a territory of the United States of North America, lying between N. Lat. 37° and 40°, and W. Long. 94°, 25' and 107°, 20', and bounded on the N. by the territory of Nebraska, E. by the state of Missouri, S. by the Indian and New Mexico territories, and W. by the main chain of the Rocky Mountains which separates it from the territory of Utah. Kansas may be said to constitute the territorial centre of the vast continent of North America, being about equally distant from the Atlantic on the E. and the Pacific on the W., from Hudson's Bay on the N. and the Gulf of Mexico on the S. It is about 800 miles in length from E. to W., by 208 in breadth from N. to S., and has an estimated area of 114,798 square miles. The surface of the country presents a gradual inclination from the base of the Rocky Mountains to the frontier of Missouri. It has no mountains, properly so called, except on its western borders. A series of hills or ridge-like elevations traverse the entire territory from W. to E. between the waters of the Kansas and Arkansas.

The eastern portion of Kansas, extending W. from the Missouri about 200 miles, consists of an undulating country, with a rich and fertile soil, well watered, and having a large amount of good timber. The streams flow through fine picturesque valleys, and are generally bordered with timber for a quarter or half a mile. The face of this part of the country, with its climate, soil, and productions, corresponds generally with that of Western Missouri. The middle portion of Kansas is more level, the depressions are shallow, long, and gradual, timber less abundant, the streams not so frequent, and the country in general is not so well adapted to sustain a large population as the more eastern part. This portion extends W. of the former for probably about 200 miles, and includes part of that great belt of desert extending from the 47th deg. of N. Lat. southward to New Mexico. Good grasses, however, are found in many places, and ultimately much of it may be found suitable for grazing. That section of the country lying along the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains is represented as one of great beauty. It is well supplied with timber, and well watered by numerous streams winding in various directions between gently sloping hills and ridges richly covered with grass. Over these hills, and on the broad plains at their bases, buffaloes range in thousands, feeding upon the bunch and buffalo grasses with which this district is densely covered. It is said that few countries in the world are better suited for grazing, have a finer climate, or more interesting scenery than this portion of Kansas.

The principal river within the territory is the Kansas or Kaw, one of the largest affluents of the Missouri. It rises by two large forks, which have their sources near the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains, and flowing eastward, mostly at a considerable distance from each other, unite their waters at Fort Riley, where the Kansas proper commences. Republican Fork, the more northern and longer of the two, issues from Lake Kansas, and has as its principal affluents First Creek, Prairie Dog Creek, and Sandy Creek, all on the right. The chief affluents of Smoky Hill Fork are the Solomon Fork, and the Grand Saline Fork, both on the left. The Kansas is about 1200 miles in length from the source of the Republican Fork, and is navigable for steamers as far as the junction of its two great forks, if not farther. The principal of the other streams watering this territory are the Osage and the Arkansas, with its tributaries the Neosho, Verdigris, Little Arkansas, and Red Fork. The Missouri forms part of its eastern boundary, and affords it a ready outlet for its productions. In the great Kansas valley below Potawatomie, and in the eastern region along the Missouri, there are some of the finest hemp lands in the world. Wheat, corn, oats, and vegetables grow as well there as in any of the western states. The winters are generally dry and pleasant. Little snow falls, and even then lies on the ground only for a short time. The summers are long and warm; while on the high lands the heat is generally fanned by refreshing breezes. Ploughing commences in January; much rain falls from March to June, and the months of August, September, and October are dry and pleasant. The trees are chiefly oak, walnut, ash, hickory, mulberry, hackberry, linden, and cotton-wood. Some 40 miles up the Smoky Hill Fork an extensive bed of gypsum has been found, specimens of which have been tested and found to be of superior quality. Salt is also alleged to be very abundant on the Saline Fork. Specimens of coal, both bituminous and anthracite, and of tin, lead, and iron ore, have been found.

In 1854 a bill was introduced into Congress for forming that extensive tract of country then known as Nebraska, and which formed part of the Louisiana territory purchased from the French in 1803, into two territories, Nebraska and Kansas. This has again led to the agitation of the slavery question, which has so frequently occasioned disputes between the Northern and Southern States. On the admission of the state of Missouri as a member of the Union in 1820, this question was fiercely debated, the House of Representatives having passed a resolution that it be admitted only as a free state, but in this the Senate refused to concur. At length a compromise was effected, the House of Representatives consenting to Missouri being a slave state, on condition that slavery shall be prohibited in all those states that may subsequently be formed out of that portion of the Louisiana purchase lying N. of N. Lat. 36° 30'. In terms of this compromise, Nebraska and Kansas could be admitted into the Union only as free states; but, notwithstanding this, the pro-slavery party maintained that the first population of a territory have alone the right to determine the political and social institutions of that territory, and, in accordance with this, an act was passed, declaring that whether these shall subsequently be admitted into the Union as slave or free states shall be determined by the voice of the inhabitants at the time of their admission. This partial success served only to incite the pro-slavery party in the United States to farther exertions, and slaveholders from the Southern States flocked to Kansas in great numbers, while, on the other hand, emigration societies were formed in various parts of the Northern States for the purpose of forwarding to it colonists holding anti-slavery principles. Nor is this all, the neighbouring state of Missouri has taken an active part in the struggle. The Missourians crossed the border in immense numbers on election days, to swell the votes of the pro-slavery party, and they even had recourse to intimidation and force to restrain the "free soilers" from voting. Judges who refused to receive their votes, without administering the oath as to residence in the territory, were expelled, and others of the Missourians appointed. These are known as the "border ruffians," and are the most dangerous class in the territory, having frequently recourse to bloodshed and murder to accomplish their purposes. It is evident that the legislature thus elected would represent the opinions of Missouri rather than that of Kansas. In terms of two conventions of delegates representing the people of Kansas, and repudiating all the acts of the so-called territorial legislature, an election was held on the 4th day of October 1855, for choosing members of a convention to form a state constitution, preparatory to application for admission as a state of the Union. The number of delegates was fixed at fifty-two, and no non-resident, and no one who had not been resident for thirty days, was allowed to vote. The constitution adopted by these delegates was one eminently republican in its character, and embracing the views of the majority in the territory, by whom it was ratified. On the 9th of April 1856, a bill was presented to the Senate of Washington for the admission of Kansas as a state into the Union, and the debate on the question is memorable on account of a brutal attack made upon the Honourable Charles Sumner by Mr Brooks, a member of the House of Representatives for the slave state of South Carolina. The president and the executive manifested their sympathies in favour of the slavery party, and under the plea of preserving peace, are charged with supporting the movements of the "border ruffians" by the federal troops. On the eve of the adjournment of last Congress (1856) the feeling was so strong against the President for thus supporting the slavery party, that the House of Representatives threatened to stop the supplies, and it was with great difficulty that the executive were able to secure a majority of three. For the later history we must refer to the article UNITED STATES.

In terms of the act passed in 1854, Kansas was divided into eighteen districts, and was found to contain a population of 8521 persons, of whom 5138 were males, and 3383 females. The number of slaves was 192. This was in the eastern part; the central and western parts being still in the possession of the wandering tribes of Indians, of whom it is estimated that there are about 25,000 in the territory.

The chief town, Leavenworth, on the Missouri, is estimated to contain a population of about 1500.