Determining which entity is older between Kansas and Kansas City depends on whether you are referring to the territory/state or the specific municipalities. Kansas was organized as a territory in 1854 and officially admitted to the Union as the 34th U.S. state in January 1861. Meanwhile, Kansas City, Missouri, was incorporated as a city in 1853, and Kansas City, Kansas, was founded later in 1868. Therefore, the city of Kansas City, Missouri, pre-dates the official statehood of Kansas by several years, establishing a fascinating historical timeline for the region.