1803 Kansas purchased by the United States as part of Louisiana Purchase. 1835 First newspaper in Kansas, the Shawnee Sun, printed in the native Shawnee language at the Shawnee Indian Mission in present day Fairway, Kansas. 1854 Kansas organized as a territory, included much of present-day eastern Colorado. Oil discovered near Paola in eastern Kansas. Kansas becomes the 34th state and Topeka chosen as capital.
Railroads expand into Kansas.
Post-Civil War cattle drives begin. The University of Kansas is founded and becomes the first university in the Great Plains area. 1874 Mennonite immigrants from Russia bring the Turkey Red Winter Wheat variety to the state. 1887 First woman mayor in the country, Susan Madora Salter, elected in Argonia. The dial telephone was invented by Almon Strowger in El Dorado.