Flag of Kansas

What the flag looks like

A dark blue field with the state seal in the center, a sunflower on a twisted blue and gold bar above it, and KANSAS in gold letters below.

What it means

The seal shows a settler ploughing, a wagon train and bison under a rising sun, with 34 stars because Kansas was the 34th state.

How to remember it

Kansas is the seal-on-blue with a sunflower perched on top and KANSAS in gold underneath.

Fun facts

• The seal's motto "Ad astra per aspera" means "To the stars through difficulties".
• The flag was adopted in 1927; the word KANSAS was added in 1961.

Kansas at a glance

Nickname

The Sunflower State

Statehood

1861

Capital

Topeka

Region

West North Central

Population

2.9 million

Area

213,100 km²

Flag adopted

1961

Flags often confused with Kansas

• Nebraska: Kansas and Nebraska are both a state seal on dark blue. Kansas has a sunflower above the seal and KANSAS below; Nebraska's seal is plain gold and silver with no name underneath.
• Montana: Kansas and Montana both put a seal and the state's name in gold on blue. Kansas has KANSAS below and a sunflower on top; Montana has MONTANA above the seal.