The capital of the state of Kansas is Topeka. Located in the northeastern part of the state, the city occupies both banks of the Kansas River. The name Topeka is of Native American origin, but the meaning is uncertain. It may mean “smoky hill” or “a good place to dig potatoes.” Places of interest - The State House in Topeka, Kansas, is modeled after the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The domed State House is located in a square near the center of Topeka. It dates from the 1860s and was modeled after the national Capitol. Another landmark is the Kansas History Center, which houses the Kansas State Historical Society's museum and research center. Lake Shawnee, only a few minutes' drive from downtown Topeka, offers recreational activities such as sand volleyball and water sports. Gage Park is site of the Topeka Zoo, a carousel dating from 1908, and the Reinisch Rose Garden. The city is also home to Washburn University of Topeka. The Mulvane Art Museum is located on its campus. EconomyThe economy of Topeka is based on agriculture, manufacturing, and government services. The city is an important market for the wheat grown in the surrounding area. Meatpacking, publishing and printing, and tire manufacturing are important industries. Some large insurance companies have offices in Topeka. The city is also home to the Santa Fe Railroad, which merged with Burlington Northern in 1995 to become the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation. It has one of the largest railroad shops in the world. HistoryThe early development of Topeka in the 1850s had much to do with its location at the point where the Oregon Trail crossed over the Kansas River. Many settlers came to the city from the East on their way west. The area was of special interest to those who came to build railroads. In the mid-19th century Topeka became part of a conflict over slavery. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 opened the region to settlement and stated that the settlers themselves could decide whether or not to allow slavery in their territory. By early 1856 two competing governments existed in the Kansas territory—one that supported slavery and one that was against it. Topeka was the scene of several conflicts between supporters of the two sides. When Kansas was finally admitted to the Union in 1861, it became a free state with Topeka as the capital. Nearly a century later Topeka was again involved in a historic decision concerning African Americans. In 1954 the United States Supreme Court ruled in the case known as Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka that public schools could no longer be divided by race. This meant that black and white children were to share the same schools. Population (2000 census), 122,377. |