The great state of Kansas was once roamed by Native American tribes who hunted bison and lived in villages in its river valleys. Kansas was first settled by Americans in 1827 and admitted to the Union in 1861 as the 34th state. Famous sons and daughters include Amelia Earhart, Harrison Ford, and country singer Martina McBride. Kansas produces almost one fifth of all the wheat grown in the US, thus its nickname The Wheat State. Wagon tracks from the old Santa Fe Trail that connected Missouri and New Mexico can still be seen on the prairie today. 

Things to know about Kansas:

• The geographic center of the 48 contiguous states is near Lebanon, Kansas in Smith County
• The windiest city in the United States is Dodge City, Kansas, where the wind blows 14 miles an hour on average
• Only Texas produces more US-raised beef cattle than Kansas
• Wyatt Earp and Wild Bill Hickock were two of the famous Wild West lawmen who battled outlaws in towns like Dodge City and Abilene
• The official nickname of Kansas is The Sunflower State, and the state flower is — you guessed it — the sunflower. 

So, which locations in Kansas get high marks for slumber? How do rural hamlets and college towns stack up against urban areas? Let’s dig into our list of best cities for sleep in Kansas and find out.