Kansas is located in the Midwest region of the United States and became the 34th state on January 29, 1861. The capital and largest city is Topeka, which has a population of over 122,000. Kansas has a temperate climate with cold winters and hot summers, and is prone to tornadoes. The population is mostly white, with significant minorities of Hispanic, African American, and other races. Christianity is the dominant religion. The economy uses U.S. currency and was impacted by natural disasters requiring hospital response. Typical wildlife includes various animals.