Kansas: elevation, cities and highest point
Kansas has 2,977,220 people (2025) and 105 counties. Its highest point is Mount Sunflower, at 4,039 ft, and its lowest, the Verdigris River, at 679 ft. Here you’ll find the elevation of its capital, its cities over 100,000 people and its summit, with a map of its counties.
By the Mapsfera Team
- Population (2025)
- 2,977,220
- The 34th most populous of the 50 states
- Land area
- 81,759 sq mi
- The 13th largest state
- Counties
- 105
- According to the Census (2025)
- Lowest point
- 679 ft
- Verdigris River
Map of Kansas’s counties
- Capital’s county
- County with a city page
- City, by elevation
- Highest point
Elevation
The capital, Topeka, sits at 948 ft (289 m): the 14th highest of the 50 state capitals. Kansas’s highest point, Mount Sunflower, is 341 mi away in a straight line and 3,091 ft higher.
Between its highest point (4,039 ft) and its lowest (679 ft) there’s 3,360 ft of relief, according to the USGS table. Of the 50 state high points, Kansas’s is the 28th highest.
Kansas has 5 cities with a page. The highest is Wichita, at 1,303 ft, and the lowest is Kansas City, at 860 ft: 443 ft apart.
Kansas borders 4 states. Their highest points are Panorama Point, in Nebraska (5,424 ft), Mount Elbert, in Colorado (14,433 ft), Black Mesa, in Oklahoma (4,973 ft), and Taum Sauk Mountain, in Missouri (1,772 ft): Kansas’s is the 4th highest of the 5. Their capitals: Lincoln (1,202 ft), Denver (5,276 ft), Oklahoma City (1,196 ft), and Jefferson City (630 ft).
- Mount Sunflower 4,039 ft
- Wichita 1,303 ft
- Topeka 948 ft
Cities of 100,000 to 250,000 people (3)
Population
Kansas had 2,977,220 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 1.3% more than in April 2020 (2,937,986). Across 81,759 sq mi of land, that’s 36 people/sq mi.
Its most populous place is Wichita, with 400,987 people. The Census counts 740 cities, towns and census-designated places (CDPs) in Kansas.
| Place | Population | Land area | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wichita | 400,987 | 165 sq mi | 1,303 ft |
| Overland Park | 203,677 | 75.3 sq mi | 1,085 ft |
| Kansas City | 157,805 | 125 sq mi | 860 ft |
| Olathe | 150,025 | 64.7 sq mi | 1,035 ft |
| Topeka | 125,795 | 61.9 sq mi | 948 ft |
| Lawrence | 96,367 | 34.6 sq mi | — |
| Shawnee | 69,848 | 42.0 sq mi | — |
| Lenexa | 60,506 | 34.1 sq mi | — |
| Manhattan | 54,673 | 20.4 sq mi | — |
| Salina | 46,094 | 26.3 sq mi | — |
Neighboring states
Tools
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in Kansas?
Mount Sunflower, at 4,039 ft, according to the USGS table. It’s the 28th highest of the 50 state high points.
What is the lowest point in Kansas?
The Verdigris River, at 679 ft, according to the same USGS table.
What is the elevation of Topeka, the capital?
948 ft above sea level, at its reference point in the USGS gazetteer. It’s the 14th highest state capital.
What is the highest city in Kansas?
Of the cities with a page (the capital and those over 100,000 people), Wichita, at 1,303 ft. Some smaller towns are higher: look them up with the point elevation tool.
How many counties does Kansas have?
105, according to the Census Bureau in 2025.
Sources
- Population, land area and counties: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2025 Gazetteer), public domain.
- Highest and lowest points: USGS, “Elevations and Distances in the United States” (and, for Denali, the 2015 survey), public domain.
- City elevations: USGS 3DEP at each city’s GNIS point, public domain.
- County map: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Cartographic Boundary Files (1:500,000).
Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know