Q: There are a surprising number of cities and towns across America named Kansas. There's a town called Kansas in Illinois, and another one in Alabama. There's a Kansas, Kentucky... a Kansas, Ohio... even a Kansasville, Wisconsin. What's the name of the state closest to Kansas that also has a town named Kansas?
(Kansas City, Missouri doesn't count. We're looking for the name of the STATE closest to Kansas that has a town named "Kansas.")
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A: Oklahoma, as in... Kansas, Oklahoma
Once called "Little Kansas," the town of Kansas, Oklahoma is a community of about 800 people located in the northeast corner of the Sooner State. A number of towns scattered across America are named Kansas. Indeed, Kansas City, Missouri began its existence as the town of Kansas. But with westward expansion into the Kansas Territory, which later became the state of Kansas, things got confusing. So, the town formally known as Kansas, Missouri simply became known as Kansas City. Kansas City, Kansas came along about 20 years later. Beyond the town of Kansas, Oklahoma, here are some other places in America named Kansas:
Kansas, Illinois (small town of nearly 800)
Kansas, Alabama (small town of 200)
Kansas, Ohio (unincorporated community but one with a zip code and post office)
Kansas, Kentucky (unincorporated community)
There's even a Kansasville, Wisconsin!
One wonders how confusing it is for others when you tell them that you are from Kansas, Oklahoma.. or Kansas, Alabama... or Kansas, Kentucky. We're guessing it's a bit perplexing, sort of little like a " Who's on First" routine.
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