a state in the central United States: a part of the Midwest. 2,363,208. 82,276 sq. mi. (213,094 sq. km). Capital:Topeka. Abbreviation:KS (for use with zip code), Kans., Kan., Kas.
2.
a river in NE Kansas, flowing E to the Missouri River. 169 mi. (270 km) long.
Kan·sas 2 (kān'zəs) A state of the central United States. It was admitted as the 34th state in 1861. Organized as a territory by the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, it became a virtual battleground, known as Bleeding Kansas, for free and slave factions (1854-1859). Kansas was finally admitted as a free state. Topeka is the capital and Wichita the largest city. Population: 2,780,000.