Kansas State Flag: History, Design, Trivia

DATE FIRST USED   Kansas State Flag March 21, 1927 NICKNAME(S) None DESIGN ELEMENTS Dark blue with the state seal at the center, a sunflower above, and the state name below. Symbols: State seal and state crest. The state seal's image tells the story of Kansas' pioneer history. In the foreground, a man plowing a field symbolizes agriculture, still an important industry in the state. Beyond him, a settler's cabin and a wagon train show westward expansion. In the background are Native Americans pursuing bison, representing the state's indigenous heritage. The sun rises over hills, a symbol of a new beginning and of the east, where the settlers came from. In the sky above are 34 little five-pointed stars, showing that Kansas was the 34th state. Above the stars appears the state motto, Ad Astra Per Aspera, or "To the Stars Through Difficulties." Above the round seal is the state crest, a sunflower over a twisted blue and gold bar. Sunflowers are considered a state symbol. They are a common crop in the state and are attractive and recognizable. Colors: Blue, silver, purple, yellow, orange, azure, green, white, brown, and black. No meaning is ascribed to the flag's blue background. Blue commonly stands for truth and loyalty. The rest of the colors create a realistic picture. Proportions: 3:5 Variations: The state banner shows a sunflower centered on a dark blue flag. There is no clear distinction between the use of the state flag and the state banner, but the state banner is rarely used. HISTORY Kansas' search for a state flag started in 1915. Governor Arthur Capper began researching how states that already had official flags had conducted the selection process. The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) held a contest the following year and chose a design that included three equal horizontal red, white, and blue stripes. This flag had a blue canton with a sunflower in whose center was the state seal. The proposed design came before the legislature in 1917, but was rejected. Discussion of the flag continued, though. The rejected proposal still came into question, and in the meantime Albert Reid, a local cartoonist, was asked for ideas. He came up with a sunflower on a blue background. In 1925, after years of controversy, legislators chose a state banner rather than a state flag. Though the push for a state flag was strong, many Kansans, particularly members of the Native Daughters of Kansas and the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), were concerned that a state flag would compete with the national flag, a situation they wanted to avoid. Legislators, encouraged by the GAR, thought the banner might be a good compromise. It was designed to hang rather than fly, so competition with the national or other flags would not be an issue. Though the GAR was satisfied, the DAR was not, and preferred to pursue the idea of an actual flag. As it turned out, the National Guard found the banner less than useful because they couldn't march with it. And because it was awkward to hang, the banner couldn't be displayed in Washington, DC, with other state flags. Many less interested people disliked the banner because they simply thought of the sunflower as a weed and considered it unsuitable for a state emblem. In 1927, Kansas' adjutant general, Milton McLean, decided to try to bring the matter of a state flag to a close. He strongly advocated a flag with a dark blue background, the state seal, and the state crest, a sunflower. A measure based on his proposal finally passed. This flag was modified in 1961 to include the state name at the bottom to distinguish it from the many other blue U.S. state flags with seals. In 1963 the size was adjusted to ensure that the state flag would always be smaller than the national flag. PROPER USES The Kansas flag generally flies whenever the state is represented. State and public buildings fly the state flag every day, weather permitting. Schools, private or public, are also supposed to fly or display the state flag during the school year when the weather is good. Failure to follow the state's flag law is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of between five and 100 dollars. Kansas' law is not specific about how the state flag should be handled, but protocol suggests that state flags be treated with the same respect as the national flag. LEGENDS, CONTROVERSIES, AND TRIVIA No particular meaning was officially ascribed to the colors on the current state flag, but Kansans lost no time in coming up with their own ideas on the subject. One suggestion holds that blue represents how steadfast and loyal Kansans are. Azure, yellow, and pink from the seal would then show Kansan sophistication and how other cultures have influenced life in Kansas. The sunflower shows that Kansans will meet any problem head on. The Kansas flag was adopted after about a dozen years of debate, but the final design is very similar to one originally suggested to Governor Capper by the Michigan Historical Commission: dark blue with the state seal. The state sunflower banner's proportions, color, and sunflower size are described in the state's flag law, but the law doesn't prescribe or suggest any uses for the banner. In 1927, Governor Benjamin Paulen first flew the state flag in Fort Riley for the Fort Riley troops and Kansas National Guard. Kansas was among the last American states to adopt a state flag. Though many states have changed their flags since 1927, few were without a flag that year. Alaska also adopted its state flag in 1927, but did not actually become a state until much later. -World Trade Press

Kansas Social Characteristics

SCHOOL ENROLLMENT NUMBER % Population 3 years and over enrolled in school  756,960  100.0 Nursery school, preschool  51,305  6.8 Kindergarten  39,071  5.2 Elementary school (grades 1-8)  325,595  43.0 High school (grades 9-12)  164,536  21.7 College or graduate school  176,453  23.3 EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT NUMBER % Population 25 years and over  1,701,207  100.0 Less than 9th grade  88,124  5.2 9th to 12th grade, no diploma  149,675  8.8 High school graduate (includes equivalency)  507,612  29.8 Some college, no degree  417,722  24.6 Associate degree  99,096  5.8 Bachelor's degree  290,271  17.1 Graduate or professional degree  148,707  8.7 Percent high school graduate or higher  86.0  (X) Percent bachelor's degree or higher  25.8  (X) MARITAL STATUS NUMBER % Population 15 years and over  2,100,656  100.0 Never married  505,452  24.1 Now married, except separated  1,220,202  58.1 Separated  25,013  1.2 Widowed  138,336  6.6 Female  114,268  5.4 Divorced  211,653  10.1 Female  117,035  5.6 DISABILITY STATUS OF THE CIVILIAN NONINSTITUTIONALIZED POPULATION NUMBER % Population 5 to 20 years  645,211  100.0 With a disability  46,507  7.2 Population 21 to 64 years  1,464,501  100.0 With a disability  246,092  16.8 Percent employed  62.0  (X) No disability  1,218,409  83.2 Percent employed  82.1  (X) Population 65 years and over  330,661  100.0 With a disability  137,088  41.5 RESIDENCE IN 1995 NUMBER % Population 5 years and over  2,500,360  100.0 Same house in 1995  1,310,009  52.4 Different house in the U.S. in 1995  1,138,888  45.5 Same county  606,365  24.3 Different county  532,523  21.3 Same state  255,737  10.2 Different state  276,786  11.1 Elsewhere in 1995  51,463  2.1 NATIVITY AND PLACE OF BIRTH NUMBER % Total population  2,688,418  100.0 Native  2,553,683  95.0 Born in United States  2,532,564  94.2 State of residence  1,600,274  59.5 Different state  932,290  34.7 Born outside United States  21,119  0.8 Foreign born  134,735  5.0 Entered 1990 to March 2000  74,260  2.8 Naturalized citizen  44,763  1.7 Not a citizen  89,972  3.3 REGION OF BIRTH OF FOREIGN BORN NUMBER % Total (excluding born at sea)  134,733  100.0 Europe  15,032  11.2 Asia  38,028  28.2 Africa  3,592  2.7 Oceania  680  0.5 Latin America  73,727  54.7 Northern America  3,674  2.7 LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME NUMBER % Population 5 years and over  2,500,360  100.0 English only  2,281,705  91.3 Language other than English  218,655  8.7 Speak English less than 'very well  98,207  3.9 Spanish  137,247  5.5 Speak English less than "very well"  67,973  2.7 Other Indo-European languages  41,207  1.6 Speak English less than "very well"  10,778  0.4 Asian and Pacific Island languages  33,203  1.3 Speak English less than "very well"  17,412  0.7 ANCESTRY (SINGLE OR MULTIPLE) NUMBER % Total population  2,688,418  100.0 Total ancestries reported  2,679,577  99.7 Arab  6,785  0.3 Czech1  22,794  0.8 Danish  15,145  0.6 Dutch  61,178  2.3 English  289,938  10.8 French (except Basque)1  82,565  3.1 French Canadian1  12,529  0.5 German  695,442  25.9 Greek  4,145  0.2 Hungarian  3,903  0.1 Irish1  309,647  11.5 Italian  50,729  1.9 Lithuanian  2,073  0.1 Norwegian  29,773  1.1 Polish  34,695  1.3 Portuguese  1,805  0.1 Russian  16,903  0.6 Scotch-Irish  51,879  1.9 Scottish  50,339  1.9 Slovak  1,585  0.1 Subsaharan African  9,205  0.3 Swedish  64,308  2.4 Swiss  14,018  0.5 Ukrainian  2,577  0.1 United States or American  237,358  8.8 Welsh  21,882  0.8 West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups)  1,796  0.1 Other ancestries  584,581  21.7 GRANDPARENTS AS CAREGIVERS NUMBER % Grandparent living in household with one or more own grandchildren under 18 years  35,274  100.0 Grandparent responsible for grandchildren  17,873  50.7 VETERAN STATUS NUMBER % Civilian population 18 years and over  1,962,154  100.0 Civilian veterans  267,452  13.6 Source: Source U.S. Census Bureau (2009)  (http://factfinder.census.gov). Data derived from Population Estimates, Census of Population and Housing, Small

Kansas Housing Characteristics

UNITS IN STRUCTURE NUMBER % Total housing units  1,131,200  100.0 1-unit, detached  818,954  72.4 1-unit, attached  39,495  3.5 2 units  33,399  3.0 3 or 4 units  41,047  3.6 5 to 9 units  39,611  3.5 10 to 19 units  34,840  3.1 20 or more units  49,437  4.4 Mobile home  72,953  6.4 Boat, RV, van, etc.  1,464  0.1 YEAR STRUCTURE BUILT NUMBER % 1999 to March 2000  24,462  2.2 1995 to 1998  73,503  6.5 1990 to 1994  66,960  5.9 1980 to 1989  148,455  13.1 1970 to 1979  193,842  17.1 1960 to 1969  138,855  12.3 1940 to 1959  257,277  22.7 1939 or earlier  227,846  20.1 ROOMS NUMBER % 1 room  13,882  1.2 2 rooms  36,857  3.3 3 rooms  88,878  7.9 4 rooms  165,092  14.6 5 rooms  240,195  21.2 6 rooms  208,283  18.4 7 rooms  147,069  13.0 8 rooms  112,191  9.9 9 or more rooms  118,753  10.5 Median (rooms)  5.6  (X) VEHICLES AVAILABLE NUMBER % None  59,525  5.7 1  327,762  31.6 2  424,105  40.9 3 or more  226,499  21.8 HOUSE HEATING FUEL NUMBER % Utility gas  741,988  71.5 Bottled, tank, or LP gas  98,537  9.5 Electricity  178,722  17.2 Fuel oil, kerosene, etc.  1,571  0.2 Coal or coke  27  0.0 Wood  12,852  1.2 Solar energy  266  0.0 Other fuel  3,002  0.3 No fuel used  926  0.1 OCCUPANTS PER ROOM NUMBER % Occupied housing units  1,037,891  100.0 1.00 or less  1,006,280  97.0 1.01 to 1.50  20,261  2.0 1.51 or more  11,350  1.1 VALUE NUMBER % Specified owner-occupied units  581,960  100.0 Less than $50,000  142,608  24.5 $50,000 to $99,999  216,103  37.1 $100,000 to $149,999  120,734  20.7 $150,000 to $199,999  53,556  9.2 $200,000 to $299,999  32,616  5.6 $300,000 to $499,999  12,558  2.2 $500,000 to $999,999  3,158  0.5 $1,000,000 or more  627  0.1 Median (dollars)  83,500  (X) SELECTED MONTHLY OWNER COSTS AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 1999 NUMBER % Less than 15 percent  253,402  43.5 15 to 19 percent  112,210  19.3 20 to 24 percent  78,850  13.5 25 to 29 percent  45,511  7.8 30 to 34 percent  27,101  4.7 35 percent or more  60,961  10.5 Not computed  3,925  0.7 GROSS RENT NUMBER % Specified renter-occupied units  310,423  100.0 Less than $200  17,320  5.6 $200 to $299  25,846  8.3 $300 to $499  103,580  33.4 $500 to $749  97,619  31.4 $750 to $999  32,101  10.3 $1,000 to $1,499  11,196  3.6 $1,500 or more  3,578  1.2 No cash rent  19,183  6.2 Median (dollars)  498  (X) YEAR HOUSEHOLDER MOVED INTO UNIT NUMBER % Occupied Housing Units  1,037,891  100.0 1999 to March 2000  221,227  21.3 1995 to 1998  293,538  28.3 1990 to 1994  167,023  16.1 1980 to 1989  156,613  15.1 1970 to 1979  98,172  9.5 1969 or earlier  101,318  9.8 SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS NUMBER % Lacking complete plumbing facilities  4,057  0.4 Lacking complete kitchen facilities  5,270  0.5 No telephone service  29,276  2.8 MORTGAGE STATUS AND SELECTED MONTHLY OWNER COSTS NUMBER % With a mortgage  382,518  65.7 Less than $300  3,580  0.6 $300 to $499  37,514  6.4 $500 to $699  76,042  13.1 $700 to $999  112,639  19.4 $1,000 to $1,499  100,791  17.3 $1,500 to $1,999  32,680  5.6 $2,000 or more  19,272  3.3 Median (dollars)  888  (X) Not mortgaged  199,442  34.3 Median (dollars)  273  (X) GROSS RENT AS A PERCENTAGE OF HOUSEHOLD INCOME IN 1999 NUMBER % Less than 15 percent  65,448  21.1 15 to 19 percent  49,757  16.0 20 to 24 percent  41,135  13.3 25 to 29 percent  30,831  9.9 30 to 34 percent  20,863  6.7 35 percent or more  77,683  25.0 Not computed  24,706  8.0 Source: Source U.S. Census Bureau (2009)  (http://factfinder.census.gov). Data derived from Population Estimates, Census of Population and Housing, Small