Timeline of Topeka, Kansas

The following is a timeline of the history of Topeka, Kansas, USA.

19th century

 * 1854 - Topeka Association organized.
 * 1855
 * Constitution Hall built.


 * Topeka Constitutional Convention held.
 * 1856
 * Free-state government installed in Topeka, March 1856.
 * 1857
 * Topeka incorporated.
 * State Library of Kansas established.
 * 1859
 * Kansas State Record newspaper begins publication.
 * Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway chartered and set up offices and work shops.
 * Wyandotte Constitution makes Topeka the temporary state capital.
 * Topeka Cemetery established.
 * 1860
 * Grace Church incorporated.
 * Drought.
 * Population: 759.
 * 1861
 * Wyandotte Constitution designates Topeka as state capitol.
 * Kansas legislature convenes.
 * Episcopal Female Seminary of Topeka chartered.
 * 1863 - Kansas Farmer begins publication.
 * 1864
 * Topeka threatened during Price's Raid.
 * Fort Simple built in the fall in to defend against Confederate troops during Price's Raid.
 * 1865
 * Lincoln College founded.
 * Harrison School built.
 * Union Pacific railway begins operating in Eugene.
 * 1867 - Fort Simple torn down in April.
 * 1868 - Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railroad construction begins.
 * 1870
 * Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library established.
 * Population: 5,790.
 * 1871 - Topeka High School established.
 * 1872 - Topeka State Hospital opens.
 * 1873 - Kansas Academy of Science incorporated.
 * 1875 - Kansas Historical Society founded.
 * 1878 - Topeka Harvey House opens.
 * 1879 - Daily Capital newspaper begins publication.
 * 1880 - Population: 15,452.
 * 1881 - Chartered as a city.
 * 1883 - Public Library building constructed.
 * 1886 - Population: 25,005.
 * 1887
 * Governor's Mansion built.
 * Topeka Golden Giants baseball team formed.
 * 1890 - Population: 31,007.
 * 1894 - Christ's Hospital established.
 * 1895 - Topeka Industrial and Educational Institute and Stormont Hospital and Training School established.
 * 1897 - Topeka Tent and Awning Company established.
 * 1899 - Gage Park established.



20th century

 * 1900
 * Bethel Bible College founded.
 * Population: 33,608.
 * 1902 - Smith Automobile Company founded.
 * 1903 - Kansas State Capitol building constructed.
 * 1905 - Topeka Industrial Institute later rebuilt as a women's prison.
 * 1906 - Bethesda Hospital established.
 * 1909 - St. Francis Hospital established.
 * 1910 - Population: 43,684.
 * 1911 - Hayden High School established.
 * 1914 - G.A.R. Memorial Hall built.
 * 1917 - Grace Episcopal Cathedral built.
 * 1920 - Menninger Clinic opens.
 * 1926 - Jayhawk Theatre opens.
 * 1928 - College of the Sisters of Bethany closed.
 * 1933 - Topeka Zoo opens.


 * 1936 - Sumner Elementary School built.
 * 1941 - Topeka Army Air Field established.
 * 1948 - Topeka station established.
 * 1950
 * Population: 78,791.
 * Railroad station built.
 * 1952 - Topeka Lutheran School opens.
 * 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education decided.
 * 1955 - Westboro Baptist Church opens.
 * 1962 - Cedar Crest (mansion) becomes state governor's official residence.
 * 1965 - Topeka Genealogical Society founded.
 * 1966 - Tornado.
 * 1976 - Forbes Field (airport) in operation.
 * 1980 - Cair Paravel-Latin School founded.
 * 1984 - Kansas Museum of History opens.
 * 1987 - Sunflower State Expo arena opens.
 * 1988 - West Ridge Mall opens.
 * 1989 - Heartland Park Topeka motorsports facility opens.
 * 1991 - Topeka Performing Arts Center opens.
 * 1997 - City website online (approximate date).
 * 1998 - Topeka ScareCrows ice hockey team founded.

2000s

 * 2003 - Kansas Koyotes football team formed.
 * 2004
 * Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site opens.
 * Topeka RoadRunners ice hockey team founded.
 * 2005
 * Bill Bunten becomes mayor.
 * Topeka Golden Giants baseball team formed.
 * 2006 - Railroad station built.
 * 2008 - North Topeka Arts District formed.
 * 2009 - Topeka Mudcats women's football team founded.

2010s

 * 2010
 * Kaw River State Park opens.
 * Population: 127,473.