City of Topeka
Flag Seal
Nickname: Capitol City, T-Town, Top City
Coordinates: 39°03′21″N 95°41′22″W / 39.05583, -95.68944
Country	United States
State	Kansas
County	Shawnee
Founded	December 5, 1854
Incorporated	February 14, 1857
Government
- Mayor	Bill Bunten (R)
- City Manager	Norton Bonaparte Jr. A nickname is a Name of an entity or thing that is not its Proper name. Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->This list of countries, arranged alphabetically The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The political units and divisions of the United States include The 50 states (four of these being officially styled as Commonwealths) which are typically Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " Alphabetical list |}Former counties of KansasMarion (1855-1857 One of 36 Original Counties Shawnee County (county code SN) is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. Events 63 BC - Cicero reads the last of his Catiline Orations. Year 1854 ( MDCCCLIV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common year A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including (but not necessarily limited to cities, counties, Towns Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Click here for Indian Rebellion of 1857 Year 1857 ( MDCCCLVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display the A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Bill Bunten (born 1930 is a Kansas Politician and the current Mayor of Topeka Kansas, having been elected to a four-year term in 2005 A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a City, in a council-manager form of city government
Area
- City	57. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status 0 sq mi (147. The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 6 km²)
- Land	56. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² 0 sq mi (145. 1 km²)
- Water	1. 0 sq mi (2. 5 km²)
Elevation	945 ft (288 m)
Population (2006)
- City	122,113
- Density	2,180/sq mi (841. The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 8/km²)
- Urban	142,411
	(Urban is Census 2000)
Time zone	CST (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Area code(s)	785
FIPS code	20-71000[1]
GNIS feature ID	0485477[2]
Website: topeka.org

Topeka is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat and most populous city of Shawnee County. The Central Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time ( UTC−6) and five hours during Daylight saving Areas using UTC−6 Single zone countries Belize Costa Rica El Salvador Guatemala Daylight saving time ( DST The Central Time Zone observes Standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time ( UTC−6) and five hours during Daylight saving UTC−5 is the Time offset used in the North American Eastern Time Zone during Standard time and in the North American Central Time Zone during A telephone numbering plan is a plan for allocating Telephone number ranges to countries regions areas and exchanges and to non-fixed telephone networks Area Code 785 is the Area code for Telephone exchanges in most of northern Kansas. Federal Information Processing Standards ( FIPS) are publicly announced standards developed by the United States Federal government for use by all non-military The Geographic Names Information System ( GNIS) is a database that contains name and locative information about more than two million physical and cultural features located throughout A city is an Urban area with a large Population and a particular Administrative, Legal, or Historical status A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " A county seat is a term for an Administrative center for a County, primarily used in the United States. Shawnee County (county code SN) is a county located in northeast Kansas, in the central United States of America. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. The Kansas River (also known as the Kaw) is a River in northeastern Kansas in the United States. The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model roughly coincident The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The population was 122,377 at the 2000 census, and it was estimated to be 122,113 in the year 2006. ^[3] The Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Shawnee, Jackson, Jefferson, Osage, and Wabaunsee counties, had an estimated population of 226,268 in the year 2003. The Topeka Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in northeastern Kansas, anchored Jackson County (county code JA) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. Jefferson County (county code JF) is a county located in Northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. Osage County (county code OS) is a county located in east-central Kansas, in the Central United States. Three ships of the US Navy have been named USS Topeka in honor of the city. USS Topeka, named after the state capital Topeka Kansas, may be any one of these United States Navy ships, a Gunboat bought The name "Topeka" comes from a Kansas tribal name meaning "a good place to grow potatoes". (The name "potato" in this case refers to the prairie potato, a perennial herb which was an important food for many Native Americans. Psoralea esculenta is an Herbaceous Perennial plant native to Prairies and dry Woodlands of central North America, which ^[4]) The city, laid out in 1854, was one of the Free-State towns founded by Eastern antislavery men immediately after the passage of the Kansas-Nebraska Bill. Eli Thayer (1819-1899 was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1857 to 1861 The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opened new lands repealed the Missouri Compromise of In 1857, Topeka was chartered as a city.

Contents 1 History 1.1 19th century 1.2 20th century 1.3 21st century 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 3 Demographics 4 Economy 5 Arts and culture 5.1 Religion 5.2 Points of interest 6 Media 7 Government 8 Education 9 Transportation 10 Notable natives and residents 11 Topeka in popular culture 12 References 13 External links

History

19th century

In the 1840s, wagon trains made their way west from Independence, Missouri, on a 2,000 miles (3,000 km) journey following what would come to be known as the Oregon Trail. Wagon Train is a Television Western Series on NBC from 1957 - 1962 and then on ABC from 1962- Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the About 60 miles (97 km) west of Kansas City, Missouri, three half Kansas Indian sisters married to the French-Canadian Pappan brothers established a ferry service allowing travelers to cross the Kansas River at what is now Topeka. The Kansas River (also known as the Kaw) is a River in northeastern Kansas in the United States. During the 1840s and into the 1850s, travelers could reliably find a way across the river (and plenty of moonshine) but little else was in the area.

In the early 1850s, traffic along the Oregon Trail was supplemented by trade on a new military road stretching from Fort Leavenworth through "Topeka" to the newly-established Fort Riley. In 1854, after completion of the first cabin, nine men established the "Topeka Town Association. " Included among them was Cyrus K. Holliday, an "idea man" who would become mayor of Topeka and founder of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. Colonel Cyrus Kurtz Holliday (April 3 1826 &ndash March 29 1900 was one of the founders of Topeka Kansas. The Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, often abbreviated as Santa Fe, was one of the larger railroads in the United States. Soon, steamboats were regularly docking at the Topeka landing, depositing meat, lumber, and flour and returning eastward with potatoes, corn, and wheat. By the late 1860s, Topeka had become a commercial hub providing access to many of the Victorian era's comforts.

After a decade of Bleeding Kansas abolitionist and pro-slavery conflict, the Kansas territory was admitted to the Union in 1861 as the 34th state. Bleeding Kansas, sometimes referred to in history as Bloody Kansas or the Border War, was a series of violent events involving Free-Staters Topeka was finally chosen as the capital, with Dr. Charles Robinson as the first governor. In 1862, Cyrus K. Holliday donated a tract of land to the state for the construction of a state capitol. Construction of the Kansas State Capitol began in 1866. It would take 37 years to build the capitol, first the east wing, and then the west wing, and finally the central building, using Kansas limestone.

State officers first used the state capitol in 1869, moving from Constitution Hall - Topeka, what is now 427-429 S. Kansas Avenue. Besides being used as the Kansas statehouse from 1863 to 1869, Constitution Hall is the site where anti-slavery settlers convened in 1855 to write the first of four state constitutions, making it the "Free State Capitol. " The National Park Service recognizes Constitution Hall - Topeka as headquarters in the operation of the Lane Trail to Freedom on the National Underground Railroad, the chief slave excape passage and free trade road.

Although the drought of 1860 and the ensuing period of the Civil War slowed the growth of Topeka and the state, Topeka kept pace with the revival and period of growth that Kansas enjoyed from the close of the war in 1865 until 1870. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Lincoln College, now Washburn University, was established in 1865 in Topeka by a charter issued by the State of Kansas and the General Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches of Kansas. In 1869, the railway started moving westward from Topeka. General offices and machine shops of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad system were established in Topeka in 1878.

During the late 1880s, Topeka passed through a boom period that ended in disaster. There was vast speculation on town lots. Speculation, in a financial context is making an investment that increases the overall risk in a portfolio The 1889 bubble burst and many investors were ruined. Topeka, however, doubled in population during the period and was able to weather the depressions of the 1890s.

Early in the 20th Century, another kind of boom, this time the automobile industry, took off, and numerous pioneering companies appeared and disappeared. Topeka was not left out. The Smith Automobile Company was founded there in 1902, lasting until 1912. The Smith Automobile Company of Topeka Kansas was an early United States Automobile manufacturing company which produced the Veracity,

20th century

Home to the first African-American kindergarten west of the Mississippi River, Topeka became the home of Linda Brown, the named plaintiff in Brown v. Board of Education which was the case responsible for eliminating the standard of "separate but equal", and requiring racial integration in American public schools. Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 347 US 483 (1954 was a Landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court, which overturned earlier Racial integration, or simply integration includes Desegregation (the process of ending systematic Racial segregation)

It is interesting to note that, at the time the suit was filed, only the elementary schools were segregated in Topeka, and that Topeka High School had been fully integrated since its inception in the late 1890s. It is also interesting to note that Topeka High School was the only public high school in Topeka. Highland Park High School became part of the Topeka school system in 1959 along with the opening of Topeka West High School in 1961. A Catholic high school—Assumption High School, later renamed Capitol Catholic High School, then Hayden High School after its founder, Father Francis Hayden in 1939—also served the city beginning in 1911. ^[5]

Monroe Elementary, a segregated school that figured in the historic Brown v. Board of Education decision, is now Brown v. Brown v Board of Education of Topeka, 347 US 483 (1954 was a Landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court, which overturned earlier Board of Education National Historic Site with interpretive exhibits. The national historic sitewas opened by President George W. Bush on May 17, 2004. A national historic site is a designation that an area possesses national historical significance George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. Events 1521 - Edward Stafford 3rd Duke of Buckingham, is executed for Treason. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again "

Topeka has struggled with the burden of racial discrimination even after Brown. New lawsuits attempted unsuccessfully to force suburban school districts that ring the city to participate in racial integration with the inner city district. In the late 1980s a group of citizens calling themselves the Task Force to Overcome Racism in Topeka formed to address the problem in a more organized way.

On June 8, 1966, Topeka was struck by an F5 rated tornado, according to the Fujita scale. The Early June 1966 Tornado Outbreak Sequence was a series of Tornado outbreaks which occurred between June 2 and 12. The Fujita scale ( F-Scale) or Fujita-Pearson scale, is a scale for rating Tornado intensity based on the damage tornadoes inflict on human-built structures It started on the southwest side of town, moving northeast, passing over a local landmark named Burnett's Mound. According to a local Indian legend, this mound was thought to protect the city from tornadoes. It went on to rip through the city, hitting the downtown area and Washburn University. Total dollar cost was put at $100 million making it, at the time, one of the costliest tornadoes in American history. Even to this day, with inflation factored in, the Topeka tornado stands as one of the costliest on record. It also helped bring to prominence future CBS and A&E broadcaster Bill Kurtis, who became well known for his televised admonition to "take cover, for God's sake, take cover" on WIBW-TV during the tornado. Bill Kurtis (born September 21, 1940) is a television journalist, producer, well-known former CBS News anchor and current host of WIBW-TV is the CBS affiliate in Topeka Kansas. It broadcasts on channel 13 and is owned by Gray Television. (The city is, by the way, home of a National Weather Service Forecast Office that serves 23 counties in north-central, northeast, and east-central Kansas). The National Weather Service ( NWS) once known as the Weather Bureau is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, Topeka recovered from the 1966 tornado and has sustained steady economic growth. For example, Washburn University, which lost several historic buildings from the tornado, received financial support from the community and alumni to make possible the rebuilding of many school facilities during the coming years. Today, university facilities offer more than one million square feet of modern academic and support space.

In 1974, Forbes Air base closed and more than 10,000 people left Topeka, impacting the city’s growth patterns for years to come. During the 1980’s, Topeka citizens voted to build a new airport and convention center and to change the form of city government. West Ridge Mall opened in 1988 and in 1989 Topeka became a motorsports mecca with the opening of Heartland Park Topeka. The Topeka Performing Arts Center opened in 1991. In the early 1990’s the city experienced business growth with Reser’s Fine Foods locating in Topeka and expansions for Santa Fe and Hill’s Pet Nutrition.

During the 1990’s voters approved bond issues for public school improvements including magnet schools, technology, air conditioning, classrooms, and a sports complex. Voters also approved a quarter-cent sales tax for a new Law Enforcement Center, and then in 1996 approved an extension of the sales tax for the East Topeka Interchange connecting the Oakland Expressway, K-4, I-70, and the Kansas Turnpike. During the 1990’s Shawnee Countians voted to extend tax support to the County for the expansion of the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library. The Kansas Legislature and Governor also approved legislation to replace the majority of the property tax supporting Washburn University with a countywide sales tax.

21st century

In 2000 the citizens again voted to extend the quarter-cent sales tax, this time for the economic development of Topeka and Shawnee County. In August, 2004, Shawnee County citizens voted to repeal the 2000 quarter-cent sales tax and replace it with a 12- year half-cent sales tax designated for economic development, roads, and bridges. Each year the sales tax funds provide $5 million designated for business development job creation incentives, and $9 million for roads and bridges.

Planning is under way to continue to redevelop areas along the Kansas River, which runs west to east through Topeka. The Kansas River (also known as the Kaw) is a River in northeastern Kansas in the United States. In the Kansas River Corridor through the center of town, Downtown Topeka has experienced apartment and condominium loft development, and façade and streetscape improvements. On the other side of the river, Historic North Topeka has benefited from a major streetscape project and the renovated Great Overland Station, regarded as the finest representation of classic railroad architecture in Kansas. The Great Overland Station is directly across the river from the State Capitol, which is undergoing an eight-year, $283 million renovation.

In 2006, construction began to redevelop the historic College Hill district. The district, just north of Washburn University, has been transformed into a vibrant area of retail shops, apartments, and townhomes.

Geography

Topeka is located at 39°03′N, 95°41′W. ^[6] Topeka is in north east Kansas at the intersection of I-70 and U.S. Highway 75. Interstate 70 enters flat plains in Kansas This portion of I-70 was the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the interstate system US Route 75 is a north-south US Highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Kittson County Minnesota, at the Canadian border where it continues It is the origin of I-335 which is a portion of the Kansas Turnpike running from Topeka to Emporia, Kansas. Interstate 335 (abbreviated I-335) is the name of a 501 mile (80 The Kansas Turnpike is a 236-mile (380-km Freeway -standard Toll road that lies entirely within the U Emporia is a city in and the County seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. Topeka is also located on U.S. Highway 24 and U.S. Highway 40. US Route 24, a dual north-south/east-west route is one of the original United States highways of 1926 40 is coincident with I-70 west from Topeka.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title) is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census 0 square miles (147. 6 km²), of which 56. 0 square miles (145. 1 km²) is land and 1. 0 square miles (2. 5 km²), or 1. 70%, is water. ^[1]

Climate

Topeka has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa), with hot, somewhat humid summers and cool to cold, fairly dry winters. The humid continental climate is a Climate found over large areas of land masses in the temperate regions of the mid-latitudes where there is a zone of conflict between The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist Over the course of a year, temperatures range from an average low of about 17 °F in January to an average high of nearly 90 °F in July. The maximum temperature reaches 90 °F an average of 45 days per year and reaches 100 °F an average of 4 days per year. The minimum temperature falls below the freezing point (32 °F) an average of 117 days per year. Typically the first fall freeze occurs between the last week of September and the end of October, and the last spring freeze occurs between the first week of April and early May.

The area receives nearly 36 inches of precipitation during an average year with the largest share being received in May and June—the April–June period averages 32 days of measurable precipitation. Generally, the spring and summer months have the most rainfall, with autumn and winter being fairly dry. During a typical year the total amount of precipitation may be anywhere from 25 to 47 inches. Much of the rainfall is delivered by thunderstorms. These can be severe, producing frequent lightning, large hail, and sometimes tornadoes. Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of Electricity, which typically occurs during Thunderstorms and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or Hail is a form of precipitation which consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice (hailstones A tornado is a violent rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a Cumulonimbus cloud or in rare cases the base of a Cumulus There are on average 100 days of measurable precipitation per year. Winter snowfall is light, as is the case in most of the state, not due to lack of sufficient cold temperatures, but due to the dry, sunny weather patterns that dominate Kansas winters, that do not allow for sufficient moisture for significant snowfall. Winter snowfall averages almost 20 inches, but the median is less than 11 inches. Measurable snowfall occurs an average of 15 days per year with at least an inch of snow being received on seven of those days. Snow depth of at least an inch occurs an average of 26 days per year.

Source: Monthly Station Climate Summaries, 1971-2000, U.S. National Climatic Data Center

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Temperatures °F (°C)
Mean high	37. 2 (2. 8)	43. 8 (6. 5)	55. 5 (13. 05)	66. 1 (18. 9)	75. 3 (24. 05)	84. 5 (29. 2)	89. 1 (31. 7)	87. 9 (31. 05)	80. 3 (26. 8)	68. 9 (20. 5)	53. 1 (11. 7)	40. 9 (4. 9)	65. 2 (18. 4)
Mean low	17. 2 (-8. 2)	23. 0 (-5. 0)	32. 9 (0. 5)	42. 9 (6. 05)	53. 4 (11. 8)	63. 2 (17. 3)	67. 7 (19. 8)	65. 4 (18. 5)	55. 9 (13. 3)	44. 3 (6. 8)	32. 1 (0. 05)	21. 8 (-5. 6)	43. 3 (6. 3)
Highest recorded	73 (22. 7) (1967)	84 (28. 8) (1972)	89 (31. 6) (1986)	95 (35) (1987)	97 (36. 1) (1998)	107 (41. 6) (1953)	110 (43. 3) (1980)	110 (43. 3) (1984)	109 (42. 7) (2000)	96 (35. 5) (1963)	85 (29. 4) (1980)	73 (22. 7) (2001)	110 (43. 3) (1984)
Lowest recorded	−20 (-28. 8) (1974)	−23 (-30. 5) (1979)	−7 (-21. 6) (1978)	10 (-12. 2) (1975)	26 (-3. 3) (1963)	42 (5. 5) (1964)	43 (6. 1) (1972)	41 (5) (1988)	29 (-1. 6) (1984)	19 (-7. 2) (1993)	2 (-16. 6) (1976)	−26 (-32. 2) (1989)	−26 (-32. 2) (1989)
Precipitation inches (milimeters)
Median	0. 90 (22. 9)	0. 89 (22. 6)	2. 09 (53. 1)	3. 04 (77. 2)	4. 41 (112. 0)	4. 81 (122. 2)	2. 90 (73. 6)	3. 99 (101. 3)	2. 94 (74. 7)	3. 25 (82. 55)	2. 17 (55. 1)	1. 19 (30. 2)	36. 57 (928. 9)
Mean number of days	6. 2	6. 1	9. 2	10. 1	11. 8	10. 5	8. 6	8. 7	7. 9	7. 2	7. 3	6. 4	100. 0
Highest monthly	2. 67 (67. 8) (1973)	3. 49 (88. 6) (1971)	8. 44 (214. 4) (1973)	8. 69 (220. 7) (1999)	11. 81 (299. 97) (1995)	10. 91 (277. 1) (1977)	10. 98 (278. 89) (1993)	11. 18 (283. 97) (1977)	12. 71 (322. 8) (1973)	7. 24 (183. 9( (1980)	5. 64 (143. 2) (1998)	4. 30 (109. 2) (1973)
Snowfall inches (centimeters)
Median	3. 8 (9. 65)	2. 4 (6. 09)	0. 9 (2. 28)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 2 (0. 51))	3. 6 (9. 14)	10. 9 (27. 7)
Mean number of days	4. 5	3. 2	1. 7	0. 6	0. 0	0. 0	0. 0	0. 0	0. 0	0. 0	1. 5	3. 5	15. 0
Highest monthly	17. 3 (43. 9) (1979)	22. 4 (56. 9) (1971)	7. 8 (19. 8) (1975)	4. 5 (11. 4) (1983)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	0. 0 (0. 0)	8. 0 (20. 3) (1996)	9. 4 (23. 9) (1972)	18. 8 (47. 7) (1983)
Notes: Temperatures are in degrees Fahrenheit and in parenthesis, Celcius. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature Fahrenheit is a temperature scale named after Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686–1736 a German Physicist who proposed it in 1724 The Celsius Temperature scale was previously known as the centigrade scale. Precipitation includes rain and melted snow or sleet in inches and in parenthesis, centimeters; median values are provided for precipitation and snowfall because mean averages may be misleading. In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric Rain is Liquid precipitation. On Earth it is the condensation of atmospheric Water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall often making it to "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. Inches redirects here To see the Les Savy Fav album see Inches. A centimetre ( American spelling: centimeter, symbol cm) is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one hundredth In Probability theory and Statistics, a median is described as the number separating the higher half of a sample a population or a Probability distribution In Mathematics and Statistics, the arithmetic Mean (or simply the mean) of a list of numbers is the sum of all the members of the list divided Mean and median values are for the 30-year period 1971–2000; temperature extremes are for the station's period of record (1948–2001). The station is located at Topeka Billard Municipal Airport at 39°4′N 95°38′W, elevation 881 feet (269 m).

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	759		—
1870	5,790		662. 8%
1880	15,452		166. 9%
1890	31,007		100. 7%
1900	33,608		8. 4%
1910	43,684		30%
1920	50,022		14. 5%
1930	64,120		28. 2%
1940	67,833		5. 8%
1950	78,791		16. 2%
1960	119,484		51. 6%
1970	125,011		4. 6%
1980	115,266		−7. 8%
1990	119,883		4%
2000	122,377		2. 1%

Topeka's population was estimated to be 122,113 in the year 2006, a decrease of 988, or -0. 8%, over the previous six years. ^[3]

As of the U.S. Census in 2000,^[1] there were 122,377 people, 52,190 households, and 30,687 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,185. Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume 0 people per square mile (843. 6/km²). There were 56,435 housing units at an average density of 1,007. 6/sq mi (389. 0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78. 52% White, 11. 71% Black or African American, 1. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa 31% Native American, 1. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States 09% Asian, 0. Asian Americans are Americans of Asian ancestry. They include sub-ethnic groups such as Chinese Americans Filipino Americans Indian 04% Pacific Islander, 4. 06% from other races, and 3. 26% from two or more races. The terms multiracial and mixed-race describe people whose ancestries come from different races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10. Hispanic (hispano hispánico hispânico Hispānus adjective from ''Hispānia'', the Roman name for the Iberian Peninsula) is a term that historically 86% of the population.

There were 52,190 households out of which 28. The household is the basic unit of analysis in many Social, Microeconomic and Government models 0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41. 8% were married couples living together, 13. NOTICE TO WOULD-BE ROMEOS ************** 1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41. 2% were non-families. 35. 0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11. 7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2. 27 and the average family size was 2. 94.

In the city the population is spread out with 24. 3% under the age of 18, 9. 9% from 18 to 24, 28. 9% from 25 to 44, 21. 9% from 45 to 64, and 15. 1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92. 4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88. 4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,928, and the median income for a family was $45,803. The median household income is commonly used to provide data about geographic areas and divides households into two equal segments with the first half of Households earning less Males had a median income of $32,373 versus $25,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,555. Per capita income means how much each individual receives in monetary terms of the yearly income generated in the country About 8. 5% of families and 12. 4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16. The poverty threshold, or poverty line, is the minimum level of Income deemed necessary to achieve an adequate Standard of living in a given country 7% of those under age 18 and 8. 2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Being the state's capital city, Topeka's largest employer is the State of Kansas—employing about 8,400 people,^[7] or 69% of the city's government workers. Altogether, government workers make up one out of every five employed persons in the city. ^[1]

The educational, health and social services industry makes up the largest proportion of the working population (22. 4%^[1]). The four school districts employ nearly 4,700 people, and Washburn University employs about 1,650. Washburn University ( WU) is a co-educational Public, institution of higher learning located in Topeka, Kansas USA. ^[7] Three of the largest employers are Stormont-Vail HealthCare (with about 3,100 employees), St. Francis Health Center (1,800), and Colmery-O'Neil VA Hospital (900). ^[7]

The retail trade employs more than a tenth of the working population (11. 5%^[1]) with Wal-Mart and Dillons having the greater share. Wal-Mart Stores Inc (or Walmart as written in its new logo is an American public corporation that runs a chain of large discount department stores Dillons is a grocery Supermarket chain based in Hutchinson Kansas, and the flagship banner of Dillon Stores Division one of the regional segments of The Nearly another tenth is employed in manufacturing (9. 0%^[1]). Top manufacturers include Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Payless ShoeSource (headquartered in Topeka), Jostens Printing and Publishing, Hill's Pet Nutrition (also headquartered in the city), and Frito-Lay. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company was founded in 1898 by Frank Seiberling. Payless ShoeSource is a discount footwear retailer that was founded in 1956 in Topeka Kansas. Jostens is an American company that produces Class rings ref> for various High schools and Colleges as well as Championship rings Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc is a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive Company For the chips synonymous with the company see Fritos and Lay's. Southwest Publishing & Mailing Corporation, a smaller employer, has its headquarters in Topeka.

Other industries are finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing (7. 8%); professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (7. 6%); arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (7. 2%); construction (6. 0%); transportation and warehousing, and utilities (5. 8%); and wholesale trade (3. 2%). ^[1] Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is the largest insurance employer, with about 1,800 employees. Blue Cross redirects here For other uses see Blue Cross (disambiguation The Blue Cross Blue Shield ^[7] BCBS of Kansas, Security Benefit Group of Companies, CoreFirst Bank & Trust, and Capitol Federal Savings Bank are headquartered in Topeka. CoreFirst Bank & Trust (formerly Commerce Bank & Trust operating in Topeka and Emporia Kansas is a community Bank based in Topeka Kansas. BNSF Railway is the largest transportation employer, with about 1,100. The BNSF Railway headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the four remaining Transcontinental railroads and one of the largest railroad networks in ^[7] Westar Energy employs nearly 800^[7] and is headquartered in the city. Westar Energy ( is an investor owned Electric utility headquartered in Topeka Kansas.

About a tenth of the working population is employed in public administration (9. 9%^[1]). Other corporations headquartered in Topeka include the Sports Car Club of America. The Sports Car Club of America ( SCCA) is a club and sanctioning body supporting Road racing, rally, and Autocross in the United States

Met-Con products also has its headquarters in Topeka.

Arts and culture

Religion

Topeka is sometimes cited as the home of Pentecostalism as it was the site of Charles Fox Parham's Bethel Bible College, where glossolalia was first claimed as the evidence of a spiritual experience referred to as the baptism of the Holy Spirit in 1901. Pentecostalism is a renewalist religious movement within Christianity that places special emphasis on the direct personal experience of God through the Baptism Charles Fox Parham (4 June 1873 - c 29 January 1929 was an American preacher who was instrumental in the formation of Pentecostalism. Glossolalia is commonly called "speaking in tongues" For other uses of "speaking in tongues" see Speaking in Tongues (disambiguation. According to the New Testament, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is an experience sent by Jesus Christ. It is also the home of Reverend Charles Sheldon, author of In His Steps, and was the site where the famous question "What would Jesus do?" originated in a sermon of Sheldon's at Central Congregational Church. Charles Sheldon ( February 26, 1857 in Wellsville New York &ndash February 24, 1946) was an American minister In His Steps is a best-selling book written by Charles Monroe Sheldon. The phrase " What would Jesus do? " (often abbreviated to WWJD) became popular in the United States in the 1890s and again in 1990s as a personal Motto The First Presbyterian Church in Topeka is one of the very few churches in the U. S. to have its sanctuary completely decorated with Tiffany stained glass (another is St. Louis Comfort Tiffany ( February 18, 1848 &ndash January 17, 1933) was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts Lukes United Methodist in Dubuque, Iowa). Dubuque is a city in the US State of Iowa, located along the Mississippi River. Topeka is also headquarters for the controversial Westboro Baptist Church led by the preacher Fred Phelps. The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC is a church headed by Fred Phelps and based in Topeka Kansas, United States. Fred Waldron Phelps Sr (born November 13 1929 is an

Points of interest

• Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site Photo Tour
• Capitol Building Tours The state capitol building, with murals by John Steuart Curry, including the famous portrait of John Brown towering over "Bleeding Kansas" and the Kansas prairie, and topped with the sculpture of an American Indian named Ad Astra (from the state motto Ad Astra per Aspera, meaning "To the Stars Through Difficulty". Brown v Board of Education National Historic Site was established in Topeka Kansas, on October 26, 1992, by the United States John Steuart Curry ( November 14, 1897 - August 29, 1946) was an American painter whose career spanned from 1924 ) Capitol Dome Tour
• Combat Air Museum at Forbes Air Force Base
• Great Overland Station railroad museum and All Veterans Memorial
• Heartland Park Topeka, a major drag racing and road racing course just south of the city. Forbes Air Force Base, previously Topeka Army Airfield, is a Kansas Air National Guard installation located five miles (8 km south of Topeka Kansas. Heartland Park Topeka is a multi-purpose motorsports facility located south of Topeka Kansas.
• Kansas Museum of History with 20,000 sq ft (2,000 m²). of award-winning exhibits
• Reinisch Rose Garden and Doran Rock Garden
• Topeka High School, a magnificent gothic building constructed during the WPA. Reinisch Rose Garden and Doran Rock Garden is a garden located in Gage Park, at 4320 SW 10th Avenue Topeka Kansas.
• Topeka Performing Arts Center
• Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
• Topeka Zoo, famous as the birthplace of the first Golden Eagle chick hatched in captivity
• Ward-Meade Park Botanical Gardens
• Washburn University, the last city-chartered university in the United States. Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library is a Public library located in Topeka Kansas. The Topeka Zoological Park is a medium-sized Zoo in Topeka Kansas in the United States. The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere Ward-Meade Park Botanical Gardens 25 acres (10000 m² are Botanical gardens located in Historic Ward-Meade Park at 124 NW Fillmore Street Topeka Kansas Washburn University ( WU) is a co-educational Public, institution of higher learning located in Topeka, Kansas USA.

Media

Topeka is the home of a daily newspaper, the Topeka Capital Journal, and a bi-weekly newspaper, The Topeka Metro News. There are affiliates of the major television networks including Fox 43 ([1]), NBC 27 (KSNT), ABC 49 (KTKA), PBS 11 ((KTWU-TV)) and CBS 13 (WIBW-TV), which is the station where Bill Kurtis started his television career. WIBW-TV is the CBS affiliate in Topeka Kansas. It broadcasts on channel 13 and is owned by Gray Television. Bill Kurtis (born September 21, 1940) is a television journalist, producer, well-known former CBS News anchor and current host of There are also many local radio stations and AM talk shows.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Topeka

The chief executives of Topeka are Mayor Bill Bunten (R) and City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. Mayors of Topeka Kansas Sources City of Topeka website http//www A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Bill Bunten (born 1930 is a Kansas Politician and the current Mayor of Topeka Kansas, having been elected to a four-year term in 2005 A city manager is an official appointed as the administrative manager of a City, in a council-manager form of city government

Education

Topeka is served by four public school districts including Topeka USD 501, Auburn-Washburn USD 437, Shawnee Heights USD 450, and Seaman USD 345. The term public school has two distinct (and virtually opposite meanings depending on the location of usage in the United States, Australia and Topeka Public Schools (officially Kansas Unified school district 501 and known locally as '5-O-1' and 'TPS' is an Inner city School District serving the City of Topeka Topeka is also home to several private and parochial schools including Topeka Collegiate, Cair Paravel-Latin School, and Hayden High school. Cair Paravel-Latin School (commonly Cair Paravel or CPLS) is a coeducational non-profit interdenominational Christian Private school in There are also elementary and junior high schools supported by other Christian denominations.

Topeka has several colleges, universities and technical schools including Washburn University and the Baker University School of Nursing. Washburn University ( WU) is a co-educational Public, institution of higher learning located in Topeka, Kansas USA. Baker University is a private residential University located in Baldwin City Kansas, United States.

Transportation

I-70, I-470, and I-335 all go through the City of Topeka. Interstate 70 enters flat plains in Kansas This portion of I-70 was the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the interstate system A viaduct is a Bridge composed of several small spans The term viaduct is derived from the Latin via for road and ducere to Interstate 70 enters flat plains in Kansas This portion of I-70 was the first segment to start being paved and to be completed in the interstate system Interstate 470 (abbreviated I-470) is a 1372 mile loop highway in Topeka Kansas that bypasses the downtown area Interstate 335 (abbreviated I-335) is the name of a 501 mile (80 I-335 is part of the Kansas Turnpike where it passes through Topeka. The Kansas Turnpike is a 236-mile (380-km Freeway -standard Toll road that lies entirely within the U Other major highways include: US-24, US-40, US-75, and K-4. US Route 24, a dual north-south/east-west route is one of the original United States highways of 1926 US Route 75 is a north-south US Highway. The highway's northern terminus is in Kittson County Minnesota, at the Canadian border where it continues K-4 is the longest designated State highway in Kansas traversing from north of Scott City at US-83 to US-59 near Nortonville Major roads within the city include NW/SW Topeka Blvd. SW Wanamaker Road. N/S Kansas Ave. SW/SE 29th St. SE/SW 21st St. SE California Ave. SW Gage Blvd. and SW Fairlawn Rd.

Philip Billard Municipal Airport (TOP) is located in the Oakland neighborhood of Topeka and Forbes Field (FOE)is located south of Topeka in Pauline, Kansas. Philip Billard Municipal Airport is a public Airport located three miles (5 km northeast of the Central business district of Topeka, the Capital Forbes Field is a joint civil-military public Airport located six miles (10 km south of the Central business district of Topeka, a city in Shawnee Pauline is an unincorporated town in Shawnee County, Kansas, United States. Passenger air service is not currently available. Service may be added in the near future. Forbes Field also serves as an Air National Guard base, home of the highly decorated 190th Air Refueling Wing. The Air National Guard ( ANG), often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the several states and Kansas City International Airport is the closest commercial airport.

Passenger rail service provided by Amtrak stops at the Topeka Station. The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Doing business as Amtrak, is a Government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971 The Topeka Amtrak station is a train station in Topeka, Kansas, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system Freight service is provided by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad and Union Pacific Railroad. The BNSF Railway headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is one of the four remaining Transcontinental railroads and one of the largest railroad networks in

Bus service is provided by Greyhound
In City bus service provided by Topeka Transit

Notable natives and residents

• Pat Roberts, U. Charles Patrick "Pat" Roberts (born April 20 1936 is the junior United States Senator from Kansas. S. Senator from Kansas
• Annette Bening, actress
• Gregg Binkley, actor
• Gwendolyn Brooks, poet
• Fred Comer, racecar driver
• Charles Curtis, U. Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " Annette Francine Bening (born May 29, 1958) is an Academy Award -nominated and Golden Globe - BAFTA - and Screen Actors Guild Gregg Binkley (born February 10, 1963) is an American Television actor Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks ( June 7, 1917 – December 3, 2000) was an Pulitzer Prize- winning African-American Poet Fred Comer ( February 19, 1893 in Topeka Kansas &ndash October 12, 1928 in Lawrence Massachusetts) was an American Charles Curtis (January 25 1860 – February 8 1936 was a Representative and a Senator from Kansas as well as the thirty-first Vice President of S. Vice President (1929–33)
• Art Crews, wrestler
• Aaron Douglas, Harlem Renaissance artist
• Ronald Evans, astronaut
• Max Falkenstein, radio broadcaster
• Ann Gottesman, author
• Josh Kulick, former Heavy Metal Drummer for Through The Eyes Of The Dead
• Coleman Hawkins, jazz saxophonist
• Wes Jackson, environmentalist, The Land Institute
• Kansas, rock band
• Bill Kurtis, television anchor
• Ben Lerner, poet
• Harriet Lerner, clinical psychologist and author
• Katrina Leskanich, singer (Katrina and the Waves)
• Trey Lewis NFL Defensive Tackle 2007-Present
• Andy McKee, musician
• Karl Menninger, psychiatrist
• William C. Menninger, psychiatrist
• Origin, metal band
• John Parrella, football player
• Eric Rosen, Kansas Supreme Court Justice
• Thomas Ryan, U.S. Representative and Ambassador to Mexico
• Dean Smith, former University of North Carolina basketball coach
• Karl Targownik, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor
• Mark Turgeon, head basketball coach at Texas A&M University
• Max Yoho, author

Topeka in popular culture

• Bloo, a character from the children's cartoon series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends watches a TV news report about Topeka, Kansas and states that "It's hot in Toe-Peek-A". Art Crews is a retired American professional wrestler who competed in North American regional promotions including the National Wrestling Alliance, particularly the Aaron Douglas ( May 26, 1898 &ndash February 3, 1979) was an African American painter and a major figure in the Harlem Ronald Ellwin Evans Jr ( November 10, 1933 &ndash April 7, 1990) (Captain USN Ret Max Falkenstien ( April 9, 1924 - was a radio sports announcer Ann Gottesman is an American Writer associated with the Sebastopol Literary Renaissance Josh Kulick is an American Heavy metal drummer who is formerly the drummer of Through the Eyes of the Dead. Through the Eyes of the Dead is a Deathcore band from Florence, South Carolina which incorporates elements of Death metal into their style Coleman Randolph Hawkins ( November 21 1904 - May 19 1969) Nicknamed "Hawk" and sometimes "Bean" was a prominent Wes Jackson is the founder and current president of The Land Institute. The Land Institute is a Non-profit research education and policy organization dedicated to Sustainable agriculture based in Kansas United States Kansas is an American Progressive rock band which became a popular Arena rock group in the 1970s with hit singles such as " Carry On Wayward Bill Kurtis (born September 21, 1940) is a television journalist, producer, well-known former CBS News anchor and current host of Benjamin S Lerner is an American Poet. Born on February 4, 1979 and raised in Topeka, Kansas, he is a 1997 graduate Harriet Lerner, PhD (born November 30, 1944) is a clinical psychologist who is a major contributor to feminist theory and therapy Katrina Leskanich (born April 10 1960, Topeka, Kansas, United States) is an American Singer and Musician Katrina and the Waves were a Pop rock band of the 1980s, best known for their 1985 hit " Walking on Sunshine " and their 1997 Eurovision Trey Lewis (born May 23, 1985 in) is an American football Defensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football Andy McKee (born in 1979 in Topeka, Kansas) is an American Fingerstyle Guitarist currently signed to the American Karl Augustus Menninger ( July 22, 1893 - July 18, 1990) born in Topeka Kansas, was an American Psychiatrist William Claire Menninger (1899-1966 was a co-founder with his brother Karl and his father of The Menninger Foundation in Topeka Kansas, which is an internationally John Lorin Parrella (born November 22, 1969 in Topeka, Kansas) is a retired American football Defensive tackle in the Eric (The Boss Rosen is a Kansas Supreme Court Justice He was appointed to the Court by Governor Kathleen Sebelius in 2005 The Kansas Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in the state of Kansas based in Topeka. Thomas Ryan ( November 25, 1837 – April 5, 1914) was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Kansas. The United States House of Representatives is one of the two chambers of the United States Congress; the other is the Senate. The United States has maintained diplomatic relations with Mexico since 1823 when Andrew Jackson was appointed Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to Dean Edwards Smith (born February 28 1931 is a retired head coach of men’s college Basketball. Karl Kalman Targownik ( June 17, 1915 - January 2, 1996) was a Psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor The Holocaust (from the Greek el ''ὁλόκαυστον'' (el-Latn holókauston holos, "completely" and kaustos, "burnt" also known as Mark Leo Turgeon (born February 5, 1965 in Topeka Kansas) is the current head basketball coach of Texas A&M University Texas A&M University, often called A&M or TAMU, is a Coeducational public Research University located in College Station Max Yoho (born 1934 in Colony Kansas) began writing humorous books and poetry in 1988 after becoming a widower This is a list of characters seen in the American Animated television series Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends is an Emmy Award winning American Animated television series created and produced at Cartoon Network Studios This is a pun of Toepicker, a somewhat humorous insult.
• Topeka is first mentioned in The Waste Lands and features prominently in Wizard and Glass, two books from Stephen King's Dark Tower series. This is an article about a Stephen King book For the poem by T Wizard and Glass is the fourth book in the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Stephen Edwin King (born September 21, 1947) is an American Author, Screenwriter, Musician, Columnist, The Dark Tower is a series of seven books written by American author Stephen King between 1970 and 2004
• In the Sherlock Holmes short story The Adventure of the Three Garridebs, the first Garrideb and ultimately the villain John Garrideb claims he is from Topeka, Kansas. Sherlock Holmes is a famous fictional detective of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries who first appeared in Publication in 1887 The Adventure of the Three Garridebs, one of the 56 Sherlock Holmes short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is one of 12 stories in the
• In the popular post-nuclear game Wasteland (computer game), one of the clans of rail nomads is called the Topeka clan. Wasteland is a post-apocalyptic Computer role-playing game first released in 1988
• In an episode of Star Trek: TNG, True Q, Amanda's parents were killed by a tornado in Topeka, KS. Star Trek The Next Generation ( STTNG or TNG) is an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning science fiction television program created by Gene Roddenberry " True Q " is a 6th season episode of Star Trek The Next Generation.
• In Our Worlds at War a comic book crossover published by DC Comics, Topeka is destroyed by the extraterrestrial supervillain Imperiex. Our Worlds at War was a Comic book crossover, published by DC Comics during the summer of 2001 A comic book (often shortened to simply comic and sometimes called a comic paper or comic magazine) is a Magazine or Book of narrative CrossOver (known before version 60 as CrossOver Office) is the collective name for three commercial and proprietary programs developed by CodeWeavers DC Comics is an American comic book and related media company A supervillain or supervillainess is a variant of the Villain character type commonly found in Comic books, Action movies and Imperiex is a Fictional character that appears in Comic books published by DC Comics.
• In the video game Command & Conquer (video game) during the introduction of the game a newscast shows a sample of Tiberium and states that this sample was collected near Topeka, Kansas. Command & Conquer (aka Command & Conquer Tiberian Dawn) is a 1995 Real-time strategy Video game produced by Westwood Studios Tiberium is a Fictional Crystalline substance of extra-terrestrial origins featured prominently in the Tiberium story arc of the Command
• In "The Red Badge of Gayness" episode of South Park, originally aired on November 24, 1999, Eric Cartman leads the South Park Confederates to attack Topeka. South Park is an animated American television comedy series created and written by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for Comedy Central

References

External links

Official sites

• City of Topeka
• Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce
• The Topeka Capital-Journal (daily newspaper)
• Topeka Photo Gallery

• Topeka, Kansas is at coordinates 39°02′N 95°41′W / 39.04, -95.69 (Topeka, Kansas)Coordinates: 39°02′N 95°41′W / 39.04, -95.69 (Topeka, Kansas)

A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system.

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