Smack-bang in the middle of the US, Kansas also has a central place in American mythology – this rural, Frontier Strip state provides the setting for classic musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz and popular Western drama Little House on the Prairie.
Cities such as Wichita and Dodge City were also centers of the legendary Wild West, and several museums across the state commemorate Kansas’ gun-slinging past.
Wichita is also known for its contributions to the aircraft industry, and as the state’s leading cultural center. In recent years it has also garnered a reputation for affordability, having appeared high up in a number of different rankings of the most affordable places to live in the US.
Still one of the US’s most productive agricultural states, Kansas will appeal to those who wish to travel to the pastoral core of the US – though if you’re in need of the bright lights there’s plenty of fun to be had in cities like Wichita, Kansas City and Topeka.
One of the sunniest states in the country, Kansas promises scorching summer temperatures; Wichita’s average daily high in July is a sizzling 93°F (34°C). As those who have seen The Wizard of Oz will recall, it’s also one of the nation’s most tornado-prone states, averaging around 50 per year.
Kansas: Fast facts
• Located in the central region of the US; borders with Nebraska to the north, Missouri to the east, Oklahoma to the south and Colorado to the west
• State capital is Topeka and largest city is Wichita
• Famous people from Kansas include actor and filmmaker Dennis Hopper, writer William S. Burroughs and jazz musician Charlie Parker
• Lucas, Kansas, is home to the world’s largest collection of the world’s smallest versions of the world’s smallest things – a roadside travelling attraction
• Major products include beef, sunflowers and wheat
• Wildlife in Kansas includes deer, elk, buffalo and pronghorn antelope
Top universities in Kansas
The University of Kansas, the state’s largest university, ranks in the top 450 of the QS World University Rankings 2011/12.
While the main campus is in Lawrence, the university also has campuses in Kansas City, Wichita, Salina, Edwards, and subject-specific institutes in several other locations.
Almost 30,000 students are enrolled at the Lawrence and Edwards campuses, including almost 20,000 undergraduate students. About 69% of students are from within Kansas, and more than 2,000 are from outside the US, hailing from more than 100 countries.
Other public universities in Kansas include Kansas State University, Wichita State University, Pittsburg State University, Fort Hays State University and Emporia State University.
There are also lots of community colleges, offering two-year associate’s degrees, and a large selection of private universities.
More states for sun-worshippers:
