Kansas Cow Towns Teach Us About Global Capital | Essay

[15] Museum - Early 20th Century Exhibit - Kansas Historical Society

[16] Economic Boom, Depression, and Recovery | The Pendergast Years

[17] Business Climate Overview: How Kansas Built an Economic Development Dynasty

[18] Most common last names in Kansas

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