This page will contain discussion groups about Kansas, as they become available.Kansas
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| State nickname: The Sunflower State | |
| Other U.S. States | |
| Capital | Topeka |
| Largest city | Wichita |
| Governor | Kathleen Sebelius |
| Official languages | None |
| Area | 82,277 mi²; 213,096 km² (15th) |
| - Land | 81,815 mi²; 211,900 km² |
| - Water | 462 mi²; 1,196 km² (0.56%) |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Population | 2,688,418 (32nd) |
| - Density | 32.9/mi²; 12.7 /km² (40th) |
| Admission into Union | |
| - Date | January 29, 1861 |
| - Order | 34th |
| Time zone | Central : UTC-6/-5 Mountain: UTC-7/-6 Counties are Central except for 4 counties on western border. |
| Latitude | 37°N to 40°N |
| Longitude | 94°38'W to 102°1'34"W |
| Width | 211 mi; 340 km |
| Length | 400 mi; 645 km |
| Elevation | |
| - Highest | 4,039 feet; 1,231 m |
| - Mean | 2000 feet; 600 m |
| - Lowest | 679 feet; 207 m |
| Abbreviations | |
| - USPS | KS |
| - ISO 3166-2 | US-KS |
| Web site | www.accesskansas.org |
Kansas, derived from the Siouan word Kansa meaning "People of the south wind", is a midwestern state in the United States. The U.S. postal abbreviation for the state is KS.
Main article: History of Kansas
Kansas, as part of the Louisiana Purchase, was annexed to the United States in 1803 as unorganized territory. Kansas then became part of the Missouri Territory until 1821. The Kansas-Nebraska Act became law on May 30, 1854 and established the U.S. territories of Nebraska and Kansas.
Fort Leavenworth was the first community in the area around 1827. To travellers enroute to Utah, California, or Oregon, Kansas was a waystop and outfitting place. On March 30, 1855 "Border Ruffians" from Missouri invaded Kansas during the territory's first election and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature.
Kansas became the 34th state of the Union on January 29, 1861. Civil War veterans constructed homesteads in Kansas following the war. On February 19, 1861 it became the first U.S. state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages.
On August 21, 1863, William Quantrill led Quantrill's Raid into Lawrence destroying much of the city and killing many people.
Wild Bill Hickok was a deputy marshal at Fort Riley and a marshal at Hays and Abilene.
Kansas was home to President Eisenhower, presidential candidates Bob Dole and Alf Landon, Amelia Earhart, and Carrie Nation. Famous sport athletes from Kansas include Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Ryun, Walter Johnson, Maurice Greene and Lynette Woodard.
The state capital is Topeka.
The top executives of the state are Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Lieutenant Governor John E. Moore. Both are elected on the same ticket to a maximum of two consecutive 4-year terms. Their current term will end in January of 2007, and they are able to run for re-election in 2006.
The state's current delegation to the United States Congress includes Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Representatives Jerry Moran (District 1), Jim Ryun (District 2), Dennis Moore (District 3), and Todd Tiahrt (District 4). Moore is the only Democrat in the delegation; all others are Republicans.
Kansas had a reputation as a progressive state with many firsts in legislative initiatives—it was the first state to institute a system of workers compensation (1910). The council-manager government was adopted by many larger Kansas cities in the years following World War I while many American cities were being run by political machines or organized crime. Kansas schools both public and private continue to have some of the highest standards in the nation. Kansas was first among the states to ban the concept of separate but equal schools. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka banned racially segregated schools throughout the U.S.
Since the early 1990s, Kansas has grown more socially conservative. The decade brought new restrictions on abortion, the defeat of prominent Democrats, including Dan Glickman, and the Kansas State Board of Education's infamous 1999 decision to eliminate the theory of evolution from the state teaching standards, a decision that was later reversed. In 2005 voters accepted a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, and the Kansas State Board of Education resumed hearings to determine if evolution should once again be removed from state science standards.
See also: List of Governors of Kansas; U.S. Congressional Delegations from Kansas
Kansas is bordered by Nebraska on the north, Missouri on the east, Oklahoma on the south, and Colorado on the west. It is located equidistant from the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. The geographic center of North America is located in Osborne County. This spot is used as the central reference point for all maps produced by the government. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located in Smith County near Lebanon, Kansas, and the geographic center of Kansas is located in Barton County.
The state is divided up into 105 counties with 628 cities.
Kansas is one of the six states located on the Frontier Strip.
The state, lying in the great central plain of the United States, has a generally flat or undulating surface. Its altitude above the sea ranges from 750 feet at the mouth of the Kansas River to 4000 feet on the western border. (Mount Sunflower is the highest point.) The rivers flow through bottomlands, varying from ¼ to 6 miles in width, and bounded by bluffs, rising 50 to 300 feet. The Missouri River forms nearly 75 miles of the state's northeastern boundary. The Kansas River, formed by the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers, joins the Missouri at Kansas City, after a course of 150 miles across the state. The Arkansas River, rising in Colorado, flows with a tortuous course, for nearly 500 miles, across three-fourths of the state. It forms, with its tributaries, the Little Arkansas, Walnut, Cow Creek, Cimarron, Verdigris (which is the lowest point in Kansas at 680 feet), and the Neosho, the southern drainage system of the state. Other important rivers are the Saline and Solomon, tributaries of the Smoky Hill River; the Big Blue, Delaware, and Wakarusa, which flow into the Kansas River; and the Marais des Cygnes, a tributary of the Missouri River.
The state is served by two interstate highways with six spur routes. I-70 is a major east/west route connecting to St. Louis, Missouri, in the east and Denver, Colorado, in the west. Cities along this route (from east to west) include Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, Junction City, Salina, Hays, and Colby. I-35 is a major north/south route connecting to Des Moines, Iowa, in the north and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in the south. Cities along this route (from north to south) include Kansas City (and its suburbs), Ottawa, Emporia, El Dorado and Wichita.
Spur routes serve as connections between the two major routes. I-135, a north/south route, connects I-70 at Salina to I-35 at Wichita. I-335, a northeast/southwest route, connects I-70 at Topeka to I-35 at Emporia. I-335 and portions of I-35 and I-70 make up the Kansas Turnpike. I-435 and I-635 serve a dual purpose as connections between the major routes and bypasses around the Kansas City metropolitan area. Other bypasses are I-235 around Wichita and I-470 around Topeka.
In January 2004, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced the new Kansas 511 traveler information service.[3] (http://www.ksdot.org/offtransinfo/News04/511_Release.htm) By calling 511, callers will get access to information about road conditions, construction, closures, detours and weather conditions for the state highway system. Weather and road condition information is updated every 15 minutes.
See also: KDOT road condition information (http://www.kanroad.org)
The 2003 total gross state product of Kansas was $93 billion. Its per-capita income was $29,438. The agricultural outputs of the state are cattle, wheat, sorghum, soybeans, hogs and corn. The industrial outputs are transportation equipment, commercial and private aircraft, food processing, publishing, chemical products, machinery, apparel, petroleum and mining.
Kansas, as well as five other Mid-West states (Nebraska, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota and Iowa), is feeling the brunt of falling populations. 89% of the total number of cities in those states have fewer than 3000 people; hundreds have fewer than than 1000. Between 1996 and 2004 almost half a million people, nearly half with college degrees, left the six states. "Rural flight" as it is called has led to offers of free land and tax breaks as enticements to newcomers.
See also: List of cities in Kansas
Main article: Education in Kansas
The Kansas Board of Regents governs or supervises thirty-seven public institutions. It also authorizes numerous private and out-of-state institutions to operate in the state. In Fall 2004 the state’s six public universities reported a combined enrollment of 88,270 students, of which almost a quarter were non-resident students and a tenth were off-campus enrollments.
Among the state-funded universities, the University of Kansas (KU) is the largest in terms of enrollment, with 26,980 at its Lawrence campus, KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, and Public Management Center (formerly the Capitol Complex) in Topeka. The total university enrollment, which includes KU Medical Center, was 29,590. About 31% were non-resident students.
Kansas State University (KSU) has the second largest enrollment, with 23,151 students at its Manhattan and Salina campuses and Veterinary Medical Center. About 19% were non-resident students. Wichita State University (WSU) ranks third largest with 14,298 students; about 12% were non-resident students. Fort Hays State University (FHSU), Pittsburg State University (PSU), and Emporia State University (ESU) are smaller public universities with total enrollments of 8500, 6537, and 6194, respectively. FHSU has the fastest growing enrollment in Kansas with most of it coming from non-resident and off-campus enrollment. The composition of FHSU's enrollment includes 35% non-resident students and 44% off-campus enrollments. PSU also has almost a quarter of enrollment from non-residents.
For more on the universities and colleges in Kansas, see the complete list.
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For more on the universities and colleges in Kansas, see the complete list. The opening credits of the show include a shot of the Pyramids, a set of distinctive office buildings located near the northern edge of the city. The composition of FHSU's enrollment includes 35% non-resident students and 44% off-campus enrollments. PSU also has almost a quarter of enrollment from non-residents. Television sitcom One Day at a Time and Men Behaving Badly were situated in Indianapolis. FHSU has the fastest growing enrollment in Kansas with most of it coming from non-resident and off-campus enrollment. Indianapolis is the second most populous capital city in the United States (including Washington, DC), after Phoenix, Arizona. Fort Hays State University (FHSU), Pittsburg State University (PSU), and Emporia State University (ESU) are smaller public universities with total enrollments of 8500, 6537, and 6194, respectively. Senator Dick Lugar, who served in the 1970s. Wichita State University (WSU) ranks third largest with 14,298 students; about 12% were non-resident students. Past mayors include Steve Goldsmith, Peterson's predecessor, and U.S. About 19% were non-resident students. The mayor of Indianapolis (as of 2005) is Bart Peterson. Kansas State University (KSU) has the second largest enrollment, with 23,151 students at its Manhattan and Salina campuses and Veterinary Medical Center. Indianapolis's Union Station, one of the busiest rail depots in its time, employed a young Thomas Edison as a telegraph operator. About 31% were non-resident students. Indianapolis is the international headquarters of the pharmaceutical corporation Eli Lilly and Company, the US headquarters of Roche Diagnostics, and the world headquarters of Dow AgroSciences. The total university enrollment, which includes KU Medical Center, was 29,590. Both of the US navy ships named USS Indianapolis were named for this city. Among the state-funded universities, the University of Kansas (KU) is the largest in terms of enrollment, with 26,980 at its Lawrence campus, KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, and Public Management Center (formerly the Capitol Complex) in Topeka. Other nicknames include ‘Circle City’ (after Monument Circle) and ‘Naptown’ (presumably shortened from ‘IndiaNAPolis’, but often taken derogatorily to mean "sleepy" or "boring"). In Fall 2004 the state’s six public universities reported a combined enrollment of 88,270 students, of which almost a quarter were non-resident students and a tenth were off-campus enrollments. The most common nickname for Indianapolis is ‘Indy’. It also authorizes numerous private and out-of-state institutions to operate in the state. Republicans still claim other county offices such as Prosecutor, Auditor, Clerk and Recorder. The Kansas Board of Regents governs or supervises thirty-seven public institutions. In 2004, Democratic power increased yet again in Marion County as the offices of Marion County Treasurer, Surveyor and Coroner swung their way, also the first time since Unigov. Main article: Education in Kansas. However, Republicans lost control of the City-County Council by just 13 votes -- the first time Democrats seized control since the inception of Unigov. See also: List of cities in Kansas. In 1999, Democrat Bart Peterson defeated Republican Secretary of State Sue Anne Gilroy, 52 percent to 41 percent, respectively. Four years later, Peterson won in a landslide with 63 percent of the vote. "Rural flight" as it is called has led to offers of free land and tax breaks as enticements to newcomers. cities. For 36 years Republicans dominated city/county government, 32 of which were at the mayor's office. Between 1996 and 2004 almost half a million people, nearly half with college degrees, left the six states. Until the 1990's, Indianapolis was considered to be one of the most conservative metropolitan areas in the country compared to other major U.S. 89% of the total number of cities in those states have fewer than 3000 people; hundreds have fewer than than 1000. Transit. Kansas, as well as five other Mid-West states (Nebraska, Oklahoma, North and South Dakota and Iowa), is feeling the brunt of falling populations. Highways. The industrial outputs are transportation equipment, commercial and private aircraft, food processing, publishing, chemical products, machinery, apparel, petroleum and mining. Airports. The agricultural outputs of the state are cattle, wheat, sorghum, soybeans, hogs and corn. The boundaries of these districts do not exactly correspond to township (or traditional) boundaries due to political concerns and the influence of a 1971 federal court ruling which held that the Indianapolis public schools were unlawfully segregated. Its per-capita income was $29,438. Indianapolis has eleven unified public school districts (eight township educational authorities and three legacy districts from before the unification of city and county government) each of which provides primary, secondary, and adult education services within its boundaries. The 2003 total gross state product of Kansas was $93 billion. A merged campus created downtown in 1969 at the site of the Indiana University School of Medicine has continuously grown, with a student body today of just under 30,000, the third-largest campus in the state. See also: KDOT road condition information (http://www.kanroad.org). The last was originally an urban conglomeration of branch campuses of the two major state universities, Indiana University in Bloomington and Purdue University in West Lafayette, created by the state legislature. In January 2004, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) announced the new Kansas 511 traveler information service.[3] (http://www.ksdot.org/offtransinfo/News04/511_Release.htm) By calling 511, callers will get access to information about road conditions, construction, closures, detours and weather conditions for the state highway system. Weather and road condition information is updated every 15 minutes. Indianapolis is the home of Butler University, the University of Indianapolis, Marian College, and Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis. Other bypasses are I-235 around Wichita and I-470 around Topeka. As measured by the number of fans in attendance (estimated at close to 300,000), the Indianapolis 500 and the Brickyard 400 are the two largest annual single-day sporting events in the world. I-435 and I-635 serve a dual purpose as connections between the major routes and bypasses around the Kansas City metropolitan area. Grand Prix (recently moved from September to June). I-335 and portions of I-35 and I-70 make up the Kansas Turnpike. The Speedway also hosts the NASCAR Brickyard 400 stock car race (currently scheduled in August) and the Formula 1 U.S. I-335, a northeast/southwest route, connects I-70 at Topeka to I-35 at Emporia. (Marmon, incidentally, was an Indianapolis manufacturer.) The "500" is currently part of the Indy Racing League series. I-135, a north/south route, connects I-70 at Salina to I-35 at Wichita. The first 500-Mile Race (804.7 km), held in 1911, was won by driver Ray Harroun driving a Marmon Wasp. Spur routes serve as connections between the two major routes. Today the track is paved in asphalt, yet there remains a yard of bricks at the start/finish line. I-35 is a major north/south route connecting to Des Moines, Iowa, in the north and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in the south. Cities along this route (from north to south) include Kansas City (and its suburbs), Ottawa, Emporia, El Dorado and Wichita. The track is often referred to as "the Brickyard," as it was paved with 3.2 million bricks shortly after its initial construction in 1909. Cities along this route (from east to west) include Kansas City, Lawrence, Topeka, Junction City, Salina, Hays, and Colby. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway, located in Speedway, is the site of the Indianapolis 500, an open-wheel automobile race held each Memorial Day weekend on the 2.5 mile (4 km) oval track. Louis, Missouri, in the east and Denver, Colorado, in the west. In 1987 Indianapolis played host to the Pan American Games. I-70 is a major east/west route connecting to St. Indianapolis has a large municipal park system, including Eagle Creek Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation. The state is served by two interstate highways with six spur routes. Indianapolis also is the home of the Champ Car World Series, formerly known as CART, an auto racing series that competes worldwide. Other important rivers are the Saline and Solomon, tributaries of the Smoky Hill River; the Big Blue, Delaware, and Wakarusa, which flow into the Kansas River; and the Marais des Cygnes, a tributary of the Missouri River. The city has been referred to as "The Amateur Sports Capital of the World". It forms, with its tributaries, the Little Arkansas, Walnut, Cow Creek, Cimarron, Verdigris (which is the lowest point in Kansas at 680 feet), and the Neosho, the southern drainage system of the state. In addition, the headquarters of the NCAA is in Indianapolis. The Arkansas River, rising in Colorado, flows with a tortuous course, for nearly 500 miles, across three-fourths of the state. Indianapolis is the home of the Indianapolis Indians, a minor league baseball team in the International League, the Indiana Pacers of the National Basketball Association, the Indiana Fever of the Women's National Basketball Association, and the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. The Kansas River, formed by the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican rivers, joins the Missouri at Kansas City, after a course of 150 miles across the state. Out of the total population, 16.2% of those under the age of 18 and 8.1% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. The Missouri River forms nearly 75 miles of the state's northeastern boundary. 11.9% of the population and 9.1% of families are below the poverty line. (Mount Sunflower is the highest point.) The rivers flow through bottomlands, varying from ¼ to 6 miles in width, and bounded by bluffs, rising 50 to 300 feet. The per capita income is $21,640. Its altitude above the sea ranges from 750 feet at the mouth of the Kansas River to 4000 feet on the western border. Males have a median income of $36,302 versus $27,738 for females. The state, lying in the great central plain of the United States, has a generally flat or undulating surface. The median income for a household in the balance is $40,051, and the median income for a family is $48,755. Kansas is one of the six states located on the Frontier Strip. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.2 males. The state is divided up into 105 counties with 628 cities. For every 100 females there are 93.7 males. The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is located in Smith County near Lebanon, Kansas, and the geographic center of Kansas is located in Barton County. The median age is 34 years. This spot is used as the central reference point for all maps produced by the government. The age distribution is: 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older. It is located equidistant from the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean. The geographic center of North America is located in Osborne County. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 3.04. Kansas is bordered by Nebraska on the north, Missouri on the east, Oklahoma on the south, and Colorado on the west. 32.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. See also: List of Governors of Kansas; U.S. Congressional Delegations from Kansas. There are 320,107 households out of which 29.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% are married couples living together, 15.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% are non-families. In 2005 voters accepted a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage, and the Kansas State Board of Education resumed hearings to determine if evolution should once again be removed from state science standards. The majority of the non-white population lives in the central and north portions of the inner-city area. The decade brought new restrictions on abortion, the defeat of prominent Democrats, including Dan Glickman, and the Kansas State Board of Education's infamous 1999 decision to eliminate the theory of evolution from the state teaching standards, a decision that was later reversed. 3.92% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. Since the early 1990s, Kansas has grown more socially conservative. The racial makeup of the balance was 69.09% white, 25.50% black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 2.04% from other races, and 1.64% from two or more races. Board of Education of Topeka banned racially segregated schools throughout the U.S. There were 352,429 housing units at an average density of 376.4/km² (975.0/mi²). Brown vs. The population density was 835.1/km² (2,163.0/mi²). Kansas was first among the states to ban the concept of separate but equal schools. As of the census2 of 2000, there were 791,870 people, 320,107 households, and 192,704 families residing in the city, but the metropolitan population was nearing 1.5 million. Kansas schools both public and private continue to have some of the highest standards in the nation. For statistical data on the portion of the governmental area that is Indianapolis only (i.e., not counting included towns), see Indianapolis (balance), Indiana. The council-manager government was adopted by many larger Kansas cities in the years following World War I while many American cities were being run by political machines or organized crime. Note: The statistical data in this article represents the entire consolidated Indianapolis-Marion County metropolitan government. Kansas had a reputation as a progressive state with many firsts in legislative initiatives—it was the first state to institute a system of workers compensation (1910). (The street-numbering system centers not on the Circle, but rather one block to the south, where Meridian Street intersects Washington Street — National Road.). Moore is the only Democrat in the delegation; all others are Republicans. states. The state's current delegation to the United States Congress includes Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts and Representatives Jerry Moran (District 1), Jim Ryun (District 2), Dennis Moore (District 3), and Todd Tiahrt (District 4). Nearly all of the streets in the One-Mile Square are named after U.S. Their current term will end in January of 2007, and they are able to run for re-election in 2006. (Monument Circle is depicted on the city’s flag, and is generally considered the city’s symbol.) Four diagonal streets pass through the corners of the Square but stop one to five blocks (depending on the street) before reaching the Circle. Both are elected on the same ticket to a maximum of two consecutive 4-year terms. At the center of the Square is Monument Circle, a traffic circle at the intersection of Meridian and Market Streets, featuring the Soldiers and Sailors Monument. Moore. At the center of Indianapolis is the One-Mile Square, bounded by East, West, North, and South Streets. The top executives of the state are Governor Kathleen Sebelius and Lieutenant Governor John E. The total area of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, which does not count the four "excluded" communities, covers approximately 966.3 km² (373.1 mi²). The state capital is Topeka. These figures are bit misleading because they do not represent the entire Consolidated City of Indianapolis (all of Marion County, except the four "excluded" communities). Famous sport athletes from Kansas include Barry Sanders, Gale Sayers, Wilt Chamberlain, Jim Ryun, Walter Johnson, Maurice Greene and Lynette Woodard. The total area is 1.81% water. Kansas was home to President Eisenhower, presidential candidates Bob Dole and Alf Landon, Amelia Earhart, and Carrie Nation. 936.2 km² (361.5 mi²) of it is land and 17.3 km² (6.7 mi²) of it is water. Wild Bill Hickok was a deputy marshal at Fort Riley and a marshal at Hays and Abilene. According to the United States Census Bureau, "the balance" (that part of Marion County not part of another municipality) has a total area of 953.5 km² (368.2 mi²). On August 21, 1863, William Quantrill led Quantrill's Raid into Lawrence destroying much of the city and killing many people. After a very contentious and partisan debate, the Assembly passed an extremely watered-down version off the original bill; the final enacted legislation consolidates budgetary functions of the City and County, permits the Indianapolis City-County Council to vote to consolidate the Indianapolis Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff's Department, and theoretically permits consolidation of the Indianapolis Fire Department with township fire departments based upon approval of all affected parties. On February 19, 1861 it became the first U.S. state to prohibit all alcoholic beverages. Initially proposed by the current Mayor, Bart Peterson, a bill was introduced in the 2005 legislative session of the General Assembly which would have further consolidated local government in the City of Indianapolis and Marion County. Civil War veterans constructed homesteads in Kansas following the war. Further consolidation of city and county services and functions would require passage of new legislation by the Indiana General Assembly. Kansas became the 34th state of the Union on January 29, 1861. Currently, Indianapolis is undergoing serious internal debate over how much, or whether, more of local taxation, government, and services should be further integrated. On March 30, 1855 "Border Ruffians" from Missouri invaded Kansas during the territory's first election and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature. However, the mayor of Indianapolis is also the mayor of all of Marion County, and the City-County Council sits as the legislative body for all of Marion County. To travellers enroute to Utah, California, or Oregon, Kansas was a waystop and outfitting place. Additionally, throughout Marion County certain local services such as schools, fire and police remain unconsolidated. Fort Leavenworth was the first community in the area around 1827. The 11 "included towns" elected to retain their "town status" under Unigov as defined according to the Indiana Constitution (there were originally 14, but 3 later dissolved), but the Indiana Constitution does not define "town status." These "included towns" are fully subject to the laws and control of the Consolidated City of Indianapolis, but some still impose a separate property tax and provide police and other services under contract with township or county government or the City of Indianapolis. territories of Nebraska and Kansas. 4(a)(2), which states that the Consolidated City of Indianapolis includes the entire area of Marion County, except the four previously mentioned "excluded" communities. The Kansas-Nebraska Act became law on May 30, 1854 and established the U.S. Also, 11 other communities (called "included towns") are legally included in the Consolidated City of Indianapolis under Unigov, per Indiana Code 36-3-1-4 sec. Kansas then became part of the Missouri Territory until 1821. Four communities within Marion County (Beech Grove, Lawrence, Southport and Speedway) are partially outside of the Unigov arrangement. Kansas, as part of the Louisiana Purchase, was annexed to the United States in 1803 as unorganized territory. For the most part, this resulted in a unification of Indianapolis with its immediate suburbs. Main article: History of Kansas. As the result of a 1970 consolidation between city and county government (known as "Unigov"), the city of Indianapolis merged most government services with those of the county. postal abbreviation for the state is KS. While rioting broke out in cities across the United States following the news of King's assassination, Indianapolis was the only major city where rioting did not occur. The U.S. Kennedy would deliver an impromptu speech on race reconciliation to a mostly African-American crowd in a poor inner-city Indianapolis neighborhood. Kansas, derived from the Siouan word Kansa meaning "People of the south wind", is a midwestern state in the United States. earlier that day. Many Kansans also support the sports teams of Kansas City, Missouri, including the Kansas City Royals and the Kansas City Chiefs. Kennedy would learn of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Kansas City T-Bones, Wichita Wranglers, Wichita Thunder, Topeka Tarantulas, Wichita Wings (defunct). On April 4, 1968, while on route to a presidential campaign rally in Indianapolis, Robert F. The Boyer Gallery, a collection of animated sculptures made by Paul Boyer is located in Belleville, Kansas. Years later, Indianapolis would witness an historic moment in the Civil Rights Movement. It is also home to Apollo 13, an SR-71 Blackbird, and many other space artifacts. The Klan continued to dwindle in popularity in Indiana and nationwide, and the national organization officially disbanded in 1944. The museum features the largest collection of artifacts from the Russian Space Program outside of Moscow. Governor Jackson was indicted on charges of bribery, but he was acquitted in 1928 because the statute of limitations had run out; he completed his term in disgrace. The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, located in Hutchinson, Kansas is affiliated with the Smithsonian Institute. The Mayor of Indianapolis and several local officials were convicted of bribery and jailed. The Horace Greeley museum is located in Tribune, Kansas. When Governor Jackson refused to pardon Stephenson, he retaliated by going public with information of corruption which brought down several politicians throughout Indiana. The National Agriculture Center and Hall of Fame is located in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Following Stephenson's conviction, the Klan suffered a tremendous blow and quickly lost influence. The National Teachers Hall of Fame is located in Emporia, Kansas. However, the power of the Klan would quickly begin to crumble after Stephenson was convicted at the end of 1925 for the rape and murder of a young Indianapolis woman, Madge Oberholtzer. The Wizard of Oz Museum in Liberal, Kansas features Dorothy's House, a recreation of the farm house featured in the film The Wizard of Oz. Through the Klan, Stephenson ruled over the State of Indiana, leading a powerful national movement set on gaining control of the United States Congress and the White House. The Boot Hill Museum in Dodge City, Kansas features Old West memorabilia and history. Klan-backed candidates took over the City Council, the Board of School Commissioners, and the Board of County Commissioners. (website (http://www.doleinstitute.org)). By then, more than 40 percent of the native-born white males in Indianapolis claimed membership in the Klan. The institute is located in Lawrence, Kansas on the campus of the University of Kansas. The elections allowed the Klan to seize control of the Indiana General Assembly and place the corrupt Governor Edward Jackson in office. Dole Institute of Politics houses the largest collection of papers for a politician other than a president. The Klan continued to solidify its stronghold on the state, taking over the Indiana Republican Party and using its new political might to establish a Klan-backed slate of candidates which swept state elections in 1924. The Robert J. The Klan became the most powerful political and social organization in the city during the period from 1921 through 1928. (website (http://www.lecomptonkansas.com/index.php?doc=consthall.php)). Stephenson was appointed the Klan Grand Dragon of Indiana and 22 other states; he promptly moved the Indiana Klan's headquarters to Indianapolis, which was already coming under the Klan's influence. Constitution Hall in Lecompton, Kansas is the location where the Kansas Territorial Government convened and drafted a pro-slavery constitution. C. The house of Carrie Nation, now a museum, is located in Medicine Lodge, Kansas. In 1922, D. Abilene, Kansas is also the ending point of the Chisholm Trail where the cattle driven from Texas were rail loaded. The Indiana chapter of the Klan was founded in 1920 and quickly became the most powerful Klan organization in the United States. Eisenhower, the Eisenhower Library, and his grave are located in Abilene, Kansas. The Greyhound Hall of Fame is located in Abilene. A darker period of Indianapolis history began with the rise of the second Ku Klux Klan movement in the United States. The boyhood home of Dwight D. However, the natural gas deposits were depleted by 1915, and this contributed to an abrupt end of the golden era. The plant sits on over 9000 acres (36 km²) of land which was made up of more than 100 farms. This led to a sharp increase in industries such as glass and automobile manufacturing. The Sunflower Army Ammunition Plant in De Soto, Kansas opened in 1942 to manufactor gunpowder and munition propellants for World War II. The state government offered a free supply of natural gas to factories that were built there. Board of Education was filed, is now a National Historic site in Topeka, Kansas. Much of this was due to the discovery of a large natural gas deposit in central Indiana in the 1890s. Monroe Elementary, the school Linda Brown attended when the historic case Brown v. Indianapolis entered a period of great prosperity at the beginning of the 20th century, and during this time the city witnessed great economic, social, and cultural progress. The John Brown museum is located in Osawatomie, Kansas. The city is a major trucking center, and the extensive network of highways has allowed Indianapolis to enjoy a relatively low amount of traffic congestion for a city its size. The museum features many works of art created by people with no formal training, and it sits only a block or two from the Garden of Eden. Today, four interstate roads intersect in Indianapolis: routes 65, 69, 70, and 74. Lucas, Kansas is also home to the Grassroots Art Center [2] (http://home.comcast.net/~ymirymir/index2.htm). Louis. [1] (http://www.missioncreep.com/tilt/dinsmoor.html). With roads as the spokes of a wheel, Indianapolis was on its way to becoming a major "hub" of regional transport connecting to Chicago, Louisville, Cincinnati, Columbus and St. Dinsmoor even built his own mausoleum in which you can still see him today in his concrete coffin by paying for the tour. With automobile companies as Duesenburg, Marmon, National, and Stutz, Indianapolis was a center of production rivaling Detroit, at least for a few years. One scene has labor being crucified by a doctor, lawyer, banker, and preacher. The population soared from just over 8,000 in 1850 to more than 169,000 by 1900. Later, the automobile, as in most American cities, caused a suburban explosion. The garden features sculptures of biblical scenes and political messages. The first railroad to service Indianapolis, the Madison & Indianapolis, began operation on October 1, 1847, and subsequent railroad connections enlarged the town. Samuel Dinsmoor created the Garden of Eden in Lucas, Kansas in 1905, and opened it up to tourists in 1908. At the time, the 24 mile (39 km) portion of the Indianapolis section of the canal was dug and filled, but only an 8.29 mile (13.34 km) portion connecting downtown Indianapolis with the village of Broad Ripple to the north was ever operational. It is 160 feet tall and weighs 11 million pounds. Construction of the Central Canal commenced in 1836, but Indiana went bankrupt in 1839 from the loans taken out under the aforementioned bill and all work on the project ceased. Big Brutus, the World's second largest Electric Shovel resides in West Mineral, Kansas. The Central Canal was planned to connect the Wabash and Erie Canal to the Ohio River, completing a link between Lake Erie in the State of Ohio with the portion of the Ohio River flowing through southern Indiana in order to promote trade and commerce along its length. The disputed World's Largest Ball of Twine created August 15, 1953, in Cawker City, Kansas, is still growing. The Central Canal was one of eight major infrastructure projects authorized by the state's Mammoth Improvement Bill of 1835. The Central Canal was intended to run 296 miles (476 km) from near Logansport, through Indianapolis, and to Evansville. Through the mid-1800s, a horse-drawn barge canal by-passed the river bringing goods into the city. Indianapolis was founded on the White River under the incorrect assumption that the river would serve as a major transportation artery; however, the waterway was too sandy for trade. While the city lies on the old east-west National Road, the portion of that road that crosses Indiana was not completed until a decade after the city's founding. Later, Governor's Circle became Monument Circle after the impressive 284-feet tall neoclassical limestone and bronze State Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, designed by German architect Bruno Schmitz, was completed on the site in 1901. Sulgrove, 1884). (See HISTORY OF INDIANAPOLIS AND MARION COUNTY INDIANA by B.R. The Governor's mansion was finally demolished in 1857. Although an expensive Governor's mansion was finally constructed in 1827, no Governor ever lived in the house at Governor's Circle, as the site in the city center lacked any privacy. It was used as a market commons for over six years. Under Ralston's plan, at the center of the city was placed the Governor's Circle, a large circular commons, which was to be the site of the Governor's mansion. Ralston's original plan for Indianapolis called for a city of only 1 square mile. Ralston was an apprentice to the French architect Pierre L'Enfant, and he helped L'Enfant plan Washington, DC. The state commissioned Alexander Ralston to design the new capital city. The first white settler is generally believed to be George Pogue, who on March 2, 1819 settled in a double log cabin along the White River in what is now White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. Prior to its official founding, Indianapolis was a sparsely settled swampy area. Indianapolis was founded as the state capital in 1821 by an act of the Indiana General Assembly. As of 2003, Marion County's population is 863,216. It is the county seat of Marion County. As of the census of 2000, its population is 791,926, also making it Indiana's most populous city. state of Indiana. Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. Kurt Vonnegut, novelist. Booth Tarkington, Novelist author of many books, including The Magnificent Ambersons. Marc Summers, game show host. Ted Stevens, U.S. Senator from Alaska. Oscar Robertson, Basketball Hall of Famer (born in Tennessee, but grew up in Indianapolis). James Whitcomb Riley, writer (born in nearby Greenfield). vice president. Dan Quayle, former U.S. Jane Pauley, television personality. Wes Montgomery, jazz guitarist. Jake Lloyd, actor (resident),. David Letterman, talk show host. president (born in North Bend, Ohio). Benjamin Harrison, U.S. Michael Graves, architect. Fox, actress. Vivica A. Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, R&B music producer and performer. John Dillinger, bank robber. Joyce DeWitt, comedy actress (born in West Virginia, but grew up in the suburb of Speedway). Senator from Washington. Maria Cantwell, U.S. Philip Warren Anderson, theoretical physicist and 1977 Nobel Prize winner. Margaret Caroline Anderson, founder and editor of The Little Review. Central Indiana Commuter Services (CICS) funded by IndyGo to reduce pollution serves Indianapolis and surrounding counties. Six Major Interstates serve the Indianapolis area including I-70, I-74, I-65, I-69, I-465 Beltway, and I-865 Connector. Indianapolis International Airport serves Indianapolis and Marion County. |