Topeka
Capital of Kansas, seat of Shawnee County, on the Kansas River, 85 km/53 mi west of Kansas City; population (2000 est) 122,400. It is an agricultural centre for eastern Kansas, trading in wheat and cattle. Manufactured products include processed foods, printed materials, and rubber and metal goods. The state government, education, and Goodyear tyres are all major employers in the area.
History
The community was founded in 1854 by antislavery colonists, and developed as a railway hub. It was made the state capital and county seat in 1866. The settlement of Topeka was established near the splitting of the Oregon and Santa Fe trails, and later became the junction of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. The city was damaged by floods in 1903 and 1951, and by a tornado in 1996.
Features Topeka has 33 entries on the national register of historic places including the domed State Capitol (1866). The city is home to Washburn University (1865). Attractions include the Mid-American fairgrounds, the Mulvane Art Center, Combat Air Museum, Topeka Zoo, Ward Meade Park (1854), the Kansas History Centre (1875), and the Menninger Foundation (1925), a psychiatric clinic. The city has a symphony orchestra and ballet company. |
