Date Admitted: 1861 State Capital: Topeka Admission to U.S.: Thirty-fourth State Flag Adopted: 1927 Area: 82,282 square miles Highest Point: Mt. Sunflower - 4,039 feet (1,231 m) above sea level Lowest Point: Verdigris River - 680 feet (270 m) above sea level State Motto: "To the Stars Through Difficulties" Nickname: The Sunflower State State Song: "Home on the Range" State Flower: Sunflower State Tree: Cottonwood State Bird: Western Meadowlark State Animal: Buffalo State Reptile: Ornate Box Turtle State Insect: Honeybee State Soil: Harney series