Origin of State Name : Named for the Kansa (or Kaw) Indians, the "people of the south wind."

Nickname : The Sunflower State; also, the Jayhawker State.

Capital : Topeka.

Country : 105 counties

Population : 2,688,418; 32nd, 12/00

Entered Union : 29 January 1861 (34th).

Song : "Home on the Range."

March : "The Kansas March."

Motto : Ad astra per aspera (To the stars through difficulties).

Flag : The flag consists of a dark blue field with the state seal in the center; a sunflower on a bar of twisted gold and blue is above the seal, the word "Kansas" is below it.

Animal : American buffalo.

Bird : Western meadowlark.

Insect : Honeybee.

Reptile : Ornate box turtle.

Flower : Wild native sunflower.

Tree : Cottonwood.

Agriculture : Cattle, wheat, sorghum, soybeans, hogs, corn.

Industry : Transportation equipment, food processing, printing and publishing, chemical products, machinery, apparel, petroleum, mining.