Kansas Fast Facts:
Location, Location, Location...: Kansas is located in the midwestern region of the United States.
Cities: The capital city is Topeka, while the largest cities are Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, respectively.
Behind the Name: Officially nicknamed the “Sunflower State,” Kansas is also well known as the “Jayhawk State.” Kansas is named after the Kansas River, which in turn was named after the Kansas tribe that inhabited the area prior to its colonization.
A Closer Look: After the Civil War a wave of European immigrants helped develop Kansas’ prairies into productive farmland.
Did You Know? The Kansas area was an unfortunate hotbed of violence at its origin, as the slave issue erupted into what became known as “Bleeding Kansas.”
Kansas Careers and Employment:
Population: 2,802,134 (4.2% increase since 2000) – 50.4% Female, 49.6% Male (2008 U.S. Census Bureau).
Business Environment: Ranked 28th in Forbes Magazine’s “Best States for Business,” 2008.
Top Industries: In terms of paid employees, according to a 2008 U.S. Census Bureau study: (1) manufacturing; (2) health care and social assistance; (3) retail trade; (4) accommodation and food services; and (5) construction.
Taxes: Income Tax, 3.5% to 6.45% and Sales Tax, 5.3% (Federation of Tax Administrators).
Cost of Living: 91.4 in relation to the “National Average” of 100 (Federal Cost of Living Index).
Quality of Life: Ranked 28th of 50 states by CNBC, 2009.
Weather: Average Temperature (In °F) – Jan: 28.77; Apr: 53.59; July: 78.79; Oct: 56.22 (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
K-12: Ranked 7th of 50 states in “Academic Achievement” by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 2009.
Kansas Economics:
In General: Notwithstanding its agricultural base, the majority of the jobs in Kansas are in the service industry (35%) and the finance, insurance and real estate industry (30%); however there are many career opportunities available in manufacturing, agricultural services, and government and military services.
Service Industry: Concentrated in Kansas’ metropolitan areas, private health care, law firms, data processing companies, hotels, repair shops and customer service call centers are important aspects of the service industry.
Agriculture: Kansas is one of the nation’s most productive agricultural states, producing many crops and typically leading the nation in wheat, sorghum and sunflower production. Yet, raising cattle and calves easily generates the highest agricultural revenue in the state, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the state’s considerable agricultural production.
Manufacturing: Transportation equipment, particularly involving aircrafts and railroads, is Kansas’ primary manufactured product.
Mining: Almost every county in Kansas is involved in some kind of mineral production, with petroleum and natural gas serving as the most important mined products in the state.
Did You Know? Kansas’s second largest employer is actually Fort Riley, a United State Army installation located in the northeast region of the state.
Kansas Education:
Find Colleges and Universities in Kansas, here.
Sources: In addition to specific citations noted in this “Career Information” section, supplementary source materials include: the U.S. Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service; Netstate.com; Education-Portal.com; USCollegeSearch.org; and Wikipedia.com.
