Timeline of Topeka, Kansas

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.
• 1998 - Topeka ScareCrows ice hockey team founded.

21st century

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.
• 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.