Kansas is one of fifty states that, together with Washington D. C., form the United States of America. Its capital is Topeka and its most populous city, Wichita. It is located in the Midwest region of the country, division Northwest Center, bounded on the north by Nebraska, on the east by Missouri, on the south by Oklahoma and west by Colorado. On January 29,1861, it became the 34th US state. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous United States is located in its northern area, in Smith County. The geodesic center of North America is also located in its territory, in Osborne. This is used as a reference point for all maps of the federal government.
It is one of the national leaders of the agricultural industry. It is the largest national producer of wheat, which is why it is known as the Wheat State and Breadbasket of America. It also has one of the largest herds of cattle in the country. Agriculture and livestock were for a large part of their history their main source of income. Dodge City is considered by many to be the "Cowboys Capital of the World". It also has a strong mining industry, and is a national leader in the production of oil and natural gas. Currently, the main sources of income of the state are commerce and industry. During the decade of 1850, with the Law of Kansas-Nebraska, great number of abolicionistas and defenders of the slave work settled in this state.
It was the scene of many clashes between abolitionist and slave militias, as well as in the neighboring state of Missouri. These conflicts were so violent that he received the nickname Bleeding Kansas. Another name with its origins in this conflict is Jayhawker State. Jayhawker is the common act of abolitionists to invade slave farms in Missouri, ransack haciendas and free slaves. The best known nickname is The Sunflower State. Sunflowers cover a good part of its plains. The name Kansas originates from the Amerindian tribe Kansa, who lived in the region until the eighteenth century. Kansa means "town of the southern winds".