Kansas: Named for the Kansa Nation

The state of Kansas—geographically near the center of the contiguous United States—takes its name from the Kansa (or Kaw) Native American tribe.

• Kansa means "People of the South Wind" in their Siouan language.
• The tribe historically occupied the Kansas River valley.
• French traders recorded the name as "Cansez" or "Kanzas"; the river became the Kansas River, then the territory (1854) and state (1861) adopted it.

Today, the Kaw Nation is headquartered in Kaw City, Oklahoma, following 19th-century removals.