When you look at a map of the United States, Kansas sits right in the heart of the country. But zooming in reveals a complex grid that tells a much deeper story. 

kansas blank printable map

With 105 counties, Kansas has the fifth-highest number of counties in the nation, trailing only Texas, Georgia, Virginia, and Kentucky. This density creates a fascinating patchwork of local governance, history, and geography.

Whether you are a student researching the “Bleeding Kansas” era, a logistics manager calculating freight routes, or a traveler looking to visit every county seat from St. Francis to Baxter Springs, having accurate map data is essential.

How to Use the Interactive Map Tool

Interactive Kansas County Map

Hover Highlight

Simply move your mouse (or tap your finger on mobile) over any county. The specific county will highlight, and a tooltip will appear displaying the county name and seat.

Zoom In/Out

Use the + and – buttons in the top right corner of the map frame to focus on specific metropolitan areas like Wichita (Sedgwick County) or Kansas City (Wyandotte County).

Reset Button

If you have zoomed in too far or lost your orientation, click the “Reset” arrow to instantly return the map to the full state view.

Dark Mode Toggle

Working late? Switch the visual theme by clicking the moon icon. This inverts the color scheme to reduce eye strain and makes the county borders pop against a dark background.

Download Options

For users who need to take this map offline or use it for presentations, we offer two distinct high-resolution formats:

Download Blank Printable SVG

Best for graphic designers. This vector format allows you to scale the map to any size (even a billboard) without losing quality. It is fully editable in software like Adobe Illustrator.

Download PNG Image

Best for documents and quick printing. This is a standard high-quality image file perfect for inserting into Word documents, PowerPoint presentations, or school reports.

Historical Overview: How 105 Counties Were Formed

The map of Kansas hasn’t always looked this uniform. The history of these county lines is a history of the American frontier itself.

The Territorial Era (1854ā€“1861)

Before Kansas was a state, it was a territory defined by conflict. The first counties were established in 1855 by the first territorial legislature. At this time, 36 counties were created in the eastern third of the state. 

Many of these original boundaries remain today, though some names have changed to reflect shifting political alliances after the Civil War.

The Railroad Expansion (1860sā€“1880s)

As settlers moved westward, driven by the Homestead Act and the expansion of the railroads, new counties were carved out of the open prairie. 

The philosophy at the time was practical: a resident should be able to travel to their county seat and back in a single day by horse and buggy. 

This logic is why Kansas has so many small, square counties, particularly in the central and western regions.

Stabilization

By the late 1880s, the map we recognize today was largely finalized. 

While there have been minor border disputes and dissolved counties (such as Garfield County, which was annexed into Finney County due to an illegal survey), the grid of 105 has remained the standard for over a century.

Geographical Overview of Kansas Regions

While the map grid looks uniform, the geography beneath it is surprisingly diverse. Understanding the four main quadrants of the map helps contextualize the data.

Northeast Kansas (The Glaciated Region)

Here you find the most irregular county shapes. Bordered by the Missouri River, counties like Doniphan and Atchison feature rolling hills and dense forests. 

This area was the first to be settled and remains the political hub, housing the state capital in Shawnee County.

Southeast Kansas (The Osage Cuestas)

Counties such as Cherokee and Crawford sit in a region defined by mining history and different geological ridges (cuestas). 

This area connects geographically to the Ozarks and has a distinct industrial heritage compared to the rest of the agricultural state.

Central Kansas (The Smoky Hills)

Moving west, the elevation rises. Counties like Ellsworth and Russell feature the Smoky Hills, sandstone formations and mixed-grass prairie. 

This is the transition zone between the corn/soybean fields of the east and the wheat fields of the west.

Western Kansas (The High Plains)

The western counties (like Greeley, Wallace, and Sherman) are larger, rectangular, and sparsely populated. 

This is the High Plains region, which rises steadily in elevation toward the Colorado border. It is the heart of the state’s cattle and wheat industries.

Important Kansas County Insights

Analyzing the data across the map reveals significant trends that affect economics and government.

Population Disparity

Johnson County (Kansas City metro) has a population of over 600,000, while Greeley County on the Colorado border often records fewer than 1,300 residents. 

This massive gap creates unique challenges for state resource allocation.

The “Tag” System

If you live in Kansas, you likely know your county by its two-letter abbreviation on license plates (e.g., “SN” for Shawnee, “SG” for Sedgwick). 

This system dates back to 1930 and helps locals instantly identify where a car is from.

Unified Government

Wyandotte County is unique in that it operates as a “Unified Government” (UG) with Kansas City, Kansas. This consolidation occurred in 1997 to streamline services and reduce administrative overhead.

List of Kansas Counties

County NameFIPS CodeCounty SeatEstablished
Allen County001Iola1855
Anderson County003Garnett1855
Atchison County005Atchison1855
Barber County007Medicine Lodge1867
Barton County009Great Bend1867
Bourbon County011Fort Scott1855
Brown County013Hiawatha1855
Butler County015El Dorado1855
Chase County017Cottonwood Falls1859
Chautauqua County019Sedan1875
Cherokee County021Columbus1855
Cheyenne County023St. Francis1873
Clark County025Ashland1885
Clay County027Clay Center1857
Cloud County029Concordia1866
Coffey County031Burlington1855
Comanche County033Coldwater1867
Cowley County035Winfield1867
Crawford County037Girard1867
Decatur County039Oberlin1873
Dickinson County041Abilene1857
Doniphan County043Troy1855
Douglas County045Lawrence1855
Edwards County047Kinsley1874
Elk County049Howard1875
Ellis County051Hays1867
Ellsworth County053Ellsworth1867
Finney County055Garden City1883
Ford County057Dodge City1867
Franklin County059Ottawa1855
Geary County061Junction City1855
Gove County063Gove City1868
Graham County065Hill City1867
Grant County067Ulysses1888
Gray County069Cimarron1887
Greeley County071Tribune1873
Greenwood County073Eureka1855
Hamilton County075Syracuse1873
Harper County077Anthony1867
Harvey County079Newton1872
Haskell County081Sublette1887
Hodgeman County083Jetmore1867
Jackson County085Holton1855
Jefferson County087Oskaloosa1855
Jewell County089Mankato1867
Johnson County091Olathe1855
Kearny County093Lakin1887
Kingman County095Kingman1872
Kiowa County097Greensburg1886
Labette County099Oswego1867
Lane County101Dighton1873
Leavenworth County103Leavenworth1855
Lincoln County105Lincoln Center1867
Linn County107Mound City1855
Logan County109Oakley1888
Lyon County111Emporia1855
McPherson County113McPherson1867
Marion County115Marion1860
Marshall County117Marysville1855
Meade County119Meade1885
Miami County121Paola1855
Mitchell County123Beloit1867
Montgomery County125Independence1867
Morris County127Council Grove1855
Morton County129Elkhart1886
Nemaha County131Seneca1855
Neosho County133Erie1855
Ness County135Ness City1867
Norton County137Norton1867
Osage County139Lyndon1855
Osborne County141Osborne1867
Ottawa County143Minneapolis1860
Pawnee County145Larned1867
Phillips County147Phillipsburg1867
Pottawatomie County149Westmoreland1857
Pratt County151Pratt1867
Rawlins County153Atwood1873
Reno County155Hutchinson1867
Republic County157Belleville1868
Rice County159Lyons1867
Riley County161Manhattan1855
Rooks County163Stockton1867
Rush County165La Crosse1867
Russell County167Russell1867
Saline County169Salina1860
Scott County171Scott City1873
Sedgwick County173Wichita1867
Seward County175Liberal1873
Shawnee County177Topeka1855
Sheridan County179Hoxie1873
Sherman County181Goodland1873
Smith County183Smith Center1867
Stafford County185St. John1867
Stanton County187Johnson City1887
Stevens County189Hugoton1886
Sumner County191Wellington1871
Thomas County193Colby1885
Trego County195WaKeeney1873
Wabaunsee County197Alma1859
Wallace County199Sharon Springs1888
Washington County201Washington1857
Wichita County203Leoti1886
Wilson County205Fredonia1865
Woodson County207Yates Center1855
Wyandotte County209Kansas City1859

Frequently Asked Questions 

What is the largest county in Kansas by land area?

Butler County is the largest county in Kansas, spanning approximately 1,428 square miles. It is located just east of Wichita and is known for the Flint Hills.

What is the smallest county in Kansas?

Wyandotte County is the smallest, covering only about 156 square miles. Despite its size, it is densely populated as it contains Kansas City, Kansas.

How many counties does Kansas have compared to other states?

Kansas has 105 counties, which is the 5th highest number in the United States, following Texas (254), Georgia (159), Virginia (133), and Kentucky (120).

Why are Kansas counties so square?

Most Kansas counties, particularly in the west, were surveyed using the Public Land Survey System (PLSS). This system divided land into 6-mile square townships, resulting in the grid-like, rectangular shape of many counties.

Which Kansas county has the highest population?

Johnson County is the most populous, with over 600,000 residents. It is a major suburban hub of the Kansas City metropolitan area.

What is the oldest county in Kansas?

While many counties were established simultaneously in 1855 by the first territorial legislature (such as Leavenworth, Douglas, and Allen), they are collectively considered the oldest group of counties in the state.

What is the newest county in Kansas?

Generally, the western counties were the last to be organized. However, counties like Logan (originally St. John) and Kearny were some of the final ones to establish their current borders and names in the late 1880s.

What is the “County Seat War”?

In the late 1800s, many Kansas towns fought violent battles (sometimes involving gunfire) to become the county seat. 

The designation meant economic survival. Famous seat wars occurred in counties like Stevens and Gray.

Start Using the Map Today

Ready to integrate this data into your workflow? Whether you are printing a map for a classroom, analyzing sales territories, or just curious about the geography of the Sunflower State, our tool is here to help.

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