Whether you want some Kansas fun facts to use for a project or you want to impress people with your knowledge of the Sunflower State, we’ve put together some facts about Kansas that cover everything from weird laws to natural wonder to strange history.
Kansas has plenty of history, natural views, and beautiful small towns, and these interesting facts about Kansas are a real tribute to all of the fun Kansas facts to be found (we could have kept going, but kept it to the 51 best ones!).
Keep reading for weird facts about Kansas, amazing facts about Kansas, cool facts about Kansas, and plenty of fun Kansas facts to keep you guessing (or help you put together an awesome Kansas trivia quiz!)
Kansas Fun Facts
1. Kansas’ name originated from the Native American tribe, “Kansa.”
2. Hutchinson is the home of one of the longest grain elevators.
3. Topeka was the birthplace of the American rock band, “Kansas.”
4. The largest city in Kansas is Wichita.
5. The official nickname being the “Sunflower State”.
6. There is a concrete Garden of Eden in St. Lucas that was built in the 1900s.
7. There have been more meteorites found in Kansas than in any other state.
8. Kansas’ state animal is the American Bison.
9. The first Europeans explored the area of Kansas in 1541.
10. White Castle is the very first hamburger chain to be started in the US and it started in Wichita, Kansas.
Interesting Facts about Kansas
11. Walter P. Chrysler was born in Wamego in 1875. Raised in Ellis, he began his engine mechanics training and his automotive career as a young man.
12. The Big Well in Greensburg is known as the world’s largest hand dug well.
13. The real “Windy City” is not Chicago, it’s actually in Dodge City in Kansas.
14. North of Arkalon is the Rock Island Railroad bridge built in 1939 and nicknamed, the Sampson of the Cimarron.
15. Kansas is still home to many Native American tribes, such as: the Wichita, Pawnee, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Kiowa, Kiowa-Apache, Arikara, and Comanche.
16. Over 88% of the available land in Kansas can be used for farming.
17. In 2007, a tornado destroyed over 95% of the city of Greensburg.
18. Scientists actually proved Kansas was indeed “flatter than a pancake” when they compared the terrain of Kansas against an IHOP pancake.
19. Do not sing the alphabet while wandering the Topeka streets at night.
20. The discovery of helium took place at the University of Kansas.
Weird Facts about Kansas
21. In years past, it was against the law to provide ice cream on top of cherry pie when served.
22. The largest ball of Sisal twine is on display in Cawker City.
23. The first Pizza Hut was opened in 1958 in Wichita by two brothers who were attending Wichita State University.
24. A newly-dug well started spewing gas in the 1900s, it was determined by professors from the University of Kansas that the unknown gas was helium.
25. In Kansas there are 27 creeks named Walnut Creek.
26. It’s completely illegal to hunt whales in Kansas.
27. Kansas sued the neighboring state of Colorado in 1985 for a water usage agreement violation.
28. Located in Schlitterbahn Waterpark you can find the tallest waterslide in the world.
29. The First United Methodist Church is located in Hutchinson.
30. There was a tornado in 1928 that was so strong it forcibly removed the feathers from Kansas chickens.
Random Facts about Kansas
31. The first Icee drink was first made at a Coffeyville Dairy Queen.
32. Topeka is the home of the first Payless Shoe Store which was founded in 1956.
33. At a certain point at White Cloud you can view the panoramic view of the Missouri River valley and see four states at the same time.
34. The highest point in the state is Mount Sunflower, which is 4,000 feet above sea level.
35. The city of Hutchinson is famous for its salt production.
36. There are currently 528 caves located in Kansas.
37. Those who journeyed to the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails received protection at Fort Riley.
38. The official state insect is the honeybee.
39. Greensburg was hit by the first EF5 tornado.
40. Wichita was home to the first airplane factory in the United States.
Amazing Facts about Kansas
41. Barton County is the only county in the state that is named after a woman.
42. The official state reptile is the ornate box turtle.
43. Dwight D. Eisenhower is from Kansas.
44. Kansas residents root for Missouri teams, the Chiefs and Royals are basically unofficial members of the state.
45. Kansas won an award for their state license plate design in 1981.
46. The helicopter was invented in Kansas.
47. Kansas became a US territory in 1803.
48. Kansas sunflowers are grown for their seeds and oil.
49. You can find gentle hills and pastures in the Dissected Till Plains.
50. Sumner County, is nicknamed the Wheat Capital of the World.
51. 650 feet beneath the earth is where you can to experience Strataca’s underground salt museum.
Hey! Want more fun facts about the states? Check these out!
- 51 Fun Facts about Alaska (that most people don’t know!)
- 19 Fun Facts about Arkansas
- 19 Fun Facts about California
- 19 Fun Facts about Colorado
- 51 Fun Facts about Connecticut
- 51 Interesting Facts about Delaware
- 19 Fun Facts about Florida You Won’t Believe
- 29 Fun Facts about Georgia Most People Don’t Know!
- 51 Incredible Fun Facts about Hawaii
- 51 Fun Facts about Idaho
- 51 Fun Facts about Illinois
- 51 Fun Facts about Iowa
- 51 Interesting & Fun Facts about Indiana
- 51 Fun Facts about Kentucky
- 51 Amazing Fun Facts about Louisiana
- 21 Fun Facts about Maine
- 51 Cool Facts about Maryland
- 51 Fun Facts about Massachusetts
- 19 Michigan Fun Facts
- 51 Amazing Facts about Minnesota
- 51 Fun Facts about Mississippi
- 51 Awesome Facts about Missouri
- 51 Interesting Fun Facts about Montana
- 51 Cool Facts about Nebraska (unique!)
- 51 Unique Facts about Nevada
- 51 Amazing Fun Facts about New Hampshire
- 51 Incredible Fun Facts about New Mexico
- 39 Fun Facts about New York
- 19 Fun Facts about North Carolina
- 21 Fun Facts about Ohio
- 21 Interesting Facts about Oregon
- 49 Fun Facts about Pennsylvania
- 21 Fun Facts about Rhode Island (unique!)
- 21 Fun Facts about Utah
- 19 Interesting Facts about Washington State
- 51 Cool Facts about Wyoming
- 51 Cool Facts about Wisconsin
- 51 Cool Facts about West Virginia
- 51 Cool Facts about Virginia
- 51 Cool Facts about Vermont
- 51 Cool Facts about Tennessee
- 51 Cool Facts about South Dakota
- 51 Cool Facts about South Carolina
- 51 Cool Facts about Oklahoma
- 51 Cool Facts about North Dakota
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