U.S. state · KS
Flag of Kansas
The Kansas flag is a dark blue field with the state seal in the center, topped by a sunflower, with KANSAS in gold letters below. Its 34 stars mark Kansas as the 34th state to join the Union.
What the Kansas state flag looks like
The Kansas state flag has a dark blue field with the full-color state seal in the center. Above the seal is a sunflower on a bar of twisted gold and blue. Below the seal, the name KANSAS is written in large gold block letters.
The seal is a busy picture of frontier life. A farmer plows a field near a log cabin, with a wagon train heading west and a herd of bison being chased by two Native Americans on horseback in the distance. A steamboat moves along a river, the sun rises in the corner, and a cluster of 34 stars appears at the top. A scroll carries the Latin motto Ad astra per aspera, "To the stars through difficulties."
Kansas flag meaning and symbolism
State law gives the meaning of some elements of the seal. The plowman and the settler's cabin stand for agriculture, which is the basis of the state's future prosperity, the river and steamboat stand for commerce, and the rising sun stands for the east. The law does not explain the other elements, such as the wagon train and the bison. The 34 stars identify Kansas as the 34th state to join the Union.
The sunflower is the state flower. The motto, Ad astra per aspera, means 'To the stars through difficulties.'
History of the Kansas flag
Kansas joined the Union on January 29, 1861, but an official state flag came much later. From 1925 to 1927 the state used a 'state banner' instead, with the seal surrounded by sunflower petals, meant to hang from a horizontal bar. After it was rejected for display in Washington, D.C. and drew complaints about how it hung, the legislature adopted a state flag in 1927. It was designed by Hazel Avery and shows the state seal and a sunflower on a dark blue field.
In 1961 the design was modified to add the word KANSAS at the bottom. The flag has stayed the same since 1961.
To see how Kansas compares with other states, visit our U.S. state flags page, or learn more about the flag of the United States.
Kansas flag colors
#00205BRGB
0, 32, 91CMYK
100, 65, 0, 64#FCD100RGB
252, 209, 0CMYK
0, 17, 100, 1Kansas flag facts
| Adopted | 1927 |
|---|---|
| Proportions | 3:5 |
| Designer | Hazel Avery |
| Symbols | Seal of Kansas, common sunflower |
| State capital | Topeka |
| State motto | Ad astra per aspera |
| Population | 2,937,880 |
Kansas state flag FAQ
What does the Kansas flag symbolize?
By law, the plowman and cabin stand for agriculture, the river and steamboat for commerce, and the rising sun for the east. The sunflower is the state flower, and the 34 stars show Kansas as the 34th state.
Why are there 34 stars on the Kansas flag?
Kansas became the 34th state in January 1861, and the stars on its seal mark that position.
What does it say on the Kansas state flag?
The flag has the word KANSAS in gold letters, and the seal carries the state motto, Ad astra per aspera, which means "To the stars through difficulties."
Did Kansas change its flag?
Kansas adopted its flag in 1927 and added the state name at the bottom in 1961. The design has not changed since then.
What colors are on the Kansas flag?
The field is dark blue, with gold used for the lettering and the sunflower. The seal itself is in natural colors.
What is the Kansas state banner?
The Kansas state banner is a separate official symbol adopted on June 30, 1953. It shows a single sunflower on a solid blue field and was designed by Adjutant General Joe Nickell. It serves as an alternative to the state flag, is often kept in the governor's office, and is used by the Kansas National Guard.
What did the old Kansas flag look like before 1927?
From 1925 to 1927 Kansas used a state banner showing the seal surrounded by sunflower petals beneath the word Kansas, made to hang from a horizontal bar. Earlier unofficial versions, such as a blue National Guard flag with the seal, had no sunflower. The current flag, adopted in 1927, kept most of the banner's design.
Does the governor of Kansas have a different flag?
Yes. The Kansas governor's flag closely resembles the state flag, with one difference: it adds four stars, one in each corner. Everything else, including the dark blue field, the seal and the sunflower, matches the regular Kansas state flag.
