Topeka, Kansas

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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.
Area
- City	57.0 sq mi (147.6 km²)
- Land	56.0 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 (841.8/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. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. 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. Three ships of the US Navy have been named USS Topeka in honor of the city.

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.^[4])

Topeka, 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. In 1857, Topeka was chartered as a city.

[edit] History

[edit] 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. 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. 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. 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. Topeka was finally chosen as the capital, with Dr. Charles Robinson as the first governor. Cyrus K. Holliday donated a tract of land to the state for the construction of a state capitol.

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. 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. 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.

State Capitol at Topeka (1912)

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.

[edit] 20th century

Downtown Topeka looking southwest

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.

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 a National historic site with interpretive exhibits. The national historic site was opened by President George W. Bush on May 17, 2004.

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. 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. (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).

[edit] Geography

Topeka, Kansas

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. It is the origin of I-335 which is a portion of the Kansas Turnpike running from Topeka to Emporia, Kansas. Topeka is also located on U.S. Highway 24 and U.S. Highway 40. 40 is coincident with I-70 west from Topeka.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 57.0 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]

[edit] Climate

Topeka has a humid continental climate (Koppen climate classification Dfa), with hot, somewhat humid summers and cool to cold, fairly dry winters. 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. 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.

[edit] Demographics

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 2,185.0 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, 1.31% Native American, 1.09% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 4.06% from other races, and 3.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.86% of the population.

There were 52,190 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.8% were married couples living together, 13.1% 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. Males had a median income of $32,373 versus $25,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,555. About 8.5% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] 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.^[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. 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. 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.^[7] BCBS of Kansas, Security Benefit Group of Companies, CoreFirst Bank & Trust, and Capitol Federal Savings Bank are headquartered in Topeka. BNSF Railway is the largest transportation employer, with about 1,100.^[7] Westar Energy employs nearly 800^[7] and is headquartered in the city.

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.

Met-Con products also has its headquarters in Topeka.

[edit] Arts and culture

[edit] 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. 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. 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. Lukes United Methodist in Dubuque, Iowa). Topeka is also headquarters for the controversial Westboro Baptist Church led by the preacher Fred Phelps.

[edit] 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".)
• Capitol Dome Tour
• Combat Air Museum at Forbes Air Force Base
• Great Overland Stationand All Veterans Memorial
• Heartland Park Topeka, a major drag racing and road racing course just south of the city.
• Kansas Museum of History with 20,000 sq ft (2,000 m²). of award-winning exhibits
• Reinisch Rose Garden and Doran Rock Garden
• Topeka Civic Theatre
• Topeka High School, a magnificent gothic building constructed during the WPA.
• Topeka Performing Arts Center
• Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library
• Topeka Zoo, world famous as the birthplace of the first Golden Eagle chick hatched in captivity
• Ward-Meade Park Botanical Gardens
• Washburn University, notable as the last city-chartered university in the United States.

[edit] 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 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.

There are also many local radio stations and AM talk shows, including the Jim Cates Show and The Wake Up Call on AM 1440 and On The Other Hand on AM 580. All 3 shows are available on their websites live via streaming audio. (See below)

[edit] Government

See also: List of mayors of Topeka

The chief executives of Topeka are Mayor Bill Bunten (R) and City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr.

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

[edit] Education

Monroe Elementary

Topeka is served by four public school districts including Topeka USD 501, Auburn-Washburn USD 437, Shawnee Heights USD 450, and Seaman USD 345. Topeka is also home to several private and parochial schools including Topeka Collegiate, Cair Paravel-Latin School, and Hayden High school. 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.

[edit] Transportation

I-70 Viaduct going through Downtown Topeka

I-70, I-470, and I-335 all go through the City of Topeka. I-335 is part of the Kansas Turnpike where it passes through Topeka. Other major highways include: US-24, US-40, US-75, and K-4. 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. 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. Kansas City International Airport is the closest commercial airport.

Passenger rail service provided by Amtrak stops at the Topeka Station. Freight service is provided by the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad and Union Pacific Railroad.

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

[edit] Notable natives and residents

• Pat Roberts, U.S. Senator from Kansas
• Annette Bening, actress
• Gregg Binkley, actor
• Gwendolyn Brooks, poet
• Fred Comer, racecar driver
• Charles Curtis, U.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
• Katrina Leskanich, singer (Katrina and the Waves)
• 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
• Mark Turgeon, head basketball coach at Texas A&M University
• Karl Targownik, psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor
• Trey Lewis NFL Defensive Tackle 2007-Present.

[edit] 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". 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.
• 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.
• In the popular post-nuclear game Wasteland (computer game), one of the clans of rail nomads is called the Topeka clan.
• In an episode of Star Trek: TNG, True Q, Amanda's parents were killed by a tornado in Topeka, KS.
• In Our Worlds at War a comic book crossover published by DC Comics, Topeka is destroyed by the extraterrestrial supervillain Imperiex.
• 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.
• 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.

[edit] References

[edit] 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)

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